Catherine DeBono Holmes

Catherine DeBono Holmes is Chair of JMBM's Investment Capital Law Group and author of the Investment Law Blog. She has practiced law at JMBM for over 30 years, focusing on investment capital and business transactions. 

Cathy helps clients worldwide to raise, invest and manage capital from U.S. and non-U.S. investors. She has represented more than 50 real estate developers in obtaining financing through the EB-5 immigrant investment visa program for the development of hotels, multi-family, and mixed-use developments throughout the U.S., and has represented numerous Chinese investors in the purchase of hotels and businesses in the U.S.

She assist clients in sourcing and investing capital throughout the U.S. She acts as security counsel in connection with offerings of investment securities in compliance with exemptions from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 in the U.S.under SEC Regulation D in the U.S. and outside the U.S. under Regulation S. She is experienced in forming U.S. and non-U.S. private investment funds for investment in real estate, mortgage loans, securities and other investment.

Cathy helps clients form EB-5 Regional Centers for investment in U.S. business through the EB-5 immigrant investor visa program.

Her finance and investment experience includes handling business formations for entrepreneurs, private securities offerings, structuring and offering of private investment funds, and business and regulatory matters for investment bankers, investment advisers, securities broker-dealers and real estate/mortgage brokers.  

Representative Experience

• Assisting over 40 new hotel construction projects to obtain financing through the EB-5 immigrant investor visa program.
• Assisted U.S. city with RFP and negotiation of qualified management contract for city-owned, 1000-room convention center hotel.
• Assisted the largest publicly owned Taiwanese hotel company to purchase all of the assets of the Regent Hotels brand, including all intellectual property and all hotel management and related agreements for hotels located in Asia, Europe and the Caribbean.
• Assisted Indonesian owners in negotiation of three branded hotel management agreements for hotels to be developed in Bali.
• Assisted owner of 1,500+ room convention hotel with complex RFP process involving major hotel brands and negotiating a favorable management agreement.
• Assisted multiple resort owners to structure mixed-use condo hotel projects and prepare CC&Rs, unit maintenance agreements, unit rental agreements.
• Assisted U.S. based hotel brand and management company with resort developments in Mexico, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Panama and Egypt.
• Assisted securities broker-dealer with multiple real estate focused private investment.
• Assisted multiple condo hotel owners to structure offerings in compliance with SEC requirements
• Assisted national securities brokerage firm to acquire regional broker businesses.
• Assisted multiple hedge fund managers in development of new onshore and offshore hedge funds.
• Assisted multiple accounting firms in acquiring or forming investment advisory groups.