Best Lawyers in America for Land Use and Zoning Law
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Ross A. Leisman graduated with honors from Calvin College in 1984, and with honors from the University of Michigan Law School in 1988. Ross has served as chairman of the firm's Local Government Practice Group, has served on the firm's Management Committee and is a member of the Litigation Group. Ross specializes in civil litigation, bank disputes, land use and municipal law. He has served on several community boards, including the Kent County Building Authority, the Ada Township Planning Comm...
Brenda L. Patten is a founding member of the law firm of Berlin Patten Ebling, PLLC, with offices in Sarasota, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Venice, Lakewood Ranch and Bonita Springs, Florida. Ms. Patten specializes in Land Use Law, Government Law, Administrative Law and real estate development law. She is a professional urban planner and attorney representing developers of major projects, including hotels, resorts, condominiums, shopping centers, new communities and other major developments. Ms. Pa...
Caroline Harris's practice is focused on land use law, emphasizing New York City zoning and historic preservation. She is an expert on development rights deals (“air rights”) and discretionary approvals. She also has substantial transactional experience and serves as a Neutral Arbitrator on the Commercial Panel of the American Arbitration Association.Ms. Harris began her zoning career in the public sector as Associate Counsel for the New York City Department of City Planning. As A...
Don Pinto has more than 30 years of experience as a civil litigator, with a focus on complex real estate and land use disputes. He handles cases at the trial and appellate levels in the state and federal courts and before administrative agencies. Outside the courtroom Don has successfully resolved many disputes through negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. Don has extensive litigation experience representing clients ranging from individuals to Fortune 500 companies that own, buy, sell, and...
Shawn Tucker is an accomplished and well-respected real-estate attorney who has successfully quarterbacked some of Delaware’s largest development projects – from negotiating complex purchase agreements to obtaining final land use approvals in short order. In fact, Shawn’s unique background makes him a natural choice for developers and business leaders looking to expand in Delaware. Prior to entering private practice, Shawn served as New Castle County’s First Assistant ...
Robert Harris is a real estate and land use attorney at Lerch, Early & Brewer in Bethesda, Maryland. He helps landowners strategically improve the use and value of their real estate. His practice includes zoning, land use, real estate and municipal affairs. He represents commercial and residential landowners before planning commissions, courts, governmental agencies and elected officials in connection with obtaining development approvals and in the protection of land use rights in Montgom...
Attorney Robert (Bob) L. Berchem is the founding partner of Berchem Moses PC. Bob serves as President of the firm and Chair of its Business Services Department. He graduated with honors from Fairfield University in 1962, and from Villanova Law School in 1965 where he was first in his class and the editor of the Villanova Law Review. Following law school, Bob clerked for the Honorable William H. Timbers, Chief Judge of the United States District Court. After working for Judge Timbers in both t...
William K. Fahey is a Michigan lawyer serving public utilities and municipalities for more than 32 years. He represents electric and natural gas utilities in administrative, regulatory, commercial and appellate matters, and has been involved in nearly every major matter affecting Michigan public utilities over the last three decades. Mr. Fahey has represented more than 100 Michigan municipalities throughout Michigan, both as municipal attorney and as special counsel, principally handling muni...
Joe Trauth's practice is concentrated in areas of civil litigation, zoning and planning law and real estate law. He has been extremely successful in major rezoning for local and national clients and in obtaining real estate property tax reductions for major commercial properties in this region. He has also handled major eminent domain cases and construction cases. From 1967-1969, Joe served in the United States Peace Corps in Western Samoa as Assistant to the Director of Economic Development ...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.