About Us
EDUCATION
BFA (violin performance) magna cum laude
Peck School for the Arts, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
BM candidate (violin performance) Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University
JD cum laude
The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
LL.M. (securities and financial regulation) with distinction
Georgetown University Law Center
Administrative Law Judge Training
National Judicial College
BAR ADMISSIONS
State
Maryland
District of Columbia
New York
Ohio
Federal
United States Supreme Court
United States Tax Court
United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio
Elizabeth A. Whitman
Attorney-at-Law
Elizabeth Whitman focuses her practice in business, commercial real estate, and securities law. Her creative, yet detail-oriented, approach and broad legal experience in large law firms, corporations, and as an administrative law judge enable her to evaluate legal issues from multiple perspectives and to develop innovative solutions for her clients’ most complex legal challenges.
With nearly a decade as in-house General Counsel for a national, privately-held company and additional years as in-house counsel for a publicly-traded company, Elizabeth is uniquely qualified to serve as outside general counsel for businesses of all sizes.
Elizabeth’s commercial real estate experience includes more than$4 billion in sale, lease, and finance transactions spanning nearly every asset class. Although Elizabeth has a particular interest in real estate securities and Section 1031 exchanges, her interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to real estate transactions enables her to custom tailor a structure that both fits the real estate asset and meets her client’s needs.
Elizabeth also has extensive experience in healthcare regulation and transactions, with a particular focus on senior housing and physicians’ practices.
Active in professional organizations, Elizabeth previously served as ABA Section Advisor to the Tenancy in Common Ownership Default Rules Committee of The Uniform Law Commission and as Chair of the Real Estate Committee of the Association of Corporate Counsel. She also has served on the drafting committees for ABA subcommittee comment letters to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Elizabeth currently is ABA Section Advisor to the Uniform Law Commission’s Tenancy in Common Default Rules Committee. She also is on securities law subcommittees of the Business Law Section and is a member of the Real Estate Property and Trust Section of the American Bar Association. Elizabeth also is a member of the DC Bar and maintains an active Maryland real estate broker license.
In addition to her professional activities, Elizabeth can be found volunteering for education, arts, civic, and religious organizations. She has served on both for-profit and nonprofit boards, including the boards of a real estate brokerage company, legal aid organization, a mental health services provider, religious organizations, community service organizations providing assistance to senior citizens and developmentally disabled individuals, and PTAs. Elizabeth previously served as a certified official for the Montgomery County Swim League and on the board of a nonprofit recreation club. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys playing the violin, reading, fitness activities, tabletop games, pursuing lifelong learning, and spending time with her husband, son, and four rescue cats.
SPEAKER
Alternative Real Estate Financing Structures: Sale-Leasebacks, Seller Financing, Ground Leases, Crowdfunding, Strafford (February 26, 2024)
Structuring Tenants in Common Real Estate for Section 1031 Exchanges, Strafford (July 26, 2023)
You Can’t Outsource Dirt, Tax-Alpha Solutions Podcast (July 29, 2022)
Structuring Tenants in Common Real Estate for Section 1031 Exchanges: Balancing Tax Law, Securities Law, and Mortgage Lender Requirements, Strafford (July 14, 2022)
Corporation Transparency Act: What it Means for Real Estate Syndication Sponsors and Beneficial Owners, 26th Annual Advanced Real Estate Seminar, VirginiaCLE (March 12, 2022)
How to burn down a million dollar property and other real estate investing tales, Safe and Sound podcast (May 4, 2020)
Panelist, Remote Lawyering: The Tools You Need, Rocket Aid Charitable Virtual Conference for Lawyers (April 16, 2020)
Sane Coronavirus Best Practices for Commercial Real Estate (podcast interview) (March 14, 2020)
Post-Closing Remedies, American Bar Association, RPTE Commercial Real Estate Transactions Group, Teleconference Presentation (Dec. 4, 2018)
Handling Real Estate Transactions from Start to Finish, NBI, Gaithersburg, MD (Sept. 2017)
Moderator, Why Elections Matter - How Will Business Fare After November 6th?, Association of Corporate Counsel Real Estate Webcast (November 8, 2012)
Sale Leaseback Transactions and 1031 Tax Code Sales of Real Property, Association of Corporate Counsel Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (Oct. 24, 2011)
1031/Tenant-in-Common Basic Training for Reps, TICA Symposium, Washington, DC (March 7, 2007)
Panelist, Registered Representative Forum, TICA Conference, Las Vegas, NV (Oct. 15, 2006)
Panelist, Registered Representative Forum, TICA Symposium, San Diego, CA (March 26, 2006)
QUOTED
What is redlining? A look at the history of racism in American real estate, Bankrate.com (February 8, 2023)
What is a grant deed?, Bankrate.com (December 15, 2022)
So Your Lease Term is About to End: Five Things You Have to Remember to Do, Realtor.com (May 19, 2022)
What does a real estate attorney do?, Bankrate.com (February 23, 2022)
What is a settlement statement?, Bankrate.com (February 22, 2022)
What is a mortgage loan modification, and is it a good idea?, The Mortgage Reports (January 12, 2022)
Is the time nigh for a refi?, RealEstate Weekly (July 7, 2021)
Elizabeth Whitman (Whitman Legal Solutions, LLC) American Families Plan and Real Estate Investments — 1031 Exchanges, Wealth Strategies Journal (June 3, 2021) (referencing Whitman Legal Solutions blog)
Everything You Need to Know About Land Contracts, NextAdvisor (March 31, 2021)
‘This hellfire of a year’: COVID-19 long haulers face financial and medical uncertainty in Pandemic Year 2, MarketWatch (March 19, 2021)
What is mortgage loan modification, and is it a good idea?, The Mortgage Reports (February 17, 2021)
Civil Rights Act of 1968, Wikipedia (January 29, 2021) (referencing Whitman Legal Solutions blog)
Should I pay off my mortgage or invest the money instead?, The Mortgage Reports (January 14, 2021
Land Contracts Can Be a Shortcut to Owning a Home, but They’re More Trouble Than They’re Worth, NextAdvisor (in partnership with Time) (December 18, 2020)
Encore Entrepreneurs: The Guide to Starting a Business Later in Life, JustBusiness (October 22, 2020)
Your Pre-Inspection Agreement: Severability, ASHI Reporter (September 2020) (quoting Whitman Legal Solutions blog)
Questions to Ask Before Buying or Investing in Vacant Land, MillionAcres (May 30, 2020)
Hands-Off Closings: Can They Help Keep the Real Estate Business Going?, MillionAcres (May 6, 2020)
Giving Notice Under Contracts During the Coronavirus Pandemic (Whitman Legal Solutions blog republished), Coronavirus Legal Daily (March 20, 2020)
Home Buying Help: Ask, and You’ll (Probably) Receive, HSH.com (February 28, 2020)
Consultant’s Corner: Business Entities for Real Estate Investment (referencing Whitman Legal Solutions blog), GoSmallBiz.com (February 19, 2020)
Guarantor vs Cosigner: What it Means for Your Next Apartment or Home, PeopleLooker Blog (February 10, 2020)
Why Closing Should Remain In Person and Personal, The Mortgage Reports (January 22, 2020)
Quick Best Practice Tip for Your 2020 Financial and Legal Documents (quoting Whitman Legal Solutions blog), Consumer Insurance Blog (January 8, 2020)
Don’t Abbreviate 2020 on Legal Documents. Here’s Why. (quoting Whitman Legal Solutions blog as published on JDSupra), WBCK News Talk, WJIM AM radio, WFMK FM radio, and WMMQ radio (January 2, 2020)
Mortgage Refinance Checklist: Everything You Need to Refinance Your Home, The Mortgage Reports (October 1, 2019)
8 Tips to Make Flipping a Property a Low-Risk/High-Rewards Proposition, The Mortgage Reports (September 4, 2019)
What is the Difference Between a Townhouse, Apartment and a Condo? According to Real Estate Experts, UpJourney (August 7, 2019)
Everything You Need to Know about Title Endorsement-and Whether You Need It, Zing! by Quicken Loans (April 3, 2019)
Vaping Indoors Might Devalue a Home, The Mortgage Reports (March 30, 2019)
Must Have Checklist Before Refinancing: Can Get You the Best Possible Rate!, Financial Daily (January 10, 2019)
Top 25 Tips for Landlords from the Pros, Fit Small Business (January 3, 2019)
Good News for Home Buyers—It’s a Buyer’s Market, The Mortgage Reports (December 16, 2018)
I Left My Stradivarius on Top of the Car While I Went Shopping, Slippedisc (December 12, 2018)
VA Purchase Loans are Way Up: Here's Why You Should Consider One, The Mortgage Reports (December 10, 2018)
Backdating-When is it Appropriate?, Stark County Law Library (November 9, 2018)
What if My Buyer's Mortgage Does Not Go Through?, The Mortgage Reports, (November 8, 2018)
Backdating-When is it Appropriate?, General Counsel News (October 16, 2018)
Where to Move for Lower Taxes, The Mortgage Reports (October 6, 2018)
Closing Costs: Definition, Types & Average Amounts, Fit Small Business (September 25, 2018)
10 Cities People Hate to Leave (and 10 You Might Want to Avoid), The Mortgage Reports (September 17, 2018)
Mortgage Refinance Checklist: What You Need to Refinance Your Home, The Mortgage Reports (September 8, 2018)
Should Your Do a Cash-Out Refinance Before Retirement?, The Mortgage Reports (August 26, 2018)
Six Best 1031 Exchange Companies for 2018, Fit Small Business (July 15, 2018)
How Do I Finalize My Offer to Buy a Home?, The Mortgage Reports (July 10, 2018)
What Happens When My Mortgage is Sold? Dos and Don'ts, The Mortgage Reports (June 29, 2018)
Why Your Contracts Need a Force Majeure Clause, General Counsel News (May 19, 2018)
Closing on a Home: Real Estate Recording Fees, The Mortgage Reports (May 7, 2018)
Identity Theft in Violins and Tax Scams (Whitman Legal Solutions Blog reprinted), HR Tech Digest (April 6, 2018)
How the New Tax Laws Can and Will Affect the Real Estate Industry, Real Estate Agent Magazine (March 2018)
Does Cryptocurrency/Bitcoin Qualify for 1031 Exchange Treatment?, The Tax Law Blog (February 22, 2018)
Facing Today’s Real Estate Issues with Elizabeth Whitman,
Association of Corporate Counsel Docket (Nov. 2010)
AUTHOR
HUD Approves Settlement of Fair Housing Complaint Against OneWest Bank, Realty Biz News (August 1, 2019)
HUD Says Maine Landlord Wouldn't Allow Disabled Vet to Have Assistance Animal, Realty Biz News (July 15, 2019)
Making it Rain, Law Practice Today (June 14, 2019)
Ohio Bill Would Create Credit Protection Type Laws for Land Contracts, Realty Biz News (June 10, 2019)
HUD Charges Idaho Landlord with Familial Status Discrimination, Realty Biz News (June 4, 2019)
Five Things that Should be in Your Property Management Agreement, Realty Biz News (June 3, 2019).
Understanding Subordination Non-Disturbance and Attornment Agreements, Realty Biz News (December 3, 2018)
You Want Me to Move Where? Tenant Relocation Clauses in Office Leases, Realty Biz News (November 19, 2018)
What to Look for in a Tenant Buildout, Realty Biz News (November 12, 2018)
If You Think You Know How Your Office Lease Square Footage is Claculated, Guess Again!, Realty Biz News (October 28, 2018)
What To Do if You Aren't Happy With Your Real Estate Agent, Realty Biz News (October 16, 2018)
Ten Seller Deliveries at Commercial Real Estate Closings, Realty Biz (October 1, 2018)
Ten Items for Your Real Estate Due Diligence Checklist, Realty Biz News (September 17, 2018)
Landlord Best Practices for Rent Increases, Realty Biz News (September 11, 2018)
How an Access Agreement Can Speed Up Your Commercial Real Estate Transaction, Realty Biz News (September 6, 2018)
Why You Want a Force Majeure Clause in Your Real Estate Contract, Realty Biz News (September 4, 2018)
Understanding Commercial Lease Types, Realty Biz News (June 12, 2018)
Residential Landlords' Guide to Assistance Animals, Realty Biz News (June 4, 2018)
Mortgage or Deed of Trust?, Realty Biz News (May 14, 2018)
Negotiating Common Area Maintenance Charges in Commercial Leases, Realty Biz News (April 23, 2018)
Fair Housing Primer for Multifamily Owners, Realty Biz News (April 9, 2018)
Registered Land Uncommon but Still Exists in Some Urban Areas, Realty Biz News (March 30, 2018)
Choosing an Ownership Structure for Your Real Estate Investment, Realty Biz News (March 20, 2018)
Don't Turn Your Letter of Intent into a Binding Contract, Realty Biz News (March 12, 2018)
How Real Estate Investors Can Defer Taxes Using Section 1031 Exchanges, Realty Biz News (February 28, 2018)
A Day in the Life – Elizabeth A. Whitman, Association of Corporate Counsel Docket (March 2014)
A “TIC”ing Time Bomb: Rule 506 Meets Section 1031, XII Fordham J. Corp. & Fin. L. 121 (2007)
Co-Author, What Does Utah SB 64 Really Do?, Western Real Estate Business (October, 2005)
Co-Author, New Tax Law Disqualifies Certain IRC 1031 Real Estate, TIC Talk 5 (2nd Quarter 2005)
Administrative Adjudications: An Overview of the Existing Models and Their Failure to Achieve Uniformity and a Proposal for a Uniform Adjudicatory Framework, 46 Ohio St. L.J. 355 (1985); cited in, Manual for Administrative Law Judges, Journal of the Nat'l Assn of Administrative L. Judiciary (2004) and in The Exceptionalism Norm in Administrative Adjudication, Center for the Study of the Administrative State Working Paper 17-002 (November 9, 2017) and 2019 Wisconsin Law Review 1351 (April 18, 2019).
