Joanne Phillips

Real Estate, Commercial Real Estate Recovery, Government Relations, Regulatory Affairs and Contracting, P3/Infrastructure, Real Estate Development, Real Estate Leasing, Zoning and Land Use

Joanne Phillips is a partner in the Real Estate Department and a member of the Government Relations, Regulatory Affairs and Contracting; Commercial Real Estate Recovery; P3/Infrastructure; Real Estate Development; Real Estate Leasing; and Zoning and Land Use Groups. Her experience in zoning and land use, real estate development, acquisitions and sales, leasing, and real estate financing is extensive.

Ms. Phillips rejoined Ballard Spahr in 2010. She had been a partner with the firm previously and in 2006 left to become Director of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Bureau of Real Estate, in the Department of General Services. At the Commonwealth, Ms. Phillips oversaw the Bureau, which is responsible for a portfolio of 1.5 billion square feet of state-owned space and 7.7 million square feet of leased space, with an annual lease expenditure exceeding $108 million. Her purview encompassed property acquisition for construction of capital projects, disposition of surplus properties, leasing of Commonwealth property, and leasing from third-party landlords for space required by Commonwealth executive agencies.

During her first tenure at the firm, Ms. Phillips took a leave of absence from September 2000 to September 2001 to serve as Special Assistant to the Managing Director of the City of Philadelphia on special projects involving zoning and business regulation.

Professional Activities

Philadelphia Bar Association
Past Chair, Real Property Section; past member, Real Property Section Executive Committee; past Co-Chair, Section's Land Use, Zoning and Enforcement Committee

The Counselors of Real Estate

Urban Land Institute, Philadelphia Council

Publications/Speaking Engagements

Ms. Phillips has lectured and published on the topics of real estate permitting, historic preservation, zoning, and land use.

Recent speaking engagements include:

Moderator, "The New Philadelphia Zoning Code: Dimensional Standards, Reviewers and Approvals, and Civic Design Review," Ballard Spahr seminar, March 21, 2012

"The New Philadelphia Zoning Code: As-of-Right Permits, Base Zoning Districts, and the Code's Structure," Ballard Spahr seminar, February 15, 2012

Presenter and planner, "Philadelphia Historic Preservation Law," a Ballard Spahr CLE course, Philadelphia, November 16, 2011

Moderator, "Preparing for the Turnaround: Preserving Land-Use Entitlements in a Challenging Market," a Ballard Spahr seminar, June 16, 2010

"Preserving Asset Value in a Distressed Market," a Ballard Spahr/PREIT Capital Advisors joint program, May 27, 2010

Board Memberships

Widener University School of Law, past member, Board of Overseers

Rose Tree Soccer Club, Director

Widener University School of Law (J.D. 1987, summa cum laude)
Member, Law Review Executive Board, Delaware Journal of Corporate Law; Member, Moot Court Honor Society; Member, Phi Delta Phi (legal honor fraternity)

Ursinus College (B.A. 1980, with departmental honors)
Presidential Scholar, 1976-1980

Pennsylvania