Bryant Miller Olive Hires Three New Attorneys

BRADENTON, Fla. — Florida-based Bryant Miller Olive PA hired three new attorneys to expand the firm's public finance practice.

Anitra Androh, Rhonda Bond-Collins, and Monique Spotts were hired from other firms by public finance attorney Grace Dunlap, managing shareholder at Bryant Miller Olive.

The women add new legal expertise and diversity to the BMO's staff, Dunlap said.

"Having been in the public finance business for over 40 years, Bryant Miller Olive has seen many cycles occur in the tax law, the financial health of local governments, and in the volume of deals," she said. "We have been fortunate to hire these three, highly capable female lawyers to add depth on our bench [after] having had a robust year in 2013."

Androh, who most recently worked at Saul Ewing LLP, will be of counsel in BMO's Washington, D.C., office supporting real estate, housing, bank, and developers in the public finance group, said Dunlap.

Androh received a bachelor's degree at Valparaiso University and a law degree at DePaul University College of Law. Her affiliations include the District of Columbia Building Industry Association, African American Real Estate Professionals, and the Board of Directors of New Endeavors by Women, an organization that assists homeless women and children.

Bond-Collins, who will work in Orlando, came from Greenberg Traurig LLP. Collins has more than 16 years practicing in various legal facets of tax-exempt financings.

She received a bachelor's degree at the University of Maryland and a law degree at the American University Washington College of Law. She is a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers and has been a frequent panelist at public finance conferences.

Spotts will work in BMO's Tampa office. She previously worked in the public finance group at Holland & Knight LLP and prior to that worked at Chapman & Cutler LLP. She received a bachelor's degree at the University of Michigan and a law degree Valparaiso University School of Law. She is a member of NABL and a board member for the Children's Home Society.

Bryan Miller Olive's legal services in the public finance arena have expanded to include several federal funding programs for public facilities, post-issuance compliance work on tax and securities law matters, and representation of financial institutions, according to Dunlap.

"These are areas in which Anitra, Monique, and Rhonda have skill sets - but above that they are collaborative, smart, good-natured types, which are qualities that fit perfectly with our firm's team based culture," she said.

Bryant Miller Olive was the third-highest ranking bond counsel in Florida during the first half of 2013 with par amount of $1.05 billion in 27 offerings, according to Thomson Reuters. In 2012, BMO was the second-ranked firm in the Sunshine state with 50 transactions totaling $2.46 billion.

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