In today’s evolving EB-5 and real estate environment, understanding how capital is structured is just as important as immigration strategy. This session will explore how EB-5 capital can be positioned within the capital stack, how risk can be allocated among lenders and developers, and key questions investors should consider in today’s market.
Panelists:
- Divij Kishore of Flagship Law, LLC
- Mark Harmon, WA developer
- Claudia Ortega, EB5LA
Bios
Divij Kishore is the founding attorney of Flagship Law, where he advises high-net-worth individuals, investors and corporate clients on complex and high-stakes immigration matters. His practice focuses on investment-based visas, global mobility and regulatory compliance. Admitted to practice in New York and India, Kishore holds law degrees from the NYU School of Law and NALSAR University of Law. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (2023-2026), Expertise.com and Marquis Who’s Who in America for his strategic, results-driven legal counsel.
Claudia I. Ortega is a seasoned real estate and investment professional with more than 20 years of experience spanning residential and commercial real estate, mortgage lending, investor advisory, and strategic market positioning. Her career has been deeply rooted in guiding sophisticated buyers, sellers, and business owners through complex real estate transactions, capital structuring, and market-driven decision-making across multiple U.S. markets.
As a licensed real estate broker and former mortgage company owner, Ortega has overseen transactions involving residential portfolios, commercial properties, and development-oriented assets, with a strong command of underwriting standards, capital stacks, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation. Her background includes structuring and reviewing conventional, government-backed, and alternative financing solutions, experience that aligns directly with the financial and asset-backed fundamentals of EB-5 investment projects.
Ortega is also recognized for her leadership in public policy advocacy and consumer protection. She has actively participated in congressional meetings in Washington, D.C., lobbying for consumer rights in housing and lending, and working alongside federal agencies, financial institutions, and elected officials to advance responsible homeownership and transparency in real estate finance. This policy-facing experience provides her with a nuanced understanding of regulatory frameworks and investor protections which are critical components of the EB-5 ecosystem.
Ortega has led large-scale public education initiatives and media campaigns, serving as a spokesperson across television, radio, print, and digital platforms. She is known for her ability to translate complex financial and real estate concepts into clear, investor-focused narratives, bridging the gap between technical detail and strategic vision.
Mark Harmon is the Founder of Auberge Resorts Collection. He formed Auberge in 1998 with the same vision that inspires him today: to build a best-in-class collection of one-of-a-kind resorts, hotels and residences in exceptional places.
Under Mark’s direction, Auberge Resorts Collection became recognized as one of the top 5 hotel brands in the world with an international portfolio of unique hotels, resorts and residences that have garnered numerous awards and accolades for their character and memorable experiences.
As Founder and CEO of Auberge from 1998 to 2014, Mark played an integral role in the design and development process- from the initial concept to opening- with the goal of creating places that connect people to spectacular natural settings and to one another.
Each Auberge property shares a crafted approach to luxury that is expressed through captivating design, exceptional cuisine and spas, a spirit of adventure and romance, and gracious yet unobtrusive service.
In 2018, Mark sold the management company, Auberge Resorts Collection. Today, Mark focuses on new resort development opportunities and oversees the family owned Auberge du Soleil in Napa Valley, California.
Mark also currently acts as the Chairman of Private Label Collection, a Hawaii based development and hospitality management company that manages the acclaimed Hotel Wailea, Hawaii’s only Relais & Chateaux property, on Maui.
Prior to forming Auberge Resorts, Mark was a partner in a real estate company which acquired and developed a diverse portfolio of commercial, residential and retail properties in Northern California.
Mark began his career as a business lawyer at a prominent San Francisco law firm and is a graduate of Princeton University and The University of California, Hastings College of the Law.