Zachary G. Williams
Zachary's broad knowledge of land use work includes applications for special exceptions, comprehensive plan amendments, conditional use permits, special use permits, site plans, variances, subdivisions, and rezonings. He also regularly assists clients with zoning violation issues and zoning due diligence reviews prior to the acquisition and development of property.
In addition to land use and zoning development work, Zachary has handled land use and real property-related litigation and appeals that have reached the Virginia Supreme Court, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, the Maryland Court of Appeals, and the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. His experience includes matters involving boards of zoning appeals (BZAs); real property disputes; local government and construction-related cases; easement disputes; rights of first refusal; adverse possession; restrictive covenants; commercial lease disputes; and condominium and property owners' association disputes.
Experience
Representative Matters
Zoning and Land Use
- Handled multiple applications for special exceptions, rezonings, proffered condition amendments, variances, and use permits in Northern Virginia jurisdictions, the District of Columbia, and Maryland
- Assisted with preparation of easements, deeds, covenants, subdivisions, and related site plan applications in Northern Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland
- Prepared zoning due diligence memoranda for clients in Northern Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland
- Handled zoning and land use appeals before boards of zoning appeals and the circuit courts in Virginia
Litigation
- Successfully handled all aspects of a case that reached the Virginia Supreme Court relating to local taxation of transferable development rights in Arlington County, Virginia
- Argued before the Virginia Supreme Court in a case involving land use and local government issues in Fairfax County, Virginia
- Prevailed at trial in a Fairfax County, Virginia dispute related to restrictive covenants and a new residential subdivision development
- First-chair trial and arbitration experience litigating multiple disputes in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Northern Virginia related to easements, rights of first refusal, commercial lease disputes, restrictive covenants, construction-related matters, and property owners associations
Insights
Credentials
Education
- J.D. George Washington University Law School 2008
- Member, The American Intellectual Property Law Association Quarterly Journal
- B.A. Political Science Davidson College 2005
- Managing editor, The Davidsonian
Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
- Virginia
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Professional Memberships and Activities
- Graduate, Urban Land Institute, Regional Land Use Leadership Institute Program
- Member, Urban Land Institute, ULI Washington
- Member, ULI Washington Case Studies Committee
- Member, NAIOP, Northern Virginia Chapter
- Member, International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
- Member, Virginia State Bar, Local Government Section
- Member, District of Columbia Bar, Real Estate, Housing and Land Use Section
- Member, Maryland State Bar Association, Real Property Section
Recognition
- Super Lawyers
- Rising Star, Virginia, 2015 – 2020
- Rising Star, Washington, DC, 2014 – 2019