Michelle McGeogh has extensive experience in real estate litigation on behalf of property owners, investors, and developers. Michelle is experienced in a diverse range of real estate and commercial litigation, including commercial foreclosures, lender liability and landlord/tenant law. She regularly represents commercial landlords in state court proceedings and bankruptcy proceedings, and has defended landlords from breach of contract, negligence, and fraud claims. Michelle also represents financial institutions and special servicers of mortgage loans in disputes involving lender liability, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and foreclosure. She has successfully obtained receivers and enforced orders appointing receivers in connection with defaulted commercial loans.
Michelle also represents employers across industries in a broad range of employment disputes. She co-leads the firm's Accessibility Team. Michelle regularly advises clients in matters involving discrimination, retaliation, wage and hour issues, reductions in force, restrictive covenants, the Family Medical Leave Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. She provides guidance and training to employers looking to implement effective workplace policies and conducts internal investigations. She partners with clients to proactively identify issues and create legal solutions, specifically tailored to the client's workforce and business needs. Michelle has advised numerous clients with respect to matters involving allegations of workplace sexual harassment, providing advice on how to implement effective programs that encourage a professional work environment.
Experience
Representative Matters
Real Estate and Construction Litigation
- Defended a University against a lawsuit brought by a developer. The developer alleged the University improperly terminated the developer's contract and sought an injunction to prevent the University from proceeding with the development of the parcel with another developer, in addition to $22,000,000 in damages. The Court entered a judgment in favor of the University after eight day bench trial and awarded the University attorneys' fees and expenses. The Court's judgment was affirmed on appeal. Howard Town Ctr. Developer, LLC v. Howard Univ., 730 F. App'x 1 (D.C. Cir. 2018).
- Represented numerous commercial landlords in connection with the exercise of rights against defaulting tenants
- Represented commercial landlord against tenant's claims that it overcharged common area maintenance expenses
Professional Highlights
Pro Bono Experience
Michelle is dedicated to representing pro bono clients. She negotiated a positive settlement for a client who lost a home without notice. She also represents a prisoner in connection with an excessive force case. Michelle's pro bono efforts are the subject of a profile by the University of Baltimore School of Law and an article in The Baltimore Sun.
Judicial Internships
Hon. Thomas J. Bollinger, Sr., Baltimore County Circuit Court
Professional Activities
Co-Chair, Maryland Legal Aid's Equal Justice Council
Member, International Council of Shopping Centers U.S. Law Conference Program Committee
Recognition & Accomplishments
Recipient of multiple Ballard Spahr Alan J. Davis Awards - 2011, member of the Asylum Initiative; 2013, member of the Prisoner Civil Rights Team; 2014, member of the Families in Crisis Team; 2018, member of the Juvenile Sentencing Reform Team; 2019, Advocates for Southeast Immigrant Freedom Initiative
Speaking Engagements
Speaker, "Drafting Leases to Avoid Litigation, or at Least Weather It," ICSC U.S. Law Conference, October 26, 2023
Speaker, “You’re Vaccinated, Now Let’s Immunize Your Lease From the Litigators,” ICSC U.S. Law Conference, October 26, 2022
Speaker, "Current Digital Accessibility Litigation Landscape and Increased DOJ Enforcement of Title III of the ADA – How Can Risk be Effectively Mitigated?" axe-con 2022, March 17, 2022
Board Memberships & Community Service
Board of Directors, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service
Board of Directors, Cradlerock Children's Center, 2016-2019
Volunteer, VetDogs, Weekend Puppy Raiser
Volunteer Team Manager, Soccer Association of Columbia
Publications
Co-author, "Am I Liable for That?" Legal-Ease column BOMA magazine, November/December 2017
Co-author, "Weed in the Workplace: Employment Law Nightmare," Executive Counsel, June/July 2011
"The Environmental Protection Agency's New Standard for CERCLA All Appropriate Inquiry: More Time and Money for Compliance, but Well Worth the Cost to Avoid CERCLA Liability," 14 Univ. Balt. J. Envtl. L. 159, 2007
Credentials
Education
University of Baltimore School of Law (J.D. 2007, magna cum laude)
Publications Editor, University of Baltimore Journal of Environmental Law; Member, Women's Bar Association and Environmental Law Society
Salisbury University (B.A. 2004, summa cum laude)
Recipient, Justin Shen Award for Outstanding Student in Political Science
Admissions
District of Columbia
Maryland
New York
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court