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Laurence H. Berbert has more than 35 years of experience representing commercial landlords in connection with lease disputes, defaults, modifications, workouts, remedies, and litigation. He is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell.  

His practice focuses on commercial landlord-tenant law and commercial leasing, and includes drafting lease agreements, amendments, assignments, and termination agreements; interpreting and enforcing landlords’ rights through litigation or alternative dispute resolution; and representing landlords’ interests throughout the bankruptcy process. Mr. Berbert also draws on his wealth of knowledge and experience in providing day-to-day legal advice to commercial property owners and management companies regarding legal issues that arise in the course of their business.

A significant component of Mr. Berbert’s practice involves representing commercial landlords as creditors in Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 bankruptcies. Mr. Berbert advises his clients regarding pre-petition and post-petition remedies, acts quickly to protect their rights and remedies upon the institution of bankruptcy proceedings, and thereafter works to achieve their goals in an effective and efficient manner. He has served as counsel to commercial landlords involved in a variety of national, high-profile bankruptcies, including Linens ‘n Things, Inc., RadioShack Corporation, General Wireless Operations Inc., Mattress Firm, Inc., David’s Bridal, Inc., hhgregg, Inc., Charming Charlie LLC, and Barney’s, Inc.

Mr. Berbert earned his undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, and he received his J.D. degree from the George Washington University National Law Center in Washington, D.C. He joined the firm as its first associate in 1982, became a partner in 1988, and is a founding member of the firm.

  • Representative Experience
    • Decades of experience in providing effective and efficient representation of commercial (retail and office) landlords with tenant default and lease matters.
    • Developed and successfully executed strategies for owners of office buildings to timely and efficiently terminate all tenancies in advance of owners’ redevelopment of properties.
    • Successfully represents commercial landlords’ interests in bankruptcy proceedings in a cost-efficient manner.
  • Professional Affiliations
    • Bar Leaders of the Montgomery County, MD Bar Foundation
    • Montgomery County Bar Association
    • Maryland State Bar Association
    • District of Columbia Bar
    • Peer Review Committee, Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland, 2001 – present
    • Past Chairman, District Court Bench-Bar Committee (Montgomery County)
  • Books, Articles and Seminars
    • Commercial Lease Defaults, MICPEL Lecturer