Valarie J. Allen

Valarie J. Allen advises issuers, underwriters, and borrowers in the structuring, issuance, offering, placement, remarketing, and restructuring of tax-exempt and taxable municipal securities and other debt instruments and derivatives. She is the Co-Practice Leader of the firm's Public Finance Group.

Valarie serves as bond, borrower's, underwriter's, and disclosure counsel to clients across the United States. She represents investment banking firms, state housing agencies, electric-energy generation companies, educational and health care institutions, private and municipal utilities, school districts, and municipalities in virtually all areas of public finance.

Before joining Ballard Spahr, Valarie gained broad exposure to public finance matters while serving in numerous capacities in Massachusetts state government, including as budget analyst for the Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee, Bond Finance Associate at the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, and Director of the Airport Business Office at Logan International Airport, Massachusetts Port Authority.

Valarie serves on the firm's Evaluation and Compensation Committee.

Professional Activities

President, Pennsylvania Association of Bond Lawyers (PABL)

National Association of Bond Lawyers (NABL)

Board Member, Ladies First in Public Finance

American Bar Association

Speaking Engagements

Presenter, "Symposium on Women's Entrepreneurship in the Law," Women Owned Law Inaugural, Philadelphia, PA, March 11, 2020

Panelist, "LIBOR is Likely Going Away After 2021. What Should I Be Doing Now to Prepare?" EACUBO Conference, March 22, 2019

Panelist, "What's Next: Continuing Disclosure & Tax Obligations after Bonds are Issued," PHMC Conference, October 19, 2017

"New Issue Price Rules" presentation to PNC Bank, N.A. and PNC Capital Markets LLC, May 4, 2017

"Legal Authority for Issuance, Payment and Security – City of Philadelphia Water and Wastewater Revenue Bonds," presentation to managers and executive staff of the Philadelphia Water Department, May 2015

"Legal Authority for Issuance, Payment and Security – City of Philadelphia Water and Wastewater Revenue Bonds," presentation to managers and executive staff of the Philadelphia Water Department, May 2014

"Post-Issuance Compliance Issues and Procedures," presentation to the Financial Managers for the City of Philadelphia, July 16, 2012

Recognitions and Accomplishments

The Best Lawyers in America, public finance law, 2017-2020

Board Memberships and Community Service

Philly Youth Basketball, Program Committee

Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, 2010-2015

Please Touch Museum, Mayor's designee to Board

Project Forward Leap, 2010-2015

University of Pennsylvania Law School (J.D. 2002)

Harvard College (A.B. 1992)

Pennsylvania