Blumenthal Delavan Powers & Palmer, P.A. brings experience, integrity, and a commitment to excellence to each and every client on each and every matter.

When you need a firm that delivers results, you need a firm where Experience Matters.

We concentrate our practice on land use matters, real estate, environmental law, civil litigation, and government relations. Collectively, we have over two hundred and thirty years of experience in these areas. We also provide estate planning and probate services.

The Chesapeake Bay is a natural resource that we must all strive to protect for current and future generations to enjoy. Maryland has more waterfront property than any of the other lower 48 states. Anne Arundel ranks among the highest counties in the nation for waterfront property. Maryland has more state and local laws relating to land use than most jurisdictions, especially when it comes to land within one thousand feet of most waterways (known as the critical area).

Over the past thirty years, the lawmakers have made governing the use of the critical area a top priority. Restrictions, ordinances, guidelines and zoning have made the process of critical area development far more complicated than in years past.

Understanding the continuously changing landscape of land use in Maryland requires a law firm that is relentless in navigating the law to defend the rights of the citizens and businesses affected.

MEET THE ATTORNEYS

Harry C. Blumenthal

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Harry C. Blumenthal

Harry C. Blumenthal has provided legal and administrative representation for more land development and construction projects in Anne Arundel County than any other attorney in the County. His primary area of practice is land use, including zoning, subdivision, development, permitting, and critical area issues before such County agencies as the Office of Planning and Zoning, the Department of Inspections and Permits, and the Department of Public Works. He has handled countless variance, special exception, and re-zoning cases before the Administrative Hearing Officer and the Board of Appeals. He has considerable experience in land use litigation and appeals. Mr. Blumenthal’s clients include local, regional, and national developers, telephone and electric companies, cable television and cellular phone companies, and bus and rail companies with facilities in Anne Arundel County.

Mr. Blumenthal provides effective lobbying services. When a change in the law will assist a client, Mr. Blumenthal drafts legislation and gains support for the legislation with the members of the Anne Arundel County Council. Mr. Blumenthal has shaped much of the County’s land use law and practice.

Mr. Blumenthal has extensive experience in commercial and industrial development. He has assisted clients with every regional commercial mall in the County, most community and neighborhood shopping centers, numerous commercial strip centers, and numerous individual commercial pad sites. He has represented the developers of major industrial parks throughout the County. Mr. Blumenthal also has extensive experience in the creation of residential and mixed use communities.

Mr. Blumenthal’s secondary area of practice is closely related to land use. He handles real estate matters and real estate contracts. As the Anne Arundel County real estate market matures, he guides the development of difficult properties and the redevelopment of improved properties, such as the Laurel Racetrack. Mr. Blumenthal assists in the due diligence required for acquisition, refinancing, and real estate title issues, with an emphasis on value-added development potential.

Finally, Mr. Blumenthal serves as an expert witness in land use and administrative matters. The Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County and the Board of Appeals have recognized him as an expert in land use on numerous occasions.

Practice Areas

Land Use, including zoning, subdivision, development, permitting, and environmental issues before County agencies; the presentation of variances, special exceptions, and re-zonings in administrative proceedings; lobbying to obtain changes in the law if necessary; drafting legislation; and land use litigation and appeals
Real Estate, Real Estate Contracts, and Due Diligence for Acquisitions and Financing
Expert Witness Services

Professional Background & Education

Education

LL.B (“Bachelor of Laws”), 1961, University of Maryland School of Law
B.A., Political Science, 1958, Johns Hopkins University

Professional Background

Engaged in the private practice of law since 1961
Senior partner in various firms since 1974, beginning with Blumenthal & Goldsborough through Blumenthal, Delavan & Williams, P.A.
Legal Counsel to the Board of License Commissioners since 1975, providing advice with respect to liquor licenses, enforcement of liquor laws and regulations, and public hearings

Business & Professional Affiliations

Maryland State Bar Association
Anne Arundel County Bar Association
Anne Arundel Trade Council
BWI Business Partnership
Maryland Building Industry Association
Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce, Legislative Committee member
West County Chamber of Commerce

Awards & Distinctions

Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent, the highest rating given by peers for legal ability and ethical standards
2010 Spirit of Excellence Award for Outstanding Service to Anne Arundel County
Qualified as an expert witness in land use and administrative matters before the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, the U.S. Court of Claims, and the Anne Arundel County Board of Appeals
Selected as a lecturer for MICPEL and the Anne Arundel County Bar Association regarding land use and administrative procedures
Award for pro bono service to the Child Development Center
Selected on two occasions by Anne Arundel County to speak at retreats for the Department of Inspections and Permits

Significant Clients, Projects, or Cases

Mr. Blumenthal has represented the developers of every regional commercial shopping mall in the County, including Arundel Mills Mall, Annapolis Mall (“Westfield”), Marley Station Mall, and Glen Burnie Mall.

Mr. Blumenthal has represented the developers of major retail centers, including Annapolis Harbour Center, Waugh Chapel Shopping Center, Crofton Shopping Center, Quarterfield Shopping Center, and Maryland City Shopping Center.

Mr. Blumenthal has represented the developers of residential and mixed use development, including Crofton, Villages of Dorchester at Arundel Mills, South River Colony, Chesterfield, Annapolis Towne Center, Odenton Town Center, Heritage Harbor, and Chesapeake Harbor.

Mr. Blumenthal has represented the developers of major industrial parks throughout the County, including Crofton Industrial Park, Konterra Industrial Park, Parkway Aviation Industrial Park, Nursery Road Industrial Park, and Riva Road Industrial Park.

Representative clients include:

Anne Arundel Medical System
Baltimore Gas and Electric
Classic Community Companies
CSX Realty Development, Inc.
Elm Street Development
Greenberg-Gibbons Corp.
G.W. Koch Associates, Inc.
Jerome J. Parks Companies
J.P.I. Development Services, L.P.
Liberty Property Development
Maryland Jockey Club (Laurel Racetrack)
Merritt Properties, LLC
Polm Companies
Ribera Development
St. John Properties
Wendy’s (DavCo Restaurants, Inc.)

Bar & Court Admissions

Maryland
District of Columbia
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
Supreme Court of the United States

Charles F. (Fred) Delavan

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Charles F. (Fred) Delavan

Fred Delavan’s primary area of practice is land use, including issues relating to zoning, subdivision, land development, and Chesapeake Bay Critical Areas issues. He handles administrative and zoning hearings regarding variances, special exceptions, rezonings, and related matters before Anne Arundel County’s Administrative Hearing Officer and the Board of Appeals and before the City of Annapolis Planning Commission and Board of Appeals. Mr. Delavan’s land use practice also involves drafting and negotiating real estate development agreements with County and City agencies.

Mr. Delavan’s second area of practice is drafting legislation and lobbying for its approval before the Anne Arundel County Council and the Annapolis City Council. He handles negotiations related to the legislation with administrative agencies within the County and City governments.

Mr. Delavan handles appeals of real property tax assessment valuations with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation and the Maryland Tax Court.

Mr. Delavan also handles applications for alcoholic beverage licenses and hearings before the Liquor Board.

Practice Areas

Land Use, including zoning, subdivision, development, permitting, and environmental issues, administrative hearings, and administrative and appellate appeals
Lobbying
Real Property Tax Assessment Valuations
Alcoholic Beverage Licenses; Liquor Board hearings

Professional Background & Education

Education

J.D., 1972, University of Arkansas School of Law, Dean’s List
B.A., 1968, Vanderbilt University, Major in Political Science, with minors in Business Administration and German

Professional Background

Member, Blumenthal, Delavan, Powers & Palmer, July, 2014 to the present time
Member, Blumenthal, Delavan & Williams, P.A., October, 1994 to July, 2014
Associate (1976 to 1980) and Partner (1980 to 1994), Blumenthal, Goldsborough, May and Downs and successor law firms, April, 1976 to October, 1994
Assistant County Attorney, Anne Arundel County Office of Law, November, 1975 to April, 1976
Associate, Bernard F. Goldberg, Esquire, Ellicott City, Maryland, December, 1973 to October, 1974
Law Clerk, Bernard F. Goldberg, Esquire, Ellicott City, Maryland, February, 1973 to December, 1973

Activities Prior to Bar Admission

Co-Chairman, Law Students’ Civil Rights Research Council, University of Arkansas Law School
Founder and Director, Minority Students’ Tutorial and Scholastic Assistance Program, University of Arkansas Law School
1st Lieutenant, United States Army, Military Intelligence Branch; Detachment Commander, Mt. Meissner Detachment, Rothwesten Field Station, Rothwesten, Germany

Business & Professional Affiliations

Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce, Past Chair (2000)
West County Chamber of Commerce
General Counsel, BWI Business Partnership
Maryland Building Industry Association
Maryland State Bar Association
Bar Association of Anne Arundel County
Maryland Hall for Creative Arts, Member of Board of Directors (1981 to 2009) and President (1983 to 1985)
Member, American Planning Association

Representative Clients

The Bernstein Companies
CSX Realty Development, LLC
Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT)
Creston Tate and Barry Tate
Royal Farms Stores (Two Farms, Inc.)
Elm Street Development
Gibson Island Corporation
Greenberg Gibbons Development
Northrup Grumman Corporation
Jerome J. Parks Companies (“Park Place” Project)
Tanyard Cove Associates, LLC (“Tanyard Cove” Project)
WAWA, Inc.
The Wilkes Company
Union Realty Company (“1901 West” Project)

Bar & Court Admissions

Maryland
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

Barbara J. Palmer

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Barbara J. Palmer

Ms. Palmer has 30 years of experience as a trial lawyer and has earned a reputation for effective and aggressive representation of clients. She regularly appears before the Circuit Court, the Court of Special Appeals, and the Court of Appeals. She also handles cases in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland and has argued before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Ms. Palmer actively engages in land use law, including zoning, subdivision, development, permitting, and critical area issues. She has handled variances, special exceptions, and re-zoning cases before the Administrative Hearing Officer and the Board of Appeals.

Ms. Palmer handles issues pertaining to real estate matters, real estate contracts, general contractual matters, land transfer issues, and business disputes.

Practice Areas

Litigation and Appeals
Land Use, including zoning, subdivision, development, permitting, and environmental issues before County agencies; the presentation of variances, special exceptions, and re-zonings in administrative proceedings.
Real Estate, Real Estate Contracts, Property Rights and Business Litigation

Professional Background & Education

Education

J.D., 1984, University of Maryland School of Law
B.S., 1981, Biology, Loyola College

Professional Background

Member, Blumenthal, Delavan, Powers & Palmer, P.A., July, 2014 to the present time
Of Counsel, Blumenthal, Delavan & Williams, P.A., May, 1996 to July, 2014
Associate, Krause & Ferris, P.A., 1996 to 2002
Associate, Brassel and Baldwin, P.A., 1987 to 1993
Associate, Goldsborough, Franch & Collette, P.A., 1984-1985
Associate, Franch & Jarashow. P.A., 1985 to 1987
Law Clerk, Office of the Attorney General, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Environmental Task Force, 1982 to 1983

Business & Professional Affiliations

Maryland State Bar Association, 1984 to the present
Anne Arundel County Bar Association, 1984 to the present

Awards & Distinctions

Martindale-Hubble BV Distinguished rating by peers for legal ability and ethical standards
Selected by Krause & Ferris, P.A. to litigate tort, real property, and contract personnel actions in state and federal courts, including appellate courts
Selected by Brassel and Baldwin, P.A. to handle civil litigation, including circuit court cases, administrative hearings, and appeals to the Court of Special Appeals and Court of Appeals, and real estate matters, including drafting contracts and obtaining governmental approvals of development projects
Selected by Goldsborough, Franch & Collette, P.A and its successor firm to handle civil and minor criminal litigation, including tort, contract, malpractice, domestic, bankruptcy, and workers compensation matters in the District Court, Circuit Court, Court of Special Appeals, and Court of Appeals

Significant Clients, Projects, or Cases

Significant Cases

Ms. Palmer has practiced in state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate levels. Recent and significant reported appellate opinions include:

Clickner v. Magothy River Ass’n, 424 Md. 253, 35 A.3d 464 (2012), successfully represented the owner of an island against members of the public who claimed a right to use the beach, with the highest appellate court holding that the public had no such right
Annapolis Mkt. Place, LLC v. Parker, 369 Md. 689, 802 A.2d 1029 (2002), successfully represented a community group opposed to the rezoning of neighboring property for a more intensive use
Piquette v. Stevens, 128 Md. App. 590, 739 A.2d 950 (1999), successfully overturned the granting of a judgment notwithstanding the verdict in a personal injury action
Kessler v. Equity Mgmt., Inc., 82 Md. App. 577, 572 A.2d 1144 (1990), represented an employer in the termination of an at-will employee

Bar & Court Admissions

Maryland

U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U. S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Eileen E. Powers

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Eileen E. Powers

Ms. Powers has more than 30 years of experience as a trial lawyer. She has represented clients in general civil litigation in State courts throughout Maryland and in the Federal courts, including cases involving property disputes (boundaries, easements, licenses, trespass, adverse possession, partition, nuisance, piers, landlord/tenant, trees (cutting and damage claims), stormwater management, eminent domain (condemnation), environmental matters (wetlands, hazardous material spills, filling and grading), contract and business disputes.

Ms. Powers has more than 30 years of experience in administrative law, handling cases before a wide range of administrative agencies. She has represented zoning and permit clients before the Boards of Appeals of Anne Arundel County, Talbot County, Queen Anne’s County, City of Annapolis, Town of Leonardtown, and other jurisdictions. She has handled cases in other matters ranging from the Anne Arundel County Animal Control Commission, Amusement License Commission, Board of License Commissioners, Personnel Board, and tax appeals.

Ms. Powers has more than 30 years of experience as an appellate lawyer, handling cases from the beginning level of administrative agency hearings and Maryland District Court trials, through the circuit courts, and to both the Maryland Court of Special Appeals and Maryland Court of Appeals. Ms. Powers has more than 15 years of experience in alternative dispute resolutions, including mediation and arbitration. She incorporates her background and training in social work in resolving complex land use, property and business disputes, and in general civil matters. She created the day-of-court volunteer mediation program for civil disputes that is now being used in the District Courts throughout the State of Maryland.

Ms. Powers also has more than 30 years of experience in land use. She provides advice on land development issues and handles variance, special exception, and other administrative hearings. As an Assistant County Attorney for the Anne Arundel County Office of Law, Ms. Powers represented the Office of Planning and Zoning in hearings before the Board of Appeals and on appeals to the Circuit Court and appellate courts. As Zoning Counsel for Howard County, Ms. Powers appears at all Zoning Board hearings relating to piecemeal zoning map amendments and produces evidence and testimony, as appropriate, in support of the comprehensive zoning classification for a property. She also advises citizens and speaks to groups on request regarding zoning procedures in Howard County.

Ms. Powers also handles real property and real estate issues, including the drafting of real estate contracts.

Practice Areas

Civil Litigation
Administrative law
Appeals, administrative and civil
Mediation and arbitration
Land use, including zoning, subdivision, development, permitting, and environmental issues in state, county, and municipal jurisdictions; presentation of variances, special exceptions, and re-zonings in administrative proceedings; real estate, real estate contracts

Professional Background & Education

Education

J.D., 1982, cum laude, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
Master of Social Work, with highest honors, 1978, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
Bachelor of Arts, 1977, summa cum laude, The Catholic University of America,Washington, D.C.
Mediation and Domestic Mediation Training, MICPEL, 1999

Bar & Court Admissions

Maryland
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Professional Experience

Howard County Zoning Counsel, Howard County Council (since 2001)
Adjunct Professor, Anne Arundel County Community College, Legal Studies Institute (since 2012)
Hearing Examiner, Anne Arundel County Board of Education (2000 – 2002)
Assistant Attorney General, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (1991-1996)
Associate, Brassel and Baldwin, P.A. (1987-1991)
Assistant County Attorney, Anne Arundel County Office of Law (1983-1987)
Associate County Attorney, Prince George’s County Office of Law (1982-1983)

Business & Professional Affiliations

Maryland State Bar Association, including service as a Trustee for the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, 2004 to 2006, and as a Member of the Real Property Section Council, 2009 to 2011
Anne Arundel County Bar Association, including service as the Chairman, Continuing Legal Education Committee, 1992 to 1994
Trial Courts Nominating Commission, Anne Arundel County, 2007 to 2008
Maryland Police Legal Advisors Committee, 1993 to 1997
MICPEL Board of Trustees, 1993 to 1994
Board of Directors, Anne Arundel County CASA, Inc., 1994 to 2003
MICPEL training evaluator, 1999 to 2005

Awards & Distinctions

Martindale-Hubble BV Distinguished rating by peers for legal ability and ethical standards
Certificate of Appreciation, Maryland District Court, Volunteer Mediation Coordinator, 2001

Significant Clients, Projects, or Cases

Ms. Powers has practiced in state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate levels. A sample of a recent significant reported appellate opinion is:

Clickner v. Magothy River Ass’n, 424 Md. 253, 35 A.3d 464 (2012), representing the owner of an island against members of the public who claimed a right to use the beach, with the highest appellate court holding that the public had no such right and the owner was entitled to construct a fence along the shoreline above mean-high tide

We are privileged to represent a wide variety of clients, ranging from Fortune 500 and internationally owned companies to locally owned businesses and individuals. The specific and evolving needs of each client are our top priority. We pride ourselves in our ability to provide meaningful resolutions to clients.

Blumenthal, Delavan, Powers & Palmer, P.A.

181 Harry S. Truman Parkway | Suite 200
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: 410-573-2900
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