National Real Estate Advisors’ Board of Directors is the firm's governing body, responsible for overseeing all aspects of company operations. The Board is comprised of four members, led by its Chairman, Paul Saylor. Board members are highly experienced in real estate and institutional investment management, including the legal and regulatory aspects of the industry. All Board members have a long history of involvement with National Real Estate Advisors and its predecessor, NEBF Real Estate. Members of the Board of Directors include:
James R. Difede, Esq.
Partner
Potts-Dupre, Difede & Hawkins, Chtd.
Washington, DC
James Difede is the managing partner of Potts-Dupre, Difede & Hawkins, Chartered, in Washington, D.C., where he leads the firm’s commercial real estate practice.
Mr. Difede began his career at the New York firm of Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett, where he specialized in project finance and banking matters. He joined his current firm in 1990 where he has represented the interests of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and its related pension funds in commercial real estate and other financial matters. Mr. Difede has had an important role in the successful expansion of the real estate investment program at the National Electrical Benefit Fund, and has significant experience in representing the interests of organized labor in complex investment structures.
Mr. Difede received his BA in business and finance from Adelphi University in New York in 1982, and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law School in 1986. He is a member of the District of Columbia and New York Bars.
Lawrence J. Hass, Esq.
Partner
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, LLP
New York, NY
Larry Hass is a partner in the corporate practice at Paul Hastings in New York. He concentrates his practice in providing legal advice on the structuring and implementation of investment transactions and investment vehicles for pension funds and other institutional investors. These investments typically involve real estate, venture capital, and direct placements, as well as publicly traded stocks and bonds. The legal issues involved arise not only under ERISA, but also under tax laws (including partnership tax and unrelated business income tax laws), federal and state securities laws, real estate laws, banking laws, and state laws regulating public pension plans.
Mr. Hass’ clients include many of the nation’s premier institutional investors, including major pension funds, banks, insurance companies, investment managers and investment banking firms. The substantial size and continued growth of this practice reflects the increasing importance of public and private pension funds and other institutional investors in the capital markets, as well as the increasing complexity of government regulation of investment transactions.
Before entering private practice, Mr. Hass served as an attorney at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from 1971 to 1975, and as assistant counsel for Fiduciary Responsibility in the Solicitors Office of the U.S. Department of Labor from 1975 to 1976. From 1976 to 1977, Mr. Hass served as special assistant to the Administrator of the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration at the U.S. Department of Labor.
Mr. Hass actively participates in the institutional investment community. He is the general counsel of the Pension Real Estate Association and a co-author of The Annotated Fiduciary: Materials on Fiduciary Responsibility and Prohibited Transactions Under ERISA. Mr. Hass received his B.A. degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1967, and his J.D. degree from the Brooklyn Law School in 1971. He is a member of the New York and District of Columbia Bars.
Jeffrey J. Kanne
President and Chief Executive Officer
National Real Estate Advisors
Washington, DC
Mr. Kanne is responsible for coordinating National’s real estate investment programs and serves as the Chairman of National’s Real Estate Investment Committee. He was responsible for the dramatic growth and success of NEBF’s in-house real estate investment operation and was the driving force behind the formation of National Real Estate Advisors. Mr. Kanne has broad and diverse experience in the real estate investment and development process, with particular insight into legal, finance and construction aspects. Following service in the Peace Corps in the late 1970's and work as a lumber trader, Mr. Kanne spent several years at the Washington, D.C. law firm of Arnold & Porter. While there, he was involved in multi-billion dollar international debt restructurings, as well as complex real estate transactions, with a focus on the development projects of non-profit groups and universities. After forming the law firm of Counts & Kanne, Chartered, Mr. Kanne was intimately involved in structuring numerous complex investments in real estate development projects nationwide for institutional clients.
Mr. Kanne serves on several Boards of Directors and is a member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and the Pension Real Estate Association (PREA). He is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia and Maryland, and is a member of the Order of the Coif. Mr. Kanne received his BA in History and JD with high honors from the University of Iowa.
Paul H. Saylor
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
CS Capital Management Inc.
Atlanta, GA
Since 1964, Mr. Saylor has been actively involved as a real estate investment manager, consultant, developer, asset manager and investor. He is a founder of CS Capital Management, Inc. and previously affiliated Chadwick, Saylor companies. Mr. Saylor is currently the sole owner of CSCM and is ultimately responsible for all client relationships and operations of the firm. Mr. Saylor has also served in a third-party fiduciary capacity, advising NEBF’s Trustees on real estate matters since 2003.
Mr. Saylor's memberships and affiliations have included the Urban Land Institute, the American Society of Real Estate Counselors, the American Real Estate Society, the National Association of Realtors, the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, the International Council of Shopping Centers, the National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries, the Pension Real Estate Association, the National Multi-Housing Council, the International Real Estate Institute and the National Association of Real Estate Editors. Mr. Saylor has served on the Advisory Boards of numerous industry publications, is a contributing editor to various publications, has been a frequent speaker at real estate conferences, and has participated on various boards.
Mr. Saylor received a B.S. degree in economics from the University of Virginia and completed post-graduate studies at the University of Connecticut.