State and Local Government

Silverman Thompson attorneys assist not only businesses that must work with state and local governments with regard to project development, but also state and local governments themselves. In the former category, successful project development requires timely authorizations and assurance of regulatory compliance. Zoning boards, planning agencies, county councils, and state and federal regulators can create roadblocks for the development process.  Partner Avery Strachan currently serves as a member of Baltimore City's Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals. Our lawyers have decades of experience resolving legal obstacles to development, having helped public and private clients obtain time-sensitive federal, state, and municipal land-use and zoning approvals.

Some of the land use and zoning issues we have dealt with include:

  • Working with Maryland authorities and local boards and agencies on variances, subdivision approvals, easements, and water and sewer allocation
  • Obtaining local, Maryland, and federal permits and renewal applications, including stormwater, pollution, and wetland permits
  • Helping clients comply with NEPA and other federal land use statutes
  • Prosecuting or defending land-use litigation, including:
    • Successfully obtaining declaratory relief for a developer in a dispute with residents over a private beach
    • Successfully defending the issuance of Clean Water Act wetlands permit necessary to the development of a new rail facility

Silverman Thompson attorneys have been retained by state and local governments to assist with complex litigation matters. Examples include:

  • Representation of the State of Maryland as special litigation counsel in its litigation against opioids manufacturers and distributors and against pharmacies
  • Representation of the District of Columbia as special litigation counsel in its litigation against opioids manufacturers and distributors and against pharmacies
  • Representation of Baltimore County in multi-district litigation involving opioids
  • Representation of the State of Ohio in federal litigation involving the building of a bridge that would potentially impact wetlands and other environmentally-sensitive areas and
  • Representation of the Town of Charlestown, Maryland in litigation against various marinas that failed to pay fees owed under local ordinances