William Kominers

William Kominers, a land use attorney at Lerch, Early & Brewer in Bethesda, Maryland, navigates governmental processes to help companies use their properties. He practices in the areas of land use, land development, zoning, real estate, administrative and municipal law. He also is engaged in aspects of development projects such as density limitations, traffic mitigation and plan enforcement.

For more than 30 years, Bill has represented developers and businesses (particularly biotech companies) before courts and administrative agencies in Maryland and the District of Columbia in proceedings involving rezoning, master plan amendments, subdivisions, adequate public facilities examinations, site plan reviews, special exceptions, variance and building and occupancy permits. He has particular experience representing large-scale mixed-use developments through the full range of planning, zoning and regulatory processes. He also represents large office and industrial parks in general land use and legislative matters, including master planning, text amendments and zoning and regulatory appeals. His training as an architect allows him to communicate with planners and designers on details from lot layouts to building design.

Bill also has extensive experience with urban development projects, particularly using optional zoning tools for increased densities and negotiation of design and amenities in the regulatory process. He has managed these projects in the central business districts of Bethesda, Silver Spring and Friendship Heights.

Bill’s approach, which has been an integral part of his success, is: “Do what you say you are going to do.  Keep your commitments.  Listen.  Be fair.  Respect relationships. Don’t dismiss crazy ideas.”  He brings this philosophy, a deep understanding of development and political processes, an analytic mind and a sense of humor to each project.

On the residential side, Bill has worked with owners, developers and builder associations in a variety of projects, from large apartments to modest townhomes.

Bill received his Bachelor of Science and his Bachelor of Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, and his Juris Doctor with honors from The George Washington University School of Law. Prior to joining Lerch Early, he was a partner in the Montgomery County office of a national D.C. law firm and in other Montgomery County land use firms for more than 30 years. He is admitted to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia.

Bill has been listed in Chambers USA for Real Estate: Land Use every year since 2008, and has appeared in the Best Lawyers in America and the Maryland and D.C. issues of Super Lawyers every year since 2007. He has served as an occasional guest lecturer at the Catholic University Planning School and as an associate professional lecturer in law at The George Washington University Law School. He is involved in many professional and community organizations, including currently serving as chair of the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce and on the board of ScienceMontgomery.

Bill and his wife Ellen grew up in Montgomery County, and are graduates of Walt Whitman High School, as are their two grown sons, who collaborate with one another in mathematics and economics research. For 40 years, Bill has played bridge with a group of fellow Whitman alums. When not playing a trump card, Bill enjoys skiing and military history.