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Acrewood Holdings Family Office
Acrewood Holdings, founded by Clay W. Hamlin III in 1995, is a family office blending real estate development with biotech investments.
Acrewood Holdings Family Office
Acrewood Holdings Family Office was founded in 1995 by Clay W. Hamlin III and Lynn B. Hamlin, drawing on capital accumulated through Hamlin's career as CEO of COPT (Corporate Office Properties Trust) and co-founder of LBCW. The office operates as an unspecified family office, with no public disclosure of its single-family or multi-family status. Its wealth origin is rooted in real estate development and investment across commercial and industrial assets. The firm's investment strategy spans multiple asset classes: commercial real estate (Alliance Partners in the Eastern and Central US), industrial development (the Century Logistics project in Mayfield, Pennsylvania), and a mixed-use Caribbean luxury resort. A distinct component is its biotech portfolio, structured to capture upside from emerging life sciences companies. The office makes direct investments and may participate in co-investments, though its exact fund structure is not publicly specified. Stephen Chang, CIO and Managing Partner, leads investment decisions for the family. Acrewood's team includes Jamie Barrett as Managing Director, who also serves on the board of Malvern Bancorp. The firm maintains a relationship with long-time real estate partner Jay Shidler. Outside investments, the Hamlin family runs The Hamlin Family Foundation Inc. and supports CITRS. Stephen Chang is a member of the Global Real Estate Institute (GRI), reflecting the office's focus on real estate deal flow. The firm's recent activity includes ongoing development of its industrial and resort projects, though specific dates are not publicly available. Acrewood's structural differentiator lies in its hybrid approach: combining traditional real estate development with a speculative biotech upside participation model. This dual-track strategy allows the office to generate cash flow from property assets while maintaining exposure to high-risk, high-reward life sciences investments, a configuration rarely disclosed by family offices. The firm's governance is closely tied to the Hamlin family, with no succession plan publicly documented.
General information
Firm type
Family Office
Year founded
1995
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Philadelphia
Corporate office
Philadelphia, PA, United States
Principals
Clay W. Hamlin III
Founder
Lynn B. Hamlin
Founder
Stephen Chang
CIO and Managing Partner
Jamie Barrett
Managing Director
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Acrewood Holdings?
Stephen Chang serves as CIO and Managing Partner, overseeing capital allocation for the family office. He is supported by Managing Director Jamie Barrett. Founders Clay W. Hamlin III and Lynn B. Hamlin remain involved in strategic direction.
How does Acrewood source proprietary deal flow?
The firm leverages relationships from Clay Hamlin's real estate career and partner Jay Shidler. Stephen Chang's membership in the Global Real Estate Institute (GRI) provides access to commercial property deals. The biotech portfolio is sourced through separate networks.
Is Acrewood structured as a single family office or does it operate more like a venture firm?
Public records describe it as a family office (unspecified single or multi-family). Its investment behavior includes direct real estate development and biotech participation, resembling a hybrid operating company rather than a pure venture firm.
What investment stages does Acrewood typically target?
The firm focuses on direct real estate development, including industrial and resort projects, with a long-term hold horizon. Its biotech portfolio is structured for upside participation, likely at later-stage or pre-IPO opportunities.
Which sectors does Acrewood explicitly avoid?
Public information does not list excluded sectors. Based on disclosed holdings, the firm concentrates on real estate and biotech and has not publicly invested in technology, energy, or financial services.
How is Acrewood related to LBCW and Jay Shidler?
Acrewood was co-founded by Clay and Lynn Hamlin alongside LBCW. Jay Shidler is identified as a long-term real estate investment partner of Clay Hamlin, providing deal flow and co-investment opportunities.
Does Acrewood maintain philanthropic structures?
Yes, the Hamlin family operates The Hamlin Family Foundation Inc. and supports CITRS, a charitable organization. These structures are separate from the investment office.
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