Robert J. Whalen is a partner in Stradling's Public Finance practice group.

Robert has been a public finance specialist for more than 30 years, accumulating extensive experience acting as bond counsel, disclosure counsel, and underwriter’s counsel in connection with municipal financings. His specializes in bond work for state and local agencies, including school districts, counties, cities and water districts.

Robert's particular areas of expertise include land-secured financings, lease financings, general obligation bond financings, pension bond financings and multifamily housing financings.

Robert represents cities, counties, school districts, and joint powers agencies throughout the state, assisting them in financing a wide variety of public infrastructure projects. He also represents both public agencies and investment banks in connection with disclosure issues related to public financings.

He is a frequent speaker on municipal finance issues at industry conferences and conferences sponsored by the California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission, the University of California, Los Angeles, Extension Program; and the University of California, Davis, Extension Program. 

Robert has been a member of the Board of Education of the Laguna Beach Unified School District since 1997.

Credentials

Education
  • University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, J.D., 1978
  • Harvard College, B.A., 1975
  • National Association of Bond Lawyers
  • Laguna Beach Education Foundation (past president, current board member)
  • City of Laguna Beach Planning Commission
  • City of Laguna Beach, City Council member
  • Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach (board member)
  • California