Seizing Opportunity: What's Next for Opportunity Zones?
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Sessions Information

  • September 20, 2019
    1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
    Event: 2019 ULI Fall Meeting
    Session Type: Concurrent Session
    Session Capacity: N/A


    The 2017 tax reform package authorized the designation of Opportunity Zones and the creation of Qualified Opportunity Funds. This program is intended to stabilize and revitalize distressed neighborhoods and surrounding communities and allows individual and corporate investors to defer capital gains taxes until 2026 if those gains are reinvested into new construction or major rehabilitation in economically depressed areas via designated Opportunity Funds. The Opportunity Zone Program has been touted as perhaps the greatest opportunity in a generation for municipalities, developers, and savvy investors. This session will help demystify the law, recently promulgated regulations, and the challenges behind executing deals....
Session Speakers
Bjorkman Garett
Organization: CIM Group


Mr. Bjorkman leads Portfolio Oversight for CIM’s private real estate debt and Opportunity Zone investment strategies. He works closely with global institutional investors including sovereign wealth funds, public & private pension plans, family offices, endowments & foundations, and other strategic investors on structuring equity investmen

Costa Alfonso


Alfonso Costa Jr. currently serves as Deputy Chief of Staff to Secretary Ben Carson at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In his role, Mr. Costa is responsible for advising the Secretary and overseeing all policy (including regarding Opportunity Zones) carried out by the Department. Mr. Costa represents and leads HUD on the Fed

Homan Jill


Jill Homan is President of Javelin 19 Investments, a Washington, DC-based real estate development, investment, and advisory firm and a leader in the new Opportunity Zone ("OZ") area.  Ms. Homan has more than fifteen years' experience in real estate acquisitions, dispositions, development, financing, asset management and leasing totaling almost $500 million in total capitalization.  Since Janua

Leitner Abraham
Organization: Goulston & Storrs


Abe Leitner is a tax lawyer who handles complex domestic and cross-border transactions for clients doing business in the U.S. and internationally, including in Canada, Europe and China, as well as in the Middle East.  In doing so, he often counsels multinational corporations on cross-border mergers and acquisitions.

He also frequently structures international joint ventures invo

White Wendelin A.
Organization: Goulston & Storrs


Work History

Goulston & Storrs, PC

August 2016 - Present

Ms. White is Chair of the firm’s D.C. Real Estate transactional group. She concentrates her practice in development, joint ventures
Session Fees

Fees information is not available at this time.