Kramon & Graham has a full-service real estate practice offering transactional, corporate, and litigation services to a broad range of clients. We routinely represent clients in multi-million dollar real estate transactions and projects. We are proud to have assisted in some of Maryland's most prominent real estate deals.
Our clients include local, regional, and national developers and owners and operators of office buildings, industrial buildings, shopping centers, homebuilders, and apartment buildings. We have substantial experience in complex real estate transactions, large-scale land development projects, zoning and land use issues, financings, environmental issues, lending matters, and related litigation. Our real estate lawyers handle significant purchase and sale transactions and 1031 transactions. We negotiate and prepare sale and other closing documents, post-closing agreements, and leases.
We also represent real estate clients in refinancing and ownership restructuring. We facilitate the purchase of landlord interests in ground leases, creating the entities to hold title to the properties, and negotiating and closing loans. We assist lenders and commercial borrowers in documenting loans for real estate acquisitions, development, construction and permanent loans, including 501(3)(c) organizations and apartment owners in HUD financings.
We handle litigation concerning tax-credit transactions, property rights among shopping center owners and tenants, developer and builder liabilities in condominium and homeowner association disputes, title and boundary disputes, and commercial landlord-tenant disputes.
Kramon & Graham's real estate attorneys are recognized as leaders in their field by Chambers USA, and Best Lawyers. We are active in many local and national real estate industry organizations including the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP), CREW Network, Urban Land Institute, and the Maryland Building Industry Association.
Solid transactional practice that offers experience across all stages of commercial property development, including the purchase, financing, leasing and sale of assets. Offers expertise in the regulations governing developments such as land use and zoning laws. Also noted for its strength in real estate litigation.
Chambers USARepresentative Matters
Represented the developer in the acquisition of the seven-building, 400,000 square foot historic Dayton Arcade in downtown Dayton, Ohio. The $60 million acquisition involves working with a joint venture partner to secure title to the property and significant tax credits. The project will involve rehabilitating the vacant and deteriorating historic buildings into revitalized space for affordable housing, retail and office in a step towards the revitalization of downtown Dayton.
Represented the developer in a new $50 million, 300,000 square foot warehouse facility of Coastal Sunbelt Produce located in Jessup, Maryland. Assisted the developer with the negotiation of a long-term ground lease with the property owner, the negotiation of a lease with Coastal Sunbelt Produce, the $36 million construction financing, and the ultimate sale of the completed facility.
Represented the developer of Howard County's largest transit-oriented community on the Oxford Square Mixed-Use Transit-Oriented Community, a LEED certified construction project consisting of 122 acres, 1,295 multifamily units, 197 townhome lots, 15,000 square feet of retail space, 166,000 square feet of office space, and a new elementary and middle school. Assisted the developer with the negotiation of a private equity and bank financing for the initial site development and for the construction of the retail component.
Represented the developer in the conversion of a former paint manufacturing warehouse to an 89,000 square foot BJ's Warehouse in connection with the initial purchase of the $7.5 million property, the $20 million construction financing and the ultimate disposition of the property to a third party purchaser.
Represented of the property owner of the Bagby Building in a $20 million refinancing of a 93,000 square foot office and retail building.
Represented the developer in the acquisition and financing for the rehabilitation of a 38,000 square foot manufacturing building into office space for nonprofit tenants. The transaction involved the use of New Market Tax Credits and Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits.
After a five-day trial in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, obtained a judgment for more than $1.14 million in favor of a San Francisco-based institutional investor in historic tax credits. The investor questioned the legitimacy of the alleged expenditures incurred in connection with the rehabilitation of four historic properties (and thus questioned the historic tax credits based on those expenditures) after the developer's agent provided purported certificates of occupancy that had not yet been issued by the City of Baltimore. Thereafter, the developer stymied the investor's efforts to audit the actual expenses associated with the historic rehabilitation project.
News
- 04/02/2025
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an interim final rule (IFR) on March 21, 2025, effectively eliminating beneficial ownership reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) for all domestic entities and U.S. persons.
- 03/31/2025
Kramon & Graham, P.A. principals Kirstin Maguire Hopkins and David J. Shuster secured a decisive federal court victory for their clients, a lawyer and law firm who were sued in connection with a complicated real estate dispute.
- 03/04/2025
The U.S. Department of the Treasury ("Treasury") has issued two press releases regarding FinCen reporting under the Corporate Transparency Act in the past week.
- 01/28/2025
On January 23, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to lift the nationwide injunction that had blocked enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) in the matter Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc. v. McHenry. However, reporting requirements remain on hold in light of a separate nationwide injunction issued by a different Texas federal judge on January 7, 2025, in Smith v. U.S. Department of the Treasury.
- 12/30/2024
The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) continues to generate uncertainty, and reporting requirements are once again on hold.
- 12/27/2024
On December 23, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued a ruling staying the preliminary injunction granted by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas that had barred enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA).
- 12/06/2024
On December 3, 2024, Judge Amos Mazzant of the Eastern District of Texas issued a nationwide preliminary injunction halting federal enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA).
- 10/04/2023
Beginning on October 1, 2023, homebuilders in Maryland are required to include electronic vehicle charging equipment of varying levels in their construction of certain new residential properties.
- 02/16/2023
Kramon & Graham announced today that real estate attorney Joshua Coleman has joined the firm.
- 04/12/2021
Kramon & Graham is pleased to announce that Louis P. Malick and Callie J. Tucker have become principals of the firm.
- 10/02/2018
The Daily Record publication Path to Excellence features Cynthia Berman in its column 5 Women Who Changed My life, (September 21, 2018).
- 10/04/2017
Kramon & Graham real estate attorney Cynthia Berman represented the purchaser of two Marriott hotels in the Central Florida area.
- 08/30/2017
The Court of Appeals of Maryland issued a decision earlier this month, reversing a Court of Special Appeals opinion in a case relating to lien priorities. The case centered on whether a private utility company's recorded declarations of future front foot benefit charges create a lien that supersedes later recorded deeds of trust.
- 08/17/2017
Kramon & Graham principal Cynthia Berman represented Merritt Properties in the $24.55 million purchase of the 121,414-square-foot 100 West Road building, a Class A, five-story office building that is LEED-EB Gold certified.
- 02/06/2017
If your business entity was incorporated, qualified or registered to do business in Maryland as of January 1, 2016, you may have received a pink postcard from the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation. The postcard is marked "Final Notice" and is advice that your Form 1, Annual Report and Personal Property Return as of January 1, 2017, must be filed on or before April 17, 2017.
- 11/10/2016
In a dispute over a 93-acre real estate development project, Kramon & Graham successfully secured a jury trial victory for its client.
- 09/12/2016
Kramon & Graham is pleased to announce that attorneys Erin R. Guiffre and Christopher C. Jeffries have become principals of the firm.
- 04/11/2016
In a recent victory, Kramon & Graham litigation principal John Dougherty won an important defense judgment in an action brought by homeowners who were seeking to void their obligation to pay for utility infrastructure charges, often referred to as "front foot" charges.
- 02/17/2016
After a five-day trial in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Jeffrey H. Scherr and John A. Bourgeois obtained a judgment for more than $1.14 million in favor of their client, a San Francisco-based institutional investor in historic tax credits, and against a developer in Baltimore's Station North Arts and Entertainment District.
- 06/30/2014
With the first half of 2014 came two changes to Maryland's already extensive residential real property disclosure requirements.
- 04/04/2014
John F. Dougherty won a defense judgment in an action brought by condominium unit owners seeking refunds and to avoid future payments of deferred water and sewer utility charges they owed to the defendant.
- 11/04/2013
The Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Maryland has proposed new regulations affecting the administration of new home warranty security plans.
Events
- 04/20/2015
Cynthia Berman moderated the CREW-Baltimore program entitled “Women of Influence” on April 23rd.
- 04/01/2014
On April 7, 2014, Cynthia Berman will join representatives of Merritt Properties, LLC to present a program to University of Baltimore students on how to develop and manage commercial real estate.
- 03/22/2012
The program, titled Trailblazers in the Industry, was a discussion of the panelists' paths to success in the real estate industry.
Chambers USA has released the 2025 rankings of United States law firm practice groups and attorneys.
Chambers USA has released the 2024 rankings of United States law firm practice groups and attorneys. Fourteen of our attorneys are recognized for legal excellence and client service.
Kramon & Graham announced today that thirteen firm attorneys have been recognized for legal excellence and client service in the 2023 Chambers USA legal ranking guide.
Kramon & Graham, a leading Maryland-based law firm providing litigation, real estate, and transactional services, announced today that thirteen firm attorneys have been recognized for legal excellence and client service in the 2022 Chambers USA legal ranking guide.
Kramon & Graham is pleased to announce that eight of its attorneys have been named in the second annual Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, 2022 Edition.
Kramon & Graham announced today that thirteen firm attorneys have been recognized for legal excellence and client service in the 2021 Chambers USA legal ranking guide.
Kramon & Graham received two national and twenty metropolitan rankings for professional excellence in the 2021 U.S. News – Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" list.
Kramon & Graham, a leading law firm providing litigation, real estate, and transactional services, is pleased to announce that seven of its attorneys have been named in the inaugural edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch. These awards recognize attorneys who, early in their careers, display outstanding professional excellence in their areas of practice.
Kramon & Graham announced today that twelve firm attorneys have been recognized for legal excellence and client service in the 2020 Chambers USA legal ranking guide.
Kramon & Graham, a leading law firm providing litigation, real estate, and transactional services, received two national and fourteen metropolitan rankings in the ninth edition of the recently published U.S. News – Best Lawyers annual directory.
Kramon & Graham, a leading law firm providing litigation, real estate, and transactional services, has earned top marks in the 2020 edition of Benchmark Litigation, a leading legal guide that provides an in-depth analysis of commercial litigators in the United States.
Kramon & Graham announced today that ten firm attorneys are recognized for legal excellence and client service in the 2019 Chambers USA legal ranking guide. More than 40 percent of Kramon & Graham's principals are recognized in the directory.
U.S. News – Best Lawyers has recognized Kramon & Graham in its 2019 "Best Law Firms" ranking guide.
Kramon & Graham announced today that five firm principals have been named "Lawyer of the Year" Baltimore in the 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. In addition, sixteen firm attorneys were selected for inclusion in the ranking guide. The attorneys represent Kramon & Graham's full range of practices from litigation to transactional services.
Kramon & Graham, a leading law firm providing litigation, real estate, and transactional services, announced today that nine firm attorneys have been recognized for legal excellence and client service by the 2018 Chambers USA legal ranking guide.
The recently released U.S. News – Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" directory recognizes thirteen Kramon & Graham practices in its 2018 law firm guide.
Kramon & Graham, a leading law firm providing litigation, real estate, and transactional services, is pleased to announce that thirteen firm attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2018 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
Kramon & Graham, one of Maryland's leading law firms, has been selected to appear in the 2017 edition of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business. The firm received top-tier status for its Commercial Litigation practice. Kramon & Graham has held the top position in this area for more than ten consecutive years.
Kramon & Graham is pleased to announce that Jeffrey H. Scherr has been selected to receive the Daily Record’s 2017 Leadership in Law Award.
Baltimore, MD (November 14, 2016) -- The recently released U.S. News - Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" directory recognizes thirteen Kramon & Graham practices in its 2017 law firm guide.
Kramon & Graham is pleased to announce that firm co-founder Andrew Jay Graham has been named the 2017 Litigation - Securities "Lawyer of the Year" and that Natalie McSherry has been named Medical Malpractice Defense "Lawyer if the Year" for Baltimore by The Best Lawyers in America, the oldest lawyer-rating publication in the U.S. The "Lawyer of the Year" distinction is presented to individuals who have received outstanding ratings from their peers in Best Lawyers surveys.
In the 2016 edition of “Best Law Firms,” Kramon & Graham receives National Tier ranking for its real estate and securities litigation practices and Tier 1 Metropolitan rankings for ten of its practice areas, including real estate, litigation, criminal defense, health care, and insurance law.
Kramon & Graham is pleased to announce the recognition of several of its attorneys in the 2016 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.
Kramon & Graham is pleased to announce that eight of its Principals have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 21st Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.
Kramon & Graham is proud to announce that eight firm principals are listed in the 2014 Edition of Best Lawyers in America.
Cynthia Berman has been named to The Daily Record’s 2013 list of Maryland’s Top 100 Women.
Kramon & Graham is proud to announce that eight firm principals have been listed in the Nineteenth Edition of The Best Lawyers in America.