Zoning laws govern almost every aspect of property use and require significant governmental involvement and approval. Most jurisdictions provide the ability to contest a zoning decision via litigation. In Virginia, parties able to demonstrate particularized harm can contest both the approval or denial of a zoning application. The Virginia Court of Appeals recently reviewed the standard for contesting zoning approvals in the July decision Pendleton House Limited Dividend Housing Associates LP v. City Council for the City of Alexandria et al. (July 7, 2026).

Organizations are fueled by people. Certain businesses rely on independent contractors (also known as 1099s) to help get work done. These individuals can range from bookkeepers who produce reports to IT teams that are engaged for computer issues. 

Unfortunately, management’s intent in classifying workers is largely immaterial for purposes of liability. Employee classification is a fact-intensive analysis that requires compliance with both federal and state requirements. Earlier this year, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced that it plans to rescind the 2024 Independent Contractor Rule (still in effect) that governs the classification of workers on the federal level.

Deadlines are important in all areas of life. In the legal context, the required timeframe for a party to act is known as the statute of limitations. For Land Use claims, a failure to act before the end of the statute of limitations could mean never recovering for the loss or damage to private property (or being subject to a significant judgment affecting personal assets). 

Kramer Elias Partner Alfredo Acin was recently named to Virginia’s Super Lawyers’ list for his exceptional contributions to the legal community. The Super Lawyers’ designation is only awarded to 5% of all attorneys in every state.

What we do for work is important and impacts our health, well-being, and financial security. The workplace is ultimately shaped by Employment laws, which define what is prohibited and permitted in the employment relationship. 

Starting a new job is typically a hopeful time. Both management and the employee look forward to a “fresh start” from whatever came before. However, the end of the employment relationship is typically less agreeable and more difficult. 

Kramer Elias was proud to sponsor and attend the 2026 Fairfax Bar Association (FBA) Bench Bar Dinner Dance. The event celebrated the 50^th Anniversary of the FBA, the largest local bar association in Virginia with over 2,200 members.

Kramer Elias’ condemnation and leasing background featured by the Virginia State Bar. Theodora Stringham’s article “Condemnation Clauses in Leases: Three Frequently Asked Questions from Real Estate Practitioners,” featured as part of Virginia State Bar’s “Fee Simple” Journal.

Kramer Elias Firm Partners Theodora Stringham and Mazin Elias were recently named to Virginia Business Magazine’s 2026 “Legal Elite” list for their work in the Real Estate and Land Use practice area.

Agreements are an integral part of our lives. Everything from our cell phone service to our dry cleaning involves some form of agreement. Many agreements, however, can be more nuanced and may result in a breach by another party. When this occurs, an individual or business may risk dire losses. 

Harassment of any kind is inappropriate conduct in the workplace. Full stop. However, determining whether or not harassment rises to the level of illegal discrimination protected by federal and state law is a more nuanced issue. This determination depends on a variety of factors, including the size of a workplace, the type of conduct or speech at issue, and the protected classification of the employee alleging harassment or discrimination (along with the makeup of the greater workplace). 

Kramer Elias Founding Partners Crystal Kramer and Mazin Elias will present a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) course on Landlord Tenant law for the Fairfax Bar Association on January 21, 2026.  The presentation will be focused on key issues in Landlord Tenant litigation, while also providing practical tips based on Ms. Kramer and Mr. Elias’ decades of combined experience advocating in the practice area.

How do you measure a year? For Real Estate, the year has been marked with uncertainty. The government shutdown, rising inflation, and heightened mortgage rates made industry professionals uneasy while affordability remained a key concern for many Americans.

This past year was tumultuous for many employers and employees. Soaring tariffs, the government shutdown, and inflation all made maintaining stability difficult. In addition, a challenging political climate and several divisive policies led to tense situations in the workplace. To put it lightly, 2025 was rough.

People buying real estate typically define the boundaries of their purchase via a survey and, ultimately, a deed conferring title. After closing occurs, most people do not revisit the specifics of the boundaries surrounding their property—or how much they own—until they decide to modify a site or ultimately sell. The exception to the norm is when a dispute occurs.