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Ober Kaler Construction Practice Ranked In The Legal 500

by | Jun 26, 2014

I am pleased to report that our Construction Practice Group at Ober Kaler has received a prestigious ranking as a leading law firm in Construction for 2014 by The Legal 500, including special recognition of my condominium practice.  The following is The Legal 500’s description:

“Ober Kaler’s practice is co-chaired by John Morkan and the ‘honest and intelligent’ Joseph Kovars, with a further 16 lawyers spread across its Baltimore and Washington DC offices giving the firm a national scope. Most of its recent work has been government related, such as advising public authorities on heavy highway construction, or assisting private sector clients on government bid protests and PPP projects. Universities and colleges have been a stable client base, though the firm serves all industry sectors, with a strong emphasis on contentious matters. The ‘excellent construction litigation department’ represents private owners in building and construction defect claims, and acts for developers, public authorities, and construction companies. Raymond Burke is ‘an expert among experts in his field’, and has special knowledge of condominium association litigation. The firm is acting as counsel to the US Department of Justice, Antitrust Division andothers regarding the review and analysis of the design and construction of an $850m expansion of a Mexican brewery. It also defended Diamond State Port Corporation in a dispute brought by the contractor arising from alleged breach of contract in connection with the rehabilitation of berth four at the Port of Wilmington. Firm chair John Wolf and Barbara Werther are additional key contacts.”

 

 

 

Raymond Burke Selected to Maryland Super Lawyers for 8th Consecutive Year

by | Jun 18, 2014

PRESS RELEASE:

Raymond Daniel Burke Selected for Maryland Super Lawyers 2014

Prominent Construction Attorney Ranks Among State’s Super Lawyers for Eighth Consecutive Year

BALTIMORE: June 19, 2014. The law firm Ober|Kaler announced today that, for the eighth consecutive year, principal Raymond Daniel Burke has been selected for inclusion in Maryland Super Lawyers 2014 in the Construction Litigation category.  Mr. Burke has been selected every year since Super Lawyer rankings were created in 2007. He is one of the region’s top construction and real estate development lawyers, and has more than thirty years of experience in matters relating to condominium and other multi-use development matters. (more…)

Maryland General Assembly Declines To Enact Proposals To Regulate Residential Property Managers

by | May 13, 2014

Both houses of the Maryland General Assembly rejected bills that would have created a regulatory system for property managers.  Senate Bill 274 died in the Judicial Proceedings Committee, while House Bill 10 suffered the same result in the Environmental Matters Committee.  Each bill would have brought residential property managers for condominiums, cooperatives and homewoner associations under the jurisdiction of the Maryland Department of Licensing and Regulation.  The Senate bill called for a registration process, while the more broad House version would have established a formal licensing procedure. (more…)

Maryland Senate Passes Bill Requiring HOAs To Provide Resale Disclosure Information And Limiting Fees Charged By HOAs and Condos

by | Mar 27, 2014

By a vote of 45 – 2, the Maryland Senate has passed SB 229, which would require Homeowners Associations to make re-sale disclosure information available upon written request of a lot owner.  Presently, Section 11B-106 of the Maryland Homeowners Association Act provides that certain information be provided to a prospective purchaser in the community, and that specific information be included in the contract of sale.  The approved bill provides that, within twenty days of receiving a written request from the selling owner, the homeowners association must provide the information necessary for the owner to comply with the disclosure requirements.  It also limits the fee that could be charged to the owner for preparing the information to the actual cost up to a maximum of $50.  It also would impose this same $50 limit in charges by condominium councils of unit owners for furnishing the re-sale disclosure information they are required to provide under Section 11-135 of the Maryland Condominium Act.  A companion bill is pending before the House of Delegates as HB 412.

Maryland General Assembly Considers Legislation That Would Revise Disclosure Requirements In Condo Sales

by | Mar 18, 2014

House Bill 1080, now pending in the Maryland House of Delegates, would establish revised disclosure requirements and procedures in both initial sales and re-sales of residential condominium units.  The most extensive changes would impact re-sale contracts.  In addition to providing purchasers with additional rights of rescission, councils of unit owners would be required to furnish information requested by a seller to be disclosed to a purchaser with seven days after the request rather than the current twenty days.  In particular, purchasers would be entitled to receive notice of any significant change in the disclosure information once it is provided.  With regard to re-sales of existing condominium units, the proposed new law would amend Section 11-135 of the Maryland Condominium Act, which requires certain disclosures to purchasers by both the council of unit owners and the selling unit owner.  The bill would also add new Section 11-135.1 to exclusively apply to condominiums having less than seven units.  With regard to initial sales of new condominium units, the proposed law would amend Section 11-126, and impose certain new disclosure requirements on developers. (more…)