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Robert Harris is a 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 Montgomery County, Maryland.
Bob’s representation of major corporations, builders, retailers, developers and landowners includes advising and representing clients in real estate and land development, including master planning, zoning, subdivision, site plans, special exceptions and other matters. This includes representation in legislative matters at both local and state levels, and participation in court proceedings. He is devoted to being well-informed on trends, policies and practices that influence development, and his clients describe him as being extremely knowledgeable. They praise Bob for his strategic and creative solutions.
His work includes experience in a number of issues, including smart growth, traffic management, adequate public facilities controls, public infrastructure, mixed-use planned development, environmental issues, urban design, affordable housing, real estate taxation and historic preservation. He has served on numerous boards, committees and task forces advising the government on matters ranging from airport development, infrastructure finance, redevelopment of aging shopping centers and master plans to urban renewal and water and sewer service. He also chairs the Washington Sustainable Growth Alliance, a group he helped form, comprised of businesses and land use and environmental organizations working to address sustainable growth issues. He recently was appointed to serve on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments' “Region Forward” task force to guide future development of the region.
Bob received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland and his Juris Doctor from The George Washington University School of Law. Prior to joining Lerch Early, he was the managing partner in the Montgomery County office of a national D.C. law firm. He is admitted to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Bob serves on the executive committee of the Urban Land Institute’s Washington District Council, and regularly serves on advisory panels organized by ULI to advise government organizations and private businesses on land use policies and practices. He is a life director of the Maryland-National Capital Building Industry Association, where he chairs the Commercial Builders Council. Bob also is a life board member of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, and formerly served as its president. He has been listed in Chambers USA for Real Estate: Land Use from 2010 to the present, and has appeared in the Best Lawyers in America and the Maryland and Washington, DC editions of Super Lawyers magazine every year since 2007. In addition, he has been a finalist in the Washington Business Journal’s “Top Washington Lawyer” designation.
When he’s not working, Bob, who was raised in Montgomery County, enjoys being outdoors. He is an avid skier, and has been to more than 40 resorts in five different countries. He also plays golf and bikes. After a workout, he takes pleasure in good food and wine; fortunately, his wife is a gourmet cook.
Professional Memberships
- Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (Advisory Board, past President, life Board member)
- Urban Land Institute, Washington District Council (Executive Committee)
- Maryland-National Capital Building Industry Association (Chair, Commercial Builders Council; life Director)
- Sustainable Growth Alliance (Founder and Chair)
- Metropolitan Washington Council on Governments' "Region Forward" task force
- U.S. Green Bulding Council, National Capital Region Chapter
Honors and Awards
- Maryland-National Capital Building Association's Joseph C. Rogers Sr. Award (2011)
- Listed in Chambers USA in Real Estate: Land Use (2010-present)
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America in Land Use & Zoning Law and Real Estate Law (2007-present)
- Listed in Maryland SuperLawyers magazine (2007-present)
- Listed in Washington, DC SuperLawyers magazine (2007-present)
- Listed in Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel edition (2009)
- Washington Business Journal Top Washington Lawyer Finalist (2004)
Representative Matters
- Fallsgrove: Represented a consortium of builders/developers who conceived and obtained zoning approvals for the Fallsgrove mixed-use planned community in Rockville
- Cabin Branch: Currently representing a gorup of builders/developers working on a 540 acre planed community in Clarksburg.
- Chevy Chase Trust Building: Obtained master plan and zoning approvals for the largest office building in Montgomery County.
