Robert Haight, a partner in Goodwin Procter’s Business Law Department and a member of the Real Estate Practice, specializes in municipal and public finance matters. He has extensive experience in providing counsel services to developers, bondholders, underwriters, financial advisors, municipalities, special districts and other governmental agencies in the State of California.

Work for Clients

Mr. Haight has handled all phases of municipal bond issues and has counseled clients in connection with the issuance, refinancing and restructuring of taxable bonds, assessment bonds, special-tax bonds, industrial developmental bonds, general fund obligation bonds, TRANs and other anticipation notes, redevelopment bonds, revenue bonds, certificates of participation, and other lease/installment purchase transactions. He is widely recognized as one of the leading lawyers in the land-secured infrastructure bond area.

Additionally, Mr. Haight has conducted forensic review of troubled bond issues on behalf of developers, issuers and bondholders, and has counseled clients in several high profile bond workouts. He has served as Developer’s Counsel in new and refinanced issues and has assisted developers in drafting and implementing Owner Participation Agreements and Disposition and Development Agreements. Mr. Haight has also served as Bond Counsel, Disclosure Counsel and Underwriter’s Counsel. In such capacity, he has drafted required bond documents, official statements, private placement memoranda and other disclosure documents, and rendered advice with respect to state and federal securities laws.

Professional Activities

Mr. Haight is a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers.

Publications/Presentations

Mr. Haight is the author of several published articles, including: “Homeowner Disclosure: What They Don’t Know Can Hurt You” in Builder and Developer (August 1999), “California AB 1224: Foreclosure Reform or Complication?” in The Real Estate Finance Journal (Summer 1998) and “Bond Counsel’s Opinions: On Them You Can’t Rely” in Capital Sources for Real Estate (April 1998). He also co-authored “Land Secured Bonds on Shifting Ground in Today’s Market” in The Bond Buyer (June 2008).

Mr. Haight is Editor-in-Chief of Resource: A Goodwin Procter publication for the Real Estate industry, a bi-annual newsletter produced and authored by attorneys in the firm’s Real Estate practice. He also served as chair of the 1998 Private Thoughts on Public Finance seminar panel entitled “The Capital Gang: A Land-Based Financing Roundtable.”

Professional Experience

Prior to joining Goodwin Procter, Mr. Haight was a partner in the Century City office of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, where his practices included real estate, corporate and securities, project finance and public finance.

Bar and Court Admissions

Mr. Haight is admitted to practice in California.

Honors and Awards

Mr. Haight has been recognized as a “Southern California Super Lawyer” by Law & Politics and Los Angeles magazine. While attending law school, he received an American Jurisprudence Award in Real Property and Criminal Law.

Education

J.D., University of California at Davis, 1988
B.S., University of Santa Clara, 1985 (with honors, Beta Gamma Sigma)