About David P. Cohen

David Cohen helps clients buy, sell, finance and develop real estate projects. For sponsors, investors and lenders, he advises them on the full range of transactions that can get them closer to their real estate goals. He also has extensive experience with affordable housing and community development transactions.

Wide-ranging experience for wide-ranging goals

Financings, joint ventures and public-private partnerships are among the varied transactions that David works on frequently, including those involving industrial, multifamily, medical office buildings, student housing, single family rental (SFR) and self-storage properties. 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 real estate private equity funds in multitude of real estate investments including multifamily developments as well as medical office, student housing, SFR, self-storage and industrial properties.
  • Counsel to developer in multifaceted mixed-use development involving office, retail and senior housing (market rate and affordable).
  • Represent private equity fund in multiple co-investment transactions with family office and pension plan investors to develop student housing projects throughout the East Coast.
  • Represent developer in acquisition and assemblage of land and subsequent financing and development of luxury apartment complex.
  • Represent private equity funds in joint venture transactions to develop single family rental properties throughout the Southeastern and Southwestern United States.
  • 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

  • May 1, 2017
    Council of Development Finance Agencies—Illinois Roundtable
    Panelist | Latest Developments in the Illinois Bond Market
  • November 5, 2015
    ION: Investing in Our Neighborhoods Community Development Summit
    Moderator | Englewood Square – A Model for Community Development
  • March 18, 2015
    Affordable Housing Investors Council Spring Meeting
    Moderator | The Next Big Thing?: Understanding and Evaluating the New Preservation Funds
  • January 22, 2015
    IMN Winter Forum on Real Estate Opportunity & Private Fund Investing
    Speaker | General Partner & Operating Partner JVs
  • October 6, 2014
    Moderator | National Housing & Rehabilitation Association Fall 2014 Developers Forum – Preserving Affordable Housing with Private Equity
  • April 23, 2014
    2014 Illinois Governor's Conference on Affordable Housing
    Moderator
  • June 20, 2013
    Novogradac's Nonprofit Developers Conference
    Co-presenter | For-Profit/Non-Profit Partnerships
  • April 24, 2013
    2013 Illinois Governor's Conference on Affordable Housing
    Speaker
  • May 10, 2012
    The New Markets Tax Credit: How It Works and Where It's Going
    Moderator
  • 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
Recognized or listed in the following:
  • Super Lawyers
    Illinois, 2022–2024
  • Best Lawyers in America
    Real Estate Law, 2018–2023
Award Methodologies