The Schonbraun McCann Group (SMG).

Donald B. Zief, JD, CPA, has joined The Schonbraun McCann Group (SMG), as a principal and senior director of REIT Tax Services. At SMG, a national real estate and finance consulting firm, Zief will provide consulting and advisory services on REIT structuring and tax matters.

Zief brings extensive experience in real estate transactions, securitizations, opportunity funds, IPOs and debt/equity offerings. Co-author of what many REIT industry executives often refer to as the "REIT Bible" and the principal REIT tax treatise," The Real Estate Investment Trusts Handbook, Zief is widely regarded for his work in REIT and partnership tax issues.

Prior to joining SMG, he was director of real estate services at KPMG in New York and was a member of the real estate and tax groups of several national law firms.

Zief earned a JD from Rutgers Law School, an LLM in taxation in from New York University School of Law, an MBA from Lehigh University, and a BA from Franklin & Marshall College.