REAL ESTATE, LAND USE & DEVELOPMENT • ZONING • COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS • TAX ASSESSMENT APPEALS & PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS • EMINENT DOMAIN
Catherine E. N. Durso is a shareholder in the Firm’s Real Estate, Land Use & Development Group. Ms. Durso’s practice areas include real estate, land use, development and zoning, in which she frequently represents developers and private individuals with zoning and land development submissions and issues.
Ms. Durso has developed an expertise in representing wireless telecommunication companies for zoning and land use matters. She has assisted clients in obtaining approvals for pharmacies, supermarkets, age-restricted communities, apartments, solar projects and warehouse distribution centers. Ms. Durso also regularly handles commercial and residential real estate transactions for companies and individuals. She is a licensed title agent.
EDUCATION
- St. Bonaventure University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1991
- The Dickinson School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1994
- Woolsack Honor Society (top 10% of graduating class)
- Articles Editor, Dickinson Law Review, 1993-1994
- Appellate Moot Court Board
BAR ADMISSIONS
- Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
- Bar Association of Lehigh County
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) Lehigh Valley, Member, 2006 – Present
HONORS & AFFILIATIONS
- Named a “Woman of Influence” by Lehigh Valley Business, 2020
- Named a “Woman of Influence” by Real Estate Forum magazine, 2017
- Lehigh Valley SUITS Award, Law, 2014
- Named a “Select Lawyer” in:
- Eminent Domain Law, Government/Cities/Municipalities Law, Real Estate Tax Assessment Appeals Law and Real Estate, Zoning, Planning & Land Use Development Law, 2014
- Government/Cities/Municipalities Law, Real Estate Tax Assessment Appeals Law and Real Estate, Zoning, Planning & Land Use Development Law, 2015
- Real Estate, Zoning, Planning & Land Use Development Law and Real Estate Tax Assessment Appeals Law, 2014 – 2017
- Selected for inclusion in 2005 – 2008 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers: Rising Star Edition
PROJECTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Sprint Spectrum, L.P. v. the Zoning Hearing Board of North Whitehall Township, et. al., 823 A.2d 258 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2003)
- To date, Mrs. Durso has obtained approvals for over 700 wireless communications facilities in Lehigh, Northampton, Montgomery, Bucks, Carbon, Monroe, Luzerne, Lackawanna, Pike, Wayne, Chester, Berks, Sullivan, Bradford, Wyoming, Schuylkill, Tioga, Centre, Columbia, Lebanon and Dauphin Counties
COMMUNITY ACTIVITY
- Penn State Lehigh Valley Advisory Board, Member and Executive Committee Member, 2009 – Present; Immediate Past President
- Whitehall Township Zoning Hearing Board, Alternate Solicitor
- Lower Macungie Township Zoning Hearing Board, Alternate Solicitor
- St. Ann Board of Limited Jurisdiction, Facilities Committee, Member
CALL DIRECT
610-797-9000, ext. 334
ASSISTANT INFORMATION
Nadine Romanyshyn
610-797-9000, ext. 354
