Butler Snow LLP is thrilled to announce that attorney Charity W. Karanja has been named to Bloomberg Law’s 2026 “They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40” list, a national recognition honoring exceptional attorneys who are shaping the future of the legal profession through their professional accomplishments, leadership and contributions to their communities.
“Charity is an exceptionally talented attorney whose knowledge, leadership and commitment to serving clients have made a meaningful impact on our firm and the public finance industry,” said Christopher R. Maddux, chair of Butler Snow LLP. “This prestigious recognition reflects not only her significant professional accomplishments, but also the energy, vision and dedication she brings to advancing her practice and supporting the next generation of leaders. We are proud to congratulate Charity on this well-deserved honor.”
Bloomberg Law’s “They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40” recognizes lawyers nationwide who have demonstrated notable achievements early in their careers and are positioned to become influential leaders within the legal profession.
Charity W. Karanja
Charity is a member of Butler Snow’s Public Finance, Tax Incentives and Credit Markets Group and is a Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) through the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA). Charity has the distinction of being one of six women in the nation named to the 2024 Class of the Caren S. Franzini Fellowship, a merit-based program by the CDFA Foundation, recognizing outstanding women in development finance for their leadership and dedication to the advancement of the industry.
Charity focuses her practice on public finance, economic development incentives, and government relations and has served in multiple roles on public, private, and public-private finance transactions and economic development matters, including Special Tax Counsel, Bond Counsel, Underwriter’s Counsel, Issuer’s Counsel, Lender’s Counsel, Disclosure Counsel, Trustee’s Counsel, and Developer’s Counsel. She has represented both governmental and private organizations in a variety of financing structures, including New Market Tax Credit (NMTC) transactions.
Charity has earned numerous professional honors recognizing her leadership and contributions to the legal profession, including: American Bar Association: On the Rise – Top 40 Young Lawyers, The Mississippi Business Journal: Top 40 Under 40, Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation Guide, ALM’s The Daily Report and Law.com’sSoutheastern Legal Awards: On the Rise in Mississippi, The Bond Buyer: Rising Stars, Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers®: Mid-South Rising Stars, and The National Black Lawyers: Top 40 Under 40. She has been selected for several distinguished leadership programs, including the Women in Public Finance Emerging Leaders Council, the Mississippi Bar Leadership Program, and the National Association of Women Lawyers Leadership Program.
Charity earned her bachelor’s degree from the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University and her Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law.
