Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, today announced that Beth Zafonte, director of economic development services in the Real Estate Practice Group, has been appointed vice president of the WX New York Women Executives in Real Estate, an invitation-only association of executive-level women in commercial real estate.
Zafonte has served on the WX Board of Directors since 2014. As vice president during the 2016-2017 term, she will continue to lead the organization in promoting the advancement of women in commercial real estate, enhancing public perception of the role of women within the industry and promoting the highest standards of professionalism, ethics and integrity in the field. She also will serve as co-chair of the WX Membership Committee. A longtime member of the organization, she is a past co-chair of the Program Committee and has played a central role in the organization's educational and mentoring programs.
Zafonte has more than 30 years of experience in the practice of economic development incentives throughout the United States representing a broad range of national and locally based private developers, various Fortune 500 corporations, and manufacturing concerns on a national basis. She represents both public and privately held companies, as well as institutions, in connection with location and real estate decisions specifically related to determining eligibility for, and the procurement of, economic development incentives and real estate financing. She has been involved in projects that have benefited from more than $3 billion worth of incentives.
Among her several community and professional engagements, Zafonte is a member of the Association to Invest in USA (IIUSA) and sits on the association's building committee. As an IIUSA member, Zafonte supports the organization's efforts to promote investments in regional centers based on the federal Immigrant Investor Program, also known as EB-5. She also is a member of the economic development committee of the Real Estate Board of New York.
About Akerman LLP
Akerman LLP is a leading transactions and trial law firm known for its core strengths in middle market M&A, within the financial services and real estate industries, and for a diverse Latin America practice. With more than 650 lawyers and government affairs professionals and a network of 24 offices, it is ranked among the top 100 law firms in the United States by The American Lawyer (2016). Akerman also is ranked among the top 60 law firms for diversity in The American Lawyer's Diversity Scorecard (2016).
Akerman's Real Estate Practice Group offers comprehensive and fully integrated project counsel services to clients across the United States and Latin America. With substantial industry experience and local market insights, the firm represents clients in complex real estate transactions and financings, development and redevelopment projects, public-private initiatives and litigation. Recognized as a national tier one law firm for real estate law by U.S. News - Best Lawyers, the group advises investors, developers, builders, lenders, retailers, owners and corporate end users, often in high profile matters.