Exhibit 8.1
February 23, 2007
AMB Property Corporation
Pier 1, Bay 1
San Francisco, California 94111
633 West Fifth Street, Suite 4000
Los Angeles, California 90071-2007
Tel: (213) 485-1234 Fax: (213) 891-8763
www.lw.com
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Re: AMB Property Corporation
Registration Statement on Form S-3
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special tax counsel to AMB Property Corporation., a Maryland corporation (the
Company), in connection with its filing of a registration statement on Form
S-3 on February 23, 2007 (together with the documents incorporated by reference therein, the
Registration Statement) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Act) pertaining to the registration by the Company of
shares of the Companys common stock, par value $0.01 per share and shares of the Companys
preferred stock, par value $.01 per share as set forth in the prospectus contained in the
Registration Statement.
You have requested our opinion concerning certain of the federal income tax considerations
relating to the Company. This opinion is based on various facts and assumptions, and is
conditioned upon certain representations made by the Company and its subsidiaries with respect to
certain factual matters through a certificate of an officer of the Company, dated as of the date
hereof (the Officers Certificate). In addition, this opinion is based upon the factual
representations of the Company concerning its business and properties as set forth in the
Registration Statement. With your permission, we have assumed the accuracy of the opinion of
Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP, counsel for the Company, dated as of the date hereof, with
respect to certain matters of Maryland law.
In our capacity as tax counsel to the Company, we have made such legal and factual
examinations and inquiries, including an examination of originals or copies certified or otherwise
identified to our satisfaction of such documents, corporate records and other instruments as we
have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion. For the purposes of our
opinion, we have not made an independent investigation or audit of the facts set forth in the above
referenced documents or in the Officers Certificate. In addition, in rendering this opinion we
have assumed the truth and accuracy of all representations and statements made to us which are
qualified as to knowledge or belief, without regard to such qualification. In our examination, we
have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all
signatures thereon, the legal capacity of natural persons executing such documents and the
conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies.
AMB Property Corporation
February 23, 2007
Page 2
We are opining herein as to the effect on the subject transaction only of the federal income
tax laws of the United States, and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability
thereto, or the effect thereon, of other federal laws, the laws of any state or other
jurisdiction or as to any matters of municipal law or the laws of any other local agencies within
any state.
Based on such facts, assumptions and representations, it is our opinion that the statements
included in the Registration Statement under the heading United States Federal Income Tax
Considerations, insofar as they purport to describe or summarize certain provisions of the
agreements, statutes and regulations referred to therein, are accurate descriptions or summaries in
all material respects.
No opinion is expressed as to any matter not discussed herein.
This opinion is rendered to you as of the date of this letter, and we undertake no obligation
to update this opinion subsequent to the date hereof. This opinion is based on various statutory
provisions, regulations promulgated thereunder and interpretations thereof by the Internal Revenue
Service and the courts having jurisdiction over such matters, all of which are subject to change
either prospectively or retroactively. Any such change may affect the conclusions stated herein.
Also, any variation or difference in the facts from those set forth in the Registration Statement
or Officers Certificate may affect the conclusions stated herein. As described in the
Registration Statement, the Companys qualification and taxation as a real estate investment trust
depends upon the Companys ability to meet the various qualification tests imposed under the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including through actual annual operating results, asset
composition, distribution levels and diversity of stock ownership, the results of which have not
been and will not be reviewed by Latham & Watkins LLP. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that
the actual results of the Companys operation for any particular taxable year will satisfy such
requirements.
This opinion is rendered only to you and is solely for your benefit in connection with the
Registration Statement. This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose, or
furnished to, quoted to or relied upon by any other person, firm or corporation for any purpose,
without our prior written consent in each instance, provided however, that investors purchasing
securities pursuant to the Registration Statement may rely on this opinion, as of the date hereof.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In
giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose
consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules or regulations of the Commission
promulgated thereunder.
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Very truly yours, |
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/s/ Latham & Watkins LLP |