Elizabeth U. Witmer

Elizabeth U. Witmer is a member of the Project and Resource Development and Commerical Litigation practices and is co-chair of the Real Estate Practice. She concentrates her practice in land use, including siting of pipeline facilities and commercial and residential developments, and in real estate litigation, including eminent domain, zoning appeals and landlord/tenant disputes.

In her 20 years of practice, Elizabeth has appeared before local municipal boards throughout Pennsylvania, and regulatory agencies, such as the Public Utility Commission. She has counseled and represented public and private utilities, commercial developers, wireless telecommunications companies, billboard companies, homebuilders and others in land use, zoning, appeals and litigation matters in both state and federal courts in Pennsylvania. She was recently lead counsel on more than 70 condemnation suits filed in the federal courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania in connection with interstate natural gas pipeline projects.

Elizabeth is experienced in right of way acquisition, and has overseen several projects involving the expansion of natural gas pipelines in Pennsylvania. Her land use experience includes obtaining approvals for diverse projects including mixed use and residential developments, expansion of landfills, and siting of telecommunications towers, as well as prevailing in zoning challenges to exclusionary zoning ordinances. She has experience drafting governing documents for homeowners' associations and condominium associations, and litigating issues associated with homeowners’ and condominium associations.

Elizabeth has appeared in trial courts throughout Pennsylvania, as well as in Pennsylvania's Commonwealth and Superior Courts, and the federal District Courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts. She recently obtained a favorable verdict in a jury trial in the federal court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. She filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court of the United States in Kelo v. City of New London.

She regularly speaks for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute on real estate matters, including oil and gas development, eminent domain issues, zoning and land use and homeowners' and condominium associations.