Legal Department

The mission of the Office of the General Counsel is to provide cost effective legal advice and representation of the highest quality to The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission as a corporate entity. Primary emphasis of the work program is providing proactive counsel, preventive advice and early intervention to support decision-makers with a clear picture of all their lawful options.

Duties

Under the direction of the General Counsel, the Office of the General Counsel (Legal Department) provides a comprehensive program of legal services to the Commission, supporting virtually every facet of the Commission's work program. The Office of the General Counsel (OGC):
  • Advocates on the Commission's behalf in litigation before the State and Federal courts
  • Guides the Commission's internal corporate operations; advises staff and the Planning Boards in judicial and regulatory responsibilities
  • Participates in cross-functional teams assembled periodically to develop creative solutions to new challenges facing the Commission

Work Programs

The OGC's 4 work programs are:
  • General Counsel
  • Legislation
  • Litigation
  • Task Force Participation

Work Teams

To support these programs, staff attorneys are primarily grouped into 5 specialized work teams:
  • Legislative Management
  • Litigation and Employment Law
  • Montgomery County Land Use
  • Prince George's County Land Use
  • Transactions Practice

Elements

Each team is assigned responsibility for work through a matrix management model that includes the following 11 functional elements:
  • Administrative Litigation
  • Advice (Counsel)
  • Appellate Litigation
  • Business Transactions
  • Civil Trial Litigation
  • Judicial Review Litigation
  • Legislative Management
  • Procurement Transactions
  • Property Management Transactions
  • Regulatory Transactions
  • Support to Commission Hearings