Program Agenda

Click here for a PDF of the 2010 Spring Meeting Agenda.

Friday, April 16

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Breakfast at the Bar: Capital Flows and Real Estate
Real Estate

Will Zeckendorf, a leading New York-based real estate executive with Zeckendorf Development, LLC, will share insights regarding prospects for cross-border capital flows in the real estate sector. Will funds be flowing to opportunities in developing markets? Will capital be flowing into the U.S. to take advantage of generational opportunities for acquisitions? Join your peers from real estate practices from around the world for a discussion of these and other issues.

Sponsoring Committee:
Cross-Border Real Estate Practice

Co-Sponsor:
New York State Bar Association International Section Real Estate Transactions Committee

Speaker:
Will Zeckendorf, Zeckendorf Development, LLC, New York, NY

11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
AIJA Presents: Investing in Commercial Real Estate: Prerequisites, Limits and the Impact of the Financial Crisis
Young Lawyers; Business/Transactional; Regulatory; Real Estate

This session is the first of a two-part program (the second session is from 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.) covering the highly topical subject of investments in commercial real estate. The complexity of developing commercial real estate presents a lawyer advising a developer or operator with interesting challenges—from land acquisition, through financing, operating permits and leasing. At all of these stages, the lawyer is confronted with complex legal issues which must be solved in a way that fits into the business objectives of—mainly—international clients. Although local in appearance, the commercial real estate business has a truly global dimension. The working session will create an opportunity for practitioners to share their experiences in this field and better understand its global perspectives.

Sponsoring Committee:
Cross-Border Real Estate Practice Committee

Program Chairs and Moderators:
Charlotte Wieser, Baer & Karrer AG, Zurich, Switzerland
Justyna Szpara, Laszczuk & Wspolnicy, Warsaw, Poland

Speakers:
Roger Canals, Jausas Abogados, Barcelona, Spain
Nils Dohler, Moenreo Meyer Marinel-lo, Barcelona, Spain
Martin Forster, Graf & Pitkowitz, Vienna, Austria
Klaus Knipschild, Lur Realis, Frankfurt, Germany
Phillip Skinner, Arnall Golden Gregory LLP, Atlanta, GA

2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Cross-Border Real Estate Transactions in a Slow Market - Part II
Business/Transactional; Regulatory; Real Estate

It is a slow market in cross-border real estate investments, but developing countries still have great needs for investment in the development of residential, commercial and infrastructure projects. Part II of this program features a panel of experienced real estate attorneys and other professionals who will answer questions on key issues affecting real estate investments in developing countries, including restrictions on foreign investment and tax considerations. One area of discussion will focus on the results of the World Bank Group’s recent “Investment Across Borders” global survey. The audience will be encouraged to ask questions and participate in the discussion. If you are involved in, or interested in learning about, cross-border transactions or international investment and development this is a program you will want to attend.

Sponsoring Committees:
Cross-Border Real Estate Practice Committee, International Investment & Development Committee, International Private Clients Committee, International Tax Committee

Program Chairs:
Terry A. Selzer, Stampe Haume & Hasselriis, Copenhagen, Denmark
Marcus Zwicky, Zwicky, Windlin & Partner, Zug, Switzerland

Moderators:
Amy Sommers, Squire Sanders & Dempsey, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
Duarte de Athayde, Abreu Advogados, Lisbon, Portugal

Speakers:
Ernesto Velarde Danache, Velarde-Danache, Brownsville, TX
Frans Duynstee, Van Mens & Wisselink, Amsterdam, Netherlands (Invited)
Supo Olaibi, Supo Olaibi & Co, Lagos, Nigeria
Laura N. Lavia Haidempergher, M. & M. Bomchil