Shawn Alexander

I avoid getting bogged down in minutiae by remembering the end goal: more people in good homes.

Contact: P /612.604.6749E /[email protected]

Administrative Contact: Theresa Conley O'Connell P /612.604.6778E /[email protected]

Education

William Mitchell College of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 2013

Editor, William Mitchell Law Review

Minnesota Paralegal Institute, Paralegal Certificate, 2009

University of Minnesota Duluth, B.A., Criminology & Foreign Studies, magna cum laude, 2008

Bar Admissions

Minnesota, 2013

My Approach

Real estate is relatively unique in the legal field in that, once a deal closes, there will be a physical thing that is the manifestation of all of the hours of work that went into it. Looping into the fact that, in my practice, my clients are serving the community by providing low income housing for those who otherwise wouldn’t have a place to live, I feel a real drive every day I come into work. I work with clients to coordinate all the moving parts so that their deals close on time and within budget.

Prior to joining the firm, I clerked with a non-profit low income housing developer, and saw firsthand the struggles and challenges involved with affordable housing development. I work with clients to take as much of that burden off them as I can.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending quality time with my wife and two sons, spending time outdoors, and seeing live music throughout the Twin Cities

Practice Areas

Practicing Tax Credit Financing & Syndication

My Experience

I focus my practice on tax credits and affordable housing. I have experience drafting and negotiating commercial leases, construction agreements, handling title and survey review, and working with local government and state and regulatory agencies regarding zoning and regulatory compliance. I coordinate deals between developers, investors, title companies, lenders, and other parties involved in a transaction.

Representative Matters

Act as developer’s counsel for non-profit and for-profit clients in the closing of a high volume of affordable housing developments utilizing the 4% and 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credits.
Represent developers in mixed-income projects, senior projects and assisted-living projects.
Negotiate project documents related to various equity financing structures on projects utilizing Low Income Housing Tax Credits and state and federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits.
Draft and negotiate the varied construction and permanent financing sources necessary for the successful completion and operating of affordable housing developments.
Draft and negotiate construction contracts in connection with the development of affordable and market rate projects.
Review title and survey-related issues related to affordable and market rate projects.
Represent developers throughout the State of Minnesota in connection with developments totaling thousands of units of affordable housing, including deeply affordable units and units reserved for families and individuals moving out of homelessness as well as for people with disabilities.

Awards

Real Estate Law, 2022, 2024-2025
Tax Law, 2023-2025

Also experienced in

Real Estate Development & Transactions

Honors & Awards