Peter Kelsen concentrates his practice in the area of land use and real estate development.  Mr. Kelsen serves as counsel to a wide range of clients, including developers, owners, financial institutions, and municipal agencies in an equally diverse range of industries.  Mr. Kelsen advises clients on the complexities of their transactions in the areas of:

• zoning and land use law
• real estate tax assessment / exemption litigation
• commercial development
• condemnation

Chambers USA has recognized him as a leader in real estate law. Chambers notes" he is highly regarded for his zoning and land use practice" and “'one of the few lawyers who really understands how the city works.’”  Mr. Kelsen has also received the highest possible rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

Mr. Kelsen serves as the Vice Chairman of the Philadelphia Zoning Code Commission and is the editor of the Philadelphia Zoning Code Publication Project.  He is a frequent lecturer on current trends in the practice of land use law, presenting on a variety of topics, including real estate development, eminent domain, zoning law, real estate tax assessment, and taxes affecting real estate.

Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Kelsen worked for the City of Philadelphia’s Law Department in the Land Damages Division.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

• NFL football team as land use counsel in connection with development of Philadelphia football stadium and practice facility
• World renowned impressionist art institution as zoning counsel
• National developer of regional shopping centers as land use counsel
• Real estate developer as land use counsel in connection with Philadelphia area multi-family development projects
• State pension system as representative of state employee pension system in connection with successful appeal for two major Center City, Philadelphia office buildings resulting in property tax savings in excess of $7 million
• Owner/developer in successful tax assessment litigation resulting in property tax savings in excess of $1 million on premium office building complex located in Center City, Philadelphia
• National department store in Montgomery County in securing real estate tax savings in excess of $1.7 million
• International oil company in the successful representation of terminal and refinery facilities in securing major reductions in real estate tax assessments

COMMUNITY SERVICE & AFFILIATIONS

Mr. Kelsen is a member of the Board of Directors of the Jewish National Fund of the Pennsylvania / New Jersey region.  He is a member of the Governmental Affairs Committee of the Building Industry Association.