Rick A. Witte
Practice Areas
Biography
Rick Witte leads Jackson Walker’s Public Finance practice group. With more than 35 years of experience, Rick provides counsel on tax-exempt and taxable bond transactions for school districts, junior college districts, cities, counties, state agencies, economic development corporations, and special authorities throughout Texas.
Rick serves as bond counsel, bank counsel, purchaser’s counsel, disclosure counsel, and underwriters’ counsel. Rick has extensive experience with education, infrastructure financings, and economic development. He has also represented various local governments on special projects, including legislative and investment matters.
Education
B.A., Knox College
J.D., University of Iowa
Bar Admissions
Texas
- Bond counsel to a fast-growth independent school district in connection with the issuance of more than $2.5 billion of bonds since 1999
- Bond counsel to a large Texas independent school district in connection with the issuance and/or remarketing of more than $1 billion in bonds since 2017
- Bond counsel to a fast-growth Texas city in connection with the issuance of more than $850 million of bonds and certificates of obligation since 2000
- Underwriters’ counsel on more than $3 billion of bonds and refunding bonds issued by Texas independent schools districts, junior college districts, and cities since 2000
- Disclosure counsel to an independent school district in connection with the issuance of more than $1.8 billion in bonds since 2017
- Purchasers’ counsel and bank counsel to numerous national and regional commercial banks in connection with the purchase of bonds and notes for their portfolio, and in connection with the provision of letters of credit and liquidity facilities related to public finance transactions.
The above representations were handled by Mr. Witte prior to his joining Jackson Walker.
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Ranked for Public Finance – Texas (Band 1), 2024-2025
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), Public Finance Law, 2006-2025
- Best Lawyers, “Lawyer of the Year,” Public Finance Law in Houston, 2015
- “Texas’ Top Rated Lawyers,” ALM, Administrative Law, 2012
- American College of Bond Counsel, Fellow
Publications
- Quoted in “Six Texas Firms Among Nation’s Busiest Dealmaking Firms,” Texas Lawyer (June 1, 2017)
- Inside the Minds™ “Public Finance Settlements and Negotiations – Breaking Down a Diverse Field” Aspatore Books (2006)
Speaking Engagements
- “Municipal Bond Boom Continues as Texas Cities Sell $68B in Bonds to Keep Pace with Migration,” The Texas Lawbook (March 26, 2025)
- Municipal Advisory Council of Texas Conference and 63rd Annual Meeting (October 12, 2017)
- The Bond Buyer’s 20th Annual Texas Public Finance Conference (February 1, 2016)
- Municipal Advisory Council of Texas Conference and 61st Annual Meeting (October 29, 2015)
- Municipalities Continuing Disclosure Cooperation Update (August 8, 2015)
- “Overview of Public Law Legislation Passed During the 82nd Legislative Session,” Estrada Hinojosa Annual Compliance Conference (August 25, 2011)
- Role of Bond Counsel in a Texas City Financing (April 6, 2006)
- Industry presentation at the Texas Municipal Clerks Program (2006)
June 5, 2025
Spotlight
Chambers and Partners Releases 2025 USA Guide Featuring 79 Jackson Walker Attorneys and 28 Ranked Departments
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has selected 79 attorneys and 28 departments for inclusion in the 2025 edition of the Global and USA guides. Attorneys were ranked across 29 departments, with 4 attorneys listed among multiple areas, 9 ranked nationwide in their respective areas, and 12 recognized for the first time.
April 9, 2025
Spotlight
Rick Witte Shares Experience on Texas’s Municipal Bond Boom With ‘The Texas Lawbook’
Rick Witte shares his experience with Texas’s Municipal Bond Boom in The Texas Lawbook as Texas Cities Sell $68B in Bonds to Keep Pace with Migration.
August 15, 2024
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Features 306 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2025 Edition, Including 9 “Lawyers of the Year” and 75 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 306 Jackson Walker attorneys across 81 specialty practice areas in its 2025 edition, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 75 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (75 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (55 attorneys) and the addition of 27 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
June 6, 2024
Spotlight
Chambers and Partners Releases 2024 USA Guide Featuring 67 Jackson Walker Attorneys and 23 Ranked Departments
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has selected 67 attorneys and 23 departments for inclusion in the 2024 edition of the Global and USA guides. Attorneys were ranked across 27 departments, with 3 attorneys listed among multiple areas, 8 ranked nationwide in their respective areas, and 15 recognized for the first time.
June 6, 2024
Spotlight
Public Finance Group Ranked in Chambers USA Guide
In its first-ever guide to the top Texas firms for Public Finance, Chambers and Partners ranked Jackson Walker in the 2024 USA Guide. In addition, Public Finance partners Rick Witte, Todd Brewer, Tanya Fischer, and Hoang Vu were ranked among the top Texas attorneys in this area.
August 17, 2023
Attorney News
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 287 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2024 Edition, Including 12 “Lawyers of the Year” and 80 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 287 Jackson Walker attorneys across 5 offices and 82 specialty practice areas in its 2024 edition, including 12 Lawyers of the Year and 80 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (66 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (60 attorneys) and the addition of 35 attorneys as Best Lawyers.
June 20, 2023
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Welcomes Public Finance Group With More Than $200 Billion in Experience
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the arrival of a new Public Finance practice group based in our Houston office. With more than 140 years of collective experience, the group has represented clients in more than $200 billion of public finance transactions.
Practice Experience
- Bond counsel to a fast-growth independent school district in connection with the issuance of more than $2.5 billion of bonds since 1999
- Bond counsel to a large Texas independent school district in connection with the issuance and/or remarketing of more than $1 billion in bonds since 2017
- Bond counsel to a fast-growth Texas city in connection with the issuance of more than $850 million of bonds and certificates of obligation since 2000
- Underwriters’ counsel on more than $3 billion of bonds and refunding bonds issued by Texas independent schools districts, junior college districts, and cities since 2000
- Disclosure counsel to an independent school district in connection with the issuance of more than $1.8 billion in bonds since 2017
- Purchasers’ counsel and bank counsel to numerous national and regional commercial banks in connection with the purchase of bonds and notes for their portfolio, and in connection with the provision of letters of credit and liquidity facilities related to public finance transactions.
The above representations were handled by Mr. Witte prior to his joining Jackson Walker.
Recognition & Accolades
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Ranked for Public Finance – Texas (Band 1), 2024-2025
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), Public Finance Law, 2006-2025
- Best Lawyers, “Lawyer of the Year,” Public Finance Law in Houston, 2015
- “Texas’ Top Rated Lawyers,” ALM, Administrative Law, 2012
- American College of Bond Counsel, Fellow
Publications & Speeches
Publications
- Quoted in “Six Texas Firms Among Nation’s Busiest Dealmaking Firms,” Texas Lawyer (June 1, 2017)
- Inside the Minds™ “Public Finance Settlements and Negotiations – Breaking Down a Diverse Field” Aspatore Books (2006)
Speaking Engagements
- “Municipal Bond Boom Continues as Texas Cities Sell $68B in Bonds to Keep Pace with Migration,” The Texas Lawbook (March 26, 2025)
- Municipal Advisory Council of Texas Conference and 63rd Annual Meeting (October 12, 2017)
- The Bond Buyer’s 20th Annual Texas Public Finance Conference (February 1, 2016)
- Municipal Advisory Council of Texas Conference and 61st Annual Meeting (October 29, 2015)
- Municipalities Continuing Disclosure Cooperation Update (August 8, 2015)
- “Overview of Public Law Legislation Passed During the 82nd Legislative Session,” Estrada Hinojosa Annual Compliance Conference (August 25, 2011)
- Role of Bond Counsel in a Texas City Financing (April 6, 2006)
- Industry presentation at the Texas Municipal Clerks Program (2006)