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Christopher Ruhlen is a land use attorney at Lerch, Early & Brewer in Bethesda, Maryland, focusing on land use, zoning, real estate and related governmental issues. Chris assists national and local real estate developers, property owners, commercial tenants and small businesses with a full range of planning, zoning and regulatory matters.
Chris’s experience includes handling complex matters before the Montgomery County Planning Board, the Montgomery County Board of Appeals, and the City of Rockville and City of Gaithersburg Planning Commissions. He provides clients with the information they need to navigate the processes for subdivision and site plan approvals, special exceptions, local map amendments, zoning text amendments and building permits, and takes care of the myriad details involved in obtaining entitlements and other approvals from local administrative boards and commissions. In addition, Chris is conversant in green building practices and the LEED building certification process, and is designated as a U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED® AP).
He also represents commercial property owners throughout Maryland in reviewing, analyzing and obtaining reductions in real estate tax assessment appeals. Pragmatic and personable, Chris provides thoughtful, dependable advice concerning real estate assessments for office, retail, mixed-use and other properties.
Chris received his Bachelor of Arts magna cum laude from American University and his
Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law. He is admitted to practice law in Maryland. Prior to joining Lerch Early, Chris practiced in the Montgomery County office of a national law firm based in Washington, D.C. He is active in the Urban Land Institute, the Maryland-National Capital Building Industry Association and the U.S. Green Building Council.
Chris, a busy father of three young daughters, is an ardent music fan and record collector. He loves to barbecue, and can often be found at the grill, listening to John Coltrane, Tom Waits, Wilco or The Blasters.
Professional Memberships
- Maryland State Bar Association
- Urban Land Institute
- Maryland National-Capital Building Industry Association
- U.S. Green Building Council, National Capital Region Chapter (Board of Directors, Montgomery County Branch, 2010-present)
- Greater Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce (Co-chair, Real Estate Committee, 2011-present; Bethesda Green representative, 2009-2011)
