Kathy joined the firm in 2018 as a member of the Land Use and Zoning practice group in the Arlington office. She works closely with clients to secure various zoning and land use entitlements, including rezonings, special permits, special exceptions, and variances, for a wide range of complex commercial, residential, institutional, and mixed-use projects throughout Northern Virginia.
Kathy provides thoughtful counsel to developers, commercial property owners, nonprofit organizations, religious and educational institutions, as well as private homeowners, through all stages of the development review process. Starting with zoning feasibility and due diligence, Kathy assists clients in navigating both administrative and discretionary land use approval processes and offers guidance through post-entitlement issues. She also has extensive experience appealing and analyzing Ordinance Notices of Violation to determine appropriate remedies for compliance, including legislative and land use solutions. Frequently appearing before citizen associations, land use committees, advisory boards, planning commissions, and local governing bodies, Kathy has effectively collaborated with all stakeholders on developments to successfully obtain approvals across a variety of jurisdictions and project types.
Prior to joining the firm, Kathy served for two years as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Penney S. Azcarate of the Fairfax County Circuit Court and practiced at a boutique litigation firm in Northern Virginia. A native of the region, she is a 2021 graduate of the Leadership Fairfax Institute and is an active member of the Fairfax Bar Association and the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association.
Professional Memberships
Virginia Bar Association
Fairfax Bar Association
Virginia Women Attorneys Association
The George Mason American Inn of Court
Northern Virginia Building Industry Association
NAIOP Northern Virginia
Professional Recognition
Recipient, President’s Award, Fairfax Bar Association, 2019
Honoree, Excellence in Law and Accounting, Bisnow DMV Women Leading Real Estate, 2025
Community Involvement
Leadership Fairfax Institute, Class of 2021
Everybody Wins! DC, Reading Mentor
NoVA Community Church
Representative Experience
Obtained a special exception for Virginia Hospital Center to establish the first freestanding emergency department combined with an urgent care center in the state of Virginia.
Obtained approval of a variance, which, at the time, was the first variance application reviewed by the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Development and subsequently heard and approved by the Board of Zoning Appeals in accordance with the newly adopted American with Disabilities Act of the Virginia State Code.
Assisted with the approval of the redevelopment of an assemblage of 17 parcels located within an area in the City of Fairfax known as Northfax West with 56 townhouses and a 200-unit senior living building.
Assisted with the approval of a rezoning of 7961 Loisdale Road in Springfield to permit the construction of the first data center in the Franconia Magisterial District.
Assisted with the approval to convert 187 existing hotel units to 180 residential dwelling units at 1200 N. Courthouse Road in Arlington.
Assisted with the approval of a new automobile dealership at 5630 S. Van Dorn Street in Alexandria.
Obtained approval for a 425-seat sanctuary for the St. Philopateer Coptic Orthodox Church of Vienna VA at 8700 Arlington Boulevard.
Obtained a number of special exceptions for a variety of businesses located in Fairfax County, from coffee shops (Dunkin Donuts along Richmond Highway) to nursing homes.
Obtained various special permit approvals for Fairfax County private homeowners and non-profit organizations, such as churches.
Assisted with the redevelopment of an aging motel into a new WAWA fuel station along Fairfax Boulevard in the City of Fairfax.
Obtained various rezoning approvals to permit the development of new residential subdivisions ranging from six to ten new single family detached dwellings.
Obtained a number of sign plan approvals at Fair Oaks Mall, multifamily residential communities (Reston), and at World Gate Centre (Herndon).
Obtained an approval for Arizona College of Nursing to establish its first location in Virginia at Fairview Park in Fairfax.
Obtained a special exception for Olde Towne Pet Resort in Springfield to permit the use of existing outdoor components associated with the existing kennel use.
Obtained the approval of a rezoning to develop 326,700 SF of multifamily residential use with a 1.7 FAR and 348 dwelling units.
Assisted with the approval of a rezoning to permit construction of a new 167,000 SF urban self-storage facility with ground floor commercial or community uses – in conjunction with a Comprehensive Plan amendment.
Obtained a special exception for Bethany House to create a new safehouse for women escaping domestic violence in Fairfax.
Assisted in the approval of a site plan amendment to allow the conversion of retail space to office space in the Plaza East office building located at 1800 N. Kent St. in Arlington.
Assisted in the approval of a site plan amendment to revise site plan conditions related to the previously approved Joyce Motors project in Arlington to increase the approved residential GFA, decrease the amount of residential parking, amongst other modifications.
Assisted in the approval of a site plan amendment to allow the conversion of previous public access of a top-floor observation deck to exclusive private use in the Central Place Tower office building in Arlington.
