Michael R. Chellis

Shareholder

Practice Group(s): Taxation, Affordable Housing, Business

Bateman Seidel Miner Blomgren Chellis & Gram, PC
Stanley M. Samuels, Senior Counsel

Mike Chellis is one of the founding shareholders of Bateman Seidel Miner Blomgren Chellis & Gram, P.C. Prior to forming his new firm, Mike was a partner at Preston Gates & Ellis LLP for sixteen years, including three as the managing partner of the Portland office.

Education & Credentials
J.D., University of Oregon School of Law, 1979; Associate Editor, Oregon Law Review
LL.M,(taxation) New York University School of Law, 1986
B.S., with highest honors, Portland State University, 1976

Bar Admissions
Oregon
Washington

A graduate of the New York University graduate program in taxation, Mike's practice is largely divided between two areas: Tax credits (including the low-income housing tax credit, the rehabilitation credit, and the new markets tax credit) and federal and state tax issues relating to partnerships, real estate transactions and business acquisitions.

Affordable Housing and Tax Credits

Over the last 15 years, Mike Chellis has served as counsel with respect to affordable housing projects in many of the fifty states. He has represented syndicators, investors, developers and governmental agencies including serving as tax counsel to the Washington State Housing Finance Commission since 1992. His experience spans both routine and complex transactions, including mix-use and mixed-income developments, HOPE VI and other mixed finance projects, FHA-insured financing, and projects combining the low income housing and historic preservation tax credits.

Mike has also advised clients with respect to the new markets tax credit. Most recently he assisted a successful California new markets tax credit applicant with respect to its initial organizational structure and offering documentation.

Mike has been a frequent lecturer with respect to tax credit and affordable housing topics, including presentations in 2004 at NCSHA, Novogradac & Company LLP, and National Home Builder Association workshops.

Partnership, Real Estate, and Corporate Business Transactions

Mike Chellis has also counseled a variety of large and small business enterprises in connection with partnership structure and tax planning, real estate transactions, including tax free exchanges under Section 1031 of the Code, and corporate acquisitions, mergers and reorganizations. He has assisted both domestic and foreign clients in planning partnership ventures to acquire and develop U.S. real estate. In addition, he has assisted both acquiring and target entities in structuring, negotiating, and closing both taxable and tax-free acquisitions and reorganizations.

Among his other activities, he is the author of a number of tax-related publications. These publications include "Federal Income Taxation of Corporate Liquidations," "Installment Sales of Real Estate," and "Income Taxation of Real Estate Transactions." He has also co-authored a publication for the Oregon State Bar entitled "Foreign Investment in U.S. Real Estate."