Elizabeth U. Witmer is a member of Saul Ewing's Project and Resource Development and Litigation departments and is Chair of the Real Estate Litigation Practice Group. She concentrates her practice in land use, including siting of utility facilities and commercial and residential developments, and in real estate litigation, including zoning appeals, eminent domain litigation and landlord/tenant disputes.
In her 20 years of practice, Ms. Witmer has appeared before local municipal boards throughout Pennsylvania. She has counseled and represented public and private utilities, commercial developers, wireless telecommunications companies, billboard companies, homebuilders and others in zoning, appeals and litigation matters in both state and federal courts in Pennsylvania. She was recently lead counsel on more than 50 condemnation suits filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in connection with an interstate natural gas pipeline project.
Ms. Witmer's 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 is experienced in right of way matters, and has overseen several projects involving the expansion of natural gas pipelines in Pennsylvania. She also has experience drafting governing documents for homeowner’s associations and condominium associations, and litigating issues associated with homeowner’s and condominium associations.
Ms. Witmer has appeared in trial courts throughout Pennsylvania, as well as in Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth and Superior Courts. She has also handled cases in the federal courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania and in the Third Circuit. She filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court of the United States in Kelo v. City of New London.
Ms. Witmer regularly speaks for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute on real estate matters, including eminent domain issues, zoning and land use and homoeowner’s and condominium associations.
Honors and Awards
- Designated a "Great Lawyers" on the Main Line, Main Line Today Magazine (2004)
- Designated a "Pennsylvania Super Lawyer" by Philadelphia magazine and Law & Politics magazine, 2004 to 2007
Memberships and Affiliations
- Secretary, Housing Partnership of Chester County
- Member, International Right of Way Association (IRWA), Philadelphia Chapter
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Member, Chester County Bar Association
- Member, CORENet
- Member, Womens Wireless Leadership Foundation (WWLF)
- Member, Local Government Committee, Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry
- Member, Legislative Action Committee, Home Builders Association of Chester and Delaware Counties
- Member, Urban Land Institute (ULI)