Attorneys

Jeffrey Scherr Jeffrey Scherr

Jeffrey H. Scherr

Principal
410-347-7424410-539-1269
jscherr@kg-law.com
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Biography

Founder and leader of Kramon & Graham's real estate practice, Jeffrey Scherr represents industrial and residential developers and builders, homeowner and condominium associations, commercial landlords and tenants, hotel owners, and local and regional businesses and professionals. As the go-to counsel for land development deals, Jeff is the lawyer behind many of Maryland's most successful projects, including the $53 million transformation of Clipper Mill from an industrial warehouse site to a vibrant, mixed-use community, and Oxford Square, Howard County's largest transit-oriented community -- a $100 million LEED certified construction project.

Jeff handles matters involving real estate transactions and development, condominium and homeowner association law, real estate litigation, corporate and partnership law, and general commercial law. A veteran land-use lawyer, Jeff obtained the first planned unit development ever permitted by Baltimore County.


Recognition

Recognized in Benchmark Litigation, "Local Litigation Star," Real Estate Litigation, since 2020

Listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Real Estate, since 2003; and Litigation - Real Estate, since 2011

AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell

Recipient, Maryland Leadership in Law Award, The Daily Record, 2017


Service

Jeff has demonstrated a dedication to community service in principle and practice. He is a strong advocate of social services and has served as an integral member on many of Maryland's most influential boards, such as the Alzheimer's Association of Maryland of which he is the immediate past president, the Enoch Pratt Free Library, and the Jewish Museum of Maryland, of which he is currently vice president. Jeff formerly served as president of The Associated Jewish Charities of Baltimore, Jewish Community Services, and Hillel of Greater Baltimore.


Memberships

American Bar Association, Member, Real Property and Litigation Sections 1976 - present

Bar Association of Baltimore City, Chair, Young Lawyers Section, 1985 - 1986; Executive Council Member 1985 - 1986 and 1980 - 1981; Member, Standing Committee on Lawyer Referral and Information Service 1983 - 1984; Member 1976 - present

Community Associations Institute, Member 1983 - present

Federal Bar Association, Member 1980 - present

Greater Baltimore Board of REALTORS, Member, 1985 - present

Maryland Building Industry Association, Baltimore County Chapter, ZADM Committee, 1993; Planning and Zoning Committee, 1986 - 1988; Public Works Committee, 1984 - 1986; Member 1984 - present

Maryland State Bar Association, Judicial Selection Committee 1989 - 1995; Member, Board of Governors, 1986 - 1988; Member, Real Property and Litigation Sections 1975 - present

National Association of Home Builders, Member 1982 - present

Urban Land Institute - Baltimore Chapter, Advisory Board, 2017 - present


Representative Matters

Represented a residential homebuilder in OT, LLC, et al. v. Harford County, et al., United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Case No. 1:17-cv-02812-SAG, a high-profile religious discrimination lawsuit against Harford County, Maryland, its County Executive, other County officials, and two Maryland state legislators. In the underlying transaction, the homebuilder agreed to build and sell houses to be purchased by several members of the Muslim community. The project became subject to an anti-Muslim campaign led by local citizens who were opposed to the project. Harford County stopped issuing building permits for the residential subdivision and refused to approve use and occupancy permits for houses that had been constructed. The homebuilder and an entity associated with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community brought suit asserting federal discrimination claims and other claims for relief. After a one-week evidentiary hearing, the federal court granted a preliminary injunction in favor of Kramon & Graham's client compelling the County to issue permits for the homes that had so far been constructed. Before the matter proceeded to a jury trial, a settlement was reached resulting in a payment of $4.95 million to the plaintiffs and agreements for the resumption of the project.

Represented the developer in the acquisition of the seven-building, 400,000 square foot historic Dayton Arcade in downtown Dayton, Ohio. The $60 million acquisition involves working with a joint venture partner to secure title to the property and significant tax credits. The project will involve rehabilitating the vacant and deteriorating historic buildings into revitalized space for affordable housing, retail and office in a step towards the revitalization of downtown Dayton.

Represented the developer in a new $50 million, 300,000 square foot warehouse facility of Coastal Sunbelt Produce located in Jessup, Maryland. Assisted the developer with the negotiation of a long-term ground lease with the property owner, the negotiation of a lease with Coastal Sunbelt Produce, the $36 million construction financing, and the ultimate sale of the completed facility.

Represented the developer of Howard County's largest transit-oriented community on the Oxford Square Mixed-Use Transit-Oriented Community, a LEED certified construction project  consisting of 122 acres, 1,295 multifamily units, 197 townhome lots, 15,000 square feet of retail space, 166,000 square feet of office space, and a new elementary and middle school. Assisted the developer with the negotiation of private equity and bank financing for the initial site development and for the construction of the retail component.

Represented the developer in the conversion of a former paint manufacturing warehouse to an 89,000 square foot BJ's Warehouse in connection with the initial purchase of the $7.5 million property, the $20 million construction financing and the ultimate disposition of the property to a third party purchaser.

Represented of the property owner of the Bagby Building in a $20 million refinancing of a 93,000 square foot office and retail building.

Represented the developer in the acquisition and financing for the rehabilitation of a 38,000 square foot manufacturing building into office space for nonprofit tenants. The transaction involved the use of New Market Tax Credits and Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits.

After a five-day trial in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, obtained a judgment for more than $1.14 million in favor of a San Francisco-based institutional investor in historic tax credits. The investor questioned the legitimacy of the alleged expenditures incurred in connection with the rehabilitation of four historic properties (and thus questioned the historic tax credits based on those expenditures) after the developer's agent provided purported certificates of occupancy that had not yet been issued by the City of Baltimore. Thereafter, the developer stymied the investor's efforts to audit the actual expenses associated with the historic rehabilitation project.

News

Recognition

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