The NABL Member Spotlight initiative is a volunteer-based program. All featured members participate voluntarily and are selected to highlight their contributions and achievements within our community. Participation in the spotlight does not imply endorsement by NABL. If you would like to be featured, please contact us! Now, let’s meet Brian Seelinger and learn more about his public finance journey:

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how your career in Public Finance started.

I came to Public Finance in a round-about manner. I was working as a portfolio manager and trust officer, already possessing various financial designations including CFA®, CPA, CFP®, FRM®, and others. Then COVID hit and everything shut down. I started driving my wife nuts after about a week of having my activity curtailed. I abhor inactivity, and after a couple long conversations it was decided I needed to get a J.D., medical degree, or Ph.D.  Of the three options, law school was the easiest logistically – and my wife already having a bankruptcy practice, we decided worst case I could assist her. I spoke with a high school classmate after passing the bar and he suggested I might find Public Finance an interesting practice area, and it just so happened that his firm was looking for a new lawyer in that space. And the rest is history.

You attended both The Essentials and The Workshop last year, what were some of your key takeaways and how was your overall conference experience?

The number one takeaway is that an attendee will get from the conferences exactly what they put into the experience. If a person is shy and just attends the lectures, there will be far less gained than if an attorney is social and engages others, both in and out of sessions. 

What skills do you believe are needed for success in public finance law?

The number one skill that I believe is essential to the practice is the ability to communicate with peers. There are so many facets of the practice, that no one person is going to have every answer at the ready – no matter how experienced. Being able to connect with other practitioners, for advice and cautionary stories is crucial to one’s long-term success. 

Do you have any advice for new NABL members and early practitioners?

Remember that everyone comes to this area of the law from a different perspective and background. Be patient with others and understand that just because you are intimately familiar with a concept, doesn’t mean it is not foreign to others. If you have a strong background in finance and investment (CFA® and CPA, for example), you might want to spend more time networking, especially during “The Essentials,” as many of the basic financial concepts will be “old hat” to you.

What are your most recent favorite podcasts, books, and/or TV shows?

I’ve been watching Wheel of Time on Amazon lately, it’s nice to see those plotlines spring to life on the screen.