Title: Partner
Firm: Chapman and Cutler LLP
Age: 35
Kristin Hilson has always been very good at math. She's also a quick study, able to master complex taxation frameworks and financial structures with speed and precision.
From her time as an undergraduate economics major at University of Arizona through Notre Dame Law School, Hilson knew that transactional work was her calling. What she didn't know was that her calling also included public finance.
A summer internship at Chapman and Cutler introduced Hilson to public finance. She fell in love with the work and with the people she worked with. With a JD in hand, Hilson joined the firm's public finance group.
Initially, Hilson gravitated toward conduit finance for nonprofits but discovered that she really enjoyed work in health care. "Health care transactions tend to be more complex, and it's really cool to be a part of building something that has a long-term impact for communities," said Hilson. "The collaboration between team members who share a similar mission is icing on the cake," she added.
Now a partner at Chapman and Cutler, Hilson has played a leading role in some of the most significant health care financing in the Midwest. She served as underwriters' counsel for a $1.5 billion transaction for a major health care system, including a hospital and health care financing featuring an innovative debt structure that resulted in significant savings for the system.
Mentors had a big impact on Hilson's career growth. "Working in a large law firm is challenging at times and mentors helped me with soft skills and the more technical aspects of the practice," Hilson said. She pays it forward by mentoring others and serving as a role model for professionalism and collegiality.
