Kyle A. DeThomas

Associate
Washington, DC

Kyle’s practice focuses primarily on development and disposition of mixed-use, multifamily, and condominium properties in DC, Maryland and Virginia. He specializes in helping buyers and sellers navigate DC’s Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) and Maryland’s right of first refusal (ROFR) laws and is also well-versed in real estate finance, land use and zoning, commercial leasing, title and survey matters. His firm roles at Ballard Spahr include being the Co-Chair of the Diverse Lawyers Group and the Firm Lead for Project Destined. Kyle is also an active member of ULI Washington: 2020 Pathways to Inclusion Cohort, 2022 Future Forum Working Group, 2022 Full Member Engagement Committee, UrbanPlan, NEXT, etc.

Prior to practicing, Kyle served as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force and civil engineer on deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and was chief of development and planning for $1 Billion in real estate assets and infrastructure, including housing for all Department of Defense personnel stationed in Okinawa, Japan. During law school, as a clerk for the Building and License Enforcement Division, he drafted complaints, court orders and coordinated efforts among landlords, community and civic organizations, and City agencies to reclaim and revitalize Chicago neighborhoods most affected by the subprime mortgage crisis.

Experience 

Representative Matters

  • Representing a Real Estate Investment Trust in restructuring ownership and establishing reciprocal easement agreements to redevelop a 7-acre office complex with 472 residential rental apartments and the future Crystal City central park in Arlington County, Virginia.
  • Representing a regional developer in the registration of a shelf condominium regime for 325 apartments within a $90 million mixed-use project anchored by a national grocery store chain in Washington, D.C.
  • Representing individual homeowners in securing variances to zoning requirements from the Montgomery County Board of Appeals in connection with the modernization of a historic residence in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

Professional Highlights

Recognition & Accomplishments

The Best Lawyers in America "Ones to Watch," – Real Estate Law (Washington, D.C.), 2021-2024

Board Memberships & Community Service

Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD)
Pathfinder, 2017; Law School Mentor, 2019-present

Stanford Professionals in Real Estate (SPIRE)
Los Angeles Regional Director, 2016-2017; Washington, D.C. Regional Director, 2019-present

Urban Land Institute (ULI); Young Leaders Group (YLG)
Member, 2017-present; RE 101 Committee, 2019-present

Immaculate Conception School (Los Angeles) Board of Advisors, 2014-2017

Credentials 

Education

Stanford Law School (J.D. 2013)
Real Estate and Land Use Association, President
Black Law Students Association, Social Chair
Stanford Law Veteran's Organization, founding member

Stanford University School of Engineering (M.S. 2013)
Association of Students Promoting Innovation in Real Estate, Member

U.S. Air Force Academy (B.S. 2005)
Dean's List (all semesters)

Admissions

District of Columbia

California