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Bruce Bonjour

Profile photo for Bruce A. Bonjour
Profile photo for Bruce A. Bonjour
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Bruce Bonjour

  • Chicago
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Bruce is a finance lawyer with an emphasis on matters involving the hospitality sector and major public finance projects. 

Bruce Bonjour has represented owners of business- and luxury-class hotels in financings in excess of $20 billion. His experience includes transactions involving the acquisition, financing, refinancing, or restructuring of ownership of iconic hotels such as Hotel del Coronado, Scottsdale Fairmont Princess, Ritz Carlton Hotels in Laguna Beach and Half Moon Bay California, Four Seasons hotels in Washington, D.C., Thompson Hotel Nashville, New Orleans Pontchartrain Hotel, Providence Biltmore Hotel, and all 35 Graduate hotels. 

Bruce also has served as bond counsel and advised clients in many notable tax-exempt and taxable municipal finance transactions. For example, he served as bond counsel for 10 U.S. Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund-guaranteed series of bonds issued under the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program authorized by the Small Business Jobs Act totaling more than $700 million. Bruce also was the principal lawyer for the multibillion-dollar expansion/renovation of McCormick Place and Navy Pier in Chicago, including the tax-exempt financing of the Hyatt Hotel at McCormick Place; the complete renovation of Soldier Field; and two refinancings of Guaranteed Rate Field (the ballpark f/k/a Comiskey Park). Bruce also was the principal lawyer in the authorizing legislation and the issuance of tobacco settlement bonds in South Dakota which established a constitutional trust fund dedicated solely to enhance K-12 public education.  

Bruce served as co-chair of the firm’s first Financial Transactions & Restructuring practice from 2005 to 2010.

Education & Credentials

Education

  • The George Washington University Law School, J.D., with honors, 1976
  • State University of New York (SUNY), M.A., 1972
  • Albion College, B.A., cum laude, 1971

Bar and Court Admissions

  • Illinois

Related Employment

  • Altheimer & Gray, Chicago, IL, Partner, Finance Practice Group Chair
  • County of San Diego, California, Associate Legislative Representative

Professional Recognition

  • Listed “Public Finance Law Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America, 2021-2022

  • Listed in the Law Bulletin Publishing Company's Leading Lawyers Network as Illinois Leading Lawyer, 2019-2020

  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Public Finance Law, 2013-2025

  • *The Supreme Court of Illinois does not recognize certifications of specialties in the practice of law and no certificate, award or recognition is a requirement to practice law in Illinois.

Impact

Professional Leadership

  • National Association Bond Attorneys, 1979-present
  • American College of Bond Counsel, Fellow, 2014-present
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