Robert R. "Bob" Harris

Robert R. Harris: Leading Real Estate and Land Use Attorney in Montgomery County

Robert Harris is a highly respected real estate and land use attorney at Lerch, Early & Brewer in Bethesda, Maryland. He specializes in helping landowners strategically improve the use and value of their real estate assets, providing expert legal counsel across a broad range of development and land use matters. With a deep understanding of Montgomery County’s unique regulatory environment, Mr. Harris is dedicated to protecting his clients’ land use rights and achieving successful outcomes in complex planning and zoning cases.

Mr. Harris’s extensive experience includes advising and representing commercial and residential landowners before planning commissions, courts, governmental agencies, and elected officials. He excels in navigating the intricacies of obtaining development approvals, including zoning, land use, subdivision, site plans, and special exceptions. His clients range from major corporations and builders to retailers, developers, and individual landowners, and he consistently delivers strategic and creative solutions tailored to each client’s specific needs.

His practice encompasses a wide array of issues, reflecting his commitment to proactive and comprehensive land use planning. He possesses significant expertise in areas such as smart growth, traffic management, adequate public facilities controls, public infrastructure, mixed-use planned development, environmental concerns, urban design, affordable housing initiatives, real estate taxation, and historic preservation. Mr. Harris’s involvement extends beyond legal representation, as evidenced by his active participation on numerous boards, committees, and task forces advising the government on crucial matters including airport development, infrastructure finance, redevelopment of aging shopping centers, and comprehensive master plans for urban renewal and water and sewer service. Currently, he serves as Chair of the Washington Sustainable Growth Alliance, a collaborative group comprised of businesses and land use and environmental organizations focused on sustainable growth strategies.

Notably, Mr. Harris was recently appointed to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ “Region Forward” Task Force, demonstrating his commitment to shaping the future of the region’s development. This role underscores his forward-thinking approach and dedication to ensuring responsible and sustainable growth.

Mr. Harris’s legal foundation is built upon a strong academic record, holding a Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland and a Juris Doctor from The George Washington University School of Law. Prior to his current role at Lerch, Early & Brewer, he served as the managing partner in the Montgomery County office of a national D.C. law firm, further honing his leadership and strategic skills. He is admitted to practice in both Maryland and the District of Columbia, providing him with a broad and versatile legal perspective.

He is an active member of the Urban Land Institute’s Washington District Council, serving on its executive committee and regularly participating in advisory panels designed to advise government organizations and private businesses on critical land use policies and practices. He is also a life director of the Maryland-National Capital Building Industry Association and a member of the executive committee, and a life board member of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, where he previously served as Chairman. Recognized for his exceptional legal expertise, Mr. Harris has been listed in Chambers USA for Real Estate: Land Use since 2010 and has consistently appeared in Best Attorney USA and the Maryland and Washington, DC editions of Super Lawyers magazine since 2007, most recently being a finalist in the Washington Business Journal’s “Top Washington Lawyer” designation.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mr. Harris is a passionate individual with a deep connection to his community. He enjoys an active lifestyle, including skiing, golf, and biking, and appreciates the opportunity to relax and unwind with his wife, a talented gourmet cook.

Practice Areas:

• Land Use and Zoning Law
• Real Estate Law

Awards:

• Lawyer of the Year: Land Use and Zoning Law, Washington, D.C. (2018)
• Lawyer of the Year: Land Use and Zoning Law, Washington, D.C. (2014)
• Recognized: Land Use and Zoning Law, Recognized: Real Estate Law
• Special Focus: Affordable Housing
• Special Focus: Commercial
• Special Focus: Development
• Special Focus: Environmental
• Special Focus: Housing
• Special Focus: Land Use
• Special Focus: Master Planned Communities
• Special Focus: Office Buildings
• Special Focus: Real Estate
• Special Focus: Redevelopment
• Special Focus: Residential
• Special Focus: Subdivision
• Special Focus: Tax
• Special Focus: Tax Certiorari
• Special Focus: Zoning

Affiliations:

• Recognized Since: Recognized in Best Attorney USA since 2007
• City: Bethesda, State: Maryland, Country: United States

Education:

• Bar Admissions: Maryland and District of Columbia
• Juris Doctor: The George Washington University School of Law
• Bachelor of Science: University of Maryland