Debbie Kleban is a founding member and the current managing partner of Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen, a mission-based law firm created in 1998 to represent and counsel developers, investors, syndicators, and lenders in community development and affordable housing transactions utilizing tax credit and other federal, state and local financing programs that contribute to economic growth and development in low-income communities. Debbie started and leads the firm’s New Markets Tax Credit group and focuses her practice on structuring and closing of new markets tax credit and historic rehabilitation tax credit transactions, often involving both state and federal tax credits. Additionally, she has over 20 years of experience representing various parties in affordable housing transactions.
Since 1998, Debbie has been involved in various roles with Deborah’s Place, the largest provider of housing and supportive services for women in Chicago who are homeless or formerly homeless. She has contributed time to Deborah’s Place as a volunteer, Past-Board President, Commission Member and Board Emeritus Member. Debbie also currently serves as an advisor to the National Women’s Shelter Network and on the board of directors for Christ the King Jesuit College Prep, the model school for the Cristo Rey Network of schools created to deliver career focused, college preparatory education for students with limited economic resources.
Debbie received a J.D. from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Literature, Science and Arts from the University of Michigan.