Investment Law BlogPublished on:
The EB-5 Securities Law Roundtable has released its recommendations to clarify and conform EB-5 integrity legislation to existing securities laws.
The EB-5 Securities Law Roundtable, a group of securities lawyers from several different law firms around the United States, has been working jointly to provide comments to legislation that we expect will be proposed by Congress to improve the integrity of the EB-5 program. The focus of the Roundtable has been to recommend changes that we believe will conform the proposed legislation to existing securities laws, and will clearly define the roles and responsibilities of EB-5 regional centers, sponsors and issuers.
The Roundtable supports efforts by Congress to strengthen the integrity of the EB-5 program by establishing procedures that will assist in detecting and preventing potential fraud in offerings made under the EB-5 program. Lawmakers could do a great service to the many U.S. employees, businesses and investors who benefit from the EB-5 program by aligning the integrity requirements of the EB-5 program with existing U.S. securities law.
The Roundtable issued a press release on August 29, 2016 announcing its analysis and comments on the proposed legislation, a copy of which may be obtained, along with the comments of the Roundtable on the legislation, at the following website: https://www.eb5roundtable.com.
The comments of the Roundtable do not address immigration policy and eligibility aspects of proposed EB-5 legislation, such as the minimum investment amount, defining targeted employment areas, visa availability, effective dates or length of program authorization. This is because the goal of the Roundtable is to focus on those aspects of the legislation that concern the application of securities laws to the EB-5 program, and the role of each industry participant to assure compliance with those laws.
About the EB-5 Securities Roundtable
The EB-5 Securities Law Roundtable is an informal, independent group of leading EB-5 Securities Attorneys from law firms including Arnstein & Lehr; Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz; Homeier Law PC; Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell; Kutak Rock; Phillips Lytle; Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton; and Torres Law, organized to facilitate best practices in the offerings of EB-5 securities. The Roundtable is not affiliated with any EB-5 industry organization, regional center, offeror of EB-5 securities or job-creating recipient of EB-5 funds, and it receives no outside financial contributions. The comments of the Roundtable represent consensus views of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of any individual participant, their respective law firms or clients of their law firms. The comments of the Roundtable do not represent legal advice. https://www.eb5roundtable.com
Catherine DeBono Holmes, a partner of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP and chair of its Investment Capital Law Group, is a member of the EB-5 Securities Law Roundtable and a contributor to the comments developed by the Roundtable on the legislation. She regularly represents EB-5 regional centers, issuers of EB-5 securities and developers of projects who receive EB-5 financing. She has written more than 30 articles on topics relating to the EB-5 program, and is designated one of EB5 Investors magazine’s Top 25 Securities Attorneys.
Catherine DeBono Holmes is the chair of JMBM’s Investment Capital Law Group, and has practiced law at JMBM for over 30 years. She specializes in EB-5 immigrant investment offerings and hotel and real estate transactions made by Chinese investors in the U.S. Within the Investment Capital Law Group, Cathy focuses on business formations for entrepreneurs, private securities offerings, structuring and offering of private investment funds, and business and regulatory matters for investment bankers, investment advisers, securities broker-dealers and real estate/mortgage brokers. Contact Cathy at CHolmes@jmbm.com or 310.201.3553.