Development & Construction

Whether you’re constructing a single building structure or engaging in a large-scale development expansion, you must navigate a complex spectrum of risks and opportunities.

From early project concepts to a final sale or leasing, Blank Rome’s real estate attorneys will work closely with you on all facets of your complex development projects.

Throughout the United States and around the world, we can guide you through legal issues and the business consequences of design and construction agreements. Our clients include:

Developers
Homebuilders
Investment banks
Office building owners
Hotels
Shopping center owners
Commercial banks
Hospitals
Medical facilities
Office and retail tenants
Contractors
Educational institutions
Cooperative corporations
Senior living facilities

Our team will help you identify potential challenges and devise creative solutions. Should contractor defaults or disputes arise, our deep litigation bench can help you resolve the claims efficiently. Our construction attorneys also advise on renovation projects for corporate clients who require large amounts of space to operate their business.

As part of the integrated project team, we work closely with your facilities, design, construction, and legal personnel, as well as project managers and consultants. We contribute to the team effort at every stage of the project, from the preparation of requests for proposals to the drafting and negotiation of contracts, the enforcement of contractors’ obligations and resolution of claims, and completion and close-out of the project.

How We Can Help

Contract agreement development and negotiation
Construction financing
Performance/payment bonds
New Markets Tax Credits
Environmental issues
LEED certifications
Land use and zoning
OCIP/CCIP insurance
Employment and labor issues
Dispute resolution and litigation

What Sets Us Apart

Ranked Tier 1 in 2025 U.S. News & World Report–Best Lawyers^® “Best Law Firms” (Woodward/White, Inc.) for Real Estate Law nationally and in Philadelphia and New York City; regionally recognized in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.
Chambers USA 2023 recognized our practice for Real Estate Law in Pennsylvania. Chambers researchers have stated Blank Rome:
- “Acts for an impressive list of leading financial institutions, as well as owners, developers and REITs.”
- “Possesses strong capabilities in zoning and land use issues and is also regularly called upon for its expertise in restructuring work and tax assessment matters”
- Is “…regularly called upon for its expertise in restructuring work…”
- “...is ‘very, very strong in representing real estate developers.’”

Key Contacts

Michael A. Scheffler

Related Industries

Represented a regional hospital in connection with its construction of a hospital, cancer center, medical office building, and site improvements.
Represented a major development company in connection with the development, financing, and operation of a 31-story residential and commercial condominium tower, including 163 residential condominium units, as well as a state-of-the-art 350-seat theater, a 380 car parking facility, and street-level restaurant operations.
Represented an international investment bank in connection with the construction of its global headquarters.
Advised on the real estate and related arrangements required by a major sports franchise to obtain economic assistance and other benefits from state and city governments and a regional port authority in the development and financing of a new $350 million football stadium and $30 million practice facility.
Represented an international investment bank in the development of a 1.6 million square foot office building and related improvements, including a pier and ferry terminal, underground garage, park, and site improvements.
Represented the developer of a power center for lease to national big-box retailers, in connection with all development aspects of the project, including preparation of reciprocal easement and related agreements.
Represented an international investment bank in connection with development projects in the United States, Asia, South America, and Central America.
Represented an art museum in connection with its relocation and construction of its new location.
Counseled one of the largest mid-Atlantic affordable-housing developers in all aspects of its projects, amounting to over 25 projects over the past several years. Issues resolved included property acquisition, zoning, financing, tax-credit application and compliance (low-income and historic), and architectural and construction contracting.
Advised an affordable-housing developer in the acquisition, financing, and equity syndication of an 83-unit, new-construction, residential rental development in Maryland using low-income housing tax credits and Hope VI funding from HUD. Our affiliate, Blank Rome Government Relations LLC, assisted with procurement of the HUD grant.
Counseled the developer of a 40-unit, affordable-housing rental development in New Jersey with a mixed-finance operating subsidy project, financed in part by HUD, that also included three other lenders. Additionally, our attorneys handled all real estate and title issues, and negotiated the architectural and construction contracts, as well as the tenant lease forms and the management agreement and plan.
Counseled a large urban housing authority in its rehabilitation of a 137-unit, historic residential apartment complex in Philadelphia using low-income housing tax credits, historic tax credits, and capital funding from HUD, including the negotiation of Historic Part 1 and 2 approvals from the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Advised a private developer in its development of a 60-unit, residential rental project in New Jersey utilizing low-income housing tax credits, including negotiation of an acquisition and investment agreement with the market-rate developer of an adjacent property, as part of a Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, settlement.
Assisted with the creation of a mixed-use condominium project in Philadelphia in which some of the condominium “units” were comprised of affordable-housing rental apartments. The project included both historic and low-income housing tax credits.
Assisted numerous affordable-housing developers in real estate tax assessment appeals, and various other real estate tax related issues.