Jason L. Comisky - Brochure
 

Education

J.D., University of Iowa, 2007

B.A. (Cum Laude), Drake University, 2004

A.A.S. (Highest Honors), Hawkeye Community College, 2002

  

Practice Groups

  • Business Entities
  • Economic Development/Urban Renewal
  • Higher Education
  • Public Finance
  • Real Estate & Environmental
  • Trusts, Estates & Taxation

Overview

Jason focuses his practice in the public finance area and currently leads the firm’s Public Finance Practice Group. In this role, he advises cities, counties, and joint building authorities throughout the state of Iowa in all aspects of public finance. Jason assists municipal clients issue governmental bonds, including general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, tax increment financing bonds, and other unique financing structures. His experience includes guiding clients through complex state law issues, federal tax laws, and federal securities laws. He has served as bond counsel, disclosure counsel, and issuer counsel in numerous tax-exempt and taxable bond financings.

He also has extensive experience representing municipalities in the areas of urban renewal, urban revitalization, economic development, local option sales and services tax, hotel/motel tax, special assessments, and public construction bidding. He is focused on assisting clients with creative ways to maintain, renew, and revitalize their communities.

Jason has previously served as the firm's Procurement and Contracting Practice Group leader and the Business Entities Practice Group leader. Prior to joining Ahlers & Cooney, Jason practiced law in Dubuque and Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he represented private-sector clients in a wide range of matters. Jason was born and raised in Osage, Iowa. He earned his A.A.S. degree from Hawkeye Community College in Civil & Construction Engineering Technology, a B.A. degree from Drake University, and then went on to earn his J.D. degree from the University of Iowa College of Law.

Bar Admissions

Iowa, 2007

Illinois, 2010

Court Admissions

All Iowa Courts

All Illinois Courts

Representative Projects

Public Finance & Economic Development
  • Counsels municipal clients in capital improvement projects and equipment financings, including building construction and renovations, police and fire equipment, emergency communications equipment, streets, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, and water projects 
  • Involved in the formation of a joint county and city building authority and subsequent issue of lease revenue bonds for new $50,000,000 law enforcement facility
  • Acts as bond counsel and disclosure counsel for general obligation and revenue issues throughout the state of Iowa
  • Advises cities and counties concerning Iowa law on economic development and urban renewal in order to help them establish thriving business environments in their communities and create new job opportunities
  • Guides clients through the process of establishing and amending urban renewal plans
  • Consults with city and county staff to strategically analyze and draft development agreements
Corporate and Business
  • Provides advice to small businesses, including entity formation, operating agreements, financing, mergers and acquisitions
  • Counseled borrower in $75,000,000 senior, secured credit facility comprised of $50,000,000 term loan facility and $25,000,000 revolving loan facility
Real Estate Transactions
  • Provided assistance to private university in the negotiation, sale and subsequent development of large mixed-use development
  • Represent clients in the purchase, sale and lease of commercial and residential real estate, including purchase agreements, installment sale contracts, leases, options and rights of first refusal

Memberships

American Bar Association

Iowa State Bar Association

Illinois State Bar Association

Polk County Bar Association

National Association of Bond Lawyers

Iowa Municipal Attorneys Association

Iowa Rural Development Council

Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America®

  • Economic Development Law (2023-2025)
  • Public Finance Law (2023-2025)

Speaking/Presentations

Jason's most recent speaking engagements include:

Iowa Municipal Professionals Institute 2024, “Financing Options and Economic Development,” with Maria Brownell, Elizabeth Burnett and Nathan Overberg, October 2024

Iowa Municipal Professionals Institute 2023, “Financing Options and Economic Development,” with Maria Brownell, Kristin Cooper and Jenna Sabroske, October 2023

Iowa League of Cities, "Why Muni Bonds Continue to Thrive in Today's Market," with Kristin Cooper, September 2023

Iowa Municipal Professionals Institute 2022, “Financing Options and Economic Development,” with Jenna Bishop, Maria Brownell and Kristin Cooper, October 2022

Iowa State Association of County Auditors, "How to Finance This, That, and the Other," June 2022

Iowa Municipal Professionals Institute 2021, "Financing Options and Economic Development," with Maria Brownell, Kristin Cooper and Jenna Sabroske, October 2021

Iowa League of Cities, Virtual Small City Workshop, "Financing and Funding for City Projects," June 2021

Iowa Municipal Professionals Institute 2020, “Financing Options and Economic Development,” with Jenna Bishop, Maria Brownell and Kristin Cooper, July 2020

ISAC Spring Conference, County Supervisors Affiliate Meeting, presented with Nathan Summers, D.A. Davidson & Co.,"Bonding and Financing," March 2020

Iowa Municipal Professionals Institute 2019, “Financing Options and Economic Development,” with Jenna Bishop, Maria Brownell and Kristin Cooper, July 2019

Iowa Municipal Professionals Institute 2018, "Urban Renewal/ Urban Revitalization,"  July 2018

Iowa League of Cities, Fall Budget Workshop, "Economic Development Strategies and Incentive Options," November 2017

Iowa League of Cities, Annual Conference, “Using Urban Renewal Tools to Promote Growth,” September 2017

Iowa Municipal Professionals Institute, "Development Agreements," 2015 - 2017

Published Articles & Books

Cityscape, Iowa League of Cities, "Financing FAQs for City Projects," co-authored with Kristin Cooper, April 2021

Cityscape, Iowa League of Cities, “Questions Answered: Helping Communities Thrive,” co-authored with Jenna Bishop and Nathan Overberg, March 2020

Ahlers & Cooney, Iowa Urban Renewal Law, A Primer from Ahlers & Cooney, original authors: Mark Cory and Patricia Martin, authors of 2018 update: Jenna Bishop, Jason Comisky and Nathan Overberg, 2018

Professional, Community and Civic Leadership

Ankeny Izaak Walton League

Tri-State Estate Planning Council

Leadership Dubuque

  
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