William G. Tonkin
Overview
Bill is now retired and is no longer practicing law. Please contact Allison Schwartzman for legal advice on public finance matters.
Bill’s practice focused on public finance, focusing on federal tax requirements and restrictions, including arbitrage and arbitrage rebate requirements, applicable to all kinds of tax-exempt obligations, including state and local bonds, qualified 501(c)(3) bonds, qualified small issue (industrial development) and exempt facility bonds.
Bill has been recognized for his extensive experience in general business and corporate area, emphasizing federal taxation and securities regulation.
Areas of Focus
Admissions
- Washington, 1969
Education
- LL.B., Harvard University, 1968
- A.B., Northwestern University, 1965
Honors & Recognition
- Chambers USA (Washington) Leading Individual, Public Finance, 2025-2026
- 2010 Top Lawyer, Seattle Metropolitan magazine
- Phi Beta Kappa
- Departmental Honors in History
- Martindale-Hubbell AV rating
Clerkships
- Hon. McQuade, Idaho Supreme Court, Law Clerk, 1968-1969
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association, Taxation Section, Member
- American College of Bond Counsel, Regular Fellow
- King County Bar Association
- National Association of Bond Lawyers
- Washington Finance Officers Association
- Washington Public Treasurers Association
- Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys
- Washington State Bar Association, Tax Law Section, Member
News & Insights
News
Foster Garvey Recognized Among Nation’s Top Firms in 2026 Chambers USA Guide: 34 Attorneys and 15 Practices Ranked
06.04.26
Foster Garvey Recognized Among Nation’s Top Firms in 2025 Chambers USA Guide; 26 Attorneys and 13 Practices Ranked
06.05.25
Celebrating Robert “Bobby” Moch: Foster Garvey’s Historic Link to “The Boys in the Boat”
12.27.23
Foster Garvey Public Finance Team Closes $1.2 Billion in Bonds in One Week
01.07.20
Events
“Arbitrage in a Rising Interest Rate Environment,” 2024 Finance & Administration Seminar
06.27.24
WASBO 2024 Annual Conference
05.08-05.10.2024
After the Issue Date: Post-Issuance Compliance Training for Issuers and Borrowers of Tax-Exempt Bonds Webinar
05.10.23
WASBO 2023 Annual Conference
5.3.23 – 5.5.23
WASBO 2022 Annual Conference
05.04-05.06.2022
2018 Tri-Cities Municipal Government & Public Finance Seminar
7.19.2018
Post-Issuance Compliance For Municipal Bond Issuers: Basic Training On Tax And Securities Responsibilities
11.2016
We Issued Bonds – Now What?
10.25.13
Legal Alerts
Unlocking Clean Energy Investments: New Elective Payment Credits for State and Local Governments
02.07.24
Upcoming Changes to EMMA User Accounts
06.22.23
2023 Reminder to Issuers and Borrowers of LIBOR-Based Tax-Exempt Bonds: Now is the Time to Protect the Tax-Exempt Status of Bonds in Anticipation of Upcoming Discontinuation of LIBOR
01.04.23
Bond Compliance: Important Reminders During COVID-19 Outbreak
04.05.20
Changes Proposed to Bonds with “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act”
11.03.17
Expanded Continuing Disclosure Obligations
03.17.17
Connect with Bill