Kevin Shepherd is a partner in the firm's Real Estate Practice Group, one of the preeminent real estate practices in the nation. Mr. Shepherd represents large national and multinational institutions in complex real estate transactions, ranging from the development of electric generation power plant facilities to world-class resort complexes to the world headquarters of a multinational biotechnology and life science firm.
Mr. Shepherd offers clients unusual experience in working through complex real estate transactions, diligence in the thorough drafting and coordination of interrelated documents, and creative solutions that save clients money.
Significant Matters
Mr. Shepherd has worked on numerous high profile commercial real estate transactions, both domestically and internationally. Locally, Mr. Shepherd was involved in the purchase and sale of 100 East Pratt Street, the premier office tower in Baltimore, the development of the most recent additions to Baltimore's skyline (Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel and 750 East Pratt Street, the first office tower to be built in Baltimore's Inner Harbor in the last decade), and the sale of the corporate world headquarters campus of Life Technologies, Inc. Mr. Shepherd represented a subsidiary of The General Electric Company in connection with a long term lease of its corporate headquarters facility, which was one of the largest lease transactions in Montgomery County history. Nationally, Mr. Shepherd regularly represents numerous pension funds and institutional investors and, internationally, represents hotel developers. Mr. Shepherd represents merchant power companies in connection with the development of electrical generation facilities in Maryland.
Activities
Mr. Shepherd holds significant leadership positions in Venable and law-related organizations. Mr. Shepherd is chair of Venable's Finance Committee, which committee oversees the firm's financial operations, policies, and procedures, and serves as co-chair of the firm's Real Estate Practice Group.
Mr. Shepherd is a past Chair of the ABA Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law, and he is president of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers. ACREL is the country's most prestigious honorary organization for practicing real estate lawyers. Mr. Shepherd is a member of the Anglo-American Real Property Institute, an organization comprised of 50 United States real estate lawyers and 50 United Kingdom real estate barristers and solicitors.
Mr. Shepherd has served on a number of task forces and committees, including the ABA Task Force on Gatekeeper Regulation and the Profession and the ABA Standing Committee on Publishing Oversight.
Mr. Shepherd is a former editor-in-chief of Probate & Property, the highly regarded bi-monthly magazine of the ABA Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law. He recently concluded a two year term of the Character Committee of the Court of Appeals of Maryland.
Industries
Government Contractors
Life Sciences
Judicial Clerkships
Honorable Harry A. Cole, Court of Appeals of Maryland, 1984 - 1985
News
May 22, 2012, Daily Journal quotes Kevin Shepherd on proposed federal rule that could threaten client secrecy
May 9, 2012, Kevin Shepherd quoted in Law360 on proposed ID rule that could violate attorney-client privilege
March 5, 2012, Venable Adds Real Estate Attorney Gina Zentz to Baltimore Office
January 3, 2012, Three Venable Attorneys Recognized among Top 100 Maryland Lawyers
December 15, 2011, Maryland edition of Super Lawyers 2012 honors 38 Venable attorneys
October 10, 2011, Kevin L. Shepherd Quoted in ABA Journal
September 14, 2011, 75 Venable attorneys listed in The Best Lawyers in America® 2012
August 17, 2011, Kevin L. Shepherd appointed Maryland chair of American Bar Foundation
June 15, 2011, Five Venable attorneys named to International Who's Who of Real Estate Lawyers 2011
June 10, 2011, Chambers Ranks Record Number of Venable Attorneys
December 30, 2010, Maryland edition of Super Lawyers 2011 honors 37 Venable attorneys
August 23, 2010, 65 Venable attorneys receive 2011 Best Lawyers honors
July 28, 2010, Daily Record notes Kevin Shepherd's recent Maryland State Bar Association award
July 17, 2010, Venable Makes Big Gains on Chambers USA 2010 Rankings with Forty-Eight Attorneys Listed as Among the Best in Their Fields
July 12, 2010, ABA President-Elect appoints Kevin Shepherd to lead ABA Gatekeeper Task Force
June 28, 2010, Kevin Shepherd featured in the Daily Record's "On the Move"
June 21, 2010, Venable's Kevin Shepherd Receives "Distinguished Maryland Real Property Practitioner" Award
February 19, 2010, Kevin Shepherd quoted in Corporate Counsel story on recent Gatekeeper Initiative legislation
February 2, 2010, Kevin Shepherd interviewed in BNA's Real Estate Law & Industry Report
January 13, 2010, Kevin Shepherd quoted in National Law Journal story on recent Gatekeeper Initiative legislation
January 6, 2010, Maryland edition of Super Lawyers 2010 honors 38 Venable attorneys
November 10, 2009, Kevin Shepherd mentioned in Baltimore Sun's "People on the move"
November 10, 2009, Kevin Shepherd testifies before Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
November 3, 2009, Kevin Shepherd, Co-Chair of Venable's Real Estate Practice, Elected President of American College of Real Estate Lawyers
July 16, 2009, Thirty-Nine Venable Attorneys Recognized By Clients and Peers as Among Best in Their Practice Areas in 2009 Chambers USA Rankings
February 10, 2009, Maryland edition of Super Lawyers 2009 list honors 40 Venable attorneys
November 7, 2008, Kevin L. Shepherd elected President-Elect of American College of Real Estate Lawyers
August 25, 2008, Fifty-nine Venable Attorneys Earn Best Lawyers in America Honors
June 16, 2008, Chambers USA Releases 2008 Rankings: 37 Venable Attorneys Identified By Clients and Peers as Among Best in Practice Areas
September 12, 2007, Fifty-five Venable Attorneys Earn Best Lawyers in America Honors
July 18, 2007, 31 Venable Attorneys Recognized By Clients and Peers as Among Best in Field in Latest Chambers U.S. Rankings
October 2, 2006, Forty-Seven Venable Lawyers Cited Among The Best Lawyers in America
January 12, 2006, Venable's Kevin Shepherd Elected Fellow of the American Bar Foundation
November 16, 2005, Two Venable LLP Partners Win 2005 Leadership in Law Awards
October 5, 2005, Forty Venable Lawyers Cited Among "Best Lawyers in America"
August 9, 2005, Venable's Kevin Shepherd Named Chair of ABA's Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
June 10, 2005, Venable Makes Impressive Gains on Latest Chambers USA Rankings
August 18, 2004, Venable Real Estate Partner Kevin Shepherd Elected to Chair Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section of American Bar Association
April 26, 2004, Venable Lawyers and Practice Groups Score On Latest Chambers USA Rankings
May 15, 2003, Real Estate Industry Has Until June 9 to Respond to New Money Laundering Rules Tied to USA Patriot Act
Honors
Based on peer and client reviews, Mr. Shepherd has been selected as one of America's leading Real Estate lawyers by Chambers and Partners, a respected English research firm. Mr. Shepherd is also listed on the International Who's Who of Real Estate Lawyers and a recipient of the American Jurisprudence Awards for Excellence in Contracts, Evidence, Criminal Law.
AV® Peer-Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Listed in Who's Who Legal, Real Estate, 2011
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Real Estate Law (Woodward/White, Inc.), 2008 to the present
Selected for inclusion in Maryland Super Lawyers 2008 - 2012
Selected for inclusion in Maryland Super Lawyers "Top 50" attorneys list for 2009 and 2010
Recognized in the 2011 edition of Chambers USA (Band 1), Real Estate, Maryland
Recognized in the 2010 edition of Chambers USA (Band 1), Real Estate, Maryland
Recognized in the 2009 edition of Chambers USA (Band 1), Real Estate, Maryland
Recognized in the 2008 edition of Chambers USA (Band 1), Real Estate, Maryland
Recognized in the 2007 edition of Chambers USA (Band 1), Real Estate, Maryland
Recognized in the 2006 edition of Chambers USA (Band 1), Real Estate, Maryland
Recognized in the 2005 edition of Chambers USA (Band 1), Real Estate, Maryland
Recognized in the 2004 edition of Chambers USA (Band 2), Real Estate, Maryland
Recognized in the 2003-04 edition of Chambers USA (Band 3), Real Estate, Maryland
Leadership in Law Award, The Daily Record, 2005
Publications
May 23, 2012
CLIENT MEMO: Maryland IDOTs Fall Victim to Revenue Enhancement Measures
Kevin L. Shepherd, Edward S. Evans, III
Maryland Corporate Law - Client Memos
April 2012, The Gatekeeper Initiative and the Risk-Based Approach to Client Due Diligence
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Review of Banking & Financial Services
Summer 2011, The Gatekeeper Initiative and the Risk-Based Approach to Client Due Diligence: The Imperative for Voluntary Good Practices Guidance for U.S. Lawyers
Kevin L. Shepherd
ACTEC La Journal
March/April 2011, The Gatekeeper Initiative and Risk-Based Client Due Diligence
Kevin L. Shepherd
Probate & Property
2010, The Gatekeeper Initiative and the Risk-Based Approach to Client Due Diligence: The Imperative for Voluntary Good Practices Guidance
Kevin L. Shepherd
Journal of the Professional Lawyer, 2010
Summer 2009, Co-author, U.S. and International Anti-Money Laundering Developments
Kevin L. Shepherd
The International Lawyer
Winter 2009, Guardians at the Gate: The Gatekeeper Initiative and the Risk-Based Approach for Transactional Lawyers
Kevin L. Shepherd
ABA Real Property, Trust and Estate Journal
Winter 2009, Guardians at the Gate: The Gatekeeper Initiative and the Risk-Based Approach for Transactional Lawyers
Kevin L. Shepherd
Real Property Trust and Estate Law Journal
December 15, 2008, On Real Property - Fraudulent concealment: Scary thought for sellers?
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Daily Record
July 14, 2008, Case Sealed: The Special Case of Specialties
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Daily Record
March 3, 2008, Exercising real estate options: Close does not count
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Daily Record
October 15, 2007, Liquidated Damages = No Duty to Mitigate: A Barrie Interesting Decision
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Daily Record
July 2, 2007, Professionalism Guidance for Transactional Lawyers
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Daily Record
May / June 2007, Rights of First Refusal: Poison Pills and Bad Faith
Kevin L. Shepherd
Probate & Property
January 22, 2007, Rights of first refusal: The thorny issues raised by Bramble
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Daily Record
March 31, 2006, Successors and assigns: Does it mean what it says?
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Daily Record
Winter / Spring 2006, USA Patriot Act Update for Real Estate Attorneys
Kevin L. Shepherd
Ground Rules (newsletter of the Maryland State Bar Association's Section of Real Property, Planning & Zoning), vol. 8, no. 2
February 17, 2006, Timely Lease Extensions: The Unforgiving Rule of Chesapeake Bank
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Daily Record
August 1, 2005, ABA Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
Kevin L. Shepherd
National Law Journal
June 10, 2005, The USA Patriot Act and Real Estate Transactions: An Update
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Daily Record
Summer 2004, The USA Patriot Act: The Complexities of Imposing Anti-Money Laundering Obligations on the Real Estate Industry
Kevin L. Shepherd
Real Property, Probate and Trust Journal
June 2004, Rights of First Refusal: New Drafting Pitfalls to Avoid
Kevin L. Shepherd
Ground Rules (newsletter of the Maryland State Bar Association)
Summer 2004, The USA Patriot Act: The Complexities of Imposing Anti-Money Laundering Obligations on the Real Estate Industry
Kevin L. Shepherd
39 Real Property Probate and Trust Journal 403
January 23, 2004, On Property - Rights of First Refusal: New Drafting Pitfalls to Avoid
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Daily Record
January 16, 2004, Real Estate Industry Could Take a Direct Hit from the USA Patriot Act
Kevin L. Shepherd
Baltimore Business Journal
June 1, 2003, Deeds... and Terrorism?
Kevin L. Shepherd
The National Law Journal
April 25, 2003, Federalizing Real Estate Transactions: Another Surprise Under the USA Patriot Act
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Daily Record
October 1, 2002, USA PATRIOT ACT and the Gatekeeper Initiative: Surprising Implications for Transactional Lawyers
Kevin L. Shepherd
Probate & Property
September 2001, Top 10 'Gotchas' in Comprehensive Contracts of Sale (with Forms)
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Practical Real Estate Lawyer 17
June 12, 2001, Seal: When a Single Word is Not Enough
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Daily Record
July / August 1998, The Year 2000 Computer Bug: Will it "Byte" Real Estate?
Kevin L. Shepherd
Probate & Property
September / October 1996, Requiem for a Forgotten, but Unforgiving Case
Kevin L. Shepherd
39 Maryland Bar Journal 56
Fall 1996, Taking Notice of Notice Clauses
Kevin L. Shepherd
ALI ABA's Practice Checklist Manual for Drafting Leases: Checklists, Forms, and Drafting Advice Vol. 2
January 1996, Adding Certainty to Fixed Fee Quotes
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Practical Real Estate Lawyer 13
January 1996, Adding Certainty to Fixed Fee Quotes (with Forms)
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Practical Real Estate Lawyer and 37 Law Office Economics & Management 265
January 1996, Getting a Fix on Fees: Computers Chip Away at Hourly Billing in Real Estate Matters
Kevin L. Shepherd
ABA Journal 49
September 1994, Taking Notice of Notice Clauses
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Practical Real Estate Lawyer 85
Spring 1994, Drafting Radon Contingency Clauses
Kevin L. Shepherd
ALI ABA's Practice Checklist Manual for Drafting Leases: Checklists, Forms, and Drafting Advice
January 29, 1994, Recent CSA Decision Focuses on Presumption of Land's Adverse Use
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Daily Record
January 24, 1994, Recent CSA Decision Focuses on Presumption of Land's Adverse Use
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Daily Record
October 16, 1993, The Maryland CSA Gives Silent Consent Clauses a New Lease on Legal Life
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Daily Record
November 1992, Something in the Air
Kevin L. Shepherd
ABA Journal 96
June 27, 1992, California Decision on Good Faith Covenants Affects Maryland Leases
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Daily Record
June 1992, CFC Phase Out Makes New Lease Strategies Vital
Kevin L. Shepherd
Commercial Lease Law Insider
May / June 1992, Maryland's Throwback Rule
Kevin L. Shepherd
25 Maryland Bar Journal 36
Spring 1992, The Hole in the Ozone Layer: Impact on Landlords and Tenants
Kevin L. Shepherd
Environmental News, VB&H Newsletter
Spring 1992, The Upcoming CFC Ban: Do Not Be Left Out in the Cold
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Real Estate Finance Journal, 49
February 24, 1992, The Ozone Hole: Will It Burn Landlords and Tenants?
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Daily Record
November / December 1991, Countdown to the CFC Ban: Are Your Clients Ready?
Kevin L. Shepherd
Probate & Property
May 1991, Drafting Radon Contingency Clauses
Kevin L. Shepherd
reprinted in The Practical Real Estate Lawyer's Forms Manual, No 1., 59
January / February 1991, Drafting Radon Contingency Clauses in Residential Real Estate Transactions
Kevin L. Shepherd
2 South Carolina Lawyer at 25
January 1991, Silence=Consent: A New Leasing Rule for the 1990s and Beyond
Kevin L. Shepherd
24 Maryland Bar Journal at 31
January 1991, Special Report: Drafting Radon Contingency Clauses
Kevin L. Shepherd
3 The Radon Industry Review
January 1991, What the Freon Ban Means to Your Clients
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Practical Real Estate Lawyer 13
December 19, 1990, Lender Liability Cases Get the Boot: Kham Case Provides Relief
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Daily Record
July 13, 1990, Maryland Landlords Beware: Sublease Law Has Changed
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Daily Record 11
Summer 1990, Indoor Radon and the Real Estate Industry: Visible Solutions to an Invisible Problem
Kevin L. Shepherd
Environmental News, VB&H Newsletter
January 1990, Drafting Radon Contingency Clauses
Kevin L. Shepherd
The Practical Real Estate Lawyer at 43
July / August 1989, Radon: Is Legislation the Answer?
Kevin L. Shepherd
22 Maryland Bar Journal at 6
Summer 1989, Indoor Radon Rouses the Commercial Real Estate Industry
Kevin L. Shepherd
5 The Journal of Real Estate Development at 45
May / June 1989, Radon: A Growing Menace in Real Estate Transactions
Kevin L. Shepherd
Probate & Property at 7
Spring 1988, Radon: Legal Implications in Real Estate Transactions
Kevin L. Shepherd
Environmental News, VB&H Newsletter
Events/Speaking Engagements
Past Events
March 21, 2012, Kevin Shepherd presents at meeting of the American Foreign Law Association in New York City
Kevin L. Shepherd
May 3, 2011, Chair, "Gatekeeper Initiative and Client Due Diligence" for the Working Group on Legal Opinions (WGLO)
Kevin L. Shepherd
October 4, 2010 - October 5, 2010, Kevin Shepherd speaks at IBA Annual Conference
Kevin L. Shepherd
July 26, 2010, Kevin Shepherd to speak to Conference of Chief Justices
Kevin L. Shepherd
January 8, 2010, Kevin Shepherd to speak at American Association of Law Schools Annual Conference
Kevin L. Shepherd
October 23, 2009, "Ethics in a Dis(Stressed) Economy: Are There Any" at the International Shopping Center Owners Annual Law Conference
Kevin L. Shepherd
October 5, 2009, Panel, "Gatekeeper Initiative" at the International Bar Association, Madrid, Spain
Kevin L. Shepherd
September 4-6, 2009, Co-Chair and Speaker at Anglo-American Real Property Institute Annual Meeting
Kevin L. Shepherd
March 28, 2009, Workshop, "Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing: Why Dirt Lawyers Should Worry" at the American College of Real Estate Lawyers
Kevin L. Shepherd
January 29, 2009, "The US Patriot Act: What Real Estate Lenders Need to Know" at the Commercial Real Estate Financing 2009: How the World Changed
Kevin L. Shepherd
January 29, 2009, Commercial Real Estate Financing 2009: How the World Changed
Kevin L. Shepherd
November 18, 2008, Panel, "Rockville Town Square: A Case Study in the Successful Public-Private Partnership for Mixed Use Development" at the Real Estate Joint Ventures Conference
Kevin L. Shepherd
November 12, 2008, Panel, "Exclusive on the FATF and the OECD: Preserving Privacy in View of Recent Efforts and Offshore Challenges" at the 20th Annual International Trust and Estate Planning Summit
Kevin L. Shepherd
November 12, 2008, International Conference in Coral Gables, Florida
Kevin L. Shepherd
October 19, 2008, Panel, "The Gatekeeper Initiative: It's Time to Pay Attention," at the ABA/ABA Money Laundering Enforcement Conference
Kevin L. Shepherd
August 10, 2008, 2008 ABA Annual Meeting
Kevin L. Shepherd
August 10, 2008, Panel, "Working Group Meeting on Global Developments Relating to Anti-Money Laundering & Counter-Terrorism Financing Compliance for the Legal Profession" at the ABA Annual Meeting
Kevin L. Shepherd
April 9, 2008, Panel, "The Patriot Act and Its Offspring - Ethical Issues For Real Estate Attorneys and the Real Estate Industry" at The Benjamin S. Crocker Symposium 2008 (UCLA)
Kevin L. Shepherd
January 10, 2008, Panel, "Ethics and Professionalism" at the International Conference of Shopping Centers Law
Kevin L. Shepherd
October 17, 2007, Panel, "Top 10 (or so) "Gotchas" in Comprehensive Commercial Real Estate Contracts of Sale" at the Advanced Real Property Institute, Maryland Institute for Continuing Legal Education
Kevin L. Shepherd
March 27, 2007, "The Client Intake Process: From Pursuing Prospects to Starting Work (Best Practices)" at the Strategic Management for the Modern Law Firm Conference
Kevin L. Shepherd
November 30, 2006, "The Patriot Act, Building Security and Anti-Terrorism Protection/Compliance with the Patriot Act" at the Advanced Commercial Real Estate Leases Conference
Kevin L. Shepherd
November 30, 2006 - December 1, 2006, Commercial Real Estate Leases
Kevin L. Shepherd
October 27, 2006, Panel, "USA Patriot Act and Executive Order 13224" at the International Conference of Shopping Centers Law Conference
Kevin L. Shepherd
October 27, 2006, Panel, "Ethics and Professionalism" at the International Conference of Shopping Centers Law Conference
Kevin L. Shepherd
October 17, 2006, Testimony, Maryland Judicial Commission on Professionalism
Kevin L. Shepherd
September 28, 2006, Panel, "Cases and Clauses: What Does Your Contract Mean?" at the Advanced Real Property Institute, Maryland Institute for Continuing Legal Education
Kevin L. Shepherd
May 26, 2006, "The USA Patriot Act: An Update" at the Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law of the Florida State Bar Association
Kevin L. Shepherd
January 10, 2006, "The USA Patriot Act, Gatekeeper Initiative, and OFAC: An Update" at the Section of Real Property, Planning & Zoning of the Maryland State Bar Association
Kevin L. Shepherd
October 27, 2005, Panel, "Ethics and Professionalism" at the International Conference of Shopping Centers Law
Kevin L. Shepherd
April 16, 2005, "The USA Patriot Act: An Update" at the ABA Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law, Washington, D.C.
Kevin L. Shepherd
October 28, 2004, Panel, "Ethics and Professionalism" at the International Conference of Shopping Centers Law
Kevin L. Shepherd
September 30, 2004, ABA Tax Section and the ABA Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Joint Meeting
Kevin L. Shepherd
August 26, 2004, Conference on Data-mining, Privacy and Surveillance in New Mexico
Kevin L. Shepherd
May 13, 2004, "The USA Patriot Act: Surprising Implications for Transactional Lawyers" at the ABA Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law, Seattle, Washington
Kevin L. Shepherd
December 3, 2003, Pennsylvania Bar Institute Real Property Symposium
Kevin L. Shepherd
October 25, 2003, "USA Patriot Act and Gatekeeper Initiative: Ratting on Your Clients" at the American College of Real Estate Lawyers
Kevin L. Shepherd
October 2003, "Gatekeeper Initiative and the USA Patriot Act - Real Estate Lawyers as Federal Agents" at the Montgomery County Bar Association
Kevin L. Shepherd
October 1, 2003, "USA Patriot Act and Real Estate Lawyers: What's All the Fuss?" at the Maryland Institute for Continuing Legal Education
Kevin L. Shepherd
June 13, 2003, "Gatekeeper Initiative and the USA Patriot Act - Real Estate Lawyers as Federal Agents" at the Maryland State Bar Association
Kevin L. Shepherd
May 13, 2003, "USA Patriot Act: Federalizing Real Estate Transactions" at the Maryland State Bar Association Real Estate Roundtable Series
Kevin L. Shepherd
April 30, 2003, "Top 10 'Gotchas' in Real Estate Contracts of Sale" at the American Corporate Counsel
Kevin L. Shepherd
October 16, 2002, "USA Patriot Act: Real Estate Regulations May Go Too Far" at the University of Baltimore School of Law
Kevin L. Shepherd
October 12, 2002, "Gatekeeper Initiative and the USA Patriot Act: Surprising Implications for Transactional Lawyers" at the American College of Real Estate Lawyers
Kevin L. Shepherd
September 30, 1992, "The Legal Implications of the Upcoming CFC Ban on the Commercial Real Estate Industry" at the International CFC and Halon Alternatives Conference
Kevin L. Shepherd
1990, Guest Lecturer, American Lung Association
Kevin L. Shepherd
March 1988, Guest Lecturer, "Legal Implications of Indoor Radon" at the Governor's Task Force on Radon
Kevin L. Shepherd
1988-1989, Lecturer, The Johns Hopkins University School of Continuing Studies
Kevin L. Shepherd
(Also at Baltimore, Maryland Office)