2016 Las Vegas EB-5 Conference Recap
The 2016 Las Vegas EB-5 Conference welcomed more than 800 attendees, making it the largest domestic event in EB-5 industry history. EB5 Investors Magazine hosted the two-day event with the support of more than 60 sponsors. The event, which was held at the Bellagio on January 15th and 16th, welcomed a broad spectrum of industry stakeholders. The attendees included more than 100 migration agents from China, Vietnam, India, Latin America, and the Middle East. Immigration and securities attorneys, regional centers, developers, broker-dealers, economists, government officials and other EB-5 stakeholders also attended the conference.
The third annual Las Vegas conference began Friday afternoon with two specialized workshops. A due diligence workshop for migration agents provided an in-depth look at immigration compliance, project evaluation, and securities issues. The goal of the workshops was to provide foreign migration agents with the tools to better assist investors. At the same time, a beginner workshop aimed at immigration attorneys addressed source of funds issues and review of complex loan documents. Similar to the agent session, the workshop educated new immigration attorneys on the knowledge needed to ensure success for their clients at all stages of the immigration process. Friday concluded with a VIP networking event for migration agents, sponsors, and panelists, including Congressman Jared Polis.
Saturday’s all-day conference started with keynote addresses by Dr. Tony Alamo, Chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission, and John Yao, an EB-5 investor immigrant. Alamo expressed his support for the program, and the growing impact he envisions the EB-5 program having upon Nevada’s casinos and hotels. Yao captivated attendees by providing candid insight with remarkable grace and humor into the journey traveled by a family participating in the EB-5 program. While not an easy path, Yao conveyed the benefit the program has provided to his family and thanked those in attendance for supporting the program, and he recognized those in the audience that had made his American dream a reality.
Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO-2nd District) delivered the keynote address at lunch, focusing on the current legislative status of the EB-5 program. An ardent supporter of the program, Polis pledged to continue his work with Democrats and Republicans alike to enhance integrity in the EB-5 program and endeavor to make the regional center program a permanent fixture of U.S. immigration. He laid out a pragmatic approach to grow the program while protecting investors through increased integrity measures and regional center accountability. He pledged to continue to push for legislative change that will allow for more investors to participate in the program.
Twelve panel sessions featuring an array of industry leaders provided a strong educational component to the event. Attendees heard directly from Chinese migration agents that retrogression, which potentially could now create a five or six-year delay for an investor, has not tempered interest in China for the program, but is an issue that will be monitored closely. It was also noted that the increased number of projects being marketed in China has resulted in a higher quality of product for investors. Leading securities attorneys and broker-dealers discussed the impact of recent SEC enforcement actions against immigration attorneys and other individuals acting as finders. It was unanimous that the SEC will continue to closely monitor the EB-5 program and that the industry should consider securities implications closely as they conduct EB-5 operations. Additionally, there was in-depth discussion focused on new markets such as Vietnam and Latin America. Hundreds of newcomers to EB-5 benefited from beginner panels that provided insight into how to structure projects, how to raise foreign capital, understanding TEA qualifications, and basic traps to avoid in EB-5 project planning.
The EB5 Investors Magazine series of events always serves as a leading source for important legislative discussions, and the 2016 Las Vegas EB-5 Conference was no different. With panels such as “EB-5 Program Reform & Advocacy,” in combination with Congressman Polis’ keynote address, an industry-wide effort received support with the goal of working together to make appropriate EB-5 recommendations, and to ensure that any new legislation is beneficial to the program.
The conference concluded with a networking cocktail for all attendees. The infusion of newcomers at the event provided business opportunities for many in the community. EB5 Investors looks forward to hosting more events that bring the entire EB-5 community together to foster education, networking, and community engagement.
Disclaimer: EB5Investors.com events and conferences are open to the general public and may include persons resident in the U.S. or foreign countries who may be interested in EB-5 investment opportunities. Attendees, exhibitors and speakers at our events and conferences should consult with their own legal counsel regarding compliance with securities laws for any ongoing or planned securities offerings. EB5investors.com provides no legal advice concerning compliance with securities laws by attendees, exhibitors and speakers at its conferences and events.
Conference Itinerary
All events were hosted at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza unless otherwise noted.
Sunday, August 2, 2015
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM & 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM – EARLY REGISTRATION (ALL ATTENDEES) – Location: S. Mezzanine Foyer
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM – EB-5 ATTORNEY WORKSHOP FOR BEGINNERS: I-526 PETITION FILING (Attorneys with 2 day passes only) – Location: Park Room
2:00 PM – 2:15 PM – Break for Workshop Participants
2:15 PM – 4:15 PM – EB-5 ATTORNEY WORKSHOP FOR BEGINNERS: I-829 PETITION FILING (Attorneys with 2 day passes only)
7:30 PM – 9:30 PM – COCKTAIL RECEPTION FOR SPEAKERS AND SPONSORS
- Sponsored by CMB Regional Centers (Invite-Only)
Monday, August 3, 2015
6:30 AM – 8:00 AM – Sponsor Set Up – Location: CA Lounge
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM – Attendee Registration – Location: CA Lounge
8:00 AM – 8:50 AM – BREAKFAST AND KEYNOTE ADDRESS (Breakfast Provided)
Location: Los Angeles Room
- Welcome: Ali Jahangiri, EB5 Investors Magazine
- Welcome: Zhongjun Ma, Shenzhen Immigration and Overseas Study Intermediary Association
- Congressman Bob Goodlatte’s Keynote Address
8:50 AM – 9:10 AM – Break
9:10AM – 10:10AM – PANEL 1A & 1B
PANEL 1A – ADVANCED
Location: Santa Monica Room
EB-5 Program Reauthorization: Analysis of current legislation, Potential industry effects, and Program advocacy
- Charles Foster, Foster LLP
- Enrique Gonzalez, Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP
- Jeffery DeBoer, The Real Estate Roundtable
- Moderated By: Laura Reiff, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
PANEL 1B – BEGINNER
Location: Beverly Hills Room
EB-5 Financing Basics: EB-5 program outline, Underwriting criteria, Developing an EB-5 business plan, Working with senior/bridge lenders, Escrow and fund administration
- Francisco Turner, Banc of California
- Phil Cohen, Strategic Element Consulting
- Reid Thomas, NES Financial
- Moderated By: Ignacio Donoso, I.A. Donoso & Associates, LLC
10:10 AM – 10:20 AM – Break
10:20 AM – 11:20 AM – PANEL 2A & 2B
PANEL 2A – ADVANCED
Location: Santa Monica Room
Investing Cash from Loan Proceeds: Indebtedness, “Cash is Cash”, RFE’s and NOIDs
- Ira Kurzban, Kurzban Kurzban Weinger Tetzeli & Pratt
- Ron Klasko, Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
- Susan Pilcher, Stone Grzegorek & Gonzalez LLP
- Moderated By: Kate Kalmykov, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
PANEL 2B – BEGINNER
Location: Beverly Hills Room
EB-5 Deal Structures: Forming a Regional Center, Regional center partnerships, and Direct EB-5; Impacts on projects and EB-5 investors
- Aaron Goforth, Wright Johnson
- Belma Chinchoy, EB5 Plus Immigration Law
- Osvaldo Torres, Torres Law, P.A
- William Martines, One Lily Pad
- Moderated By: Nima Korpivaara, David Hirson & Partners, LLP
11:20 AM – 11:30 AM – Break
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM – PANEL 3A & 3B
PANEL 3A – ADVANCED
Location: Santa Monica Room
EB-5 Securities Roundtable: Recent SEC investigations, Best practices for regional centers, and FINRA licenses
- Clem Turner, Homeier & Law, P.C.
- John Tishler, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
- Trevor Saliba, NMS Capital
- Moderated By: Brandon Meyer, Meyer Law Group
PANEL 3B – BEGINNER
Location: Beverly Hills Room
Documents and Due Diligence Beyond the Regional Center Partnership: Regional center due diligence on the developer, Understanding operating agreements and inter-creditor agreements, and Immigration compliance considerations
- Michael Gibson, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
- Pat Hogan, CMB Regional Centers
- Robert Kraft, FirstPathway Partners, LLC
- Moderated By: Robert Divine, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM – LUNCH (Lunch Provided)
Location: Los Angeles Room
- Immigration & EB-5 Reform Address: Austin Fragomen, Jr.
- Introduction: Tom Rosenfeld, CanAm Enterprises, LLC
- Governor Edward Rendell’s Address
1:40 PM – 2:40 PM – PANEL 4A & 4B
PANEL 4A – ADVANCED
Location: Santa Monica Room
EB-5 Investment Capital Outside of China: Country specific issues, Source of funds disparities, and Consular processing
- Jinhee Wilde, Wilde & Associates LLC
- Parisa Karaahmet, Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP
- Wilka Toppins, Toppins Law Firm
- Moderated By: Edward Beshara, Beshara Professional Association
PANEL 4B – BEGINNER
Location: Beverly Hills Room
EB-5 Success in Public Private Partnership Models
- Dan Healy, Civitas Capital Group
- John Grady, Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC)
- Tom Rosenfeld, CanAm Enterprises, LLC
- Moderated By: David Hirson, David Hirson & Partners, LLP
2:40 PM – 2:50 PM – Break
2:50 PM – 3:50 PM – PANEL 5A & 5B
PANEL 5A – ADVANCED
Location: Santa Monica Room
EB-5 Trends in China: Retrogression, Restrictions on source of funds, and Consular processing issues
- David Morris, Visa Law Group
- Echo King, King Law Center
- George Ekins, American Dream Fund, Inc.
- Joanna Lin Cui, Shanghai Eternal Investment Consulting Co., Ltd
- Moderated By: Bernard Wolfsdorf, Wolfsdorf Rosenthal LLP
PANEL 5B – BEGINNER
Location: Beverly Hills Room
Welcome to the Hotel California: EB-5 financing in hotel projects, and Specific challenges to the hotel industry
- Jeffrey Deitrich, Silverstein Properties
- Kevin Daniels, Daniels Real Estate, LLC
- Mona Shah, Mona Shah & Associates
- Rohit Kapuria, Klasko, Rulon, Stock & Seltzer, LLP
- Moderated By: Jim Butler, Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP
3:50 PM – 4:00 PM – Break
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM – PANEL 6A & 6B
PANEL 6A – ADVANCED
Location: Santa Monica Room (Live translation provided)
Migration Agent Roundtable: Discussion of current market trends in China, Project due diligence, and Successful agent-project partnerships
- David Chaohui Chen, Visas Consulting Group
- Edwin Yanwu Shieh, Shenzhen ADH Migration and Education Services Co., Ltd
- Kent Shaohuai Qiu, Guangzhou M.C.D. Consultants Co., Ltd
- Larry Limin Wang, Well Trend United Inc.
- Peter Shoulong Zeng, Wuhan Personal Exit & Entry Intermediary Association
- Moderated By: Winnie Ng, David Hirson & Partners, LLP
PANEL 6B – BEGINNER
Location: Beverly Hills Room
The Economics of EB-5 Job Creation: Job models, TEA formation, and creating jobs for America
- Kevin Wright, Wright Johnson
- Michael Kester, Impact DataSource
- Elliot Winer, Northeast Economic Analysis Group
- Moderated By: Tammy Fox-Isicoff, Rifkin & Fox-Isicoff P. A.
5:00 – 6:00 PM – POST-CONFERENCE COCKTAIL RECEPTION – Location: Circle Lawn
- Sponsored by David Hirson & Partners, LLP
7:00 PM – EB-5 GALA & INVESTOR REPAYMENT CELEBRATION
- Hosted by CanAm Enterprises, LLC (Invite-Only)
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Friday VIP Cocktail Sponsor
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