About Janet Goelz Hoffman

As pro bono counsel, Janet Goelz Hoffman works in collaboration with Katten's director of pro bono services to coordinate the firm’s transactional pro bono portfolio. This work is an outgrowth of Janet’s approximately 40 years of helping nonprofit organizations find a productive balance between their missions and their margins. During those decades of experience, she provided counsel to nonprofit organizations in 35 states involving several billion dollars of financings, benefiting hospital systems, cultural and educational institutions, and continuing care retirement communities. Janet continues to advise nonprofit organizations on board governance and conflict of interest issues. Janet is known for her calm, visionary approach to complex issues encountered by the firm’s billable and pro bono clients.

Dedicated to supporting the community

In addition, Janet is quite active in community organizations. She is the chair of the board of directors of the Leslie Shankman School Corporation that owns and operates the Hyde Park Day School and the Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School. She is a member of the board of directors and the executive committee of Covenant Living Communities and Services. She is a member of the Foundation for the Educational Development of Children. She has served on the board of directors of both Three Crowns Park (chair, 2012–2013) and Three Crowns Foundation. Three Crowns Foundation supports Three Crowns Park, a 125-year-old retirement community. Additionally, she was on the team that successfully negotiated a new electricity franchise with Commonwealth Edison on behalf of the City of Evanston, Illinois.

Janet has been a frequent panelist at the National Association of Bond Lawyers' Bond Attorneys' Workshop and annually contributed to Financial Products: Taxation, Regulation and Design (CCH) with respect to municipal securities.

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Practice Focus

  • Public finance
  • Nonprofit governance
  • Debt transactions for nonprofits

News

Presentations and Events

Practices
Education
  • Northwestern University School of Law, JD
  • Lake Forest College, BA
Bar Admissions
  • Illinois
Court Admissions
  • US Tax Court
Community Involvements
  • American Bar Association
  • American College of Bond Counsel
  • Covenant Living Communities and Services, Board of Directors
  • Foundation for the Educational Development of Children, Board of Directors
  • Leslie Shankman School Corporation, Chair, Board of Directors
Recognitions
Recognized or listed in the following:
  • American College of Bond Counsel
    Fellow
  • Best Lawyers in America
    Public Finance Law, 2006–2025
  • Crain's Chicago Business
    Notable Women in Law, 2024
  • Super Lawyers
    Illinois, 2009–2024
Award Methodologies