History
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History
Today, Linowes and Blocher is a full-service real estate firm capable of guiding a project from initial concept through land use approvals, financing, construction, leasing and sale. Over the years, Linowes and Blocher has expanded its reach to serve the entire Washington region. It has also evolved into a business law firm, providing legal services to entrepreneurs and companies in many fields.
R. Robert Linowes (1922-2007), the firm's founder, entered private law practice in 1956 when he opened a modest law office in downtown Silver Spring. Linowes, a graduate of Columbia University Law School, had previously spent three years as an Assistant County Attorney for Montgomery County. Mr. Linowes went on to have a distinguished career in law, business, and community service. In addition to being known as a creative land use lawyer who often thought "outside of the box," he co-authored several books about land use law and served as chairman of numerous community organizations, including the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the Greater Washington Research Center, and the Folger Shakespeare Theatre.
Joseph P. Blocher, a University of Maryland Law School graduate, also served in the County Attorney's office for Montgomery County. He arrived there at about the same time that Bob Linowes was departing for private practice. It was not long before Bob Linowes, the private attorney, and Joe Blocher, the County's legal representative, locked horns in several contentious legal cases. Finally, as Bob Linowes told the story, "I became tired of Joe winning all of those cases, so I invited him to join me in private practice." Thus Bob Linowes and Joe Blocher joined forces in 1962.
The two soon became known for their expertise in handling zoning and other real estate matters and as their practice grew, they brought into the firm several additional talented attorneys. John Delaney, Bob Metz met Chuck Dalrymple, and Andy Isaacson all joined the firm in the 1960s. They went on to play influential roles in the development of the firm and the development of Montgomery County and to spend the balance of their professional careers at the firm. Many other lawyers were added in the 1970s and '80s as the growth of the firm mirrored the explosive growth of the region.
From the Beginning: Land Use Law
Linowes and Blocher is probably best known as a land use law firm. In that capacity it has helped landowners and developers ride successive waves of legislative and economic change. Its lawyers must regularly deal with issues concerning development rights, environmental regulations, transportation planning, and infrastructure financing. In many instances, its lawyers have been agents of change on behalf of their clients, persuading local governments to adopt innovative zoning and other regulatory concepts. In more recent years, the firm has pioneered public-private partnerships that have provided private answers to public needs. This public/private approach is what has made possible the long awaited redevelopment of downtown Silver Spring, a project in which Linowes and Blocher was integrally involved.
The firm has always believed that zoning and land use regulations should be tools to facilitate development while simultaneously promoting the community interest and protecting the environment. The results are visible throughout Montgomery County and Linowes and Blocher attorneys have played an important part in determining where County residents live, work, shop, and relax. The stately homes and championship golf course at Avenel, the nationally recognized neo-traditional communities of King Farm and Kentlands, many of the impressive office and residential complexes found in the central business district of Bethesda, the world class shopping facilities represented by Montgomery Mall and Wheaton Plaza, and the headquarters facility of the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute are just a few of the projects in which the firm's attorneys have had a hand. The planned manner in which the region has achieved sustained orderly growth after World War II has been due in large part to the efforts of Linowes and Blocher.
A Full-Service Business Law Firm
Land use law is by no means the firm's only area of concentration. Over the years Linowes and Blocher has developed very active practice areas in real estate transactions, community associations law, environmental law, business law, taxation, litigation and bankruptcy. This affords many of the clients the opportunity to work with one law firm on a variety of legal matters.
In the transactional area, the firm handles all manner of real estate and business matters. Acquisitions and sales, leasing, financing, entity formation, and tax and business planning are some of the areas in which the firm's lawyers are regularly involved. The firm has played a significant role in many of the major real estate transactions that have taken place in the region in the past 40 years. In recent times, the firm has become particularly involved in public/private enterprises where developers have ventured with governmental entities in projects designed to build public infrastructure, promote economic development, or redevelopment of older urban areas.
The firm's other practice groups have involved and expanded as well. The firm's common interest development and community associations group has created hundreds of master planned and golf communities, residential and mixed-use condominiums, specialty condominiums such as marina, shelf, land and conversion condominiums, business park associations, neo-traditional developments, and senior housing communities.
The firm's environmental group has participated in a number of major court actions and deals with issues such as mold, lead paint and other hazardous materials. In the litigation area, the firm handles complex matters before federal and state courts throughout Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia. The bankruptcy group represents debtors and creditors in a variety of bankruptcy proceedings and workouts.
Serving the Community
No description of Linowes and Blocher would be complete without mention of its extensive record of community involvement and support. Carrying on in the tradition begun by Bob Linowes, Linowes and Blocher remains a leader in community service. The partnership has long been active in assisting and contributing to various non-profit and charitable organizations. It has undertaken pro bono work in a wide array of legal matters, especially relating to initiatives to provide affordable housing, a commodity in short supply in the D.C. area. Its attorneys assume positions of leadership in non-profit, civic, and business organizations and conduct educational programs in their areas of concentration.
Linowes and Blocher looks forward to the challenges and rewards ahead. More than ever, the attorneys at Linowes and Blocher, in servicing their clients' needs, will continue to focus on approaches that are innovative and provide real value to the transaction.
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