Amy McClain > Ballard Spahr LLP > Baltimore, United States > Lawyer Profile

Ballard Spahr LLP fields a multidisciplinary practice with experience handling a wide scope of development, structuring, condominium, and mixed-use properties, along with a considerable pipeline of single-family residential property work. Alongside their real estate finance group, the practice is also particularly experienced in the hospitality sector, evidenced by its resort, hospitality and timeshare group. The firm is also distinct in its affordable housing niche, where the team regularly works with private and governmental bodies, including the New York City Housing Authority and Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development, on affordable housing and social infrastructure developments and maintenance matters. The department is headed by Baltimore-based chair Amy McClain, with Dominic De Simone leading the private equity, loan servicing, and distressed real estate teams from Philadelphia. Joining them from Washington DC are Mary Jo George, head of housing finance, Katherine Noonan, leader on development and transactions, and Molly Bryson, affordable housing and community development group head. Denver-based Christopher Payne heads the resort, hospitality and timeshare group. Experienced on mergers, acquisitions and retail bankruptcies, Michael Ostermeyer is noted for his expertise advising on corporate portfolios and public real estate projects from the firm’s Phoenix office.

Ballard Spahr LLP’s zoning and land use team covers a wide range of permits and approvals for real estate development projects, advising on matters ranging from subdivisions and zoning variances to environmental permitting, takings, and historical preservation issues. The department also handles complex appellate advocacy and defense of land use approvals. Amy McClain co-heads the team from Baltimore and focuses on affordable housing transactions, while co-head Matthew McClure is based in Philadelphia and emphasizes land use, zoning, and historic preservation matters. In Salt Lake City, Steven Mehr focuses on acquisitions, dispositions, construction, zoning and entitlements of commercial, retail, industrial and resort properties. In Baltimore, Jon Laria recently advised on redevelopments and new mixed-use developments. Based in Philadelphia, Joanne Phillips and Devon Beverly are further names to note.