US Law – LawFuel, The Legal News Network – WASHINGTON, D.C., October 5, 2006 — Holland & Knight LLP adds depth and experience to its syndication and bond practice groups with the arrival of a prominent group of lawyers to its Washington, D.C., office. Anthony “Tony” Freedman, partner, Florence Wood, partner, and Jill Chessen Cork, senior counsel, all formerly of Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP, strengthen and diversify the firm’s capabilities in this growing practice area.
“We are pleased to welcome these talented lawyers to our team,” said Jim McDermott, practice group leader. “They are highly respected for their wealth of knowledge and experience spanning all areas of government-related housing matters. The group’s ability to navigate complex transactions involving multiple sources of financing and government assistance will enable our clients to achieve their affordable housing, community development and investment goals.”
This expansion enhances the Syndication Group’s presence in the mid-Atlantic region. The group currently includes more than 45 attorneys in 10 separate offices. “Their arrival will increase our reach into the D.C. market and complement our nationally regarded real estate, affordable housing and military housing practices,” said La Fonte Nesbitt, executive partner of the firm’s mid-Atlantic offices and a member of the affordable housing practice group. Holland & Knight’s real estate practice, the largest in the country, is ranked no. 1 in Washington, D.C., by Chambers USA.
Speaking for the new group, Freedman said, “Holland & Knight’s national scope and deep resources will substantially expand our reach and enhance our ability to serve our clients. We see it as strength building upon strength.”
Anthony “Tony” S. Freedman (Partner)
Freedman, former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Housing Policy and Budget at HUD (1978-1981), has extensive experience in federal, state, and local housing assistance programs, low-income housing tax credits, public housing privatization, tax-exempt finance, mortgage finance, military housing and limited partnership law.
Freedman’s practice consists of transactional, financial, policy and regulatory matters involving housing. He represents a wide range of clients, including developers, lenders, state and local housing agencies, investment bankers and credit enhancers. His portfolio of representative transactions includes more than hundreds of low-income housing and new markets tax credit matters, 25 HOPE VI financings, numerous Public Housing Capital Fund financings, and deals worth in excess of $3 billion on behalf of participants in U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps military housing privatization transactions. He and Nesbitt were two of the first attorneys to work with the U.S. Department of Defense in establishing and providing documents for the military housing privatization program.
Freedman has rendered leading opinions on diverse tax credit matters and HUD issues, and has testified frequently before Congressional committees. He serves on the Advisory Council of the National Housing Law Project, on the Standard & Poor’s Advisory Board for Public Housing, and on the Board of Directors of the National Housing Conference. Freedman received his bachelor’s degree from the City College of New York in 1965, and his LL.B. from Stanford Law School in 1968. He is admitted to practice in New York and the District of Columbia.
Florence A. Wood (Partner)
Wood’s practice focuses on tax-exempt housing bonds, multi-family housing finance, HUD programs, military housing, Fannie Mae credit enhancement programs and low-income housing tax credits. She brings significant experience with secondary mortgage markets, mortgage-backed securities and debt financing.
Prior to entering private practice, Wood worked in the office of the general counsel of Fannie Mae for 10 years. Prior to Fannie Mae, Wood served as an attorney advisor at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. She received her undergraduate degree from Boston University in 1969 and her law degree from Boston College Law School in 1972. She is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and the District of Columbia.
Jill Chessen Cork (Senior Counsel)
Cork brings significant experience in all aspects of low-income housing tax credits, military housing privatization, tax-exempt finance, mortgage finance and limited partnership law. She represents developers, syndicators, lenders, state housing financing agencies and investors in affordable housing tax credits, Section 236 decoupling and military privatization transactions. Cork received her bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University in 1989 and her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1992. She is admitted to practice in California, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.
