Molly R. Bryson

Partner

Washington, DC

Tel 202.661.7638
Fax 202.661.2299

Molly Bryson focuses her practice both on using federal and state tax credits to finance affordable housing, businesses in low-income communities, historic preservation, and solar energy, and on using the Qualified Opportunity Zone (QOZ) program to finance community economic development throughout the U.S. and its territories. She leads the firm's Affordable Housing and Community Development Group.

Molly focuses the affordable housing portion of her practice on providing strategic tax and business advice for both low-income and mixed-income projects financed by the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) available to housing authorities, state housing finance agencies, developers, investors, and syndicators. Many of these matters involve additional federal and/or state subsidy programs, like HUD's Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program. She also regularly advises on tax-exempt issues that can arise with the involvement of nonprofit developers, Year 15 issues, and risk assessments of LIHTC investment funds. She served as the firm's representative on the Board of the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition from 2015 to 2017, and has advocated on Capitol Hill for the strengthening and expansion of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit on behalf of the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition and the Affordable Rental Housing Action Campaign.

Molly focuses the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) portion of her practice on CDE (lender) and QALICB (borrower) representation. Recently, she represented a CDE in its lending to borrowers that were renovating office and school spaces in low-income communities in the Maryland and D.C. areas, and represented a borrower in structuring the NMTC and historic rehabilitation tax credit (HTC) financing of a health center in Baltimore, Maryland. Molly's additional representative matters involving HTCs include representing a developer/sponsor in the structuring and negotiating of the HTC financing of a historic hotel in Baltimore, Maryland, and a historic playhouse in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In the QOZ portion of her practice, Molly focuses on advising investors, fund managers, and developers on the evolving tax, organizational, and business structuring requirements of the program created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

Molly has spoken at a number of conferences, including ones sponsored by the American Bar Association Forum on Affordable Housing & Community Development, the National Council of State Housing Agencies, the Pennsylvania Housing Alliance, the NMTC Coalition, SEIA, CohnReznick LLP, and Novogradac & Company LLP.

Molly served on the firm's Partner Allocation Committee in 2020 and 2021, and on the firm's Committee on the Board Selection Process from 2021-2022.

Services

Professional Highlights

Recognition & Accomplishments

The Legal 500 US, real estate - real estate, 2023, 2024; energy – renewable/alternative, 2015; real estate and construction – real estate, 2015

Speaking Engagements

Panelist, "Discussion of Hot Topics in Community Development," Women in Housing Finance, Inc. Washington, D.C. March 1, 2023

Planning Co-Chair, "Opening Remarks," Ballard Spahr’s 2022 National Housing Summit, Washington, DC, September 14, 2022

Panelist, "Projections 101: An Introduction into Tax Issue Spotting for Non-Tax Counsel," ABA Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development Law Annual Conference, Washington, D.C., May 26, 2022

Presenter, "LIHTC Updates," on the Treasury Affordable Housing Program panel at the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) 2022 virtual Washington conference, March 29, 2022

Co-moderator, “Washington Update,” Ballard Spahr’s 2021 virtual National Housing Summit, September 21, 2021

Presenter, “Qualified Opportunity Zones,” on the Treasury Affordable Housing Program panel at the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) 2021 virtual Washington Conference, March 2, 2021

Co-moderator, "Washington Update," Ballard Spahr’s 2020 virtual National Housing Summit, October 6, 2020

Presenter, "Opportunity Zones: What the Regulations Mean for Retail," International Council of Shopping Center’s 2020 Mid-Atlantic Conference, Oxon Hill, MD, March 2, 2020

Co-moderator, "Opportunity Zones," Ballard Spahr's 2019 National Housing Symposium, Washington, D.C. November 8, 2019

Panelist, "Qualified Opportunity Zones," Association of Public Finance Professionals, Washington, D.C., September 24, 2019

Presenter, "Opportunity Zones: A Guide to Evolving Program Rules," Mortgage Bankers Association webinar, June 19, 2019

Panelist, "Qualified Opportunity Zone Investments After the April 2019 Proposed Regulations," Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, June 18, 2019

Moderator, "Workforce/Affordable Housing – Tax Policy Issues and Challenges," The Real Estate Roundtable Tax Policy Advisory Committee Meeting, Washington, D.C., June 12, 2019

Panelist, "Opportunity Zones Knocking," Maryland Association of Housing and Redevelopment Agencies (MAHRA) and the Middle Atlantic Regional Council (MARC) of NAHRO, Oxon Hill, MD, May 30, 2019

Panelist, "Opportunity Zones," Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency Housing Forum, Harrisburg, PA, May 9, 2019

Panelist, "Housing Tax Credit Update," Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency Housing Forum, Harrisburg, PA, May 8, 2019

Panelist, "Opportunity Zones Created by Tax Cuts and Jobs Act - What are They and How will They Affect Public Finance," Ladies First Mid-Atlantic Public Finance Forum, Hershey, PA, April 25, 2019

Panelist, "The Latest Urban Redevelopment Incentive - Opportunity Zones/Opportunity Funds," American Bar Association's 33rd Annual Land Use Institute: Planning, Regulation, Litigation, Eminent Domain, and Compensation, Baltimore, April 12, 2019

Presenter, "Federal Policy Update – Qualified Opportunity Zones," American Bar Association's 33rd Annual Land Use Institute: Planning, Regulation, Litigation, Eminent Domain, and Compensation, Baltimore, April 12, 2019

Presenter, "Qualified Opportunity Zones," National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) 2019 Washington Conference's Community Revitalization and Development Committee meeting, Arlington, VA, April 6, 2019

Co-moderator, "QOZs: Optimizing Opportunities," Ballard Spahr's Spring Housing Conference, Denver, April 4, 2019

Presenter, "Qualified Opportunity Zones," Newmark Knight Frank Seminar Series: The Washington Area Economy and Regional Developments to Watch, Washington, D.C., March 12, 2019

Presenter, "Qualified Opportunity Zones," Maryland Small Business Development Centers' CEO Accelerator, Rockville, MD, February 26, 2019

Presenter, "2019 Housing Day," Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition, Annapolis, MD, February 14, 2019

Panelist, "Qualified Opportunity Zones - What Are the Rules?" Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, January 28, 2019

Panelist, "Opportunity Zones 101," Bisnow's Baltimore Opportunity Zones, Baltimore, January 22, 2019

Panelist, "Qualified Opportunity Zones," The Real Estate InvestHER Show MeetUp, Philadelphia, January 16, 2019

Co-presenter, "Qualified Opportunity Zones," Utah State Bar, Real Property Section webinar, December 20, 2018

Panelist, "Structuring Investment Funds for Qualified Opportunity Zones: Maximizing Tax Benefits and Preserving Flexibility," Strafford webinar, December 19, 2018

Panelist, "Opportunity Zones in Action," National Housing Conference Solutions for Affordable Housing, Washington, D.C., November 27, 2018

Panelist, "Opportunity Zones–Tax Driven Investment Strategies," Yale Alumni Real Estate Association Conference 2018, New Haven, CT, November 16, 2018

Moderator, "Maximizing Innovations and Investment Through Qualified Opportunity Zones," Ballard Spahr's 2018 National Housing Symposium, Washington, D.C., November 9, 2018

Panelist, "The Land of Oz (Opportunity Zones) and HUB Zones: Billions of Dollars of Investment Opportunity for Infrastructure and Companies Available Under These Federal Tools," Association of University Research Parks 2018 International Conference, College Park, MD, October 25, 2018

Panelist, "Advanced Tax Issues," ABA Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development Law Boot Camp, Boston, October 4, 2018

Moderator, "CRE Investments' Next Frontier: Qualified Opportunity Zones," CRE Finance Council 8th Annual D.C. Symposium, Washington, D.C., September 27, 2018

Moderator, "LIHTC Equity Roundtable," National Housing & Rehabilitation Association Summer Institute, Edgartown, MA, July 19, 2018

Panelist, "Year 15: Capital Accounts and Why We Love/Hate Them," ABA Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development Law Annual Conference, Washington, D.C., May 25, 2018

Co-chair and Co-moderator, "Federal and State Legislative and Advocacy Update," Ballard Spahr's Western Housing Conference, Denver, April 13, 2018

Presenter, "2018 Housing Day," Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition, Annapolis, MD, February 15, 2018

Guest lecturer, "Tax Credits for Affordable Housing and Community Development," Housing Law and Policy Class, The George Washington University Law School, Washington, D.C., January 30, 2018

Co-chair and Moderator, "State HFAs' Q&A: Approaches to Affordable Housing Issues," Ballard Spahr's 2017 National Housing Symposium, Washington, D.C., November 3, 2017

Co-Moderator, "Washington Update," Ballard Spahr's Western Housing Conference, Phoenix, March 10, 2017

Panelist, "Tax Equity Structures on Steroids: Affordable Housing, Tax Credits, and the ITC," SEIA Finance & Tax Seminar, Washington, D.C., December 8, 2016

Moderator, "Strategies for Year 15 Issues," Ballard Spahr's 2016 National Housing Symposium, Washington, D.C., November 4, 2016

Co-Chair, ABA Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development Law Annual Conference, Washington, D.C., May 25-27, 2016

Panelist, "Legal Tools and Resources for Small Businesses and Economic Development," American University Washington College of Law's Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law Symposium on the Business of Gentrification: How the Law Can Help Small Businesses Survive, Washington, D.C., April 5, 2016

Moderator, "Developer and Investor Perspectives on Low Income Housing Tax Credit," Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania's Homes Within Reach Conference, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, November 16, 2015

Co-Chair, Ballard Spahr's 2015 National Housing Symposium, Washington, D.C., November 6, 2015

Moderator, "Planning for and Implementing Year 15 Issues," Ballard Spahr's 2015 Housing Authority Summit, Washington, D.C., November 5, 2015

Panelist, "Year 15 Scenarios and Opportunities," CohnReznick Annual Fall Affordable Housing Conference, Atlanta, September 22, 2015

Panelist, "NMTC and the Law," NMTC Policy Conference, Washington, D.C., June 9, 2015

Panelist, "The Development Process" and "Deal Structuring and Syndication Essentials," National Council of State Housing Agencies' Housing Credit Connect Conference, Los Angeles, June 3, 2015

Co-Chair, ABA Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development Law Annual Conference, and Moderator of the Legislative Panel, Washington, D.C., May 20-22, 2015

Moderator, "Washington Update on Housing and Tax Related Issues," American Bar Association: ABA Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development Law, Washington, D.C., May 21, 2015

Moderator, "Avoiding Year 15 Pitfalls," Ballard Spahr's Western Housing Conference, San Francisco, March 13, 2015

Moderator, "Preparing for the 15-Year Itch: Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Properties at the End of Their Compliance Period," Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania's Homes Within Reach Conference, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, November 18, 2014

Moderator, "Debt and Equity Strategies for the Future," Ballard Spahr's 2014 National Housing Symposium, Washington, D.C., November 13, 2014

Panelist, "Non-Tax Equity Sources of Financing," Novogradac Financing Renewable Energy Conference, Washington, D.C., November 6, 2014

Panelist, "Industry Update on Revenue Procedure 2014-12 and its Application to Structuring Solar Tax Credit Transactions," Ballard Spahr Tax Credit Breakfast Briefing, Philadelphia, November 4, 2014

Board Memberships & Community Service

Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart Alumnae Board, 2014-2017

Alumni Council of The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, 2014-2017

Related Insights

Credentials

Education

The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law (J.D.)
Editor-in-Chief, Catholic University Law Review

The Catholic University of America (B.A., magna cum laude)
Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions

District of Columbia

Maryland

Molly R. Bryson

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Services

Professional Highlights

Recognition & Accomplishments

Speaking Engagements

Board Memberships & Community Service

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Credentials

Education

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