Kathleen R. Ellison
Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP
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Key industry sectors
Biography
Kathleen Ellison, a partner since 1987, practices in the Houston office. She acts principally as bond counsel, underwriter's counsel, disclosure counsel and trustee counsel in local government and structured financings. She also has extensive experience in the creation and general representation of special districts, including municipal utility districts, water districts, tax increment zones and non-profit corporations, which finance federally guaranteed student loans. In that connection, she has represented special districts, non-profit corporations and creditors in restructuring of debt and bankruptcies. She frequently acts as bond counsel or underwriter's counsel in special district, tax increment and student loan financings.
Professional experience
Collapse allJD, magna cum laude, Harvard Law School, 1977
BA, with high honors and highest distinction, University of Illinois, 1973
As an undergraduate Ms. Ellison was invited to be a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She was licensed to practice law in 1977 and is currently licensed in Texas and Illinois.
- Illinois State Bar
- Texas State Bar
- Bond counsel and underwriter's counsel on numerous student loan-backed financings involving billions of dollars
- Bond counsel, underwriter's counsel and disclosure counsel on numerous utility and tax increment financings
- Bond counsel, underwriter's counsel and disclosure counsel on city, school district, and other local government financings
- Trustee's counsel in municipal finance transactions
- Counsel to local government investment funds
- Bank counsel in municipal finance transactions
- General counsel to municipal utility districts and non-profit corporations
- Counsel in restructuring of debt and bankruptcies
- The Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers, 2006 - 2021
- The Best Lawyers in America, Public Finance Law, Best Lawyers, 2006 - 2025
- The Best Lawyers in America, Lawyer of the Year, Public Finance Law (Houston), Best Lawyers, 2021
- Texas Women Lawyers, Best Lawyers, 2014
- Texas Top Rated Lawyer, LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell, 2013 - 2014
- "Modification or Discharge of Debt in a Chapter 9 Case," Client Webinar, October 20, 2011
- "What You Need to do Before and After Issuing Bonds," Texas Municipal League Annual Conference, Houston, Texas, October 12, 2011
- "Texas Public Finance Legislative Review--82nd Session," Client Webinar, June 22, 2011
- "Changes in SEC Rule 2a-7 and the Effect on Pools," Texas Association of Counties, 2011 County Management Institute Training, Level II, Dallas, Texas, June 15, 2011
- "Changes in Public Finance: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly," TASA/TASB Convention, Houston, Texas, October 3, 2009
- "Texas Public Finance Legislative Review--81st Session," Client Webinar, June 17, 2009
- "Get the Scoop: What Every Local Lawyer Should Know About MUDs," Houston Bar Association, Houston, Texas, May 3, 2007
- "Ethics in Water Law," Water Law Institute, Houston, Texas, April 24, 2007
- "Student Loan Financing--Trends and Innovations," Education Finance Council Annual Meeting, Rancho Mirage, California, March 7, 2007
- "Fulbright's New On-Line Technology Designed for its Water District Clients," Client Seminars, Houston, Texas, November 29 and December 7, 2006
- "New Developments in Student Loan Financing Techniques," Education Finance Council Legal Seminar, New York, August 1, 2006
- "Auxiliary Services by Water Districts--Current Issues," Association of Water Board Directors Conference, Galveston, June 30, 2006
- "Legal Responsibilities of Non-Profit Boards," Client Seminars, Las Vegas, October 20, 2003 and New York, May 14, 2004
- American College of Bond Counsel
- National Association of Bond Lawyers
- Association of Water Board Directors
- Education Finance Council
- American Constitution Society
- State Bar of Texas
- Houston Bar Association
- Texas Bar Foundation
- Houston Bar Foundation
- Women's Initiative of the Texas Gulf Coast United Way