Withers Worldwide

Overview

Cliccare qui per la versione italiana

Jim leads the firm's US Real Estate practice which handles both residential and commercial transactions, particularly for foreign real estate investors and for organizations in the nonprofit, luxury, hotel and art sectors. 

Jim combines his experience from his 14 years as the Associate General Counsel for Yale University to provide clients in the nonprofit world with advice on real estate, endowment and commercial engagements of many kinds. 

In addition, Jim is fluent in Italian and works closely with our commercial team in the US and Milan to assist with cross-border commercial and real estate transactions.

Highlights

• $100 million financing for New York healthcare organization.
• Drafting retail, office and ground leases for US and foreign art galleries, museums, luxury fashion and other tenants.
• Structuring and closing luxury residential transactions, including one of the largest sales recorded in US history.
• Counseling US and foreign organizations on the formation and operation of "friends of" and dual qualified structures with particular focus on Italy.

Publications and speaking engagements

• Moderator, "Families, Family Offices and Real Estate," New York Real Estate Expo, November 2011.
• Author of "Owning US Real Estate: Depressed US Real Estate Yields a Rare Second Chance at Proper Structuring," Offshore Investment, October 2011.
• Panelist, "Moving Across the Pond: Legal Considerations for Expanding to New York," London to NYC Forum sponsored by New York City Economic Development Corporation, December 2010.
• Co-Presenter, "Foreign Investment in US Real Estate: Challenges and Opportunities," New York Real Estate Expo, November 2010.
• Co-Presenter, "Issues for Foreign Investors in US Real Estate," to the New York State Society of CPA's Real Estate Committee on July 2010.   
• Co-Host, "Greenwich Entrepreneur" Radio Program, WGCH 1490 AM (Greenwich). 
• "Mixed Use Projects-Public/Private Partnerships," Annual Meeting of National Association of College and University Lawyers, Toronto, June 2009. 
• "Mining Silver From a Gray - Real Estate Market: Hidden Value in Leases," GC New England, Second Quarter 2009.
• Cornell University, "The University as a Participant in Real Estate Markets" - guest lecturer, January 2009. 
• Yale University, Yale Law School - Co-taught in Housing & Community Development Clinic Fall 1995-Spring 1997; guest lecturer in subsequent years.
• Yale University, School of Forestry and Environmental Sciences - Co-taught graduate course, "Strategies for Land Conservation: Law, Finance and Management" at Yale Spring 2003-04; Guest lecturer in subsequent years.
• Columbia University - Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation; guest lecturer - Affordable Housing Development 2002-Present.
• Yale Business Managers Institute-- Taught two hour training session on legal issues in procurement for Yale executives several times each year.  
• "College and University Investments," National Association of College and University Attorneys Annual Meeting, New York, NY June 25, 2008.
• "Compliance by Affiliated Foundations and Other Related Entities," National Association of College and University Attorneys Semi-Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, April 20, 2007.
• "You Want to Do What, Where?: Start-ups On and Around Campus," National Association of College and University Attorneys Semi-Annual Meeting, Washington D.C., November 1, 2002.
• "The Use of Affiliated Entities by Private Universities: Challenges and Opportunities in Governance, Conflicts of Interest, and Liability Limitation," National Association of College and University Attorneys Annual Meeting, Washington D.C., June 2000.

Memberships

• President, Friends of FAI - The Foundation for the Italian Environment Foundation, Inc.
• Board Member, Saint Raphael Healthcare System 
• Board Member, Center for American Studies Society
• Honorary Trustee, The St. Thomas More Corporation
• National Association of College and University Attorneys
• Fellow, Timothy Dwight College, Yale University
• Co-Founding member of Higher Education Real Estate Lawyers Group

On a personal note

Jim enjoys cooking in his free time.  His wife says that's because he has so little of it.

James M. Carolan

visit superlawyers.com