TOP 25 ATTORNEYS
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MATTHEW PEURACH
MORRIS , MANNING & MARTIN
Matthew Peurach is the founder and chair of Morris , Manning & Martin ’ s Opportunity Zones Practice and is a partner in the firm ’ s Private Equity , Alternative Investment Funds , and Tax practices . He focuses on structuring commercial real estate transactions , negotiating and drafting partnership agreements and LLC agreements documenting equity investments in real estate , as well as structuring private equity funds and other joint venturerelated entities predominately focused on real estate investments . He regularly advises clients on tax issues associated with real estate transactions with a specialization in Qualified Opportunity Zone investments , 1031 like-kind exchanges and other tax deferral and mitigation strategies .
WHAT NEW TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING IN THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE INDUSTRY ?
Now that the legislative landscape has settled , we are beginning to see a significant uptick in QOZ investment activity in operating companies as opposed to just real estate development projects . Oftentimes , these operating company investments are being structured in tandem with a real estate development project . We are optimistic that Congress will take action to extend some of the tax benefits that have already expired , in order to continue to encourage the significant investments that have been made in distressed communities throughout the country .
KOSTAS POULAKIDAS
TAFT STETTINIUS & HOLLISTER LLP
Kostas Poulakidas is partner and co-chair of Taft ’ s Public Finance and Economic Development practice . He specializes in project finance , real estate private equity , public-private partnerships , and economic development . His clients include real estate development firms , private equity funds , private investors and government entities . Poulakidas has served as a counsel to private equity funds , private investors , real estate developers and as bond and underwriter ’ s counsel in a variety of bond and project financings . He advises clients on various project financing structures including advice on strategies for combining economic development incentives , tax benefits related to Opportunity Zones and forming Qualified Opportunity Funds for private equity investment .
WHAT NEW TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING IN THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE INDUSTRY ?
Real estate continues to be the primary benefactor of Opportunity Zone investment , but with the latest regulatory guidance , we are now seeing more interest in investing in businesses that are located in Opportunity Zones . Also , investors are more educated with how Opportunity Zones work and the related tax and investment benefits . They are asking more sophisticated questions related to OZ Funds and OZ businesses and their structures which are requiring developers , businesses and fund managers to carefully think through their project and business structure .
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