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Published on: January 18, 2019

Opportunity Zones and U.S. Hotel Development

By Catherine DeBono Holmes

Recent posts on the Investment Law Blog have focused on Opportunity Zone Funds, a new source of financing for real estate development projects, created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

While these articles have focused broadly on real estate investment, I recently spoke with Bryan Wroten of HotelNewsNow, specifically about hotel development and Opportunity Zone investment.

His article, “What opportunity zones mean for US hotel development,” describes both the opportunities and challenges that hotel developers face when it comes to taking advantage of Opportunity Zone development.

The article also describes how the Peachtree Development Group is taking advantage of opportunity zones for viable projects that were already in their pipeline.

Read the full article here.

— Catherine DeBono Holmes

Catherine DeBono Holmes is the chair of JMBM’s Investment Capital Law Group, and has practiced law at JMBM for over 30 years. She has also worked as a senior member of the JMBM Global Hospitality Group and JMBM Chinese Investment Group. Within the Investment Capital Law Group, she helps real estate developers and business owners, brokers, investment advisers and investment managers raise and manage investment capital from U.S. and non-U.S. investors. In the last ten years, she has represented over 100 real estate developers obtain financing through the EB-5 immigrant investor visa program for the development of hotels, multi-family and mixed use developments throughout the U.S. She also advises real estate developers on Qualified Opportunity Zone investments. She has also represented private investment fund managers, registered securities broker-dealers and investment advisers on securities offerings, business transactions and regulatory compliance issues. For the last two years, she has been named as one of the top 25 securities lawyers in the country by EB5 Investors magazine. Contact Cathy at CHolmes@jmbm.com or +1 310.201.3553.

Catherine DeBono Holmes is the Chair of JMBM's Investment Capital Law Group. She helps clients worldwide to raise and manage investment capital from U.S. and non-U.S. investors.
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Brad Cohen is a partner in JMBM's Taxation and Trusts & Estates Groups. His practice emphasizes business planning related to complex corporate and partnership transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, financing and business succession planning, income tax planning, and estate tax planning, all on an integrated basis. Brad is best known for his business and tax advice related to the motion picture, television, music, emerging media and sports industries. One of the focuses of his practice is coordinating the relationships among the entertainment, advertising and nonprofit industries. In addition, he advises real estate industry clients in sale, acquisition, deferred exchanges and financing, including structuring of Qualified Opportunity Zone funds. Contact Brad at BCohen@jmbm.com or 310.201.3575.

Jamie Ogden is a partner in JMBM's Taxation and Trusts & Estates Groups. He advises individuals and business entities on a range of tax planning, tax controversy and estate planning matters. In addition to his experiences in private practice, Jamie also brings several years of service from both state and federal government. Jamie routinely advises U.S. and non-U.S. individuals on complex income, estate and gift tax planning, along with business succession and general family office matters. He serves as lead tax counsel on M&A transactions, financing, internal corporate restructurings and deferred compensation matters. Jamie also works frequently with litigators on the tax aspects of litigation, judgments and settlements. Jamie has extensive experience with foreign compliance matters, including each variation of the IRS amnesty programs. Contact Jamie at JOgden@jmbm.com.

Eric Bardwell is a Partner in the Taxation, Trusts & Estates Group at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP. He advises individuals, families and their businesses in wealth-transfer strategies that efficiently minimize taxes. Eric works closely with each client's team of advisors including accountants, investment advisors and insurance agents, to ensure the client's personal planning and wealth preservation goals are accomplished in a coordinated manner. In addition, he advises clients on estate and trust administration, probate administration and the preparation of gift and estate tax returns. Mr. Bardwell has been designated as a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate law by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization. Contact him at EBardwell@jmbm.com or 949.623.6251.