Roger D. Winston is co-leader of the firm's Mixed-Use, Condominium, and Multifamily Development Team and the Washington, D.C. office Real Estate Team. He is licensed and actively practicing in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia and has practiced real estate law in the Washington, D.C., region for more than 40 years. Roger has advised and represented many industry-leading developers, investors, and lenders on major projects in D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and throughout the United States. He is a regional expert on DC TOPA (Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act) as well the ROFR (Right of First Refusal) laws in Maryland, having working on hundreds of these transactions over 40 years.
Roger is widely regarded and sought out as one of the leading practitioners in mixed-use and condominium planning and development, as well as multifamily transactions. He has been ranked by Chambers USA for 19 straight years and is among a handful of regional practitioners ranked #1 in real estate. Chambers noted that, he is the "preeminent condominium and mixed-use lawyer" and a "go-to person for things that are challenging, intellectually and structurally." He works with clients to provide insights and alternatives for ownership and control and for flexibility to structure projects that reflect seamless, efficient, and value-added integration of uses. He is recognized and respected by many government officials and staff in the region. His experience covers practically every property type and use. This includes retail, affordable, luxury, commercial, senior housing, residential, office, parking condominiums, branded hotel residences, and mixed-ownership projects and condominiums, as well as numerous other mixed-use variations.
Professional Highlights
Pro Bono Experience
Roger provided pro bono legal services to a single mother struggling to keep her 10 nieces and nephews out of the foster-care system following the death of her sister. The case was compelling enough to receive support and funding from the ABC show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." Montgomery County called on Roger to represent the single mother in the acquisition of a property financed by the County.
He also provided pro bono legal services to a family with inordinately high payments on their mobile home, who were struggling to provide proper care for their adult son with low-functioning autism. After completing a review of the mobile home purchase agreement and refinancing agreements, Roger established that the family was a victim of predatory lending practices. Roger utilized his analysis to successfully negotiate a settlement agreement that relieved the family from further payments for the mobile home, which also granted the family clean title to the mobile home. More recently, Roger assisted a client in establishing a non-profit corporation to provide funding for families of children with autism and other special needs and serves on the board of that corporation.
Professional Activities
American Bar Association, past Chair, Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section
American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL), former President, President-Elect, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary; past Chair, Common Interest Development Committee, Member Selection Committee, and Membership Development Committee
Maryland Task Force on Common Ownership Communities, past Chair, subcommittee to study adoption of the Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act in Maryland
Recognition & Accomplishments
Chambers USA, real estate law (District of Columbia), 2004-2024
AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating (highest), Martindale-Hubbell
The Best Lawyers in America, real estate law, 2001-2025
Speaking Engagements
"Hot Topic: The Aftermath of the Surfside Condominium Collapse," Practising Law Institute, November 7, 2022
"The Surfside Condo Collapse: Lessons for Maryland," Maryland State Bar Association Legal Summit, June 2, 2022
"Out of the Rubble: Lessons Learned From the Surfside Condominium Building Collapse Tragedy," ACREL Mid-Year Meeting, March 25, 2022
Publications
Co-author, "Condominium Termination: A Potential Path for Repurposing and Redevelopment Aging Condominium Buildings," Probate & Property, November/December 2022
Co-author, "Condominiums, Cooperatives, and Homeowners Associations" chapter, District of Columbia Practice Manual, The District of Columbia Bar, 2017
"Real Estate 2016: Discussion," Who's Who Legal, October 2016
Credentials
Education
University of Maryland School of Law (J.D. 1979)
Georgetown University Law Center (LL.M., Tax, 1983)
University of Maryland (B.A. 1976)
Admissions
District of Columbia
Maryland
Virginia