Title: Partner and Public Finance Group Vice Chair
Firm: Ice Miller LLP
Age: 38
Ben Kitto knew he wanted to do transaction work and he had always envisioned himself working in a corporate environment. But a summer law clerk internship at Ice Miller opened his eyes to the world of public finance.
He loved that projects were tangible and benefited communities. By the time he graduated from Washington University Law he was sold on public finance.
Kitto, partner and public finance group vice chair, serves as bond counsel and underwriter's counsel for tax-exempt bond financings, mostly for 501(c)(3) organizations. However, it was education that really ignited his passion.
Kitto prioritized education finance work with an emphasis on charter school financing projects across the county, turning a small practice at Ice Miller into a national powerhouse and growing revenues derived from charter school financing by 35%.
As a summer intern and new associate, Kitto participated in Ice Miler's mentorship program. He now mentors associates and partners within the firm as well as underrepresented members of the legal profession outside the organization. Kitto speaks proudly of one of his mentees, a first-generation college graduate who is now a practicing attorney.
Kitto has been instrumental in growing Ice Miller's public finance group, architecting the group's growth plan and bringing accountability to the group's growth efforts.
In just five years, he's served as the lead attorney for 260-plus transactions. When asked to name his most memorable, Kitto demurs, noting he's been fortunate to have such a volume of deals. "It's difficult to name one or two deals," he said. "But I really enjoy the startup or the turnaround workouts that give schools the opportunity to succeed."
