Eric J. DeBear

Member

Recent Publication:

Financial Incentives May Alleviate Affordable Housing Crisis

Eric DeBear and Madeline Shay Williams co-authored a Law360 article on the significance of financial incentives as a government tool to address affordable housing.

Eric advises clients in land use and zoning matters throughout all phases of residential and commercial real estate development projects. A Washington, D.C., resident for more than a decade, Eric brings to his practice a deep familiarity with the particularities of real estate within the District, focusing primarily on assisting clients with zoning entitlements.

Eric frequently drafts and handles entitlement applications, including as first-chair during agency hearings. He presents applications and advocates on behalf of clients to the D.C. Board of Zoning Adjustment, D.C. Zoning Commission, D.C. Historic Preservation Review Board, local Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, and District government agencies. Additionally, through creative and succinct briefing, Eric has assisted in the successful defense of a number of zoning approvals before the D.C. Court of Appeals.

Eric brings to each representation an appropriate mix of practicality and creativity to help his clients reach their goals in the most efficient manner possible given their unique circumstances. In addition to zoning due diligence and entitlements, Eric has experience in various other real estate matters, such as defending building permits before the Office of Administrative Hearings, real estate-based litigation in D.C. Superior Court, and condominium formation through the D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development.

Eric earned his J.D. from the Catholic University of America — Columbus School of Law and his B.A. in government from Connecticut College.

Experience

News

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its Best Lawyers in America 2025 Edition

August 15, 2024

Best Lawyers selected 242 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys to its Best Lawyers in America 2024 Edition

August 17, 2023

Best Lawyers selected 232 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Cozen O'Connor Promotes 29 Attorneys to Member

March 20, 2023

Cozen O'Connor is proud to announce the promotion of 29 attorneys to member.

More Than 200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch

August 22, 2022

210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

More Than 205 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 19, 2021

Best Lawyers selected 210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 20, 2020

Best Lawyers selected 200 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© (Copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC).

Publications

Financial Incentives May Alleviate Affordable Housing Crisis

September 10, 2024

Eric DeBear and Madeline Shay Williams co-authored a Law360 article on the significance of financial incentives as a government tool to address affordable housing.

Deal for Wizards and Capitals is a Major Win for Downtown D.C. [Get The Dirt Blog]

April 04, 2024

Last week, downtown D.C. received another huge boost when it was announced that Mayor Bowser and Monumental Sports entered into a non-binding agreement that will keep the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals playing in Capital One Arena for decades to come.  The announcement came only weeks...

Mayor Bowser Announces Tax Abatement Program to Spur Downtown Residential Conversions [Get The Dirt Blog]

March 26, 2024

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the writing has been on the wall that downtown D.C. could use a breath of fresh air. With office vacancy rates skyrocketing, the Bowser administration has made no secret of its desire to resuscitate downtown D.C. as a livelier mixed-use neighborhood. One of the...

Major Shake Up in the Department of Buildings’ Zoning Division [Get The Dirt Blog]

January 03, 2023

It is a New Year for D.C. zoning and we are all wondering what 2023 will bring given the recent changes at the Department of Buildings. As of October 2022, the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) was officially dissolved and split into two new agencies – the Department of...

D.C. Council Considers Changes to Condominium Warranty Adjudication Process [Get The Dirt Blog]

September 28, 2020

If the COVID-19 pandemic was not already difficult enough on the D.C. real estate development community, recent proposed legislation by the D.C. Council might make developing condominiums in the city more challenging. On September 17, 2020, the D.C. Council’s Committee on Housing and...

Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration Issues Fines to Restaurants and Bars Violating Social Distancing Measures [Get The Dirt Blog]

September 25, 2020

Dr. Robert Redfield, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said during his testimony before a Senate subcommittee on September 16 that wearing face masks may be more effective than a vaccine at protecting against COVID-19. What is surprising is the authority tasked with...

Zoning Commission Moves to Clarify Regulations for Virtual Meetings and Hearings [Get The Dirt Blog]

September 22, 2020

As COVID-19-related closures are likely to continue into 2021, the Zoning Commission (Commission) recently took emergency proposed action to further clarify the rules and procedures for virtual meetings and hearings. The text amendment applies to Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustment...

COVID-19 Impact on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals [Get The Dirt Blog]

March 24, 2020

The District of Columbia Court of Appeals (“Court of Appeals” or “Court”) is making significant operational changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as reflected in the March 23, 2020, Order entered by Chief Judge Blackburne-Rigsby. The change to Court procedures follows suit with many...

Education

  • Catholic University - Columbus School of Law , J.D., 2012
  • Connecticut College, B.A., 2007

Awards & Honors

Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch, 2021-2025

  • District of Columbia
  • Maryland