John H. Bunz
Email:
Tel/Direct:
515-246-0336
Tel/Main:
515-243-7611
Address:
100 Court Avenue, Suite 600
Des Moines, IA 50309-2231
Assistant:
Joni DeVries
515-246-4432
jdevries@ahlerslaw.com
Practice Groups
Court Admissions
All Iowa Courts
Education
J.D. (with Honors), Drake University, 1990
B.A., Luther College, 1987
Bar Admissions
Iowa, 1990
Kansas, 1991
Missouri, 1992
Background
John practices in the area of public finance and also works on finance matters within the Higher Education practice group. He has experience serving as bond counsel, underwriter's counsel, bank counsel and borrower's counsel in various revenue bond financings, including those related to higher education, public power, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living centers, and governmental and 501c(3) hospitals. John also has experience with new markets tax credit transactions.
John has been involved with facilities financings encompassing a wide variety of financing techniques and structures. Higher Education facilities financed include every type of capital improvement seen on college campuses, including dormitories, stadiums, research facilities and academic buildings. John also has broad experience with student loan revenue bond financing programs, and is bond counsel to many of the Iowa community colleges with respect to the Iowa New Jobs Training Program.
Prior to joining the firm’s Public Finance department, he practiced in-house with the Principal Financial Group, as a staff attorney with The Marley Company in Kansas City, and as an associate with the law firm of Shugart, Thompson and Kilroy (k/n/a Posinelli) in Overland Park, Kansas.
After law school, he served as law clerk to Justice K. David Harris of the Iowa Supreme Court. John chairs the firm's Business Entities Practice Group, and is a past member of the firm's Management Committee.
Representative Projects
In the past few years, John has represented a community development entity (CDE) in providing debt financing for the following New Market Tax Credit projects:
- Construction of new improvements to a new meat packing facility
- Renovation and construction of an existing not-for profit food bank facility
- Construction of an expansion for an existing meat processing facility
In the past two years, John has acted as bond counsel for the following bond financing projects:
- Construction and equipping of a $700M+ new airport terminal, apron, and related terminal projects
- Construction of a $500M+ new orthopedic hospital
- Issuance of $29M of bonds to accommodate the purchase of a residential apartment facility to be used as a university dormitory
John has acted as borrower’s counsel in connection with the $200M+ construction of a new medical school campus in West Des Moines, Iowa.
Memberships
American Bar Association
Iowa State Bar Association
Polk County Bar Association
National Association of Bond Lawyers
Recognitions
Best Lawyers in America® - Public Finance Law (2013-2025)
- Des Moines Lawyer of the Year® (2019 & 2022)
Super Lawyers Great Plains - Banking (2021-2024)
Speaking/Presentations
National Association of Bond Lawyers, The Workshop, “Basic overview of Opportunity Zones” and “Community Redevelopment with New Markets, Historic, Energy Tax Credits and Other Incentives,” September 2019
Ahlers & Cooney, Post Issuance Compliance for Bonds Client Seminar, "Primary Market Disclosure; Role of Disclosure Counsel," October 2016
Professional, Community and Civic Leadership
Salisbury House Foundation, Board of Directors
Genesis Youth Foundation, Board of Directors
Des Moines Golf and Country Club, Board of Directors