Division of Zoning, Land Use, and Economic Development Staff Attorneys

Clifford L. Royalty, Division Chief

Received B.A., cum laude with honors, in Political Science from Randolph-Macon College; J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law (1989). Admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1989; joined the County Attorney's Office in 1994. Also admitted to practice in D.C. (1991, currently inactive) and the U.S. District Court for Maryland. Member of the American Bar Association and the Federal Communications Bar Association. Areas of concentration are civil rights litigation, land use, and telecommunications law.

Eileen T. Basaman, Associate County Attorney

Received B.A. from the University of Maryland (1980); J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law (1983). Received American Jurisprudence Awards in criminal law and administrative law. Member of the Law School Honor Board (1982-1983). Admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1983; joined the County Attorney’s Office in 1999. Also admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for Maryland (1984). Also member of the Maryland, Montgomery County, and Women’s Bar Associations. Chair of the Unauthorized Practice of Law Subcommittee (1999-2000); and Chair of the Mock Trial Committee (1992-1995). Received Community Service Awards (1993, 1994, 1995); and the University of Maryland Mock Trial Program Outstanding Community Service Award (1996). Co-author and co-editor of the Maryland Land Use Guide (1992). MICPEL Instructor, Common Ownership Communities seminar (1995, 1999). Agency counsel to the Department of Housing and Community Affairs, the Department of Public Works and Transportation, and the Historic Preservation Commission. 

Robert Birenbaum, Assistant County Attorney

Received B.A. in Political Science and Spanish from the University of Rochester (2000); J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law (2003). Admitted to the Maryland Bar in 2003; joined the County Attorney's Office in 2006. Also admitted to practice in D.C. (2006). Member of the Maryland Bar Association. Previously law clerk to the Honorable Michael J. Finifter, Circuit Court for Baltimore County.

John J. Fisher, Associate County Attorney

University of Virginia,(1971-1974); B.A., magna cum laude, American University (1976); J.D. with honors the George Washington School of Law (1980). Clerkship, 12th Virginia Judicial Circuit, (1979-1980). Admitted to the Maryland Bar 1984; joined the County Attorney's Office in 1992. Also admitted to practice in Virginia (1980) and D.C. (1984), the U.S. District Court for Maryland, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia, and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Member of the Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. Bar Associations. Previously a Partner with Odin, Feldman & Pittleman P.C. (1984-1992), concentarting on commercial financings and commercial and construction litigation and the inancial programs manager for the Treasury Division of the Department of Finance (1994-1995). Areas of concentration are contracts, state and local tax, procurement, finance, and condemnations. Agency counsel to the Department of Economic Development, Department of Finance, and Bethesda Urban District Corporation.

Vickie L. Gaul, Associate County Attorney

Received B.A. from The George Washington University (1984); J.D. from the University of Maryland (1987). Admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1987; joined the County Attorney's Office in 2000. Also admitted to practice in D.C. (1988) and the U.S. District Court for Maryland (1989). Previously employed with the State of Maryland Attorney General's Office, concentrating in administrative law, and in private practice, concentrating in real estate and commercial transactions. Current areas of concentration are land use, real estate transactions, contracts, and code enforcement litigation.

Eric Willis, Assistant County Attorney

Received B. A. from the Univerity of Richmond (1993); J.D. from the University of Baltimore (1997). Admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1997; joined the County Attorney's Office in 2006. Also admitted to practice in Idaho (1998) and the U. S. District Court for Maryland (2004). Member of the Montgomery County (Professionalism and Quality of Life Committee) and Maryland Bar Associations. Previously Law Clerk to The Honorable Paul A. McGuckian, Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Law Clerk to The Honorable Nelson W. Rupp, Jr., Circuit Court for Montgomery County, and engaged in private practice (1998-2005).