Lillian A. Plata, Esq. is an attorney with 20+ years of experience structuring and implementing complex multimillion-dollar financings on a local and national level having practiced at several prominent law firms in New York & New Jersey. With a Master of Laws in Tax (LL.M.), Lillian is one of the few Latinas in the State of New Jersey that specializes in the area of Federal and State Tax Incentive Structured finance. She is the founder of TUS Advisory Group LLC (“TUS”), a Special Tax Counsel Services Firm. Lillian advises corporations, partnerships, developers, non-profits, government entities and law firms on an array of complex financing with a focus on Opportunity Zones, New Markets Tax Credits, syndicating Low Income Housing Tax Credits, Historic Tax Credits as well as other federal and local tax credit and incentive programs, with projects in Puerto Rico, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland. She has been instrumental in advising clients on the best way to leverage both public and private sources of funding. She has also represented corporate entities and investment firms in various projects consisting of corporate acquisitions, infrastructure projects, redevelopment projects, construction of professional athletic facilities and negotiating intercreditor agreements and credit facilities. In addition, Lillian advises clients on all aspects of tax-exempt bond financing and the formation of non-profits, corporations and partnerships.
Prior to establishing TUS, Lillian was the General Counsel of a national affordable housing development company. She has coordinated with developers, issuers, underwriters, financial advisors and state and local government agencies to structure and implement these complex financings that have included taxable and Section 103 tax-exempt general obligation bonds/notes, mortgaged back securities, conventional and revenue financings with fixed rate, variable rate, auction rate and hybrid structures, as well as interest rate swap agreements and other derivative products.
Lillian is also involved in various professional, community and political activities. She is currently on the Board of Open Access. She also served as a former Board Member of Don Pedro Development Corporation, a former Board Member of New Jersey Community Capital and was also part of its New Markets Tax Credits Advisory Committee. She has served as a Trustee on the Board of the Executive Women of New Jersey (EWNJ) and Chaired the Endorsement Committee for the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association. She was the Vice President of LUPE Fund, Inc., the Vice Chair of Roseville Community Charter School, a member of the New Jersey Supreme Court Ethics Committee, District XII, and the Chair of Latinas United for Political Empowerment Political Action Committee.
During her career, Lillian has received several recognitions, such as the “2024 Policy Makers Award” from EWNJ and the “2021 Top 50 Women in Business Award” from NJBIZ. She was also named a “2021 Leader in the Law” from NJBIZ and received the “Legacy Award” from the Association of Latin American Law Students in 2018, the “Top Lawyers Under 40 Award” from the Hispanic National Bar Association and the “Social Justice Advocate Award” from the Morris County Organization for Hispanic Affairs, both in 2017, among many others.
Lillian received her LL.M. in Taxation from New York Law School, her Juris Doctorate from Rutgers University School of Law – Newark and her B.A. degree in English from Drew University. She is admitted to practice law in the states of New Jersey, New York and the District of Columbia. Lillian enjoys giving back to her community, running, reading, networking, dancing and music.
Education
Rutgers Law School, J.D.
New York Law School, LL.M.
Drew University, B.A.
Email: lillian.plata@tusadvisorygp.com
Eleor CohenManaging Partner
Peter J. LiuzzoPartner
Matthew KuglerAssociate Attorney
Zachary J. ManasiaAssociate Attorney
Rosemary (Rosie) O’ByrneAssociate Attorney
Mansi SamdaniParalegal
Lillian A. PlataSpecial Tax Counsel
Brenna QuadeOperations Manager