The NABL Member Spotlight initiative is a volunteer-based program. All featured members participate voluntarily and are selected to highlight their contributions and achievements within our community. Participation in the spotlight does not imply endorsement by NABL. If you would like to be featured, please contact us! Now, let’s meet Christie Jean and learn more about her public finance journey:

1. What inspired you to become a NABL member and how did your career in Public Finance start?   

I became a NABL member because it’s the profession’s hub for practical guidance, rigorous education, and a collaborative network that elevates our work. I was told early on that public finance is a challenging field where much learning happens by osmosis; NABL—especially Fundamentals (now Essentials) and its support programming—helped me find my footing quickly and confidently. 

My career in public finance began (and continues) at Robinson+Cole, where my first transaction financed a multifamily housing project in my hometown. Working directly with the housing authority and seeing the project come to life showed me how well‑structured financings deliver tangible results—modern schools, safer facilities, expanded healthcare access, and affordable housing. Those outcomes confirmed that public finance is the right path for me, because it sits at the intersection of law, infrastructure, and community impact and produces measurable, durable improvements for people from all walks of life. 

2. How has your participation and membership in NABL provided value to you and your practice?   

Aside from core learning at conferences like Essentials and The Workshop, NABL consistently keeps me current on evolving market practices and regulatory expectations—and it does so in practical, immediately usable ways. The CLE programming, virtual sessions, and related presentations are outstanding; for example, the recent session on the “Anatomy of Bond Purchase Agreements” offered both high-level context and detailed insight that I could apply at my drafting table the same week. 

Equally valuable is the ability to connect with peers to sanity-check less familiar financing structures or unusual local procedures. Those touchpoints—even through informal conversations—translate into a steady flow of ideas, cleaner and more consistent documents across the industry, smoother closings, and better outcomes for issuers, borrowers, underwriters, municipal advisors, and all parties involved in our transactions. 

3. Do you have any resolutions as a bond attorney for 2026 or personally?

My resolution for 2026 is to deepen my expertise in emerging financing structures and regulatory changes. Public finance is evolving quickly, and staying ahead of the curve allows me to offer clients creative, compliant solutions that make a real difference in their communities. I also plan to be more active in the profession—possibly presenting at a conference—to share insights and contribute to the dialogue on best practices. In addition, I want to invest time in mentoring newer attorneys entering public finance. It’s a complex field, and sharing practical lessons learned can help others find their footing faster and strengthen the profession as a whole. 

4. What advice would you give to new attorneys? 

Deals are team sports. A quick question to issuer counsel, the banker, or the trustee can prevent downstream hiccups—so never hesitate to ask. Master the core documents—resolutions, loan agreements, trust indentures, and disclosure—and understand why each clause exists. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel; someone has done it before, so lean on that experience. There are no dumb questions. 

Focus on what you can master, but remember: you don’t know what you don’t know. Checklists are your best friend—they help double and triple‑check details that might otherwise be missed at closing. And always keep up with NABL offerings to stay current with industry standards. Our field is unique and small, which means we have a treasure trove of experts. Learning accelerates when you’re surrounded by generous professionals who are willing to share their knowledge. 

5. What is a fun fact that people might not know about you?

A fun fact about me: I really love hip-hop. If I’m not listening to music and rapping along, I’m probably tuned into a podcast—or, if timing works out, watching a show like Severance, The Handmaid’s Tale, or Westworld. I tend to gravitate toward content that makes you think, whether it’s lyrics, dialogue, or storytelling.