Roseland, New Jersey - May 4, 2015 - Connell Foley LLP is pleased to announce that veteran public finance attorney Rafael Perez has joined the firm. Previously at Locke Lord LLP, Mr. Perez will be a partner in Connell Foley’s Public Finance Group, where he will continue to advise investment banks, state and local entities and agencies, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, health care organizations and for-profit corporations.
“We are very excited to welcome Ray to the firm,” said Connell Foley managing partner Michael McBride. “He has a wealth of experience and stellar reputation in the public finance arena, and we believe his practice will be a tremendous resource for our clients.”
Mr. Perez serves as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, trustee’s counsel and borrower’s counsel in the full array of public finance matters. In addition, he represents corporations and financial institutions in transactional and general corporate matters in the United States, Mexico and South America. Mr. Perez previously co-chaired the Public and Project Finance practice group of Cozen O’Connor. From 1994 to 1998, he served as executive director of the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority, where he was responsible for the financing and development of various facilities for the state’s public and private institutions of higher education.
Mr. Perez is chairman of the board of trustees of New Jersey City University and serves on the board of trustees of the Independent College Fund of New Jersey. In 2013, he received the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey's (SHCC-NJ) "Attorney of the Year Award" for his exemplary achievements in business that have significantly empowered the New Jersey Hispanic community. Mr. Perez served as regional president of the National Hispanic Bar Association from 1989-1990 and president of the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey from 1994-1995. He also served as a trustee of the New Jersey State Bar Association from 1996-2002.
Mr. Perez earned his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University and his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey, New York, Superior Court of New Jersey, New York State Supreme Court, and U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.