Practice Description:
I represent a wide
variety of institutional and individual investors and owners in
commercial real property transactions and taxation, concentrating my
practice in the acquisition and sale, leasing, and finance of commercial
property, including office, retail, industrial, large-scale multi-family
residential, and mixed use properties. I counsel lenders and borrowers
in connection with real estate secured construction and permanent
financing, including multi-property and multi-state transactions. I
negotiate complex commercial leases for both landlords and tenants. In
addition, my practice involves all tax matters related to business and
commercial real estate transactions, not only at the U.S. federal level,
but at the state and local level in Washington, including property, real
estate excise, business and occupation, retail sales and use, and
leasehold excise tax issues. I assist clients in forming or
restructuring their corporate, partnership or LLC entities with a focus
on planning for future growth but minimizing federal, state and local
taxes. I also counsel businesses and their owners on taxes related to
on-going operations, including reporting requirements, tax audit issues,
tax refund claims and requests for private letter rulings from taxing
authorities.
Background/Experience:
I have practiced commercial real estate law
in Seattle since 1997, practicing in the real estate departments of
Tousley Brain Stephens PLLC and Buck & Gordon LLP and as in-house legal
counsel for Pinnacle (an AMS Company) prior to joining Real Property Law
Group. Before I attended law school, I was an affordable housing
developer. As a housing developer, I was responsible for the finance,
development and construction of a large portfolio of new construction
and rehabilitation projects financed with low income housing tax credits
(LIHTC), tax exempt bond financing, CDBG and HUD program funding, among
other sources.
Education:
LL.M in Taxation, University of Washington School of Law 2004; J.D.
Santa Clara University Law School 1997; M.A. University of California
San Diego, Political Science 1988; B.A. University of California Los
Angeles, Economics and Political Science 1985
