Kristin B. Cooper
Email:
Tel/Direct:
515-246-0330
Tel/Main:
515-243-7611
Address:
100 Court Avenue, Suite 600
Des Moines, IA 50309-2231
Assistant:
Susan Ball
515-246-4410
sball@ahlerslaw.com
Practice Groups
Court Admissions
All Iowa Courts
Education
J.D. (with High Honors), Drake University, 2010
B.A. (Summa Cum Laude), Central College, 2006
Bar Admissions
Iowa, 2011
Background
Kristin leads the firm’s Government Law Practice Area, and previously served as the firm's Public Finance Practice Group chair. Kristin serves as bond, disclosure, and issuer counsel for a variety of taxable and tax-exempt financings. She represents governmental issuers during the issuance of general obligation bonds secured by a debt service levy, revenue bonds payable solely from a specific source of revenue, special assessment bonds, Urban Renewal Tax Increment Financing (TIF) bonds, as well as other financing structures for a wide range of public projects.
Kristin provides advice for all stages of the bond issuance process for the benefit of cities, counties, townships, utilities, colleges, universities, and 501(c)(3) organizations. This includes analysis of state law and constitutional authority, preparation of ballot language and advice on elections, drafting of parity and rate covenants typically found in revenue financings, federal tax advice as it pertains to tax-exempt financings, and guidance through complicated federal securities laws. She has experience drafting disclosure documents for public offerings and assists clients with post-issuance securities law compliance, including drafting post-issuance compliance and continuing disclosure policies.
She has extensive experience representing municipalities with economic development and urban renewal matters and understands the nuances of urban renewal financing. She also handles municipal lease and lease/purchase transactions, special assessments, contract bidding, and matters pertaining to Local Option Sales and Service Tax.
Kristin is a frequent speaker across Iowa at seminars given by local governmental groups, as well as other professional organizations with an interest in municipal finance. Kristin graduated from Central College as a double major in political science and piano performance and Drake University Law School, where she was an academic scholarship recipient and a member of the Drake Law Review.
Representative Projects
- Acts as Bond Counsel for general obligation and revenue issues of all sizes statewide, ranging from a few thousand to several million
- Acts as Disclosure Counsel statewide, including drafting of disclosure offering materials
- Counsels cities in connection with special assessment and contract bidding projects
- Counsels public bodies in connection with economic development projects involving 15A, Urban Renewal, TIF and public-private partnerships (P3s)
- Assists with new money and refunding issues for a variety of public and private educational institutions
- Counsels governmental issuers on IRS inquiries, post-issuance compliance and continuing disclosure obligations
Memberships
American Bar Association
Iowa State Bar Association
Polk County Bar Association
Polk County Women Attorneys
Iowa Municipal Attorneys Association
National Association of Bond Lawyers
Recognitions
Best Lawyers in America© (2021-2024)
- Economic Development Law
- Des Moines Lawyer of the Year 2023
- Public Finance Law
Speaking/Presentations
Kristin's most recent speaking engagements include:
Iowa Municipal Finance Officers Association, Fall Conference, "Capital Project Financing," October 2023
Iowa Municipal Professionals Institute 2023, “Financing Options and Economic Development,” with Maria Brownell, Jason Comisky and Jenna Sabroske, October 2023
Iowa League of Cities, "Why Muni Bonds Continue to Thrive in Today's Market," with Jason Comisky, September 2023
Iowa State Association of Counties, New County Officers School, "Investment of Public Funds & Public Funds Collateralization," January 2023
Iowa Municipal Professionals Institute 2022, “Financing Options and Economic Development,” with Jenna Bishop, Maria Brownell and Jason Comisky, October 2022
Iowa State County Treasurer's Association, "Investment of Public Funds & Public Funds Collateralization," May 2022
Iowa Municipal Professionals Institute 2021, "Financing Options and Economic Development," with Maria Brownell, Jason Comisky and Jenna Sabroske, October 2021
Iowa League of Cities, Virtual Small City Workshop, "Financing and Funding for City Projects," June 2021
Iowa Municipal Professionals Institute 2020, “Financing Options and Economic Development,” with Jenna Bishop, Maria Brownell and Jason Comisky, July 2020
Iowa Concrete Paving Association, 2019 Municipal Streets Seminar, "Financing Street Improvements," with Maria Brownell, November 2019
Iowa Municipal Professionals Institute 2019, “Financing Options and Economic Development,” with Jenna Bishop, Maria Brownell and Jason Comisky, July 2019
Iowa Municipal Professionals Academy 2019, “Securities Laws/Disclosure,” with Eric Boehlert, July 2019
Ahlers & Cooney P.C., Webinar, "SEC Amendments to Rule 15c2-12 on Disclosure for Municipal Securities," January 2019
Iowa Municipal Professionals Institute 2017, "Financing and Debt Options" and "Investment of Public Funds & Public Funds Collateralization," July 2017
Published Articles & Books
Cityscape, Iowa League of Cities, "Financing FAQs for City Projects," co-authored with Jason Comisky, April 2021
Cityscape, Iowa League of Cities, "SEC Creates New Disclosure Obligations," co-authored wiy th Beth Grob, March 2019
Professional, Community and Civic Leadership
National Association of Bond Lawyers – General Law Committee Member (2016 - present)
Downtown Chamber LEAP (Leadership Education and Advancement Pipeline) (2016)
Real Estate Sales License (2006-2011)
Iowa Commercial Real Estate Association (ICREA) (2006-2008)