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Chris N. Bobby
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Chris’ experience includes advising Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), Real Estate Joint Ventures, Private Equity Funds, and Large Public and Private Corporations on the Federal Income Tax Implications and Tax Planning related to a wide variety of International and Domestic Business Transactions.
Chris joined Manning Fulton in 2021 after graduating from the University of Chicago Law School in 2018 and spending over two years in the tax group of an AmLaw 100 law firm.
About
Chris is a Partner in the Corporate Practice Group and advises clients on a wide range of federal income tax planning and corporate matters. These include mergers, acquisitions, restructurings and reorganizations, REIT transactions, partnership transactions, private and public securities offerings, financings, and private equity transactions. Chris provides strategic guidance to executive management, private equity funds, and small businesses on a variety of federal income tax, business transactions and other legal matters. His clients represent a broad range of industries, including real estate, software, business services, manufacturing and distribution.
Chris also has worked with numerous REIT clients in transactional and operational planning. He has worked with several multinational corporations and investment banks in connection with cross-border planning and U.S. tax reform. Additionally, he has experience assisting clients in disputing audits before the IRS.
Chris received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Chicago Law School. During law school, Chris served on the Committee for Faculty Appointment, Committee for the Appointment of the Law School Dean, and as a staff member of the Chicago Journal of International Law. In addition, Chris had legal internships at Lawyers for Children and an AmLaw 100 firm. At Lawyers for Children, Chris assisted staff attorneys in providing guardian ad litem services to children in the New York state foster care system.
Prior to law school, Chris participated in the Teach for America program and served as a school administrator and teacher for KIPP Academy Lynn Collegiate. While at KIPP, Chris oversaw the development and implementation of a school-wide disciplinary system, including providing orientation for students and the use of evidence-based practices to improve faculty execution. He also partnered with Teach for America Massachusetts to help coach and develop teachers during a summer school-based training program.
Credentials
Education
- University of Chicago Law School – J.D. – 2018
- Kenyon College – B.A. in Philosophy – 2011 – Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude
Admitted to Practice
- State of Illinois (2018)
- State of North Carolina (2022)
Professional Memberships & Activities
- North Carolina Bar Association Member
- Wake County Bar Association Member
- Recognized in Best Lawyers: One’s to Watch – Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Tax Law (2025-2027)
- Recognized in “Legal Elite”, Business North Carolina – Corporate Law (2024-2026)
- Recognized by Super Lawyers: Rising Stars Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Business & Corporate, Tax (2025-2026)
- Meals on Wheels Durham – Board Member (2023-present)
- Firm AI Commitee, Chair (2025)
- Montessori School of Raleigh, Board of Directors (2025)
Prior Experience/Clerkships
- Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Chicago IL
- Associate, October 2018 – May 2021 (2.5 years)
Representative Transactions
- Counseled Perella Weinberg Partners in its publicly announced de-SPAC transaction using an “UP-C” structure
- Represented a global play and entertainment company before IRS Examination and Appeals in complex corporate audits concerning licensing and manufacturing operations in various countries
- Structured the formation of a multinational joint venture to acquire and develop a $456.1 million class A office building
- Represented Fortress Investment Group affiliate in the sale of TRAC Intermodal to Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners
- Counseled numerous REITS as special tax counsel in private placement offerings, convertible preferred equity issuance, common stock issuance, and senior notes offerings
- Served as special REIT tax counsel to MFA Financial, Inc. in its $500 million capital raise through a private senior secured loan agreement funded by certain funds and accounts managed by subsidiaries of Apollo Global Management, Inc. and affiliates of Athene Holding Ltd.
- Represented Brookdale Senior Living, Inc. as special tax counsel with respect to its entry into two joint venture transactions and related transactions with HCP, Inc., including the acquisition by HCP of Brookdale’s 51% joint venture interest in several retirement home communities for $510 million and Brookdale’s acquisition of several triple-net leased properties from HCP for $405 million
Publications
- A Method Inside the Madness: Understanding the European Union State Aid and Taxation Rulings” – Christopher Bobby | Chicago Journal of International Law: Volume 18: No. 1, Article 5 (2017)