There is a feeling of reverence that comes with crossing the threshold of the statehouse, where the weight of history rests as heavily as the Capitol dome. There is excitement too, in the bustle of public officers, staffers and private citizens, all intent upon carrying out the state’s business.
Attorney and lobbyist Kirsten Christopherson Bailey brings her own dynamic energy to this environment, an energy fueled by her lifelong passion for client advocacy. This passion inspired her to open Christopherson Advocates, LLC in 2020, a firm focused on government relations, policy consulting and legislative advocacy. She and colleagues Michael Mollner and Andy Eilers work collaboratively to achieve bipartisan support for issues that advance the interests of nonprofit organizations and small businesses, giving a voice to underserved populations in Minnesota.
“Our work is gratifying because it helps make life better for all sorts of people,” Christopherson Bailey says. “Some laws need to be updated, and it’s our clients who help us understand what should be changed and why. Being part of that process to improve lives is unbelievably rewarding.”
Christopherson Bailey’s interest in public policy began after she completed her undergraduate education in communications, journalism and public relations at St. Thomas University and took a staff position at the Minnesota Senate. She went on to earn her law degree from University of Minnesota Law School and spent subsequent years working for firms in Chicago and Minnesota as a corporate transactional attorney, before joining two Minnesota law firms in government relations. While she no longer practices law, she maintains her licenses in Minnesota and Illinois, and applies her legal expertise to helping clients win legislative solutions to complex problems.
Her experience in legal and legislative environments, as well as her focus on relationship building, authentic communication and strategic thinking, make Christopherson Bailey an effective advocate and trusted leader in her field. She is a quick thinker and agile strategist, who is able to pivot quickly when new information comes to light.
“Additionally, finding the best way to communicate that plan to the client is important,” she says. “Clients like to receive information in different ways, and it is our job to adapt to them.”
