Summary

Catherine Courtney is a member of the Public Finance and Economic Development practice group and practices principally in the areas of:

  • Public finance
  • Nonprofit and charitable organizations

Catherine represents clients across a broad spectrum of industries, including municipalities and other governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, banking and financial services, education, health care, housing and closely held companies. She has significant experience working with 501(c)(3) organizations, including representing nonprofit borrowers in tax-exempt and conventional financing of multifamily housing, senior housing, skilled nursing facilities and various community facilities. In addition, she works as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, borrower’s counsel, 501(c)(3) counsel, lender’s counsel, trustee’s counsel, and credit enhancement provider’s counsel on bond transactions that include housing, hospitals, public, charter and private schools, small issue manufacturing, 501(c)(3) organizations, revolving fund loan programs and tribal financing.

Catherine also advises small and nonprofit corporations on general corporate matters and governance issues and her pro bono work includes the provision of general corporate services to several small 501(c)(3) organizations.

Awards

  • Honoree, Best Lawyers in America, Public Finance Law (2024 – 2025)

  • Recipient, Conrad Rettmer Commissioner Award, Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (2022)

All Service Areas

Education

  • University of Michigan Law School (1989)
  • Northwestern University (1986)

    B.A.

Admissions

  • State - Minnesota
  • Federal - District of Minnesota

Notable Matters

  • Participated in hundreds of financing transactions representing over $8 billion.
  • Played an instrumental role in the development of charter school financing, having acted as underwriter’s counsel and bond counsel in the financing of over 60 public charter schools in Minnesota, Arizona, Massachusetts, Ohio and New Mexico.
  • Represented the underwriter in an innovative $16 million tax increment financing of a large national bank operations center.
  • Served as general counsel to 501(c)(3) owner/operator of senior housing facilities located in Minnesota, Iowa, Texas, Georgia and Ohio.
  • Represented regional lender in loans made to parishes and religious schools.
  • Bond counsel to one of the largest Minnesota school districts.
  • Counsel to bond trustee for state single-family loan programs.
  • Advised Minnesota Vikings on various matters related to tax-exempt bond issue for construction of new stadium.
  • Bond counsel to active Minnesota multi-county housing and redevelopment authority.
  • Represented community college foundation in tax-exempt financing for student housing.
  • Acted as bond counsel and underwriter’s counsel for revolving fund loan programs.
  • Developed and made presentations regarding the implications of the redesigned Form 990 information return on tax exempt, 501(c)(3) organizations.

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association

    Member

  • Minnesota State Bar Association

    Member

  • Hennepin County Bar Association

    Member

  • National Association of Bond Lawyers

    Member

  • Women in Public Finance

    Member

  • National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials

    Member

  • Minnesota Institute of Public Finance

    Member
    Past Member, Board of Directors

  • Hennepin County Bar Foundation

    Past Member, Board of Directors

Community Involvement

  • City of Lakes Community Band

    Past Member, Board of Directors
    Performing Member

  • Minnesota Literacy Council

    Past Member, Board of Directors
    Committee Chair

  • Chamber Music Minnesota

    Past Member, Board of Directors

  • St. Louis Park Housing Authority

    Board of Commissioners, Past Chair

  • Taft Pro Bono Committee

    Member