Searle was named to Best Lawyers 2020 for Real Estate Law.
I believe that the most important thing in life is relationships.
For 50 years, Searle has gained a reputation providing legal counsel to real estate and business clients, including commercial real estate developers, residential apartment owners, and borrowers and lenders in loan transactions and workouts. He has formed entities, such as partnerships, limited liability companies (LLCs) and corporations, which own and operate real estate and other businesses, and has handled major leasing transactions representing national and local landlords and tenants in office buildings, and retail and multipurpose centers.
Searle's experience includes handling matters involving bond financing and mortgage insurance and/or subsidies from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and agencies of the State of Maryland. He has completed transactions involving the development and financing of many projects containing thousands of units. He has provided counsel in the creation of numerous condominium developments.
Searle has represented mortgage companies and banks with regard to acquisition, development and construction financing of real estate; sellers of real property to real estate investment trusts (REITS); and REITS. He has also represented major institutional clients in the sale and acquisition of large mixed-use projects.
Searle represents property owners and developers on the often-daunting real estate issues involved with the development, construction and operation of solar facilities.
Out-of-state lawyers often rely on Searle to help with multistate transactions, which include one or more Maryland properties. He provides local counsel opinions and advice on Maryland legal requirements and customary practices. He also helps navigate the parties through the maze of Maryland transfer and recordation taxes, often resulting in substantial savings.
Searle also serves a number of clients as a trusted family advisor, often in a trustee capacity. He is experienced in dealing with as many as three generations of families and assisting them with the myriad types of issues that frequently arise. Searle confers regularly with outside financial advisors and Gordon Feinblatt’s Trusts & Estate, Business and Tax lawyers in arriving at creative solutions for their planning and administrative needs.
Searle has appeared in court as an expert witness on a number of occasions in cases involving real estate, business and professional liability matters. He has been a frequent presenter for numerous industry and professional seminars, including the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL), the Real Estate Section of the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA), the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Law Conference, and the Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education for Lawyers (MICPEL).
Prior to joining Gordon Feinblatt in 2003, Searle was a Partner in the Baltimore law firm of Tydings & Rosenberg LLP. Immediately prior to joining Tydings & Rosenberg, he was a Partner in the firm of Kaplan, Heyman, Greenberg, Engelman, Belgrad, P.A. Before joining Kaplan, Heyman, he served as a Law Clerk to the Hon. Frederick J. Singley, Jr. of the Court of Appeals of Maryland.
Honors
Member and Fellow, American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL)
AV Preeminent™ rating in Martindale-Hubbell®
Named Baltimore "Lawyer of the Year" in Real Estate Law by Best Lawyers in America®, 2021
Named to The Best Lawyers in America® for Real Estate Law since 2007
Selected to Maryland Super Lawyers® list for Real Estate 2007-2009 and since 2012
Professional and Civic Involvement
Member, American Bar Association, Real Property Section
Member, Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA), Real Property Section Council
Member, MSBA Board of Governors
Member, Bar Association of Baltimore City
Past President, Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers (MICPEL)
Co-Chair, The Associated Jewish Charities Lawyers’ Committee
Publications and Lectures
- Gordon Feinblatt’s COVID-19 Information Hub, March 24, 2022
- 17 Gordon Feinblatt Attorneys Named to 2022 Super Lawyers® List and 9 as Rising Stars, December 17, 2021
- 25 Gordon Feinblatt Lawyers Named Best Lawyers in America® 2022, August 19, 2021
- Relating to Real Estate - July 2021, July 22, 2021
- Condominium Concerns in Light of the Surfside Tragedy, July 21, 2021
- Relating to Real Estate - January 2021, January 29, 2021
- 17 Gordon Feinblatt Attorneys Named to 2021 Super Lawyers® List and 7 as Rising Stars, December 21, 2020
- Relating to Real Estate: Hot Topics 2020 Webinar, October 26, 2020
- Relating to Real Estate - October 2020, October 21, 2020
- 24 Gordon Feinblatt Lawyers Named Best Lawyers in America® 2021, August 20, 2020
- Five Gordon Feinblatt Attorneys Named 2021 Baltimore 'Lawyer of the Year' by Best Lawyers in America®, August 20, 2020
- Relating to Real Estate - Maryland Real Property Laws Update 2020, July 21, 2020
- Relating to Real Estate - June 2020, June 16, 2020
- Reflections of a Homebound Real Estate Lawyer: All Dressed Up and Hesitant About Where to Go, June 10, 2020
- What a Stage Two Reopening Looks Like in Maryland, June 8, 2020
- Mortgage Forbearance and Moratorium on Evictions for Multifamily Projects with Federally Backed Mortgage Loans, April 6, 2020
- Governor Hogan’s Order Prohibits Initiation of Evictions, April 3, 2020
- Paycheck Protection Program Loans Under the CARES Act, March 30, 2020
- What COVID-19 Means for Real Estate, March 27, 2020
- Real Estate Industry Must Prepare for COVID-19, March 6, 2020
- Relating to Real Estate: Hot Topics Breakfast & Seminar 2019, November 14, 2019
- A Uniform List of Title Endorsements, September 4, 2019
- 24 Gordon Feinblatt Lawyers Named Best Lawyers in America® 2020, August 15, 2019
- Title Endorsements: Endorsing the Endorsements, Recommendations and More, February 26, 2019
- 22 Gordon Feinblatt Attorneys Named to 2019 Super Lawyers®, January 3, 2019
- New Baltimore City Affordable Housing Tax May Yield Much Less Than Anticipated, January 3, 2019
- Relating to Real Estate Breakfast & Seminar, November 15, 2018
- OK for O-Zone, September 4, 2018
- 24 Gordon Feinblatt Lawyers Named Best Lawyers in America® 2019, August 15, 2018
- Relating to Real Estate Special Edition: 2018 Maryland Real Property Legislation, August 1, 2018
- Subordination, Nondisturbance and Attornment Agreements: The Lender vs. The Tenant, May 15, 2018
- Roundtable Discussion: Title Endorsements: Endorsing the Endorsements, Recommendations and More, March 24, 2018
- Panel Presentation: Title Endorsements: Endorsing the Endorsements, Recommendations and More, March 23, 2018
- 24 Gordon Feinblatt Attorneys Named to 2018 Super Lawyers, January 26, 2018
- 25 Gordon Feinblatt Lawyers Named to Best Lawyers in America 2018, September 25, 2017
- Last but Not Lease – Lease Term, June 19, 2017
- Relating to Real Estate Special Edition: 2017 Maryland Real Property Legislation, June 19, 2017
- Dirty Real Estate Talk: Environmental Issues That Can Save or Cost You $$, January 25, 2017
- 23 Gordon Feinblatt Attorneys Named to 2017 Super Lawyers, January 17, 2017
- Relating to Real Estate - December 2016, December 5, 2016
- Ground Leases in Maryland - the Saga Continues This Time without Attorneys’ Fees, September 14, 2016
- 25 Gordon Feinblatt Lawyers Named Best Lawyers in America 2017, September 14, 2016
- 2016 Maryland Real Property Legislation, June 14, 2016
- Rain Tax Is a Tax, but Synagogue Is Not Exempted from Paying It, March 13, 2016
- Relating to Real Estate March 2016, March 13, 2016
- 28 Gordon Feinblatt Lawyers Named Best Lawyers in America 2016, August 25, 2015
- Relating to Real Estate May 2015, May 13, 2015
- Relating to Real Estate January 2015, January 21, 2015
- Ground Leases in Maryland - The Saga Continues: It is Unconstitutional to Deprive Ground Lease Holder of the Right of Ejectment, May 15, 2014
- Relating to Real Estate - May 2014, May 15, 2014
- 26 Gordon Feinblatt Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America 2014, January 29, 2014
- 22 Gordon Feinblatt Attorneys Named 2014 Maryland Super Lawyers, January 13, 2014
- Relating to Real Estate January 2013, January 8, 2013
- Relating to Real Estate Legislative Update 2012, June 4, 2012
- Many IDOTs Will Soon Be Taxable, May 17, 2012
- 24 Gordon Feinblatt Lawyers Named as Best Lawyers in America 2012, September 14, 2011
- Baltimore City Green Building Standards Now Effective, December 5, 2010
- 20 Gordon Feinblatt Lawyers Named as Best Lawyers in America 2011, November 15, 2010
- Searle E. Mitnick Elected To The American College of Real Estate Lawyers, April 26, 2010
- Maryland Legal Alert January 2010, January 4, 2010
- Seventeen Gordon Feinblatt Lawyers Named to Best Lawyers in America 2009, December 30, 2008
- Gordon Feinblatt Launches Real Estate Workouts and Restructuring Group, January 17, 2008
- Fifteen Gordon Feinblatt Lawyers Named to 2008 Best Lawyers in America, January 1, 2008
- GFR Lawyers Chosen for Super Lawyers 2007, January 1, 2007
- Thirteen Gordon Feinblatt Lawyers Named Best Lawyers in America, October 31, 2006
Links
LinkedIn
Education
J.D., University of Pennsylvania Law School, 1969
B.S., Loyola College, 1966
Court Admissions
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Tax Court
Bar Admissions
Maryland, 1969