Thomas J. Whiteford

Thomas J. Whiteford

PARTNER
BALTIMORE
T: 410.347.8705
F: 410.234.2361

Mr. Whiteford is a veteran trial lawyer with extensive experience in real estate, business, commercial, and insurance-related disputes, as well as with claims of personal injury. He has especially deep experience representing national and local developers and lessors in negotiations and litigation involving land use disputes, real estate, and riparian rights. His additional sector experience includes representation of clients in the senior living, cemetery and funeral home industries, as well as representation of licensed medical professionals before administrative boards.

Recognitions

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Real Estate (2013–Present), Litigation-Real Estate "Lawyer of the Year" (2024)
  • AV Preeminent®: Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™
 

Memberships & Activities

  • Board Member: National Lutheran Communities & Services
  • Member: ICCFA (International Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association)
  • Member: Federal Bar Association (Board Member, 2012)
  • Member: Baltimore County Bar Association
  • Law Clerk for the Honorable James T. Smith, Circuit Court for Baltimore County
  • Best Lawyers Designation

Litigation

  • Represent national and local clients in negotiations and litigation involving land use disputes, boundary disputes, zoning issues, condemnation, riparian rights, landlord/tenant disputes and construction defects
  • Represent individuals, companies and governmental agencies in defense of environmental claims impacting real estate, including matters related to governmental takings as a result of environmental contamination and the valuation of and clean-up costs associated with environmental contamination of real property
  • Represent individual owners and corporate property owners in defense of lead paint litigation, including defense of uninsured claims, as well as claims handled through major insurance companies
  • Represent national and local clients in negotiations and litigation arising out of the funeral industry in both State Courts and before administrative boards
 

Personal injury Litigation

  • Represent clients in negotiations and litigation pertaining to personal injury matters
 

Cemeteries and Funeral Homes

  • Counsel, advise and represent cemetery and funeral home owners throughout the State of Maryland
  • Representation includes risk management solutions, real estate development issues, resolution of customer complaints, advice and direct representation before the Maryland Board of Morticians, and the Office of Cemetery Oversight
 

Licensed Medical Professionals

  • Counsel, advise and represent physicians and nursing professionals throughout the State of Maryland with regard to actions taken by administrative boards, including the Maryland Board of Physicians and the Maryland Board of Nursing
 

Real Estate

  • Represent property owners, including state entities, in eminent domain and condemnation proceedings
PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS

Co-Presenter, "Overview of Legal Issues of Importance to Nonprofit Communities," LeadingAge Maryland & DC Conference and Expo (June 2021)

Co-Presenter, "COVID-Related Lawsuits: Identifying Risks, Understanding Reopening and Preparing for Litigation," LeadingAge Maryland & DC Annual Conference, Virtual (October 2020)

Co-Presenter, "What Claims Will Communities Likely See? What Will be the Possible Increased Obligations as Communities Begin To Reopen?," Webinar, LeadingAge Virginia (July 21, 2020)

ARTICLES

Lead Paint: The Court Throws the Rental Market into Turmoil

On October 24, 2011, Maryland’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, issued its decision in Jackson v. Dackman Co., and found that the immunity provisions of The Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing Act (the “Act”) are unconstitutional.  Previously, the Act provided property owners with immunity from lead based paint claims if they complied with its provisions and/or if a qualified offer was made.  However, for reasons discussed in more detail below, the Court held that the immunity provisions of the Act are unconstitutional because the statutory remedy provided by the Act is unreasonable.


NEWS

A Record 87 Whiteford Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2024, Ten Selected as “Ones to Watch”

87 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 (copyright 2023 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). New practice areas of recognition include CleanTech Law and Entertainment and Sports Law. The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington offices. Client comments are posted on the Best Lawyers website, at bestlawfirms.com.

73 Whiteford Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2023, Six Selected as “Lawyer of the Year”

73 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2023 (copyright 2022 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C. offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site, at bestlawfirms.com.

75 Whiteford Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2022, Eight Named “Ones to Watch”

A record 75 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2022 (copyright 2021 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site, at bestlawfirms.com.

71 Whiteford Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2021, Six Named “Lawyer of the Year”

A record 71 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2021 (copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site, at bestlawfirms.com.

57 WTP Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2019, Four Named "Lawyer of the Year"

57 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2019 (copyright 2018 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site.

59 WTP Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2018, Two Named "Lawyer of the Year"

59 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2018 (copyright 2017 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Maryland, Washington and Virginia offices. Client comments are posted on the U.S. News & Best Lawyers web site, at bestlawfirms.com.

In addition, two lawyers were selected as “Lawyer of the Year” for their particular areas of practice.


59 Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 2017, Eight Named as "Lawyers of the Year"

Fifty-nine lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017 (copyright 2016 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Maryland, Washington and Virginia offices.

In addition, eight lawyers were selected as “Lawyers of the Year” for their particular areas of practice. 


63 Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America, Four Named as "Lawyers of the Year"

Sixty-three lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2015 (copyright 2014 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Maryland, Washington and Virginia offices.

In addition, four lawyers were selected as “Lawyers of the Year” in the Baltimore region for their particular areas of practice.


61 Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America; Nine Named as "Lawyers of the Year"

Sixty-one lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2014 (copyright 2013 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Maryland, Washington and Virginia offices, including the firm's new Roanoke office.

In addition, nine lawyers were selected as “Lawyers of the Year” in their jurisdictions and areas of practice.


Whiteford Taylor Receives "Trailblazer Award" from the Equal Justice Council

Whiteford Taylor & Preston was very honored to receive a Trailblazers Award from the Equal Justice Council of Maryland Legal Aid on June 18, 2013.

The Council noted that Trailblazer Awards are given to firms that have "continuously demonstrated their commitment to ensuring equal access to justice and support of Maryland Legal Aid…"


60 Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America Five Named as "Lawyers of the Year"

Sixty lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2013 (copyright 2012 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.).

This represents an increase of seven over last year.  The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Maryland, Washington and Virginia offices.

In addition, five lawyers were selected as “Lawyers of the Year” in their jurisdictions and areas of practice.


36 Whiteford, Taylor & Preston Attorneys Named Maryland Super Lawyers

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP (WTP) is pleased to announce that 36 WTP attorneys have been named in Maryland Super Lawyers publication. Maryland Super Lawyers will appear in a special advertising section in the January 2007 issue of Baltimore Magazine and in the Maryland Super Lawyers magazine.