Chris

Wootten

Position: Partner
Office: New Orleans

Chris Wootten is a partner in the Tax Practice Group. He helps lenders, developers, and investors identify, pursue, and obtain a broad range of federal, state, and local tax credits and incentives.

Chris focuses his national practice on commercial finance, government incentives and tax credits, public-private partnerships, and real estate development. His clients include individual and institutional investors, commercial lenders, developers, Small Business Administration-licensed small-business investment companies, community development entities, economic development agencies, business owners, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations. His experience representing stakeholders on all sides of the negotiating table enables him to identify common ground and develop effective solutions that address competing demands.

Among other matters, Chris advises clients in connection with new markets tax credits, historic rehabilitation tax credits, Opportunity Zone programs, low-income housing tax credits, property assessed clean energy financing, qualified zone academy bonds, community development block grants, and other financing options. He has counseled clients on multimillion-dollar projects involving campus facilities, hotels, low-income housing and US Department of Housing and Urban Development-supported projects, mixed-use developments, condominiums, and more.

Chris understands the time-sensitive nature of real estate development, financing, and construction and helps clients identify and maximize opportunities that may only be available during limited periods. He also recognizes the critical paths of a project and has significant experience guiding major projects — often with very tight timelines and dependencies — to completion.

In addition to his tax credit practice, Chris provides counsel on a broad range of corporate transactions and matters, including business and asset acquisitions.