Law Department Menu

Baltimore City Law Department

The mission of the Law Department is to provide vigorous and successful advocacy of the interests of the City in litigation matters; protect the corporate and financial interests of the City in the negotiation and consummation of contractual, financial, and real estate transactions; aggressively defend the City in liability cases; enhance and expand a collections effort; and provide sound legal advice and counsel to the Mayor, City Council, and City departments, boards, and commissions.

The Baltimore City Law Department is seeking applicants for an attorney with experience in the fields of municipal finance and real estate. The attorney primarily will act as counsel to the Department of Finance during and after the City's bond issuances, including general obligation bonds, tax increment financing bonds, revenue bonds, and other tax-exempt and taxable transactions. The attorney will also provide advice and representation to the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Baltimore Development Corporation, the Baltimore City Parking Authority and the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore in transactions designed to promote the economic development of Baltimore City. Such transactions often involve complex land development, legal, and financing issues. Excellent client communication skills, strong work ethic, Maryland Bar, and 4 years of relevant work experience required. Salary commensurate with experience. Resumes to: George Nilson, City Solicitor, City Hall, 100 Holliday Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. Position open until filled. EOE

Mission

The mission of the Law Department is to provide vigorous and successful advocacy of the interests of the City in litigation matters; protect the corporate and financial interests of the City in the negotiation and consummation of contractual, financial, and real estate transactions; aggressively defend the City in liability cases; enhance and expand a collections effort; and provide sound legal advice and counsel to the Mayor, City Council, and City departments, boards, and commissions.

City Charter, Code of Public Local Laws, Baltimore City Code, and Rules of the City Council

Overview

The Department of Law is an agency of the City established by the City Charter. The head of the Department is the City Solicitor, who is appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. Under the City Charter, the City Solicitor is the legal adviser and representative of the City and its several departments, officers, commissions, boards and authorities, and has general supervision and direction of the legal business of the City.
In addition to overseeing the Department of Law, the City Solicitor is a member of the Board of Estimates. The Board of Estimates formulates and executes the fiscal policy of the City. The Board holds formal hearings and approves operating and capital budget requests, and is responsible for awarding contracts and supervising all purchasing by the City. The City Solicitor serves on the Board of Estimates with the Mayor, the President of the City Council, the Comptroller, and the Director of the Department of Public Works.

The Department of Law is divided into seven principal divisions.

The Litigation and Claims Division is the largest of the divisions. The litigation practice encompasses hundreds of cases in a wide range of areas, including constitutional and public law, contracts, torts, education, environmental law, personnel, planning, and zoning. The Central Bureau of Investigation handles claims against the City, and investigates, adjusts, and settles claims for damages to privately-owned automobiles, private property and citizens.

The Collections Division is responsible for collecting money owed to the City, which can involve bankruptcy, real estate, enforcement of money judgments, and open tax sales.

The Corporate Division handles all corporate, commercial, and real estate matters involving the City.

The Contracts Division approves all contracts entered into by the City. The City Charter requires that all contracts be approved for form and legal sufficiency prior to approval by the Board of Estimates. Art. VII, §24(b).

The Labor and Employment Division represents the City in state and federal court, prepares responses to charges of discrimination with the EEOC, Baltimore Community Relations Commission, and the Maryland Commission on Human Relations, represents City agencies before the Civil Service Commission and the Office of Administrative Hearings on cases involving suspension, demotion and termination, conducts training on City policies and procedures, and advises City agencies.

The Land Use Division practices in four principal areas: condemnation (eminent domain), zoning and planning, environmental law, and construction/demolition/rehabilitation of property.

The Legal Advice and Opinions Division provides formal and informal legal opinions as to the interpretation of the law and how it affects various agencies of the City.

The Minority and Women's Business Opportunity Office (MWBOO) is responsible for certification of MBEs and WBEs, maintaining a directory of certified businesses, investigating alleged violations of the M/WBE ordinance, maintaining statistics on availability and utilization of MBEs and WBEs, setting annual participation goals, setting contract participation goals on a contract by contract basis, setting participation goals on city-assisted projects, and providing assistance to bidders and developers in identifying M/WBE firms. To reach the MWBOO webpage, click here.

Key Personnel in the Law Department

George Nilson, City Solicitor
Donald R. Huskey, Deputy Solicitor
Linda C. Barclay, Chief, Legal Advice and Opinions Division
Thomas B. Corey, Chief, Minority and Women's Business Opportunity Office
Carolyn A. Espy, Chief, Collections Division
Gary Gilkey, Chief, Labor & Employment Division
Sandra R. Gutman, Chief, Land Use Division
Richard E. Kagan, Chief, Corporate Division
Justin J. King, Central Bureau of Investigation
David Ralph, Chief, Litigation Division
Leslie S. Winner, Chief, Contracts Division