James M. Carolan, Esq.
Jim Carolan has a practice focused on the real estate and nonprofit sectors, and often works at the intersection of the two.
He has 30 years of experience advising investors on a broad array of real estate issues including acquisition, development, financing, leasing, disposition, and regulatory issues. His real estate clients include domestic and international high net worth individuals, family offices, developers, major corporations, art galleries, luxury retailers, universities, private foundations, and other tax-exempt organizations and their endowments. Jim has handled acquisitions and sales of single assets and portfolios, ground leases, space leases for office, retail, warehouse uses, asset-based and mezzanine financings, development and investment joint ventures, construction and design arrangements, and complex easements for conservation, utilities, construction, and access, and the creation of qualified opportunity zone funds.
In addition to advising real estate investors, Jim counsels nonprofit organizations, including foreign and domestic colleges and universities, cultural organizations, and other exempt entities, on a wide range of business and governance issues. Clients turn to him for counsel on board organization and policies, affiliation agreements, endowment management policies and investment manager agreements, and complex contractual arrangements. He also has advised charitable organizations on structuring and managing their real estate activities, including core assets, investments, and gifts.
Jim's experience includes previously leading the US real estate group of another international law firm for 10 years, where he worked extensively with high net worth clients and family offices. Before that, he served as associate general counsel to Yale University for 14 years, where he advised the central university and endowment on real estate investment, development, and general business matters.
Jim is a frequent lecturer, including at various universities, on real estate and exempt topics. He has handled pro bono matters throughout his career.
Fluent in Italian, Jim regularly advises Italian investors on their US dealings, and assists foreign investors on dealing with Italy. Jim also raises awareness and money for the preservation of Italian monuments in his spare time.