On December 2, The Bond Buyer held its Deal of the Year Awards, which honor the most remarkable municipal finance transactions for bold thinking, creative structuring and problem-solving that drive progress in communities across the country.
The ceremony included recognitions from The Bond Buyer and the Northeast Women in Public Finance’s (NEWPF) for Trailblazing Women in Public Finance, honoring those making a lasting impact in public finance. Kelly Hutchinson, a Partner in Katten's Chicago office, was celebrated as a trailblazer in the Private Sector area of Public Finance. Featured profile in the magazine's "Trailblazing Women in Public Finance" supplemental issue, the article highlights Kelly's multidimensional career across finance, government and law, culminating in her recent elevation to Partner. Guided early by her father toward finance and law, she spent a decade at a financial advisory firm, counseling large municipalities, before moving to the State of Illinois as Director of Capital Markets during the 2015 budget impasse. There, she managed debt issuance and the state’s debt portfolio under intense pressure.
Now in private practice, Kelly brings an "insider's perspective" rooted in having sat in nearly every seat at the municipal finance table: issuer, municipal advisor, investment banker, bond counsel, underwriter's counsel, disclosure counsel and issuer's counsel. This allows her to navigate complex transactions with a deep understanding of deal dynamics. She emphasizes public purpose and client service, valuing collegial, relationship-driven work that supports capital projects, such as schools, hospitals, airports and essential infrastructure.
Kelly demonstrates the importance of relationships alongside hard work for long-term career success, and identifies dependability, client focus and teamwork as core professional habits in a highly regulated field. Outside her practice, she is committed to community engagement, including pro bono service for the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center and board service with the Chicago Summer Business Institute, which creates paid internships for Chicago high school students to introduce them to financial services.
Katten Clients Receive Green Financing and Northeast Regional Awards
Katten's Government and Public Finance team contributed to two Deal of the Year awards. The Green Financing Deal of the Year winner was the New York Transportation Development Corporation's (NYTDC) $1.95 billion green bond issuance for the redevelopment of JFK International Airport's Terminal 6. Serving as bond counsel to the NYTDC, the Katten team, led by Partner Patricia Mollica, included Partners William Dudine, Natalie Youkel and Michael McBride; Counsels Michela Daliana, Alexander Deland and Constance Fratianni; and Associate and New York State Bar candidate Yucheng Weng.
The Northeast Region Deal of the Year winner is the New York Energy Finance Development Corporation's $944.15 million energy supply revenue bonds, which prepaid 30 years of electricity for the New York Power Authority in what was the first tax-exempt prepaid electricity transaction in New York. The Katten team, led by Partner James Normile, with Partner Craig Scully and Counsels Chaz Beasley and Michela Daliana, served as underwriter's counsel to Goldman Sachs, the lead bond underwriter.
"Trailblazing Women in Public Finance 2025," The Bond Buyer, December 3, 2025
"Anatomy of a Deal: Large complicated JFK Terminal 6 deal soared," The Bond Buyer, December 1, 2025
"Anatomy of a Deal: New York Power Authority prepay pays off," The Bond Buyer, November 24, 2025
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