Gillard B. Johnson

OF COUNSEL

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Overview

Gil’s illustrious legal career has proudly spanned five decades. A graduate of Western Kentucky University, Gil pursued his J.D. degree at the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, where he graduated in 1972. He served as a law clerk with the United States Tax Court in 1972 where Gil worked directly with Chief Judge William Drennon, and spent that first year conducting research and factual analysis for individual tax cases.  In 1973 Gil shifted gears and began a corporate legal career with Ashland Oil Inc., where he served as a tax attorney. While with Ashland Oil, Gil was responsible for negotiating corporate tax agreements, tax planning, acquisitions and mergers, and for foreign tax matters in both Great Britain and Canada.

Gil is dedicated to delivering comprehensive legal services and for the last thirty-five years has focused primarily in the realm of public financing. His extensive expertise encompasses a wide range of roles, including serving as Bond Counsel, Underwriter’s Counsel, Issuer’s Counsel, and Trustee’s Counsel. He specializes in facilitating public and private financing for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, including, but not limited to counties, cities, taxing districts, and not-for-profit organizations aimed at fostering public and economic development initiatives.

With a profound understanding of various debt structures, his proficiency extends to General Obligation Debt, Revenue Bond Obligations, Industrial Revenue Bond Financing, Lease Financings, Library Districts, Special Assessment Districts, and Tax Increment Financings, including the establishment of TIF Districts. These contributions to Kentucky’s local government entities and agencies have played a pivotal role in securing over six billion dollars in public and private financings; a feat that Gil is extremely proud of.

Credentials

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • Kentucky
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second, Sixth and Ninth Circuits
  • U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
  • U.S. Tax Court

EDUCATION

  • University of Louisville, Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, J.D., 1972
    • Member, Law Review
    • Editor, Louisville Lawyer
  • Western Kentucky University, B.S, 1970

Affiliations

  • Kentucky Bar Association
  • National Association of Bond Lawyers, Member

Community Involvement

  • Western Kentucky University Board of Regents (Former Member and Past Board Chair)
    • Former Chair, Finance & Budget Committee

Gil’s illustrious legal career has proudly spanned five decades. A graduate of Western Kentucky University, Gil pursued his J.D. degree at the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, where he graduated in 1972. He served as a law clerk with the United States Tax Court in 1972 where Gil worked directly with Chief Judge William Drennon, and spent that first year conducting research and factual analysis for individual tax cases.  In 1973 Gil shifted gears and began a corporate legal career with Ashland Oil Inc., where he served as a tax attorney. While with Ashland Oil, Gil was responsible for negotiating corporate tax agreements, tax planning, acquisitions and mergers, and for foreign tax matters in both Great Britain and Canada.

Gil is dedicated to delivering comprehensive legal services and for the last thirty-five years has focused primarily in the realm of public financing. His extensive expertise encompasses a wide range of roles, including serving as Bond Counsel, Underwriter’s Counsel, Issuer’s Counsel, and Trustee’s Counsel. He specializes in facilitating public and private financing for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, including, but not limited to counties, cities, taxing districts, and not-for-profit organizations aimed at fostering public and economic development initiatives.

With a profound understanding of various debt structures, his proficiency extends to General Obligation Debt, Revenue Bond Obligations, Industrial Revenue Bond Financing, Lease Financings, Library Districts, Special Assessment Districts, and Tax Increment Financings, including the establishment of TIF Districts. These contributions to Kentucky’s local government entities and agencies have played a pivotal role in securing over six billion dollars in public and private financings; a feat that Gil is extremely proud of.

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • Kentucky
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second, Sixth and Ninth Circuits
  • U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
  • U.S. Tax Court

EDUCATION

  • University of Louisville, Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, J.D., 1972
    • Member, Law Review
    • Editor, Louisville Lawyer
  • Western Kentucky University, B.S, 1970

  • Kentucky Bar Association
  • National Association of Bond Lawyers, Member

  • Western Kentucky University Board of Regents (Former Member and Past Board Chair)
    • Former Chair, Finance & Budget Committee