Michele L. Bax

Partner

Phoenix

Tel 602.798.5483
Fax 602.798.5595

Michele L. Bax represents cities, counties, and towns; development authorities; school districts; and other special issuers in all areas of public finance. She serves as counsel for bonds, notes, special taxes, underwriters, issuers, and trustees in connection with revenue and tax-exempt general obligation bonds.

Michele represents clients such as educational and health care institutions, municipalities, and financial institutions throughout Arizona and the Southwest. She acts as underwriters' and bond counsel for charter school financings. Michele also represents banks in the purchase of both taxable and tax-exempt bonds.

Services

Representative Experience

Representative Matters

Served as bond counsel in connection with the Arizona Board of Regents, acting for and on behalf of Arizona State University), for System Revenue Bonds Series 2025AB; Series 2025C (Variable Rate Demand); Series 2024A (Green Bonds) and Series 2024B-C; and SPEED Revenue Bonds, Series 2024
Served as bond counsel in connection with the Arizona Board of Regents, acting for and on behalf of Northern Arizona University, for System Revenue Refunding Bonds Series 2025; Series 2024; SPEED Revenue Refunding Bonds Series 2024; and Refunding COPs Series 2024
Served as bond counsel in connection with the Student and Academic Services LLC Lease Revenue Refunding Bonds for the Northern Arizona University Project Series 2024

Served as bond counsel in connection with the Industrial Development Authority of the County of Maricopa Hospital Revenue Bonds (HonorHealth), Series 2024A-D
Served as bond counsel in connection with the City of Tucson, General Obligations Bonds Series 2018B (2024); Certificates of Participation, Series 2021A and Series 2020 (Refunding Taxable Series)
Served as bond counsel in connection with Lake Havasu City, Arizona, Senior Lien Wastewater System Revenue General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2025
Served as underwriter’s counsel in connection with the Arizona Industrial Development Authority Education Revenue Bonds (Academies of Math & Science Projects), Series 2025A-B
Served as underwriter’s counsel in connection with the Utah Charter School Finance Authority Charter School Revenue Bonds (Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy Improvement Project), Series 2025
Served as underwriter’s counsel in connection with the City of Glendale, Arizona, Senior Lien Water and Sewer Revenue and Revenue Refunding Obligations, Series 2025
Served as underwriter’s counsel in connection with the City of Glendale, Arizona, Senior Excise Tax Revenue and Revenue Refunding Obligations, Series 2025
Served as underwriter’s counsel in connection with The Industrial Development Authority of the County of Maricopa Education Revenue Bonds (Sun Valley Academy Projects), Series 2024-B
Served as special counsel in connection with the Tempe Life Care Village (Friendship Village of Tempe) Taxable Loan 2025
Served as bond counsel or special counsel in connection with City of Tucson Certificates of Participation, Series 2021 A and Series 2020 (Refunding Taxable Series)
Served as bond counsel in connection with the Arizona Board of Regents, acting for and on behalf of Arizona State University, for Revenue Bonds, Series 2023 A, B, and C (System Revenue Bonds), Series 2022C (System Revenue), 2021 A (Green Bonds), and 2021B, and SPEED Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2021
Served as underwriter’s counsel or disclosure counsel in connection with charter school financings issued by Arizona Industrial Development Authority, The Industrial Development Authority of the City of Phoenix, The Industrial Authority of the County of Maricopa, The Industrial Development Authority of Pima County, and The Industrial Development Authority of Coconino County
Served as bond counsel in connection with the Industrial Development Authority of the County of Maricopa Hospital Revenue Bonds (HonorHealth), Series 2019A, Series 2019B and Series 2019C
Served as bond counsel in connection with the Arizona Board of Regents, acting for and on behalf of Arizona State University, for Revenue Bonds, Series 2020A, Series 2020B and 2020C
Served as bond counsel in connection with the University Student Athletic Facilities LLC Lease Revenue Bonds (Northern Arizona University Project) Series 2020
Served as special counsel in connection with the Rio Nuevo Multipurpose Facilities District Certificates of Participation (City of Tucson Convention Center Expansion Project) Series 2019
Served as underwriter’s counsel in connection with The Industrial Development Authority of the County of Maricopa, Education Revenue Bonds (Legacy Traditional Schools Project), Series 2019A, Series 2019B, and Series 2019C
Served as underwriter’s counsel in connection with Arizona Industrial Development Authority Education Revenue Bonds (Candeo Schools, Inc. Project), Series 2020A and Series 2020B
Served as bond counsel in connection with Kaweah Delta Health Care District (Tulare County, California) Revenue Bonds, Series 2020A and Series 2020B

Professional Highlights

Professional Activities

American Bar Association

State Bar of Arizona

National Association of Bond Lawyers

Arizona Women Lawyers Association - Past Member, Steering Committee; Past Co-Chair, Anniversary Funds Committee

Recognition & Accomplishments

Chambers USA, Public Finance (Arizona), 2025

The Best Lawyers in America, Public Finance Law (Phoenix), 2018-2020, 2022-2026

Recognized as one of "Forty Under 40" by Phoenix Business Journal, 2011

Board Memberships & Community Service

Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis Alumni Association - Member, Board of Directors, and Faculty Grants Committee

Valley Youth Theatre, a nonprofit and award-winning children's theatre in Phoenix - past board member

Annunciation Catholic School - Member, Advisory Board (Chair), Parents Caring for Home and School Association (President), Steering Committee, Board of Directors, Finance Committee, and Strategic Planning Committee

Publications

Co-author, "Getting Help with ADR," Business Law Today, 2001

Related Insights

Credentials

Education

The Indiana University, Indianapolis Robert H. McKinney School of Law (J.D. 2001, magna cum laude)
Member, Indiana Law Review; Dean's Advisory Board; Dean's Tutorial Society

Butler University (B.S. 1998, cum laude)

Admissions

Arizona