William F. Kerr
Partner and Real Estate Attorney at High Swartz LLP
William F. Kerr, Jr. has a breadth of experience in the area of real estate law, focusing on land use, land development and zoning; real estate taxation; real estate transactions; real estate title issues; eminent domain; real estate valuation; and real estate code compliance. He was previously a partner in the Philadelphia office of Blank Rome LLP.
Mr. Kerr represents developers, property managers and property owners of single and multi-family residential, hotel, shopping center, commercial, industrial, golf course, day-care, prison, utility, cell tower and airport properties. He has successfully represented these clients, in Philadelphia and throughout eastern Pennsylvania, in a variety of real estate matters and transactions. He also has assisted clients in obtaining various development, subdivision, zoning, and related approvals. Mr. Kerr also has extensive experience in successfully pursuing real estate tax assessment appeals, nonprofit real estate tax exemptions, Act 319 Agricultural Assessments and real estate tax abatements in various counties throughout eastern Pennsylvania. He has significant expertise in real estate tax assessment issues for affordable housing properties, and was part of the affordable housing industry group that successfully pursued an amendment to Pennsylvania’s assessment law as it affects affordable housing.
Additionally, Mr. Kerr has represented property owners in a variety of eminent domain matters, as well as with easement, restrictive covenant, real estate title, green building, and storm water issues. He also has significant experience in the area of real estate valuation.
Mr. Kerr has also served as special zoning and development counsel to a number of southeastern Pennsylvania municipalities.
- Business Law
- Business Contracts, Business Dissolution, Business Finance, Business Formation, Business Litigation, Franchising, Mergers & Acquisitions, Partnership & Shareholder Disputes
- Real Estate Law
- Commercial Real Estate, Condominiums, Easements, Eminent Domain, Homeowners Association, Land Use & Zoning, Mortgages, Neighbor Disputes, Residential Real Estate, Water Law
- Tax Law
- Business Taxes, Criminal Tax Litigation, Estate Tax Planning, Income Taxes, International Taxes, Payroll Taxes, Property Taxes, Sales Taxes, Tax Appeals, Tax Audits, Tax Planning
- Affordable Housing
- Eminent Domain
- Municipal and Government Law
- Zoning and Land Development
- Credit Cards Accepted
- Pennsylvania
- English: Spoken, Written
- Partner
- Blank Rome LLP
- Current
- Partner
- High Swartz LLP
- Current
- Temple University Beasley School of Law
- JD
- Honors: Cum Laude
- Rutgers University - New Brunswick/Piscataway
- MS | City and Regional Planning
- Delaware Valley College
- BS
- Top Attorney
- Main Line Today
- Best Lawyer
- Best Lawyers in America
- Pennsylvania Developers Council
- Member
- - Current
- Pennsylvania Housing Alliance Sponsorship Committee
- Member
- - Current
- American Bar Association
- Member
- - Current
- Philadelphia Bar Association
- Member
- - Current
- Montgomery County Bar Association
- Real Estate Law Committee Member
- - Current
- Effect of Financial Crisis on Zoning, Land Use, and Building Entitlements/Permits
- The Legal Intelligencer
- Pennsylvania Municipal Ordinances Target Discrimination in Housing, Commercial Property, Public Accommodation and Employment
- Pennsylvania Law Weekly
- Pennsylvania Tax-Assessment Appeals
- Affordable Housing and Community Development Update
- Pennsylvania’s Real Estate Tax Structure Presents Ongoing Dilemma for Municipal Officials
- Pennsylvania Law Weekly
- Philadelphia Raises Tax Assessments for 70 Percent of City Properties
- Real Estate Update