Service Areas
- Governments + Nonprofits
- Economic Development
- Financings
- Public Law - Powers, Open Meetings + FOIA
- Climate Change
Education
- University of Michigan Law School, J.D.
- Michigan State University, B.A.
Bar Admissions
- Michigan
With more than 36 years of work in municipal finance, William J. Danhof has been involved with every type of bond issue imaginable, from sewer and water bonds to hospital and housing bonds. He was the principal drafter of the bond issuance provisions in the Michigan Strategic Fund and Michigan Shared Credit Rating legislation and was also instrumental in drafting numerous amendments to other state bonding statutes. Bill serves as bond counsel for the state of Michigan and for many colleges, cities, townships, school districts and counties and private companies.
“I love to create new ways of doing things. I also like to take on new financing challenges and write legislation to authorize the financings.”
William J. Danhof
Experience
Bill recently helped a City to restructure its tax increment debt. The bankruptcy of a large employer in the City had dramatically reduced the tax increments available to pay debt service and the City was looking at layoffs to meet bond payments. Bill analyzed the problem and drafted legislation to allow for the debt restructuring. The legislation was passed and signed by the Governor. The refunding bonds were sold to realign debt service with available tax revenues and the City avoided layoffs.
“I helped my client work out all the legal and legislative aspects of the debt restructuring."
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association
- State Bar of Michigan, Client Protection Fund Committee Member
- Ingham County Bar Association
- Federalists Society, Michigan Chapter, Lawyers' Division
- Government Finance Officers' Association
- American College of Bond Counsel, Founding Member; President, 2003; Vice President, 2002
- National Association of Bond Lawyers
- Fellow, American Bar Association Foundation
- Fellow, Michigan State Bar Foundation
Honors + Awards
- Best Lawyers in America, (Financial Institutions) Banking Law 2003-2009; Public Finance Law 2003-2009
- Michigan Super Lawyers, Bonds/Government Finance 2006-2008
Civic, Cultural + Social Activities
- United States Holocaust Memorial Council, April 16, 2004-January 15, 2009, (Governing body of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum), Appointed by President George W. Bush
- Executive Committee, 2006-2008
- Audid Committee chair, 2007-2008
- WKAR (Public Radio), Volunteer
- Walnut Hills Country Club
Religious Activities
- People's Church of Lansing
Speeches
Speaker at state treasurer's conference, Michigan Township Association, Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, Michigan Association of County Road Commission, Michigan Municipal League, and Midwest Bond Buyer Conference