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Chris
Wootten

Position
Partner
Office
New Orleans

Chris Wootten is a partner in the Tax Practice Group. He helps lenders, developers, and investors identify, pursue, and obtain a broad range of federal, state, and local tax credits and incentives.


Chris focuses his national practice on commercial finance, government incentives and tax credits, public-private partnerships, and real estate development. His clients include individual and institutional investors, commercial lenders, developers, Small Business Administration-licensed small-business investment companies, community development entities, economic development agencies, business owners, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations. His experience representing stakeholders on all sides of the negotiating table enables him to identify common ground and develop effective solutions that address competing demands.

Among other matters, Chris advises clients in connection with new markets tax credits, historic rehabilitation tax credits, Opportunity Zone programs, low-income housing tax credits, property assessed clean energy financing, qualified zone academy bonds, community development block grants, and other financing options. He has counseled clients on multimillion-dollar projects involving campus facilities, hotels, low-income housing and US Department of Housing and Urban Development-supported projects, mixed-use developments, condominiums, and more.

Chris understands the time-sensitive nature of real estate development, financing, and construction and helps clients identify and maximize opportunities that may only be available during limited periods. He also recognizes the critical paths of a project and has significant experience guiding major projects — often with very tight timelines and dependencies — to completion.

In addition to his tax credit practice, Chris provides counsel on a broad range of corporate transactions and matters, including business and asset acquisitions.

Noteworthy

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Real Estate Law (2026)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, "Ones to Watch," Banking and Finance Law, Real Estate Law, and Tax Law (listed annually since 2021)
  • Chambers USA, Public Finance (listed annually since 2019)
  • Louisiana Super Lawyers, Business & Corporate, Banking (listed annually since 2012)

Publications

  • "Tax-Friendly Opportunity Zones Need Fixing if Allowed to Survive," Bloomberg Tax, December 18, 2024

Presentations

  • "Challenges, Opportunities in a Successful New Orleans NMTC Transaction," Novogradac 2024 Fall New Markets Tax Credit Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, October 24, 2024
  • "Home is Where the Work Is: Regulating and Incentivizing Work Force Housing," ABA Annual RPTE National CLE Conference, April 21, 2021
  • "Opportunity Zones Part 1: Maximizing Impact – Issues and Perspectives on How to Structure a Deal," ABA Annual RPTE National CLE Conference, May 10, 2019
  • “ACREL’s Homelessness Task Force: An Update,” American College of Real Estate Lawyers Annual Meeting, October 20, 2018
  • “Recent Updates to Federal Tax Credit Incentive Programs,” ABA Real Property, Trust and Estate Law, Land Use and Environmental Section quarterly webinar, May 19, 2016

Memberships

  • American Bar Association, Real Property, Trust and Estates Law Section, Chair, Committee on Government Incentives within the Land Use and Planning Group
  • Louisiana Bar Association
New Orleans
201 St. Charles Ave
New Orleans, LA 70170-5100
D: 504.582.8324
F: 504.589.8324
Emailcwootten@joneswalker.com

Education

  • Tulane University Law School
    JD, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, 2012
  • Louisiana State University
    MS, Environmental Science, 2009
  • University of Richmond
    BS, 2006

Bar Admissions

  • Louisiana

Related Practices

  • Economic Development
  • Tax
  • Tax Credit Finance
  • Tax Credit Programs
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