James W. Freeman serves as principal of the Strategic Group of Companies, an Atlanta-based private equity boutique specializing in tax advantage investments. Mr. Freeman’s expertise includes the structuring and investing in Opportunity Zone funds, complex conservation easements, historic preservation, renewable energy and entertainment transactions.
Mr. Freeman’s writings have been published in a varying array of periodicals, including Commercial Investment Real Estate (the magazine of the CCIM Institute), Shopping Center Business, and the Scotsman Guide. Notably, the Georgia Society of CPAs honored Mr. Freeman as the recipient of the Outstanding Member in Industry Award for 2009 for his leadership and strong ethical character.
Mr. Freeman obtained his Bachelor of Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, majoring in Biology with minors in both Chemistry and Business Administration and soon after received a Master of Accounting from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, with a concentration in Tax and Real Estate. He later received a Master of Business Administration from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business with a concentration in International Economics. He is a licensed CPA in multiple states and holds securities license designations as an Investment Banker and General Securities Principal.
At the beginning of his career, Mr. Freeman joined Arthur Andersen’s Global Tax practice where he assisted clients with global tax strategy and corporate restructuring. He later took a three-year expatriate assignment in the Brussels, Belgium office where he continued this work and expanded his network of clients. He subsequently joined Deloitte & Touche’s Brussels Tax practice where he furthered his tax expertise by structuring complex tax solutions for large international clients in close cooperation with the Washington DC national tax practice.
Mr. Freeman then worked for Ashland Inc./Valvoline Inc. as the National Managing Director of Valvoline’s business in Germany. There he managed and balanced all aspects of Valvoline’s business in Germany and doubled sales during his tenure.
Mr. Freeman currently lives in the metro Atlanta area with his wife, Jessica, and their children. He is the past President of the Georgia Society of CPA’s and currently serves on the Board of Directors and is also the past President for the Atlanta Chapter. Mr. Freeman serves on the Board of Governors of the Buckhead Club and sits on advisory boards of various US companies. Mr. & Mrs. Freeman are both members of numerous community and volunteer organizations and continue to be active members of their church.