Board

2017 Board of Directors and Officers

Aaron J. Kowan, Esq. Board Member and President

Stephen O’Day, Esq. Board Member
Lee Peterson, Esq. Board Member
Anita Anand, Esq. Board Member, Secretary and Treasurer

Southern Property Rights Council Board Member and Officer Bios

Aaron J. Kowan ‐ Board Member and President
Partner at Kowan | Cordon, a boutique law firm specializing in federal, state, and international tax and business planning. His practice is focused on both tax consulting and the structuring, negotiating and closing of corporate and partnership transactions. He routinely advise clients on most of the significant areas of corporate, partnership and individual income taxation, including:
- tax and corporate aspects of mergers and acquisitions
- structuring of partnerships, joint ventures and startup companies
- drafting and negotiation of complex partnership and LLC agreements
- state and local tax planning
- executive compensation matters, including 409A compliance
- formation of and compliance issues relating to tax-exempt organizations, public charities and private foundations
- tax planning and structuring related to private equity and real estate investment funds
In addition, a significant portion of his practice concentrates on the representation of investors, developers and syndicators nationwide in connection with tax-incentivized investments, including conservation motivated real estate funds, low income housing tax credits, renewable energy tax credits, historic rehabilitation tax credits, new markets tax credits, entertainment/film tax credits and other state specific credits.

Stephen O’Day – Board Member

Stephen E. O’Day is the Partner in charge of the Environmental Law and the Sustainability Practices group at the law firm of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP – Atlanta office. The Environmental Practice 5 | P a g e Group handles all aspects of traditional environmental legal issues. Mr. O’Day’s Sustainability Practice provides focused legal advice and representation to companies and entities regarding sustainability initiatives, the sustainability businesses and best practices, renewable energy, business issues, planning and litigation. Mr. O’Day has handled environmental litigation, consultation and negotiations for over 33 years He advises clients in connection with the full range of environmental issues, including National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits and Clean Water Act compliance, Clean Air Act permits and compliance, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act permitting and compliance including solid and hazardous waste treatment, disposal and cleanups, Superfund cleanups, toxic tort claims, Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act permitting and compliance, Toxic Substances Control Act compliance, OSHA compliance, water law and other environmental matters. He also handles administrative proceedings on state and federal levels in connection with issues ranging from usage of real property to compliance with federal and state environmental laws and represents clients in litigation across the country involving environmental matters such as toxic tort litigation, nuisance litigation, hazardous waste cleanups, including sites both on and off the NPL, Clean Water Act citizen suits and compliance litigation, facilities compliance with the Resource, Conservation and Recovery Act, mold litigation and landfill issues. He also assists clients in environmental issues in real property acquisition and development and the acquisition and sale of operating manufacturing, renewable energy, and other entities.

Lee J. Peterson – Board Member

Lee Peterson is a licensed attorney in the state of Georgia and serves as Senior Manager for CohnReznick, LLP in its National Renewable Energy Practice. To date, Mr. Peterson has been a critical tax advisor in over 10 billion dollars of renewable energy projects within the U.S. and its’ territories. Lee is responsible for governmental affairs and thought‐leadership. His clients have included the U.S. Department of Energy, Fortune 100 companies, state and local governments, tax exempt organizations and renewable energy project developers and manufacturers. He regularly advises the nation’s largest financial institutions, their regulators and educates staff and members the U.S. Congress regarding renewable energy policy and renewable energy project finance investment structures.

Anita Anand – Board Member, Secretary and Treasurer

Anita is a licensed attorney and a Senior Manager with Brady Ware & Co. She supports the firm’s Tax Practice, State and Local Tax Practice, and serves as a firm wide resource in the area of tax research and consulting. This includes providing taxpayer representation in matters requiring federal and state private letter rulings. She is also responsible for federal, state, and local technical tax support involving a range of industries and clients. Along with these day to day responsibilities, Anita also contributes her expertise to a number of local government agencies, industry organizations, and nonprofits. She is an adjunct professor at Georgia Perimeter College and a guest lecturer at Georgia State University and the University of Georgia. Anita is also the author of various articles and white papers on various subject matters.

Alabama Property Rights Council Board Member and Officer Bios

Tennessee Property Rights Council Board Members and Officer Bios