LLC Structures for Real Estate Investments: From Entity Formation to Advanced Risk Management (2026 Edition)

Matthew Rappaport | Falcon Rappaport & Berkman

Matthew E. Rappaport, Esq., LL.M. is Vice Managing Partner at Falcon Rappaport & Berkman LLP and Chair of the firm’s Taxation and Private Client Groups. His practice focuses on taxation as it relates to real estate, closely held businesses, private equity funds, family offices, and trusts and estates, with particular emphasis on tax planning, structuring, and compliance for commercial real estate investments. He regularly advises clients on entity selection and ownership structures designed to mitigate liability, preserve asset protection, and align with long-term tax and estate planning objectives.

Matthew is widely recognized for his work on complex real estate transactions involving advanced tax considerations, including Section 1031 exchanges and the Qualified Opportunity Zone program. He frequently collaborates with attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, bankers, and insurance professionals on sophisticated ownership and holding-company structures, including single-member LLCs and multi-entity models. A frequent speaker and author on tax and asset protection topics, Matthew holds an LL.M. in Taxation and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and is active in the American Bar Association Section of Taxation.

Leigh Cowden | Vermillion Law

Leigh Cowden, Esq. is the founder and principal attorney of Vermillion Law, where she focuses on estate planning and business law. She advises individuals and business owners on entity structuring, asset protection, and risk mitigation strategies designed to communicate clients’ desires and preserve their legacies through effective wealth management and liability minimization. Licensed in Tennessee, Florida, and New York, Leigh has practiced law since 2007 and brings decades of real-world business experience to her legal counsel.

Her work often involves navigating complex issues at the intersection of estate planning and business operations. A U.S. Air Force veteran, Leigh is known for her practical, judgment-driven approach and her ability to guide clients through evolving legal landscapes with clarity and confidence.

Session I – Structuring Real Estate Ownership: Corporate, Tax, and Asset Protection Considerations | 1:00pm – 2:00pm

• Corporate and tax structuring for real estate ownership
• 1031 exchanges
• LLC structuring techniques for estate planning
• Asset protection, corporate veil piercing, and mitigation of risk

Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

Session II – Series LLCs Explained: Compliance, Liability, and Practitioner Judgment | 2:10pm – 3:10pm

• Framing, disclaimers, and learning objectives
• Series LLC fundamentals mental model and use cases
• Tennessee statutory framework
• How Tennessee differs from other states
• Advantages and disadvantages the client conversation
• Practitioner workflow intake through compliance
• Operating agreement architecture required components
• Ethics risk management and engagement hygiene