About
Kristin Macdonald is a leading corporate attorney and Chair of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck’s Hospitality, Resort & Recreation Group. With vast experience in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, private equity, and securities, she regularly handles over $2 billion in transactions annually. Her expertise in structuring complex deals and anticipating challenges makes her a trusted advisor to corporations, private equity firms, and hospitality businesses.
Kristin earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, graduating with highest honors and Order of St. Ives. She also holds a Master’s degree from the University of Denver Graduate School of International Studies and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Colorado, magna cum laude. Licensed to practice in Colorado, she is an active member of the American Bar Association, Colorado Bar Association, and Colorado Women’s Bar Association.
Kristin’s notable transactions include representing MGM Resorts in its $825 million sale of Circus Circus Hotel Casino, advising The Bay Club Company in its sale to KKR, and facilitating multimillion-dollar acquisitions and sales of luxury resorts, hotels, and real estate assets nationwide. She also serves as outside corporate counsel for businesses navigating regulatory and operational complexities.
Recognized for her excellence, Kristin Macdonald has been named one of the 5280 Top Lawyers in Mergers & Acquisitions (2021) and was a 40 Under 40 Emerging Leaders Award recipient by The M&A Advisor (2015). She actively contributes to her community as a board member for Community Food Share, Growing Gardens, and YWCA of Boulder County. Kristin’s strategic dealmaking and commitment to client success make her a top-tier legal advisor in the hospitality and corporate sectors.
Law Office Affiliations
- Shareholder, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Boulder Bar Association
- Member, Colorado Bar Association
- Member, Colorado Women’s Bar Association
Licensed State
- Colorado
Education
- University of Denver Sturm College of Law
Juris Doctor (JD) - University of Denver
MA in International Studies - University of Colorado
BA with Magna Cum Laude
Awards & Badges




- Corporate and incorporation
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Securities offerings