Chapman and Cutler woos two attorneys away from Norton Rose

Two San Francisco public finance attorneys, who worked on one of healthcare’s largest public finance deals at their previous firm, have been hired by Chapman and Cutler LLP.

Mary Kimura joined the law firm on March 28 as a partner, while Michele Dulik, started Monday as senior counsel. Both will work in the firm’s San Francisco office for its National Public Finance Department.

The pair, who came over from Norton Rose Fulbright, have worked together on healthcare, higher education, senior living and other nonprofit financings in California and nationally.

They were part of a Norton Rose Fulbright team that worked on the $6.5 billion CommonSpirit Health financing that was integral to the merger of Dignity Health and Catholic Health Initiatives in 2019 and which created the nation’s largest not-for-profit health system by acute care revenue. The deal earned The Bond Buyer’s Deal of the Year award.

“When the opportunity came up to work for Chapman, it felt like coming home,” said Kimura, who worked with many Chapman attorneys earlier in her career when they were all at Jones Day. “We remained in touch. They are fantastic lawyers, who are strong in healthcare finance.”

Kimura and Dulik were among the 18 public finance lawyers who joined Norton Rose from Sidley Austin in 2016.

“Michele and I both worked under Norton’s great healthcare finance partner Jerry McGovern until he retired in 2021,” Kimura said.

Dulik also has known, and worked with, many of Chapman’s lawyers for years, Kimura said.

“Both Michele and I were impressed by the firm’s emphasis on collaboration and its commitment to providing exceptional client service,” Kimura said. “We look forward to contributing to Chapman’s continued growth and success.”

She added, she worked with “truly wonderful people at Norton Rose,” and will miss them.

Dulik began practicing law in 1985 after she graduated from Boston University School of Law. Kimura earned her law degree from the University of Chicago in 2000.

“We are very pleased to welcome Mary and Michele to Chapman,” said Greg Klamrzynski, Chapman’s chief executive partner. “Public finance has been a foundational practice of the firm for 111 years and the addition of this team strengthens an already market-leading group of public finance attorneys.”

Nancy Burke and David Kates, co-leaders of Chapman’s National Public Finance Department, said the firm’s strong public finance platform, particularly in health care and higher education, was instrumental in attracting the duo to Chapman.

“Both Mary and Michele are highly experienced public finance lawyers and we are happy to have them on our team,” Burke said.