Lee A. Sheller is a business lawyer with an emphasis on federal and state tax matters.

He regularly participates in the negotiation and structuring of business transactions that have significant tax-related issues, including, for example, the construction of low income housing projects which qualify for the low income housing tax credit; the rehabilitation of historic structures which qualify for the rehabilitation tax credit; structuring loans and equity investments, the returns on which are enhanced by the new markets tax credit; structuring transactions between hospitals and medical professionals in order to avoid jeopardizing the hospital's tax exemption; and structuring reorganizations of exempt health care systems.

Mr. Sheller also has substantial experience in partnership law and limited liability company law issues, including the taxation of partnerships and limited liability companies, as well as all aspects of the taxation of exempt organizations, (such as public charities, private foundations, religious organizations, title holding companies, and trade associations) including the filing of exemption determinations, private letter ruling requests, and the resolution of controversies with the Internal Revenue Service. He also provides advice to nonprofit organizations about institutional governance issues and best management practices.

Prior to joining DLA Piper, Mr. Sheller practiced as a certified public accountant in a national accounting firm.

He has been recognized as Best Lawyers’ 2011 Baltimore Non-Profit/Charities Lawyer of the Year and has been named a Maryland Super Lawyer.

Recent Experience

• Representation of a developer in a $150 million rehabilitation of a former power plant using federal and state historic tax credits and new market tax credits.
• Representation of a public authority in a $60 million public/private partnership to rehabilitate an historic theater which is eligible for historic tax credits.
• Representation of an investor in a single-investor, qualified community development entity which will produce new markets tax credits for the investor.
• Representation of a number of foreign charities in obtaining Section 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service.
• Representation of qualified community development entities in connection with their application for new markets tax credits and the execution of the allocation agreement with the CDFI Fund.