Atty. Bruce A. Bonjour

Atty. Bruce A. Bonjour

Bruce Bonjour is former co-chair of the firm's Financial Transactions & Securitization practice and is the current chair of its Public Finance practice. Bruce has three major areas of focus: structured finance concentrating in the hospitality sector, municipal finance, serving as bond counsel as well as representing underwriters and credit enhancers, and New Markets Tax Credits.

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Profile Summary

About Bruce A. Bonjour at a glance

Bruce A. Bonjour is a business attorney based in Chicago, Illinois, practicing at Perkins Coie LLP. Admitted to practice in Illinois, Illinois State Bar Association. Educated at The George Washington University (J.D., 1976) and Albion College (BA). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Public Finance Law (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Securitization and Structured Finance Law (2026). Serands clients in Chicago, IL and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Bruce Bonjour is former co-chair of the firm's Financial Transactions & Securitization practice and is the current chair of its Public Finance practice
  • Bruce has three major areas of focus: structured finance concentrating in the hospitality sector, municipal finance, serving as bond counsel as well as representing underwriters and credit enhancers, and New Markets Tax Credits
  • Since 1996 when he served as bond counsel for the tax exempt financing of an 800 room Hyatt Hotel located at McCormick Place in Chicago, Bruce has represented owners of business and luxury class hotels in financings in excess of ten billion dollars
  • Recent financings (2011-2013) include transactions involving the acquisition, financing, refinancing or restructuring of ownership of Hotel del Coronado, Scottsdale Fairmont Princess, The Homestead Resort, Barton Creek Spa & Resort, Grove Park Inn, Ritz Carlton Hotels in Laguna Beach and Half Moon Bay California, Chicago Fairmont, Loews Santa Monica, Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, the Miami and Chicago InterContinental Hotels, Four Seasons Hotels in Washington D.C. and Punta Mita and Hyatt La Jolla
  • Bruce also represents several recipients of New Markets Tax Credits from the U.S
  • Treasury Department, including serving in the capacity of outside general counsel to the recipient of the second largest aggregate dollar amount of New Markets Tax Credit allocations
  • He is responsible for developing the legal structure, fund formation and related equity and debt transactions in connection with multiple clients who have received in excess of $1 billion of such credits
  • In addition to serving as the firm’s chair of the Public Finance Department, Bruce continues to serve as bond counsel and advise other clients in tax-exempt and taxable municipal finance transactions
  • Recently he served as bond counsel on a tobacco master settlement offering which refinanced a similar financing for a State in which the proceeds were used to capitalize a permanent trust fund that enhances K-12 public education
  • Earlier in his career, Bruce served as bond counsel or counsel for the underwriters for several high-profile projects, such as the multi-billion-dollar expansion/renovation of McCormick Place and Navy Pier in Chicago, including the tax-exempt financing of the Hyatt Hotel at McCormick Place in 1996, bond counsel for the complete renovation of Soldier Field, counsel to the underwriters for the refinancing of (f/k/a) Comiskey Park, and served as bond counsel, counsel to underwriters and credit enhancers for hundreds of other tax-exempt financings for health, higher education, museums, local government and nonprofit facilities in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming

Practice Areas Explained

Bruce A. Bonjour's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Bruce A. Bonjour handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Business & Corporate Law

Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.

Bruce A. Bonjour is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Illinois →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in Illinois

Practicing law in Illinois. Legal matters in Illinois are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Chicago are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Illinois state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Illinois brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Illinois courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional Illinois attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Chicago or all attorneys in Illinois.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Bruce A. Bonjour

Where is Bruce A. Bonjour's law office located?
Bruce A. Bonjour's law practice is located in Chicago, Illinois. The firm is Perkins Coie LLP. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Bruce A. Bonjour handle?
Bruce A. Bonjour focuses on business. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Illinois.
Where did Bruce A. Bonjour go to law school?
Bruce A. Bonjour earned their education at (J.D., 1976); (BA).
How can I contact Bruce A. Bonjour for a consultation?
You can contact Bruce A. Bonjour directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has Bruce A. Bonjour received?
Bruce A. Bonjour's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Public Finance Law; Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:; Best Lawyers in America — Securitization and Structured Finance Law; Best Lawyers in America — Awards:; Best Lawyers in America — Listed in the Law Bulletin Publishing Company's Leading Lawyers Network as Illinois Leading Lawyer.

Practice Areas

Education

J.D.
The George Washington University
- 1976
BA
Albion College
- In Progress

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Public Finance Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Securitization and Structured Finance Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Listed in the Law Bulletin Publishing Company's Leading Lawyers Network as Illinois Leading Lawyer
- 2026
Lawyer of the Year — Public Finance Law (Chicago)
- 2022

Bar Admissions

Illinois, Illinois State Bar Association

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