Manatt Expands Tax Incentive Financing Capabilities With Chicago Arrival

Sameer Patel has an extensive background driving social impact investing, such as new markets tax credits deals, development finance transactions and Opportunity Zone investments

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, a multidisciplinary, integrated professional services firm, announced today that Manatt Financial Services Partner Sameer V. Patel has joined its Chicago office. Patel’s focus on the syndication of federal and state New Markets Tax Credits further strengthens the Firm’s work in helping drive social impact investments for clients ranging from institutional and corporate investors to community development entities and real estate developers nationwide.

“Through Manatt’s integrated professional services model, we are uniquely positioned to guide investors and developers through sophisticated tax credit financing and other social impact investment deals,” said Donna L. Wilson, Manatt’s CEO and Managing Partner. “Sameer’s experience with financial services, real estate and tax extends across our platform and further cements our position as the go-to adviser for key stakeholders who are operating in this quickly evolving and impactful space, while helping revitalize low- and moderate-income communities across the country.”

Patel’s work includes guiding clients through Opportunity Zone investments, low-income housing and historic rehabilitation tax credit matters. Also a respected thought leader, he frequently speaks at some of the industry’s top conferences on the gamut of tax credit-related topics.

“Social impact deals are fueling much of today’s economic redevelopment and are increasingly becoming central to institutional investors’ business strategies, so we’re excited to deepen our national footprint as a leader in these transactions with Sameer’s arrival in our rapidly growing Chicago office,” said Craig D. Miller, leader of Manatt Financial Services.

Manatt Financial Services Partner Neil S. Faden added: “Having had the pleasure of working closely on transactions with Sameer in the past, we are particularly excited about his joining Manatt; we know that his unparalleled client counsel on high-impact tax incentive deals will complement the industry-leading new markets tax credits, low-income housing tax credit and Opportunity Zone work being done across the Firm.”

“I’m thrilled to join this stellar team of professionals that I have long known and respected, including Neil and Megan Christensen,” said Patel. ”Manatt’s reputation in this space, along with its strategic vision, fast-moving upward trajectory and collegial spirit were the key drivers in my decision to make this move.”

Manatt has been strategically expanding its capabilities in Chicago across key industries—including antitrust, health care and financial services—with Patel joining recent hires Stephen D. Libowsky, Megan Thibert-Ind and Bryan A. Schneider. He is also the latest arrival in the Firm’s broader, national growth strategy as it deepens its capabilities in digital and technology (Timothy Lohse and Michel C. Narganes); entertainment and media (Nathaniel L. Bach and Christopher Chatham); health care and life sciences (Zoe Barnard, Tara R. Straw, Rachel L. Sher, Dr. Christina Jenkins and Claudia Page); antitrust and competition (David Reichenberg); and tax, employee benefits and executive compensation (John J. Heber).

Patel earned his J.D. from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law and a B.S. in information systems from DePaul University.

About Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, is a leading professional services firm, providing integrated legal and consulting services to a global client base. With offices strategically located in California (Los Angeles, Orange County, Silicon Valley, San Francisco and Sacramento), New York (New York City and Albany), Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Boston, the Firm represents sophisticated clients — including Fortune 500, middle-market and emerging companies — across a range of industry sectors such as health care; financial services; entertainment; digital and technology; and energy, environmental and real estate. For more information, visit www.manatt.com.

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