Kurt A. James

Director 

kjames@rackemann.com

Tel: 617-951-1154
Fax: 617-542-7437

- Environmental/Land Use- Real Estate- Tax Exempt Organizations

 

Education

Bar and Court Admissions

• Massachusetts, 1985

Practice Focus

Mr. James is Chairman of the firm's Affordable Housing and Community Development Practice Group.  He concentrates his practice in the area of real estate development and finance with a focus on affordable housing and community development.  His clients include banks, insurance companies, public and quasi public lenders, and for profit and non-profit developers.

Background

Mr. James joined Rackemann in 2008 as a Director.  Prior to joining the firm, Mr. James practiced as a partner at Sherin and Lodgen LLP and as an associate at Choate, Hall & Stewart in Boston.  

Notable Experience 

Representation of developer in acquisition, debt and tax credit financing, IRP decoupling and redevelopment of 150 unit low income housing complex

Representation of consortium of lenders closing $20MM acquisition and construction financing for 70 unit mixed income cohousing complex

Representation of institutional lender purchasing private placement bonds and providing New Markets Tax Credit leveraged financing of non-profit facility

Representation of private high school in closing $25MM tax exempt bond financing of campus expansion

Representation of non-profit community development corporation in financing public-private revitalization of 11.5 acre site in Jackson Square as a mixed income, mixed use, sustainable transit oriented complex 

Representation of community development finance institution in creating $20MM public-private partnership to refinance subprime loans in Boston neighborhoods

Representation of numerous for-profit and non-profit organizations in formation of joint ventures to acquire, finance, develop and operate housing and community development project

Professional Activities

• Real Estate Bar Association (Board and Founding Co-Chair, Affordable Housing Committee-2005-present);
• Boston Bar Association (Steering Committee and Founding Co-Chair, Affordable Housing Committee of Real Estate Section, 1999-2004);
• American Bar Association (Forum on Affordable Housing);
• Mr. James Community Service Activities include:
• Town of Marblehead Planning Board Member;
• Town of Marblehead Smart Growth Advisory Committee Member;
• Town of Marblehead Fair Housing Committee Member;
• Marblehead Community Housing Corporation (Board);
• Women's Institute for Housing and Economic Development (Advisory Board and Housing Committee)
• Institute for Community Economics, Inc. (Board and Development Committee)

Publications

• Co-author of Amicus Brief in Zoning Board of Appeals of Wellesley v. Ardemore Apartments Ltd. Partnership, 436 Mass. 811 (2002)
• Author, “Credit Where Credit is Due” (concerning choice and use of tax credits in development projects), MLW, December, 2006
• Mr. James is a frequent moderator and panelist at affordable housing, tax credit and tax exempt bond financing seminars