LEGAL SERVICES:
Municipal Law, Estate Planning, Real Estate, Corporations, Transactional Law
LAW SCHOOL:
Northern Illinois University, 2001 Magna Cum Laude
Christina returned to her role as Partner at The Cantlin Law Firm in January 2023 after finishing her appointment as a Circuit Court Judge in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. Prior to her
appointment Christina had over 20 years of experience in private practice including estate
planning, real estate, corporations, and governmental law. Her day-to-day responsibilities
include advising the City of Ottawa as corporation counsel, assisting other local cities, villages,
townships, fire districts, drainage districts, and representing financial institutions.
Christina previously served on the Ottawa Regional Hospital Board as a director and as the
chairman. She was a board member and Treasurer for the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce along with serving on their Public Policy Committee. She also served on the board of directors for Easter Seals of LaSalle and Bureau Counties. Christina’s current affiliations include the Illinois State Bar Association, the Illinois Local Government Lawyers Association, the International Municipal Lawyers Association, and the LaSalle County Bar Association. She is currently on the Board of Directors of First National Bank of Ottawa, a member of Phi Alpha
Beta Law Fraternity and the Epsilon Delta Professional Education Organization and is a proud
sponsor and coach for the Ottawa Soccer Club where all five of her children play.
Christina earned her Bachelor of Science degree, summa cum laude, from the University of
Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1998 and her Juris Doctorate, magna cum laude, from the
Northern Illinois University College of Law in 2001. She also studied at St. Catherine’s College
at Oxford University, England. In 2001, Christina was licensed and admitted to practice in the
State of Illinois and earned Bar Admission to the United States District Court, Northern District
of Illinois. Christina and her husband, David VanWiggeren, enjoy hiking and repelling in
National Parks in their free time.