|
Barbara A. Sears is Head of the Land Use Group and has served as Managing Partner of the firm. She represents land owners, developers and builders in land use, real estate, administrative and municipal law matters before administrative boards and agencies, legislative bodies and state and federal courts. Ms. Sears assists local, regional and national clients in complex matters involving zoning, subdivision, special exceptions, variances, building and other construction permits and approvals, and related facets of the development process. She also handles litigation arising from these areas, including administrative appeals and condemnation. Ms. Sears is a former Associate General Counsel of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission where she served as legal advisor to the Montgomery County Planning Board in all aspects of their work, including zoning, subdivision, master planning and park acquisition. She holds a law degree and a masters degree in urban and regional planning from Catholic University. Educational Background Juris Doctor, Catholic University, 1973 Master of Arts, Catholic University, 1980 Urban and Regional Planning Bar Memberships District of Columbia Maryland Professional Background Linowes and Blocher LLP, Partner, 1981 - Present; Associate 1977 - 1980 Significant Projects Downtown Silver Spring Redevelopment Project (Mixed-use Town Center Urban Renewal Project in Partnership with Montgomery County) King Farm (Mixed-Use Development) Hidden Creek (Mixed-Use Residential Community) Leisure World (Planned Retirement Community) Rock Spring Centre (Mixed-Use Development) Fortune Parc ( Mixed-Use Development) Johns Hopkins University Belward Research Campus Congressional North Shopping Center Congressional South (Mixed-Use Development) Rock Spring Park (Office Park) Shady Grove Executive Center Cloverleaf Germantown Center Metro Park North Hughes Network Systems Headquarters Washington Science Center Woodmont Corner Rockville Town Center Monument Technology Research Park Crown Farm ( Mixed-Use Development) Business and Professional Affiliations Maryland State Bar Association, Member, Administrative Law Section Council Maryland State Bar Association, Member, Character Committee for the Sixth Judicial Circuit Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Maryland-National Capital Building Industry Association, Member, Montgomery County Liaison Committee Awards and Distinctions Vice Chair of Montgomery County Council Task Force to Review the Regional District Act YWCA Tribute to Women and Industry Award Montgomery Housing Partnership, Community Partner Honoree Member, Corporate Partnership for Quality Government (Montgomery County) Member, Governor Parris Glendening Transition Team, Economic Development Policy Committee Greater Washington Legal Elite, Washington SmartCEO, August 2005 Professional Lectures and Publications Catholic University School of Architecture, Lecturer in the field of city and regional planning Maryland State Bar Association, Faculty, Course on Professionalism, required to be taken by all new admittees Montgomery County Bar Association, Lecturer, Continuing LegalEducation Program. | 