Practice Areas
Affordable Housing Development
We represent lenders, nonprofit developers, for-profit developers, investors, syndicators and government agencies in connection with the financing, acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, and development of multifamily housing projects. We advise our clients on a range of issues that arise during the structuring of multifamily projects, including:
- Partnership Formation
- Creation of Subsidiaries and Affiliates
- Regulatory Issues
- Real Estate Financing and Law
- Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC)
- Tax-Exempt Bond Financing
- Utilizing Various Federal and State Funding Programs
Charter School Development
We serve as counsel to developers involved in all phases of development of charter school facilities. We also represent our clients in negotiations with education-related agencies on all phases of charter school financing, including:
- Site Acquisition and Control
- School Construction
- Construction Financing; Refinancing
- Special Purpose Entity Formation
- Leasing and Subleasing
- Regulatory Issues
Community and Economic Development
We advise nonprofit and for-profit organizations, lenders and developers, municipalities and local housing authorities in the legal and financial aspects of community and economic development, including:
- All Types of Financing
- Tax-Exempt Bonds
- Credit Enhancements
- New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC)
- Leases
- Sale/Lease Back Transactions
- Ground Leases
- Government Financing
General Corporate
Our firm routinely handles general corporate matters, including:
- Choice of Entity
- Formation of Partnerships and Corporations
- Formation of Limited Liability Companies
- Joint Ventures
- Corporate Governance
- Legal Audits
- Compliance
- IRS
- Attorney General’s Office
- Franchise Tax Board
- Secretary of State
Low Income Housing Tax Credit Syndication
We represent nonprofit and for-profit developers using low income housing tax credits in the development of affordable and mixed income multifamily housing projects. In connection with this representation, we assist our clients with:
- Structuring and Negotiating Investments by Tax Credit Equity Investors
- Loans by Conventional Lenders, Community Development Financial Institutions and Governmental Lenders
- Structuring Low Income Housing Tax Credit Transactions with Multi-Layered Financial Structures
New Markets and Historic Tax Credits
We represent CDFIs, CDEs, historic tax credit investors and qualified borrowers in connection with NMTC and HTC financings. We also work with allocatees in the preparation of submissions for CDE and CDFI certification, and applications for NMTC allocations.
Nonprofit Representation
We routinely aid and advise nonprofits in a wide range of areas, including:
- Formation and Qualification for 501(c)(3) Status
- IRS Determination Letters
- Formation of Joint Ventures
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Avoiding Private Inurement
- Conduct of Non-Charitable Activities
- Establishment of For-Profit Subsidiaries and Nonprofit Subsidiaries
- Private Foundation Law
- Unrelated Business Income
- Complying with Local Property Tax Exemption Requirements
- Legal/Operations Audits and Reviews
- Serving as General Counsel
- Contract Negotiation
- Maintenance of Tax-Exempt Status
- Governance
- Welfare Exemptions
- Supporting Organizations
Real Estate Finance/Real Estate Law
We represent purchasers, sellers, landlords and tenants in real estate property financing and development, sales, leasing, condominium approval, property subdivision and qualification for property tax exemptions. In short, we handle all facets of commercial real estate law including:
- Zoning and Entitlement
- Acquisition
- Property Management
- Predevelopment Financing
- Construction Financing
- Equity Financing
- Gap and Bridge Financing
- Permanent Financing
- Creation of Ownership Entities
- Real Estate Partnerships
- Land Use
- Zoning Compliance
- Issuance of Construction Permits
- Conditional Use Permits
- Variances
- Property Subdivision
- Environmental Issues
- NEPA and CEQA regulations
Redevelopment
We have wide experience in California redevelopment law, land use and planning, CEQA, relocation and affordable housing. We act as special counsel to several redevelopment agencies throughout California, and advise developers in connection with development, redevelopment, sale and leasing of real property for housing and commercial developments within redevelopment project areas.