Specializing in Residential and Commercial Evictions, Real Property Disputes, Administrative Law, and Appeals in the District of Columbia.
REAL ESTATE LITIGATION LAW FIRM
PRACTICE AREAS
LANDLORD & TENANT
BCE has a robust landlord and tenant practice, representing small, medium, and large landlords in residential and commercial eviction actions and counseling regarding housing disputes, rental subsidies, and regulations. Our clients also include residential and commercial tenants.
In our eviction practice we seek to assist clients navigate the complicated eviction process in the most cost effective manner possible, minimizing the risk of protracted litigation, and treating all parties with respect and dignity.
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
Our attorneys represent parties in matters before the Office of Administrative Hearings and Rental Housing Commission, including Tenant Petitions, Hardship Petitions, and Notices of Infraction. We also defend clients in Human Rights actions (e.g., fair housing claims, housing discrimination claims and ADA reasonable accommodation claims).
CIVIL LITIGATION
We represent individual and corporate clients in the District of Columbia Superior Court and U.S. District Court in a wide range of general real estate matters, including: the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), disputes concerning real estate contracts, easements, title matters, partitions, and foreclosures.
Our attorneys know that each client and dispute is unique; so is our approach to litigation. We draw upon our depth of experience to tailor effective and flexible strategies to advance our clients' interests.
APPEALS
In our appellate practice, our attorneys advance precise and creative arguments to bring our clients' positions into focus.
STRATEGIC COUNSELING
Our seasoned attorneys bring their experience to the table to counsel clients on a range of issues including lease negotiation, purchase contracts, and development agreements.
PROBATE
In our probate practice, we specialize in opening estates for banks and other lenders and for individuals in connection with real estate sales and quieting title.
OUR FIRM
Blumenthal, Cordone & Erklauer PLLC (Successor to the Law Office of Blumenthal & Shanley established in 1982) is a law firm focusing on real estate litigation matters in the District of Columbia.
Our practice includes a regular docket in D.C. Superior Court’s Landlord and Tenant Branch where our litigation attorneys represent residential and commercial property management companies, individual property owners, investors, developers, lenders and cooperative associations. Our litigators are experienced trial attorneys and negotiators whose ultimate goal is to achieve our clients’ objectives in a timely and cost-effective manner.
OUR ATTORNEYS
CAROL BLUMENTHAL
SENIOR PARTNER
For nearly 40 years, Ms. Blumenthal has represented clients in leasing, title and tax disputes at the trial level and before the D.C. Court of Appeals. In her current practice she focuses on strategic counseling, particularly with respect to complex real estate transactions. Ms. Blumenthal has served as an expert witness regarding District of Columbia eviction procedures, and has long served as an arbitrator for the District of Columbia Bar as well as a mentor for the Bar’s Public Services Activities Committee.
Ms. Blumenthal is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and earned her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. She is an editor and author of the District of Columbia Practice Manual’s Landlord-Tenant chapter and Co-Author of REAL ESTATE PRACTICE IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA.
Ms. Blumenthal is a member of the District of Columbia and Maryland Bars and has admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the U.S. Supreme Court.
KATE ERKLAUER
PARTNER
Ms. Erklauer is the primary attorney for the firm's civil and and administrative practice, including representation property owners, landlords, tenants, and contract purchasers in actions in the Superior Court, Court of Appeals, Office of Administrative Hearings, and Rental Housing Commission.
From 2010-2016, Ms. Erklauer was an Attorney Advisor in the Landlord and Tenant Branch of the D.C. Superior Court, where she advised judges on all aspects of landlord and tenant law and provided training to judges and court staff.
Ms. Erklauer regularly conducts training for the District of Columbia Bar and is a mentor for the Pro Bono Center. She is an editor and author of the District of Columbia Practice Manual's Landlord-Tenant Chapter. She is a graduate of George Washington University and Georgetown University Law Center.
Ms. Erklauer is a member of the District of Columbia and Virginia Bars and has admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the U.S. Supreme Court.
EDWARD CORDONE
PARTNER
Mr. Cordone is the coordinating and primary attorney for the Firm’s Landlord and Tenant practice with a regular docket 2-3 days each week in the Landlord-Tenant Branch of the D.C. Superior Court. His practice includes residential and commercial cases.
Mr. Cordone has served at the Court’s request as a presenter for judicial training in Landlord-Tenant procedure for judges new to the Branch, and is a member of the Small Claims Court Rules Committee. Mr. Cordone has served as Landlord-Tenant counsel to a number of charitable organizations which provide housing for low income and/or special needs residents of the District of Columbia.
Mr. Cordone is a graduate of the University of Connecticut and earned his law degree at the Northern Virginia Law School. Prior to being admitted to the District of Columbia Bar in 2000, Mr. Cordone worked for 5 years as a paralegal in preparing, filing and coordinating Landlord-Tenant cases in the District of Columbia.
Tel: 202.332.5279 x 113
MELISSA POLITO
OF COUNSEL
Ms. Polito has over 20 years of experience litigating matters in the trial and appellate courts of Maryland and the District of Columbia. She worked for much of her career at the DC firm of Margolius, Mallios, Davis, Rider & Tomar, practicing family and other civil litigation. She now focuses on litigation surrounding real property, including primarily the representation of property owners and management companies.
Ms. Polito has served as a volunteer attorney mentor for the DC Bar, led family law training for volunteer family law attorneys, and has volunteered at the DC and Montgomery County Self Help Centers, assisting unrepresented parties in navigating the court system.
Ms. Polito received her undergraduate degree from Ohio Wesleyan University and her law degree from the George Washington University National Law Center. She is admitted to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Tel: 202.332.5279 x 200
Tel: 202.332.5279 x 117
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