The Government Finance Officers Association's Emily Brock was presented with the National Association of Bond Lawyers' 2025 Bernard P. Friel Medal by NABL's new president, who called her "a tireless advocate for state and local governments."
Established in 1982 in honor of NABL's first president, the medal recognizes distinguished service in public finance overall, said NABL President Matthias Edrich, who presented Brock with the medal Wednesday during NABL's annual conference and business meeting in Washington, D.C.
In his comments prior to presenting the award to Brock, director of the GFOA's Federal Liaison Center, Edrich highlighted her role in leading the advocacy efforts of the Public Finance Network, a coalition of organizations dedicated to preserving state and local government use of tax-exempt bonds.
"Her leadership has been instrumental, especially this year, in ensuring that municipal bonds remain a vital and available tool to municipalities," said Edrich, whose one-year term as NABL president began Sept. 10. "Most notably, Emily's work culminated in a tax reform bill that not only protected, but even expanded municipal financing, an extraordinary achievement."
Beyond that, Brock "has consistently partnered with NABL and other industry groups to evaluate public finance issues with legislators and stakeholders," he said.
"It truly was an honor" to receive the award, Brock said in comments to The Bond Buyer. She added, however, that it was important to note that the Public Finance Network is a coalition representing more than 40 organizations dedicated to preserving the tax-exempt municipal bond.
By virtue of representing more than 40 organizations, "we are representing millions of people involved in this market," she said, citing the issuers, bond counsel, municipal advisors and underwriters "who create the foundation for a healthy and thriving municipal bond market."
In addition to the Bernard P. Friel Medal, Edrich also presented two other awards, including the Carlson Prize, which is presented in recognition of the best scholarly article submitted for publication in The Bond Lawyer: The Journal of the National Association of Bond Lawyers, or on the association's website.
This year's Carlson Prize was awarded to Andrew Kintzinger of Hunton Andrews Kurth; Paul Maco, a former Bracewell attorney who is now retired; and Fredric Weber of Norton Rose Fulbright.
Together the three "have produced an illuminating series of articles on the history of … municipal securities regulation," Edrich said.
Allen Robertson of Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson was the recipient of the 2025 Frederick O. Kiel Distinguished Service Award. The award "honors an individual for extraordinary service to NABL over an extended period of time," Edrich said.
"Allen has been a guiding force in our association for decades," Edrich said, noting that Robertson served as NABL president for the 2013 to 2014 term.
