(CHICAGO) Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP is pleased to announce that partner Maribel Mata Benedict has been named a 2011 Business Leader of Color by Chicago United and will be featured in its 2011 Business Leaders of Color publication. This designation highlights exceptional corporate and civic leaders.

“This is a well-deserved honor for Maribel because of her outstanding work in public finance,” said Vincent A. F. Sergi, Katten’s National Managing Partner. “We are always pleased when our attorneys are recognized for their hard work and dedication.”

Ms. Mata Benedict focuses on public finance, bond counsel, underwriter counsel and borrower counsel for municipalities, government agencies, health care facilities, educational institutions and other nonprofit organizations.

She is a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers, the American Bar Association and Women in Public Finance and is an associate member of the Illinois Government Finance Officers Association. She was named one of the “100 Influentials” in 2010 by Hispanic Business magazine.

The 45 individuals named 2011 Business Leaders of Color were selected from a nominations pool of more than 150 exceptionally qualified nominees from a wide variety of product and service industries.

Chicago United is an advocacy organization that promotes multiracial leadership in business to advance parity in economic opportunity. Chicago United has presented the Business Leaders of Color publication biennially since 2003. Past Business Leaders of Color include First Lady Michelle Obama; Valerie B. Jarrett, senior advisor to President Barack Obama; Christina M. Tchen, director of the White House Office of Public Engagement; Don Thompson, president and chief operating officer of McDonald’s Corp.; Luis Sierra, refinery chief financial officer of BP; and more than 200 others.