Cristina Kuhn
PEOPLE

Cristina Kuhn

Partner
kuhn.cristina@dorsey.com

Overview

CRIS HELPS GOVERNMENTAL AND PRIVATE CLIENTS ACHIEVE THEIR STRATEGIC BUSINESS GOALS THROUGH FINANCING TRANSACTIONS, PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND GOVERNMENTAL COMPLIANCE.

A partner in Dorsey’s Public Finance Group, Cris practices in the areas of municipal law, state governmental law, and governmental and private activity financings. Cris has several years of experience in a variety of public finance transactions and structures, including general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, USDA financings, private activity financings, lease purchase structures, working capital financings, pooled financing structures, credit enhanced structures, economic development and public/private partnerships.

Cris serves as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, borrower’s counsel and bank counsel on a wide range of private activity and governmental financing transactions, including issuances for private and governmental hospitals and other health care entities, 501(c)(3) entities, state-wide associations, intergovernmental entities, manufacturing facilities, public and private colleges and multi-family residential rental facilities. Cris also has a general municipal finance practice for cities, counties, rural water districts, utilities and school corporations. Cris also provides legal advice regarding securities law, open meetings/public records laws, public bidding laws, economic development issues, contracting issues and other legal matters.

Cris also works with private and governmental clients regarding post issuance compliance and IRS audits regarding tax-exempt financing transactions.

Cris serves in leadership roles at Dorsey, serving on the Firm’s Professional Practice Committee and head of the Firm's Des Moines office.

Outside of the Firm, Cris recently became the first president of the Iowa Chapter of Women in Public Finance.

Education & Admissions

Drake University Law School (J.D., with honors, 1994), Order of the Coif
Drake Law Review Note Editor, 1993-94; Drake Law Review Junior Staff Member, 1992-93
ATLA Mock Trial Team, 1993-94

University of Iowa (Bachelor of Business Administration, 1991)

Admissions

  • Iowa
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Iowa
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

News & Resources

Articles

Critical Changes To Iowa’s Public Bidding Law
SEC Charges School District, the District’s Former Chief Financial Officer and the District’s Auditor with Violations of Federal Securities Laws in a 2018 Bond Offering
SEC Charges School District and the District’s Former Chief Financial Officer with Violations of Securities Laws in a 2018 Bond Offering
Iowa Governor Signs Legislation Related to Iowa County Hospitals’ Authority to Borrow Money
SEC Statement Encourages Municipal Securities Issuers to Provide Expanded COVID-19 Disclosures
CARES ACT Municipal Liquidity Facility
Iowa Governor Proclamation Temporarily Allows County Hospitals to Borrow Money For Operations Not Solely Secured by Revenues
CARES Act Summary for Public Finance
Guidance Regarding Electronic Meetings in Iowa
Starting a New Project? Adopt a Reimbursement Resolution
"Heartland Disaster Tax Relief act of 2008," Iowa League of Cities – Cityscape
Iowa Floods and Recovery Efforts
"Between Scylla & Charybdis: Can the Supreme Court Rescue the Inimical Qualified Immunity Doctrine?" 43 Drake L. Rev. 681
Des Moines

News & Press Mentions

201 Dorsey Lawyers Recognized in 2025 Best Lawyers in America, Lawyers of the Year, and Ones to Watch
200 Dorsey Lawyers Selected for Inclusion in 2024 Best Lawyers in America, Lawyers of the Year, and Ones to Watch
Cristina Kuhn Named Des Moines Office Head
Nine Dorsey Lawyers Selected in Des Moines for Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2019
Eight Dorsey Lawyers Selected in Des Moines for Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2018 and 2018 Lawyers of the Year
8 Dorsey Lawyers Selected in Des Moines for Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2017
Dorsey Partner Cris Kuhn Comments on Luther Manor Bond Request
8 Dorsey Lawyers Selected in Des Moines for Inclusion in "The Best Lawyers in America®" 2016
97 Dorsey Lawyers Selected for Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2015 and 2015 Lawyers of the Year

Select Presentations

  • Webinar: Annual Training, Municipal Securities Disclosure, Spring 2015
  • “Post Issuance Compliance Procedures for Tax Exempt Obligations: Are You Ready for an IRS Audit?” LeadingAge Iowa Fall Conference, October 9, 2013
  • “Legal Issues for Municipal Finance-the Basics and Beyond,” co-presenter, Iowa Municipal Professionals Academy, July 25, 2013
  • “Project Finance 101,” co-presenter, Iowa Rural Water Association, 38th Annual Conference, February 19, 2013
  • “Hospital Construction Projects: Digging Through the Regulatory and Financing Morass,” co-presenter, Iowa Hospital Association Annual Meeting, Iowa Hospital Association, Annual Meeting, October 9, 2012

Industries & Practices

Higher Education & Academic Research Institutions
Nonprofit & Tax Exempt Organizations
  • Banking & Financial Institutions
  • Development & Infrastructure
  • Energy & Natural Resources
  • Healthcare & Life Sciences
  • Higher Education & Academic Research Institutions
  • Lending Transactions
  • Nonprofit & Tax Exempt Organizations
  • Project Development & Finance
  • Public Finance
  • Public-Private Partnerships

Professional & Civic

Professional Achievements

  • Member, National Association of Bond Lawyers
  • Iowa Bar Association
    • Member
    • Chair, Governmental Practice Section Council (2007-2009)
  • Polk County Bar Association
    • Member
    • Member, Public Relations Committee (2007-2008)
  • Council of School Attorneys
  • Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, Graduate, Class of 2012
  • Broadlawns Medical Center Advocacy Circle Member

Accolades

  • Named a Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year, Public Finance Law, 2023, 2025
  • Named a Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year, Municipal Law, 2025
  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America©, 2013-2025
  • Named Best Lawyers© Des Moines Public Finance Lawyer of the Year, 2015 and 2021
Cristina Kuhn