Desmond D. Connall, Jr.

Senior Counsel

Baltimore

Tel 202.661.7642
Fax 410.528.5650

Washington, DC

Tel 202.661.7642
Fax 202.661.2299

Desmond Connall leads the Leasing Team in Ballard’s Real Estate Development and Transactions Group, and is real estate counsel to the Firm. A Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and a member of the Advisory Board of the Georgetown Law School Advanced Commercial Leasing Institute, Des is recognized for his expertise in commercial real estate transactions. During his four decades of law practice, Des has worked on many of the most significant real estate developments in the Washington, D.C. region on behalf of anchor tenants, landlords, developers and investors.

Des also has an active pro bono practice and received the Leonard E. Lindquist Award for his work on behalf of a transgender ICE detainee.

Services

Experience

Representative Matters

The CoStar Group in leases and acquisitions for offices throughout the United States over the last 20 years, including the purchase, sale, and leaseback of CoStar’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)
Harris Teeter, Inc. in leases and acquisitions for new stores in Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland, including many stores in complex mixed-use developments in Washington
The trustee for bondholders (U.S. Bank) in numerous transactions related to the Farms of New Kent residential development in New Kent County, Virginia, including sales of residential building lots to homebuilders
NewCourtland in tax credit financing for senior housing in Philadelphia

Professional Highlights

Professional Activities

American Bar Association

The District of Columbia Bar

Maryland State Bar Association

International Council of Shopping Centers

Recognition & Accomplishments

Fellow, the American College of Real Estate Lawyers

The Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022

AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell

The Promise of One Award, Susan G. Komen Maryland, 2016

Speaking Engagements

Speaker, “Not Now; I’m on a Zoom Call! Multi-Jurisdictional Practice in a Virtual World,” 2021 ICSC Law Conference, San Francisco, CA, November, 2021

Panelist, “Coworking: Should WeLease? Launching SpaceFlex,” Georgetown Advanced Commercial Leasing Institute, Washington, D.C., April 2021

Speaker, “Truth or Consequences—Dos and Don’ts of Negotiation Ethics,” 2020 ICSC Law Conference, October, 2020

Speaker, “Understanding Your Organization’s Contracts During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic,” D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center Webinar, May, 2020

Session leader, "My Senior Partner is a Robot! Artificial Intelligence—Practical and Professional Responsibility,” Georgetown Advanced Commercial Leasing Institute, Washington, D.C., April 2019

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

Facilitator and planner, "Multi-Jurisdictional Ethics Issues for Retail Attorneys," ICSC Law Conference, San Antonio, TX, October 2017

Session leader, "Swinging Without a Net: Ethics for a Multi-Jurisdictional Practice," Georgetown Advanced Commercial Leasing Institute, Washington, D.C., April 2017

Roundtable leader, "How Green Will We Get—Cost Considerations for Tenants and Landlords," ICSC Law Conference, Washington, D.C., October 2016

Panelist, "Brokers Say (or Don't Say) the Darndest Things: Non-Business Issues in Office/Retail LOIs," Georgetown Advanced Commercial leasing Institute, Washington, D.C., April 2016

Roundtable leader, "Legal Opinions in Real Estate Financing Transactions: The Practical Approach," ICSC Law Conference, Phoenix, October 2015

Faculty Member, "Legal Priorities in Acquisitions and Dispositions," 2015 ICSC University of Shopping Centers East, Philadelphia, March 2015

Speaker, "Office Leases—Letter of Intent Issues for the Tenant," Offices of Cushman & Wakefield, Washington, D.C., February 2015

Speaker, "Office Leases—Letter of Intent Issues for the Tenant," Offices of DTZ, Washington, D.C., January 2015

Roundtable leader, "Pros & Cons of Recording a Memo of Lease," ICSC Law Conference, Orlando, October 2014

Speaker, "Office Leases—Letter of Intent Issues for the Tenant," Offices of JLL, Washington, D.C., July 2013

Speaker, "Discussion of Issues in Office Leasing," Offices of Cassidy & Pinkard, Washington, D.C., September 2001

Seminar leader, "Tax Escalation Clauses in Leases," ICSC Law Conference, October 25, 1997

Speaker and organizer, "Commercial Office Leases in the 1990s: The Tenant's View," David & Hagner Seminar, Washington, D.C., June 1994

Board Memberships & Community Service

Advisory Board Member, Georgetown University Law Center Advanced Commercial Leasing Institute, 2015 – present

Princeton University Alumni Schools Committee, 2019 – present

Board of Directors Member, Susan G. Komen Foundation, Maryland Chapter, 2018 – 2020

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