Overview
Michael Seezen serves on the firm's Executive Committee. Michael is a transactional and securities lawyer whose areas of practice include public finance, corporate securities and SEC reporting. Michael principally represents issuers of debt and/or equity securities, including state and local governments (e.g. cities, counties and special purpose districts), hospitals, colleges and universities, manufacturing companies and utilities. He also represents underwriters and banks (both as purchasers of bonds in private offerings and as providers of liquidity and credit enhancement for public, variable interest rate financings).
Michael reviews and provides guidance with respect to annual, quarterly and other special reports filed by public companies with the Securities and Exchange Commission (e.g. Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K and proxy statements), offering documents used in connection with the sale of public finance and SEC-registered securities and documents utilized in investment, swap and other derivative transactions.
Michael was involved in the creation and execution of the RecoverSC Local Government Liquidity Program by the South Carolina Jobs-Economic Development Authority (JEDA), which was designed to help local governments in South Carolina bridge financial gaps resulting from losses of taxes and revenues due to the COVID-19 pandemic with up to $100 million in total funding available. The transaction was named by The Bond Buyer, the preeminent publication focused on municipal and public finance, as the “Deal of the Year” in the Innovative Financing category and was one of ten finalists for overall “Deal of the Year” for 2021. Michael and the firm were both recognized at The Bond Buyer’s 20th annual “Deal of the Year” awards gala in December 2021. To read the full SC JEDA article, click here.
Experience
- Assisted multiple school districts, cities and counties in utilizing innovative installment purchase revenue bond transactions to finance construction of schools and other public facilities and to refinance debt.
- Served as bond counsel for multiple cities and counties, which together issued more than $1 billion of tax-exempt revenue bonds since 2009, to finance or refinance essential water and sewer infrastructure and stormwater improvements as part of larger capital improvement programs.
- Served as bond counsel to a municipality which issued a "green bond" certified by the Climate Bonds Initiative, the first of its kind in South Carolina.
- Served as underwriter's counsel for multiple redevelopment bonds issued by county to fund mixed-use development in previously blighted, urban areas.
- Assisted a rural South Carolina college to utilize a federal financing program designed for historically black colleges and universities, to help restructure its debt and finance much-needed capital projects.
Honors & Recognitions
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®: Public Finance Law since 2012; Securities / Capital Markets Law since 2013; Securities Regulation since 2013; Municipal Law since 2022
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®: "Lawyer of the Year" in Securities Regulation (2014); Securities / Capital Markets Law (2022); Public Finance Law (2016 - 2018, 2025); Municipal Law (2025)
- Named, Outstanding Young South Carolinian, South Carolina Junior Chamber of Commerce (2013)
- Named, Outstanding Individual Volunteer Fundraiser, Association of Fundraising Professionals Central Carolina (2012)
- Named, "20 Under 40," The State newspaper (2009)
Newsroom
News
Speaking Engagements
Articles
Blog Posts
Professional & Community
Civic Activities
- Diversity Leaders Initiative, The Riley Institute at Furman (2017)
- Board Member, United Way of the Midlands (2009-2016); Chair (2015-2016), Vice-Chair (2014-2015), Co-Chair of Campaign Committee (2012-2014); Founding Member, Young Leaders Society Steering Committee
- Board Member, Boy Scouts of America, Indian Waters Council (2017-2018)
- Graduate, Leadership South Carolina (2014)
- Graduate, Leadership Columbia (2008)
- Graduate, Blueprint for Leadership (2007)
Professional Activities
- Member, National Association of Bond Lawyers
Paralegal/Assistant
Legal Practice Assistant
Linda Brooks
(803) 753-3306
lbrooks@burr.com
