Peter Kelsen concentrates his practice in the area of land use and real estate development. Peter serves as counsel to a wide range of clients, including developers, owners, financial institutions, and municipal agencies in an equally diverse range of industries. He advises clients on the complexities of their transactions in the areas of:
- Zoning and land use law
- Real estate tax assessment/exemption litigation
- Commercial development
- Condemnation
Chambers USA has recognized Peter as a leader in real estate law, with sources noting “he is the best zoning attorney in the city.” Chambers has also stated that he is “highly regarded for his zoning and land use practice” and “one of the few lawyers who really understands how the city works.” Clients agree that “he has an impressive ability to achieve victory in difficult cases.” He is praised as “extremely skillful, consistently quick to respond, economical in his use of time, and very practical with respect to dealing with local government agencies.”
Peter previously served as the vice chairman of the Philadelphia Zoning Code Commission and is the editor of the Philadelphia Zoning Code Publication Project. He is a frequent lecturer on current trends in the practice of land use law, presenting on a variety of topics, including real estate development, eminent domain, zoning law, real estate tax assessment, and taxes affecting real estate.
Prior to entering private practice, Peter worked for the City of Philadelphia’s Law Department in the Land Damages Division.