Markita Morris-Louis is an associate in the firm's Real Estate Practice Group. She joined Drinker Biddle after completing a Philadelphia Public Interest Fellowship at Regional Housing Legal Services in Glenside, Pa., where she represented nonprofits in the development of affordable housing. Her practice is focused on real estate, particularly, retail and office leasing, zoning and land use matters in the City of Philadelphia, development and finance.
Leasing. As part of her retail leasing practice Markita has negotiated leases on the tenant side for emerging brands and venerable multi-national retailers opening and occupying stores in markets as diverse as Brooklyn, NY, Chicago, IL and Las Vegas, NV. Markita also represents a wide variety of tenants and owners of Class "A" office space in the negotiation of office leases.
Zoning and Land Use. Markita has represented public and private clients in zoning and fire code hearings, appeals and land subdivision matters in the City of Philadelphia, and is a member of the Zoning and Code Enforcement subcommittee of the Philadelphia Bar Association's Real Property Section. Markita has lectured on zoning and land use issues at the Wharton School's Real Estate Center and was a presenter at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute's seminar on Winning Zoning Cases in Philadelphia.
Financing. Financing is a significant component of Markita's practice. Markita has experience representing lenders in complex, multi-state financing transactions, loan modifications and portfolio deals.
In General. Markita is a member of the firm's Diversity Committee and is involved in Summer Associate hiring. Markita is the president of the Board of Regional Housing Legal Services, a board member for Philadelphia VIP and a trustee of Ecole Française Internationale de Philadelphie. In 2009, Markita traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland after being selected as a U.S. Delegate to the British-American Project, a trans-Atlantic leadership organization.
Speaking Engagements
9/21/2011, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
"No Place Like Home: Philadelphia's Approach to Foreclosure Preventions"
Markita Morris-Louis, Philadelphia, PA
7/25/2011, ABA Philadelphia Community Outreach Program
The Real Estate Law You Wish You Learned in Law School -- A Practitioner's Course"
Markita Morris-Louis, Philadelphia, PA
12/13/2010, CLE, Philadelphia Bar Institute
"Zoning in Philadelphia"
Markita Morris-Louis, Philadelphia, PA
4/19/2010, Empowerment Group Microenterprise Workshop, presented in conjunction with Philadelphia VIP
"Form and Substance: Legal Issues for Emerging Entities"
Markita Morris-Louis, Philadelphia, PA
3/24/2010, Philadelphia VIP and African-American Chamber of Commerce
"1-On-1 Free Legal Clinic for Microentrepreneurs"
Elizabeth Diffley, Markita Morris-Louis, Philadelphia, PA
CLE to Delaware Valley Association of Corporate Counsel and Women's Business Development Corporation
"Representing Start-ups"
Markita Morris-Louis African-American Chamber of Commerce Microenterprise
"Form and Substance: a Lesson on Corporate Formation"
Markita Morris-Louis