News & Events

3 Critical Changes in Estate Planning in 2025

by Kristin J. Hall, Esq. As 2024 nears its end, new and potentially expiring laws can dramatically affect your estate planning. What do you need to know, and what do you need to do now? 1. Sunset of High Federal Estate Tax Exemption The Federal estate tax exemption will increase to an historically high $13,999,000
Read More

Shielding Your Children’s Inheritance in the Event of a Divorce

How smart estate planning can protect your family’s legacy for generations to come By Todd J. Bornstein While many parents consider how to provide for their children through gifts or an inheritance, they may overlook a critical issue: how to protect that inheritance in the event of the child’s divorce. Estate planning offers tools to
Read More

Maryland Renters’ Rights and Stabilization Act of 2024

What Every Residential Landlord Needs to Know Before You Sell By Kiana I. Taylor, Esq. The Maryland Renters’ Rights and Stabilization Act of 2024 (the “Act”) represents a major legislative initiative to address housing affordability and support tenants’ pathways to homeownership. While the primary focus of the Act is on safeguarding renters, it also establishes
Read More

Understanding Mandatory Reserve Requirements in Maryland

What are Maryland Developers’ Responsibilities for Condo and Homeowners Associations Amid Legislation Changes? By Brian D. Bichy Back in the 2022 Maryland legislative session, mandatory reserve requirements were passed that applied statewide to all condominium and homeowners associations. Not only did these reserve requirements apply to existing condominium and homeowners associations, but the legislation also applied
Read More

The Impact on Housing of the Montgomery County 2024 Growth and Infrastructure Policy

  How Montgomery County Can Reinforce the Goals and Strategies of Thrive Montgomery 2050 to Solve Housing Affordability Crisis By Matthew M. Gordon and C. Robert Dalrymple The Montgomery County planning board is in the early stages of reviewing the quadrennial growth policy for Montgomery County, titled the “Working Draft of the 2024 Growth and Infrastructure Policy” (the
Read More

Navigating CRE Asset Distress, Under-performing Loans and Workouts

By Alonso Cisneros, Esq. Over the past few months, we have heard the alarm bells about a looming commercial real estate crisis due to decreasing office occupancy rates, crushing interest rate cap costs, high interest rates, exorbitant insurance premiums and a tsunami of maturities scheduled this year and next. But what if you are a
Read More

Unlocking Value: The Dynamics of Industrial Outdoor Storage Acquisitions and Leasing

Profiling a growing trend in the DMV commercial sector   By Brian D. Kotzker, Partner, Selzer Gurvitch Rabin Wertheimer & Polott, P.C. In the ever-evolving DMV real estate landscape, industrial outdoor storage (“IOS”) has emerged as a lucrative sector. Driven by a nationwide, growing demand for warehousing, distribution, contractor equipment yards, and vehicle fleet parking
Read More

FTC’S Ban on Non-Compete Agreements: The Impact on Employers

  In a groundbreaking move last week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a ruling affecting non-compete agreements, sparking the possibility of a significant shift in the landscape of labor rights and mobility for workers nationwide. While the decision grew from concern about the negative impact on employees’ ability to be mobile, there are unintended
Read More

Selzer Gurvitch Welcomes Elizabeth J. McInturff

Experienced Litigation Attorney Joins Selzer Gurvitch Selzer Gurvitch welcomes Elizabeth J. McInturff as a new Partner to the firm in its Litigation practice. During her career, Ms. McInturff has represented both individuals and businesses in a variety of complex civil and commercial disputes.  Whether in court or in arbitration/mediation, she has helped businesses work through
Read More

Protecting Your Business From Your Employees

If non-compete agreements are banned, what options do employers have? By Eugene W. Policastri, Esq. A business owner recently disclosed to me her concerns that her team could take down her business. She is worried that her team has developed relationships with her key clients.  Now, with the Federal Trade Commission’s potential ban on non-compete agreements,
Read More

Corporate Transparency Act – Update

Beginning on January 1, 2024, many companies are now required to report their ownership to the Federal Government or incur significant penalties Beginning January 1, 2024, the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) became effective and requires certain companies (including many corporations, limited liability companies, and others) newly registered or formed in the United States to disclose certain information
Read More

Maryland Has a New Statutory Form Personal Financial Power of Attorney

What does this new form mean for you and your estate plan?   By Todd J. Bornstein, Esq. Effective October 1, 2023, the Maryland legislature adopted a new Maryland Statutory Form Personal Financial Power of Attorney. You need to know the following to be “ahead of the curve.” What is a power of attorney document?   A power
Read More

Maryland Real Property Tax Appeal Deadlines Approaching

By Jessica D. Lieberman, Esq.   The 2024 reassessments of properties for real estate tax purposes will be taking place shortly in Maryland. Notices of Assessment will be sent to property owners at the end of December 2023 and the assessed values contained in those Notices will apply to the calculation of taxes for those properties for the
Read More

New Law on Corporate Transparency Could Affect Your Business

Many Companies MUST start reporting their ownership to the Federal Government on January 1, 2024 or incur significant penalties By Brittany Oravec and Eric Ciazza   Beginning January 1, 2024, the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) will require certain companies (including many corporations, limited liability companies, and others) newly registered or formed in the United States to disclose certain information about the
Read More

Downtown Bethesda Surpasses “Soft-Cap” Established in 2017 Sector Plan

Montgomery County Council and Planning Board to conduct review now that Planning Board approvals have exceeded certain “soft-cap” limits set by a 2017 Sector Plan for Downtown Bethesda development. By Matthew M. Gordon, Esq. and C. Robert Dalrymple, Esq. The Montgomery County Planning Board’s September 14, 2023 approval of a Site Plan for 7126 Wisconsin Avenue marked a
Read More

Using Emojis In Business Communications — What Could Go Wrong?

By Brittany Oravec We all know that contracts are typically binding when signed by hand. With the evolution of technology, most of us also know that electronic signatures are binding. But can an emoji bind someone to a contract? An emoji is generally defined as a small picture, usually of a face, person, or object, used
Read More

New Law Uncorks Irrevocable Trusts in Maryland

  You don’t have to be a wine connoisseur to understand the Maryland Trust Decanting Act   By Joseph Fried Selzer Gurvitch Rabin Wertheimer & Polott, P.C.   August 25, 2023 Unlike a fine wine, a trust agreement does not necessarily improve over time. In fact, the opposite is often true. For one thing, considering ever-changing
Read More

Selzer Gurvitch Welcomes Alonso Cisneros

Experienced Commercial Transaction Attorney Joins Selzer Gurvitch Selzer Gurvitch welcomes Alonso Cisneros as a Partner in its Real Estate practice. Mr. Cisneros has extensive experience advising and representing commercial banks, investment banks, regional and local banks, and other financial institutions in a variety of loan transactions secured by all asset classes including retail, office, hotel, industrial,
Read More