Desmond D. Connall, Jr. is a partner in Ballard Spahr's Washington, D.C. and Baltimore offices, and heads the Leasing Team in the firm's Real Estate Practice Group. He concentrates his practice in leasing, purchase and sale and development matters, and is particularly experienced in office, industrial, and retail leasing transactions.
Des has worked on many of the most significant real estate projects in the Washington, D.C. region on behalf of anchor tenants, landlords, and developers. He also serves as the firm's leasing counsel.
Experience
Representative Matters
- Harris Teeter, Inc., in leases and acquisitions for new locations in Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland, including many stores in some of the most complex mixed-use developments in Washington
- The CoStar Group in leases for offices throughout the United States over the last 17 years, including the purchase, sale, and leaseback of the company's headquarters in Washington, D.C.—transactions that won Deal of the Year honors from the Washington Business Journal in two consecutive years (2011 and 2012)
- The trustee for bondholders in numerous transactions related to the Farms of New Kent development in New Kent County, Virginia, including a deed in lieu of foreclosure and the sale of residential building lots to homebuilders.
Professional Highlights
Professional Activities
American Bar Association
The District of Columbia Bar
Maryland State Bar Association
International Council of Shopping Centers
Recognition & Accomplishments
The Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law, 2022
The Promise of One Award, Susan G. Komen Maryland, 2016
Fellow, the American College of Real Estate Lawyers
AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
Speaking Engagements
Des Connall is active in the International Council of Shopping Centers, has spoken at the ICSC Law Conference, and has presented numerous seminars on topics related to office and retail leasing to various real estate companies and other groups. He has been frequently cited as a source in articles appearing in the Commercial Lease Law Insider and related publications.
Panelist, "What, Me Worry? Ethics in Negotiations and Lease Disputes," ICSC Law Conference, San Diego, CA, October 25, 2019
Moderator and organizer, "Keeping up with the Jetsons—A Panel Discussion of Autonomous Vehicles and Real Estate Development," Breakfast With Ballard, Washington, D.C., November 8, 2017
Board Memberships & Community Service
Advisory Board Member, Georgetown University Law Center Advanced Commercial Leasing Institute
Member, Board of Directors, Susan G. Komen Foundation, Maryland Chapter
Former Member, Board of Trustees, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Maryland Chapter
Former Member, Marriott Library Advisory Board, University of Utah
Publications
Co-author, "Work Letter Landmines," Legal-Ease column BOMA Magazine, November/December 2015
Co-author, "Making the Most of Lease Abstracts," Legal-Ease column BOMA Magazine, September/October 2015
Co-author, "The Do's and Don'ts of Navigating 'Green' Requirements and Commitments," Legal-Ease column for BOMA Magazine, May/June 2015
Related Insights
Credentials
Education
Stanford Law School (J.D. 1981)
Princeton University (A.B. 1976, with distinction)
Admissions
District of Columbia
Maryland