About David P. Cohen

David Cohen helps clients buy, sell, finance and develop real estate projects. For lenders, inventors, developers and property owners, he advises them on the full range of transactions that can get them closer to their real estate goals. He also counsels government clients on affordable housing and community development.

Wide-ranging experience for wide-ranging goals

Financings, joint ventures and public-private partnerships are among the varied transactions that David works on frequently. He also advises on land development transactions, including ground leases and mixed-use developments.

David advises developers, lenders and investors in connection with a variety of housing and community development projects. His background in the subject gives him a detailed understanding of a multitude of federal programs including Opportunity Zones, Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs), New Markets Tax Credits and Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits. He is also experienced in tax-exempt bond financings, tax increment financings (TIFs), and FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage loan transactions.

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Practice Focus

  • Debt and equity financing
  • Private equity joint ventures
  • Affordable housing, workforce housing, opportunity zones and community development
  • Public-private partnerships, TIFs, HUD and tax credit financings
  • Tax-exempt bond financings
  • Land development transactions
  • Health care real estate transactions

Representative Experience

  • Represent developer in acquisition and assemblage of land and subsequent financing and development of luxury apartment complex.
  • Represent developer of assisted living facilities in the Midwest and Southeastern United States.
  • Represent multiple real estate private equity funds in multitude of real estate investments including multifamily developments as well as medical office, senior housing, retail, hotel and industrial properties.
  • Counsel to developer in multifaceted mixed-use development involving office, retail and senior housing (market rate and affordable).
  • Represent seller of portfolio of medical office buildings.
  • Represent private equity fund in the formation of a joint venture and development of a mixed-use property under a ground lease.
  • Counsel to purchaser of multiple, large-scale subsidized housing developments using conventional debt financing and private equity.
  • Counsel to financial institution in investments in several 80-20 transactions in New York.
  • Represent public company in acquisitions of real estate throughout the United States.
  • Counsel to low-income housing tax credit developer in obtaining seven tranches of financing, including LIHTCs, state tax credits, tax-exempt bonds, AHP funds, tax increment financing and energy grants.
  • Counsel to nonprofit educational institution utilizing NMTC financing in the development of athletic facilities.
  • Represent family office in investment in multiple restaurant development transactions.
  • Counsel to developer in acquisition and assemblage of land parcels and subsequent redevelopment of previously blighted property into mixed-use development.

News

Publications

Presentations and Events

  • Council of Development Finance Agencies—Illinois Roundtable
    Panelist | Latest Developments in the Illinois Bond Market
    May 1, 2017
  • ION: Investing in Our Neighborhoods Community Development Summit
    Moderator | Englewood Square – A Model for Community Development
    November 5, 2015
  • Affordable Housing Investors Council Spring Meeting
    Moderator | The Next Big Thing?: Understanding and Evaluating the New Preservation Funds
    March 18, 2015
  • IMN Winter Forum on Real Estate Opportunity & Private Fund Investing
    Speaker | General Partner & Operating Partner JVs
    January 22, 2015
  • Moderator | National Housing & Rehabilitation Association Fall 2014 Developers Forum – Preserving Affordable Housing with Private Equity
    October 6, 2014
  • 2014 Illinois Governor's Conference on Affordable Housing
    Moderator
    April 23, 2014
  • Novogradac's Nonprofit Developers Conference
    Co-presenter | For-Profit/Non-Profit Partnerships
    June 20, 2013
  • 2013 Illinois Governor's Conference on Affordable Housing
    Speaker
    April 24, 2013
  • The New Markets Tax Credit: How It Works and Where It's Going
    Moderator
    May 10, 2012
  • View All Presentations and Events
Practices
Industries
Education
  • University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, JD
  • University of California, Berkeley, Richard and Rhoda Goldman School of Public Policy, MPP
  • University of Illinois, BA, with distinction, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Bronze Tablet
Bar Admissions
  • Illinois
  • California
Community Involvements
  • American Bar Association, Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development Law
  • Urban Land Institute
Recognitions
  • Best Lawyers in America
    Real Estate Law, 2018–2020