Christopher Roman is a partner in the New York office. Christopher counsels clients on various facets of tax and legal matters concerning alternative investment funds, real estate, venture capital transactions, finance, and mergers and acquisitions.
Clients benefit from Christopher’s significant experience in both corporate transactional work and matters involving real estate and real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). In addition to representing both sponsors and investors in fund formations and investments, respectively, Christopher represents investors in secondary transfers of interests in private funds on both the sell side and buy side, as well as investors and sponsors in debt and equity co-investment transactions. Christopher has successfully managed numerous large-scale real estate portfolio acquisitions, dispositions, and joint ventures, often involving sponsors, funds, and international investors, particularly in the industrial property sector.
Christopher has played a pivotal role in matters involving REITs, including representation of companies and underwriters in REIT formations, securities offerings, debt financings, asset acquisitions, dispositions, M&A, and other transactions.
In addition, Christopher regularly counsels clients in connection with merger and acquisition transactions, particularly cross-border transactions, where he represents clients in a range of industries, including real estate, telecommunications, health care, and manufacturing. He is a trusted advisor to some of the largest family offices in the United States, Europe, and Latin America.
Consistently recognized by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business as a leading individual in Tax, Chris is described by clients as “the best tax lawyer with whom I’ve ever worked. He is creative and commercial, and is able to distill complicated tax matters into easily digestible language for me.” “He is extremely responsive and takes the time to explain the nuances of each deal,” reports another impressed client, who adds, “If I could, I would use Chris for every single deal we have.” Christopher also is consistently recognized by Legal 500 in US Taxes: Non-Contentious.
Experience
All matters completed prior to joining Ropes & Gray
- Represented a private equity real estate investment manager in its sale of (i) a 75 million square foot portfolio of industrial properties to a joint venture of sovereign wealth funds and real estate investment funds, (ii) a 40 million square foot portfolio of industrial real estate assets to an Asian-based real estate investment manager, and (iii) a sale of a 57 million square foot portfolio of industrial properties to a joint venture of a sovereign wealth fund and a non-U.S. public pension fund, in each case, including through the disposition of REITs.
- Represented Brookfield Properties in its sales of REITs-owning self-storage properties to multiple financial and strategic buyers.
- Represented a real estate investment manager focused on industrial single-assets, portfolios and whole loans in its sale of an interest to TA Associates.
- Represented Brookfield Properties in its sale of manufactured homesites to multiple buyers.
- Represented Brookfield Properties in its acquisition of multi-family assets and REITs from a leading private investment firm with a core focus on global real estate.
- Represented a private real estate lender in its formation of credit funds and in a $400 million joint venture with an institutional realty credit fund manager.
- Represented a venture capital firm in an industrial property joint venture and management stake transaction with an institutional investment manager.
- Represented Suntex, a marina REIT, in its sale to a Chicago-based REIT that primarily operates manufactured home communities, RV resorts, and campgrounds in North America.
- Represented Losa International in its investments in EmergentCold LatAM LLC.
- Represented a private real estate investment firm in the formation of several real estate credit funds.
- Represented a real estate investment firm in its formation of several real estate credit funds.
- Represented a large NYC real estate investment management company in its formation of a real estate credit fund.
- Represented a multinational investment company in the formation of several real estate credit funds, including non-traded REITs.
- Represented Brookfield in its acquisition of Watermark Lodging Trust, a non-traded hospitality REIT.
- Represented an American merchant bank with an advisory and investment platform in the formation of several real estate credit funds.
- Represented a Swiss-based global private equity firm in numerous transactions, including private equity investments and co-investments, secondary transactions and investment fund formations.