Robert G. Gottlieb
Robert is experienced in representing clients in the acquisition and debt and equity financing of countless real estate developments, including mixed-use projects, multi-family housing, office buildings, warehouses, and shopping centers. He also assists clients in completing sales and tax deferred contributions to real estate investment trusts (REITs) and has assisted REITS in the acquisition of new projects.
In his tax practice, Robert advises clients on tax planning, choice of entity, and structuring investments. A frequent lecturer on advanced tax issues, he emphasizes partnership tax planning, passive loss and interest deduction limitations, installment sales and like-kind exchanges, and the tax aspects of leases and loan transactions. Robert also guides clients in choosing and structuring investment vehicles (including partnerships, corporations, and limited liability companies) to facilitate capital formation and the financing of acquisitions.
Robert also focuses on the workout of problem properties, debt restructurings, and conveyances of property in lieu of foreclosure, including the federal and local income tax consequences associated with such transactions. He is also experienced in representing clients in the tax structuring of transactions, including debt for equity swaps, like-kind exchanges, and partnership restructurings.
In addition to his tax and real estate practice, Robert assists clients in a variety of business transactions, including the purchase and sale of assets, stock and partnership interests, and the negotiation and preparation of shareholder, partnership, employment, property management, and lease agreements and other business contracts.
Robert taught a graduate-level course on the federal taxation of real estate transactions at the George Washington University Law Center and Georgetown Law Center from 1984 to 2009. His many lecture topics before legal and accounting groups have included the passive loss rules, like-kind exchanges, tax aspects of debt restructuring, and the use of partnerships for real estate investments.
Experience
Representative Matters
Robert has recently represented a series of clients in the acquisition and debt and equity financing of a variety of real estate projects, including mixed-use projects, multi-family housing, office buildings, warehouses and shopping centers, and in the tax structuring of transactions, including debt for equity swaps, like-kind exchanges and partnership restructurings. He has assisted clients in completing sales and tax deferred contributions to REITS, and has also assisted REITS in the acquisition of new projects.
Insights
Credentials
Education
- J.D. with honors George Washington University Law School 1976
- B.A. cum laude Pennsylvania State University 1973
Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia
Professional Memberships and Activities
- Member, American College of Real Estate Lawyers
Recognition
- Who’s Who Legal, Real Estate, 2017 – 2018, 2023 – 2024
- The Best Lawyers in America
- Lawyer of the Year, Real Estate Law, 2020
- Real Estate Law, 2006 – 2025
- Super Lawyers, Real Estate, Washington, DC, 2007 – 2023
- Expert Guides, Construction and Real Estate, 2014
- International Who’s Who of Real Estate Lawyers, 2013 – 2014
- Chambers USA
- Senior Statesperson, Real Estate, Washington, DC, 2022 – 2025
- Real Estate (Band 1), Washington, DC, 2015 – 2021
- Real Estate (Band 2), Washington, DC, 2009 – 2014
- Real Estate (Band 3), Washington, DC, 2008
- Real Estate (Band 4), Washington, DC, 2007
- Legal 500, Real Estate, 2012, 2014 – 2015
- Washingtonian
- Top Lawyers Hall of Fame, 2022
- Top Lawyers, 2007, 2010 – 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 – 2018
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV® Peer Review Rated