REAL ESTATE, LAND USE & DEVELOPMENT • CORPORATE, BUSINESS & BANKING • NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS • TAX ASSESSMENT APPEALS & PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS • CHARTER SCHOOLS
With more than 15 years of experience as a transactional and zoning/land use attorney, Stephanie A. Kobal is a shareholder in the Firm’s Real Estate, Land Use & Development and Corporate, Business & Banking groups. Throughout her career, Ms. Kobal has worked with organizations of all types and sizes to negotiate complex real estate acquistions, land development and zoning approvals, and leases. She consistently represents clients in front of government agencies and municipalities regarding land use entitlements for real estate ventures. Her practice also focuses on transactional work, including commercial real estate acquisitions and sales, tax assessment appeals, charter schools, for-profit and nonprofit contractual matters and organizational issues.
A native to the Lehigh Valley, Ms. Kobal has based her practice on the core values of strategy, practicality and honesty, which is evident in her relationships with her clients. She understands that each client has its own unique needs and goals, and tailors her approach to fit every individual who approaches her.
EDUCATION
- Pennsylvania State University, B.S. in Marketing and Women’s Studies, 2004
- Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Women’s Studies
- Widener University School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2007
- Executive Managing Editor for Widener Law Journal
PROJECTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Representation with respect to every aspect of commercial real estate transactions, including acquisition, development, financing, construction, and utilization.
- Successfully obtained special exception approval for the expansion of a nonprofit recreation facility.
- Successfully obtained a zoning use variance for a 45,000 square foot industrial sales and service facility in northern Lehigh County.
- Regularly appears before townships, boroughs and cities within Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, and Bucks counties to obtain land development approvals.
- Successfully negotiated a zoning amendment overlay district to facilitate the adaptive re-use of a historic structure.
- Successfully negotiated a zoning amendment for infill development.
- Handles tax exemption hearings on behalf of nonprofit organizations.
- Handles tax assessment appeals for property owners.
- Successfully obtained tax exemptions for several nonprofits in Northampton and Lehigh Counties.
- Successfully negotiated the sale of an iconic Lehigh Valley office structure.
- In 2021, represented clients in the acquisition of over $200,000,000 of industrial, commercial and tenant-occupied properties.
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
- Gravel Hill Enterprises, Inc. v. Lower Mount Bethel Township Zoning Hearing Board, 172 A.3d 754 (Pa. Commw. 2017) (en banc).
HONORS & AFFILIATIONS
- Named one of “Power 30 in Law,” Lehigh Valley Business, 2021
- Selected for inclusion in Pennsylvania’s Super Lawyers – Rising Star Edition, 2017 – Present
- Named one of “Forty under 40,” Lehigh Valley Business, 2018
- Named one of “Women of Influence” by Lehigh Valley Business, 2017
- Named Local Legal Leader by Lehigh Valley Magazine, 2016 – 2017
- Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal “20 Under 40” Award, 2011
COMMUNITY ACTIVITY
- Cedar Crest College, Board of Trustees, Trustee, 2021 – Present
- Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania, Board of Directors, 2023 – Present
- Haven House, 2024 – Present
- Parkland School District Education Foundation, Board of Directors, Member, 2015 – Present
- Board of Associates of Cedar Crest College, Executive Committee, President, 2017 – 2021; Board of Directors, Member, 2015 – 2021
- The Hillside School, Board of Trustees, Trustee, 2019 – 2022
BAR ADMISSIONS
- Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Bar Association of Lehigh County
- CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) Lehigh Valley, Member
- ULI (Urban Land Institute), Member
TESTIMONIALS
“I was first introduced to FLB when my firm bought 425,000 SF Riverside Business Center in 2018 and we needed a local lawyer to handle all our leasing documents. Jane Long was the person with whom we originally worked but after she retired, we eventually started working with Steph Kobal. While we had had a policy of using local leasing lawyers for our various projects up and down the east coast, our relationship with Steph blossomed such that we began to use her for all of our leasing and acquisition work. In that she is also well-versed in land use work, we have used her on these matters in the Lehigh Valley as well. The highest praise that anyone within our firm can offer is when we state that someone feels like a long-term employee of our firm. Steph certainly wears that mantle within our shop, we truly view her as an extension of our firm and there is not a person within our shop that ever hesitates to pick up the phone an seek her advice on legal matters confronting our holdings. Steph is a rockstar in our eyes!” – LARRY J GOODWIN, PRINCIPAL, 1788 HOLDINGS, LLC
CALL DIRECT
610-797-9000, ext. 384
ASSISTANT INFORMATION
Julie Williams
610-797-9000, ext. 350
