Elizabeth A. Grob

Tel/Direct:

515-246-0305

Tel/Main:

515-243-7611

Address:

100 Court Avenue, Suite 600
Des Moines, IA 50309-2231

vCard

Full Bio

Summary

Practice Groups

Court Admissions

All Iowa Courts

U.S. District Courts – Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa

Education

J.D. (with Honors), Drake University, 1996

M.A., University of Missouri, 1990

B.S., University of Mississippi, 1988

Bar Admissions

Iowa, 1996

Background

As a bond lawyer, Beth spends the majority of her time assisting community college and school district clients in the issuance of governmental bonds. As bond counsel, Beth guides the issuer in its preparations for debt issuances, and prepares all proceedings and approvals necessary to authorize the issuance and delivery of the obligations to the initial purchaser. In this role, Beth assists clients with regard to state and federal laws, including applicable federal tax and securities regulations, and provides a validity and tax opinion upon issuance. Beth also spends a significant amount of time assisting her clients with finance issues that are unique to community colleges and school districts.

Beth has served as bond counsel for the issuance of general obligation bonds, parity and subordinate sales tax revenue bonds, and, with the adoption of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, Qualified School Construction Bonds and Qualified Zone Academy Bonds. As a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers, Beth stays current on the latest federal municipal tax and securities regulations.

In addition to governmental bond issues, Beth represents Iowa Public Agency Investment Trust, a local government investment pool of cities, counties and municipal utilities with over $500,000,000 currently under management; Iowa Schools Joint Investment Trust, a local government investment pool of community colleges and school districts with over $400,000,000 currently under management; and Iowa Communities Assurance Pool, a government risk pool that provides general liability insurance coverage to cities and counties throughout Iowa.

Beth was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. After college, Beth worked in the labor relations department of a major St. Louis area employer, which is what started her interest in the practice of law. A graduate of Drake Law School, she was a member of the Drake Law Review.

Representative Projects

  • Counsels school districts in the negotiation and drafting of agreements.
  • Counsels school districts in the issuance of general obligation and revenue bond financings, including Qualified School Construction Bonds and Qualified Zone Academy Bonds.
  • Counsels school districts in connection with public investments and use of various revenue sources.
  • Counsels governmental entities in connection with corporate governance issues.

Memberships

American Bar Association – Sections: Government Practice, State and Local Law; Past Section Member: Young Lawyers Division

Iowa State Bar Association

Polk County Bar Association

Dallas County Bar Association

National Association of Bond Lawyers

Council of School Attorneys

Order of the Coif

Recognitions

Martindale-Hubbell® – AV® Rating

Best Lawyers in America© - Municipal Law (2013-2019)

Iowa State Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, Star of the Quarter (2000-2001)

Speaking/Presentations

Beth's most recent speaking engagements include:

Ahlers & Cooney P.C., Webinar, "SEC Amendments to Rule 15c2-12 on Disclosure for Municipal Securities," January 2019

Iowa Association of School Business Official, Spring Conference, "Post Issuance Compliance" with Ron Peeler, March 2017

Ahlers & Cooney, P.C., Post Issuance Compliance for Bonds Seminar, "Secondary Market Disclosure/ Continuing Disclosure Obligations," October 2016

Municipal Clerks’ Institute, Faculty, “Investment of Public Funds and Public Funds Collateralization,” 2007 - present

Iowa Superintendents’ Finance & Leadership Consortium, Faculty, “Facility Construction:  Planning to Finish,” 2004 - present

Published Articles & Books

“Report of the Committee on Public Education: Recent Developments in Public Education Law,” The Urban Lawyer, Vol. 31, Winter 1999, Co-author

“Report of the Committee on Public Education: Recent Developments in Public Education Law,” The Urban Lawyer, Vol. 29, Fall 1997, Co-author

“Report of the Committee on Public Education: Recent Developments in Public Education Law,” The Urban Lawyer, Vol. 28, Fall 1996, Co-author

“Planning and Financing School Improvement and Construction Projects,” 57 NOLPE Monograph Series, 1996 (Edgar Bittle, ed.), Contributing Author

Professional, Community and Civic Leadership

Iowa Legal Aid, Volunteer Intake Attorney

Iowa State Bar Association, Membership Committee (1998-2003), Past Co-Chair (2002-2003)

Lutheran Church of Hope