After Hank Lerch and Wilton Wallace founded the firm of Wallace & Lerch in 1950, they engaged in a general practice of law from their Washington, D.C. offices at 815 15th St., NW. The small firm continued to grow its practice, including in nearby suburban Maryland. In 1960, the firm leased a small suite of offices in the new Perpetual Building (built in 1955), at 7401 Wisconsin Avenue across from the Post Office along Montgomery Avenue in downtown Bethesda.

Harry Lerch joined the firm in January 1970 after serving as General Counsel of Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission. The firm moved to 7101 Wisconsin Ave. (the Ford Building) on Friday, August 13, 1976. The “Friday the Thirteenth” move to Suite 1313 on the 13th floor is also reflected in the firm’s main line phone number: 301-986-1300! In the late 1970s, the firm began to grow. Robby Brewer was hired as an associate in September 1977. The firm merged with Bell & Bell in 1979, bringing estates/tax partner Larry Bell and transactions associate Connie Lohse. A senior lateral attorney, Rick Tanenbaum, was hired from Crowell & Moring.

Our law firm started the 1980s with approximately 10 attorneys, and ended it with 39! In between, we merged with a small bankruptcy law firm and changed our name, developed new practice areas, hired many stellar attorneys who made lasting contributions, moved a few blocks north on Wisconsin Avenue, and began developing our firm’s infrastructure and culture in earnest. The 1980s also was when many of the firm’s social activities and customs came about — we created a softball team, held firm picnics, and hosted holiday parties.

In early 1990, the commercial real estate markets began to crumble. Within six months, the firm had lost 40% of its 39 attorneys who were present in January 1990. Our bank loans were called, our space became too large and expensive, and the immediate future for the firm’s viability was cloudy. We budgeted more conservatively, did not incur any further debt, set aside working capital reserves and funds for deferred compensation, and restructured our billing practices. The firm name changed to Lerch, Early & Brewer, Chtd. in 1991.

After the success of the firm’s efforts to stabilize and rebuild the firm in the 1990s, the firm entered a very robust and dynamic period of professional growth and industry recognition in the period. A number of the practice groups achieved industry “go-to” status, and collectively helped to enhance the firm’s reputation as one of the strongest regional commercial practice law firms and its industry recognition during this period.

The period of 2010 until the COVID pandemic arrived in 2020 was a time of steady growth and professional achievements for our firm. During this era, we strengthened our practice groups, grew our marketing presence, cycled through three managing partners, and experienced the retirements and departures of key attorneys. We welcomed eight real estate attorneys to the firm from Holland & Knight in 2011. In 2017, we moved to the 7th and 8th floors of 7600 Wisconsin Avenue. To accompany our move, the firm engaged in a complete rebranding of its social media imaging and created an entirely new website. While the pandemic was challenging, thankfully, the firm emerged intact, and within a year the firm began to grow and thrive once again.

During and in the aftermath of the pandemic, LEB worked closely with clients to troubleshoot, problem solve, and provide counsel during an unprecedented historical period with disrupted supply chains, closed courts, companies, restaurants and stores, social isolation, rampant infectious disease, and unknown horizons. On May 1, 2023, the firm welcomed 15 attorneys and almost as many staff from the Bethesda law firm, Paley Rothman. Overall, LEB hired 36 new attorneys from the Pandemic through late 2024, and Liz Rogers was promoted to partner during this time. Out of this growth, LEB gained new strength especially in its employment, estates, family law, litigation, and business/tax practice groups.

On Thursday, February 6, 2025, Lerch, Early & Brewer employees and alumni came together at Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, Maryland to celebrate this important milestone anniversary.