Meet the Team
David “Dave” A. Katz, a founding partner of KatzDay, represents clients in all phases of the real estate development process and in all aspects of real estate related projects, including contract negotiations, financing, leasing, land use, and entity structuring and organization. Dave’s real estate clients include builders and developers of retail, industrial, office and mixed-use projects.
Dave received the majority of his professional experience as a partner in an Annapolis-based boutique law firm, Mulrenin & Associates, LLC, focusing on commercial real estate transactions, and he began his career with Hyatt & Weber, P.A., where he was associate general counsel to Severn Savings Bank, FSB, a publicly traded financial institution. Dave has been recognized as a “Rising Star” in the area of Real Estate Law, in Maryland Super Lawyers magazine.
Dave earned a Masters in Real Estate Development from Georgetown University, a Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the College of Charleston.
Ryan C. Day is a founding partner of KatzDay, with a particular focus on representing national and regional homebuilders and developers. The firm represents purchasers, sellers, investors, and developers in business and real estate transactional matters — including business formation, acquisition, disposition, financing, leasing, and entitlement of commercial real estate.
Before founding KatzDay, Ryan served as Vice President and General Counsel of Hogan Companies, LLC, providing legal support across all aspects of its real estate brokerage and development businesses, including the acquisition, sale, financing, entitlement, and leasing of development projects.
Earlier in his career, Ryan was a partner on the Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights team at the national law firm LeClairRyan, A Professional Corporation, where he regularly advised creditors and other parties in bankruptcy proceedings and creditors' rights litigation in state and federal courts. He was recognized as a "Rising Star" in Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights by Virginia Super Lawyers Magazine and in Business Bankruptcy by Washington D.C. Super Lawyers Magazine.
Prior to LeClairRyan, Ryan served as law clerk to Chief Judge Ross W. Krumm of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Virginia. In law school, he interned with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission's Division of Enforcement and spent summers at two Washington, D.C. area law firms.
Ryan earned his J.D., with Honors, from The George Washington University Law School and his B.S. in Management Science and Statistics, with Honors and Gemstone Citations, from the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business.
He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.
Representative Matters
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Represented a Fortune 500 publicly‑traded homebuilder in a $37M+ two‑stage acquisition of 246 residential units within a master‑planned mixed‑use development in Loudoun County, Virginia, structured as a 28‑unit initial direct takedown followed six months later by a 218‑unit institutional land‑bank closing, with continuing development agreement and other post-closing obligations.
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Represented a Fortune 500 publicly‑traded homebuilder in a $30M+ eight‑parcel bulk land acquisition of an approximately 600‑unit master‑planned residential community in Chesterfield County, Virginia, comprising townhouse, active adult, and executive/estate product, structured with a concurrent land‑bank spin to an institutional capital partner under a master option agreement governing rolling takedowns.
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Represented a Fortune 500 publicly‑traded homebuilder in a $27.5M+ multi‑phase acquisition of 112 finished homesites within a master‑planned mixed‑use community in Ashburn, Loudoun County, Virginia, from a regional homebuilder seller, structured as an institutional land‑bank closing.
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Represented a Fortune 500 publicly‑traded homebuilder in a $26M+ ten‑parcel land‑bank acquisition of 126 finished homesites within an entitled townhouse condominium community in Manassas, Virginia, from a regional homebuilder seller, structured as an institutional land‑bank closing.
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Represented a closely‑held Maryland real estate partnership in a $24M+ aggregate finished single‑family lot sale (comprising a $10.7M purchase price and a $13.6M Lot Finishing Agreement finishing fee covering 189 finished SFD lots) in Middle River, Baltimore County, Maryland to a Fortune 500 publicly‑traded homebuilder, structured under a Lot Finishing Agreement with a $5.2M deferred final installment secured by letter of credit, with concurrent payoff of two underlying acquisition loans at settlement and recorded Temporary Grading Easement and Water & Sewer Declaration.
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Represented a closely‑held Maryland real estate partnership in a $23M+ aggregate multi‑product finished lot sale (for 86 townhouse lots and 34 finished single‑family detached lots) in Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland to a Fortune 500 publicly‑traded homebuilder, structured under a Lot Finishing Agreement for the townhouse phase and a Lot Purchase and Development Agreement for the SFD phase, spanning more than a dozen rolling individual lot closings through final closing.
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Represented a closely‑held Maryland real estate partnership in the $22.5M sale of a multi‑parcel industrial development site in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, to an institutional industrial joint venture, structured as the relinquished‑property leg of a §1031 exchange with negotiated seller credits for offsite water and sewer infrastructure and Maryland Department of the Environment forest conservation obligations, a post‑closing aboveground storage tank removal escrow, and tree mitigation banking allocations.
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Represented a closely‑held Maryland real estate partnership in a $21M+ aggregate multi‑phase finished lot sale (for 87 villa lots and 124 active adult condominium units) in Prince George’s County, Maryland to a Fortune 500 publicly‑traded homebuilder under parallel Lot Finishing Agreements for the villa lot and condominium product lines, with seller‑completed infrastructure work.
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Represented a closely‑held Maryland real estate partnership in a $17M first‑lien refinance of a three‑property commercial real estate portfolio in Maryland, structured as a single‑loan, three‑property allocation across the underlying assets, with concurrent payoff of legacy loan facilities and consolidated regional bank financing on the surviving portfolio.
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Represented a Fortune 500 publicly‑traded homebuilder in a $13M+ acquisition of 52 single‑family attached villa lots within an age‑restricted 55+ active adult community in Baltimore County, Maryland, structured as an institutional land‑bank closing involving the assignment of a multi‑year purchase agreement, a concurrent underlying contract closing, a shared infrastructure cost agreement, and a separate carve‑out lot purchase.
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Represented a Fortune 500 publicly‑traded homebuilder in an $8.8M acquisition of 194 residential units (156 condominium units and 38 townhomes) across two blocks of a master‑planned mixed‑use community in Henrico County, Virginia, from a regional developer, structured as an institutional land‑bank closing with offsite‑contribution and holdback escrows.
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Represented a Fortune 500 publicly‑traded homebuilder in a $8M acquisition of 199 single‑family lots plus open space and rights‑of‑way within a master‑planned community in Sussex County, Delaware, from a regional homebuilder seller, closed through an affiliated institutional land‑bank purchaser.
Anthony J. Clark was promoted to Partner at KatzDay in 2024 after joining as a Counsel in 2022 and brings a wealth of expertise and a strategic mindset to the firm. With a comprehensive approach to legal practice, Anthony provides counsel and guidance to developers, homebuilders, and landowners across a spectrum of business aspects.
Anthony's practice encompasses a broad range of services, including advising on commercial, multifamily, and residential acquisition, disposition, and development. His proficiency extends to leasing, lending, construction contracts, development agreements, and due-diligence matters. Anthony excels in navigating the intricacies of entity formation through dissolution. He also offers strategic counsel for the development and ongoing governance of master-planned communities, condominium regimes, homeowners associations, and mixed-use projects.
A graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, Anthony holds degrees in Criminology and Criminal Justice, as well as Sociology, laying the foundation for his interdisciplinary approach to legal matters. He further honed his skills at The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, where he earned his law degree.
An active member of the Maryland bar, Anthony's commitment to staying abreast of legal developments ensures that he delivers cutting-edge and strategic advice to his clients. His ability to navigate the intricacies of real estate law with precision and insight makes him an indispensable resource to KatzDay.
Kaitlin R. Zarro brings a depth of experience in real estate and corporate law, adivising commercial real estate developers and property owners on transactions across Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic. Her practice covers acquisitions, sales, lending, leasing, and development, with expertise in easements, condominium declarations, and joint development agreements.
Kaitlin comes to us from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP where she was a partner in the Real Estate Section, focusing on a broad range of sophisticated real estate transactions and finance. A graduate of the University of Maryland (B.A., cum laude) and the University of Baltimore School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude), Kaitlin is admitted in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® and Maryland Super Lawyers®, she is an active member of CREW Baltimore and several bar associations.
Beyond her practice, Kaitlin serves on the Board of Directors for the Wiessner Foundation for Children, served as the Chair of the Alumnae Chapter Advisory Board for Kappa Delta Sorority and volunteers with Meals on Wheels of Maryland.
Representative Matters
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Represented a national homebuilder in the acquisition of a 136-lot residential community in Frederick County, Virginia, including negotiation of a land-bank takedown structure with a third-party investor.
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Represented a regional developer in purchase of a portfolio of three retail shopping centers for $30M in Kent County, Delaware.
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Represented a regional developer in negotiation of a land condominium structure and sale of land unit to a national franchise.
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Represented a regional developer in refinance of a $7.5M debt facility with a life insurance company secured by retail shopping center.
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Represented a regional developer in a multi-phase public private partnership project for a residential project in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
Douglas “Doug” M. Irvin is an accomplished transactional real estate attorney and has represented many of the region’s largest and most highly visible developers and builders of residential, commercial, mixed-use and air-rights development projects. With an expertise in common interest development law, Doug provides comprehensive legal counsel regarding the structure, documentation, operation and sale of residential, retail, office, commercial and mixed-use associations, master-planned communities, condominiums, homeowners associations, air-rights and other common interest developments.
Doug joined KatzDay as a Partner in 2025 after serving for more than 4 years as Associate Region Counsel for a Fortune 500 home builder, supporting building operations across six states (and the District of Columbia) in the Mid-Atlantic Region, focused on all aspects of the acquisition and development of raw land and finished lots for the construction of residential dwelling units.
Doug earned his juris doctor, cum laude, from The University of Baltimore School of Law, and also holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Virginia.
Zaheer Abbas joined KatzDay as a Senior Associate in 2021, bringing a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to the firm. Known for his collaborative and creative problem-solving approach, Zaheer has quickly become an integral part of the team.
Zaheer's commitment to understanding clients' key business needs sets him apart. He works closely with clients, forging strong relationships that allow him to deliver pragmatic and commercially driven advice. His focus is always on achieving the strategic objectives of the client, making him a trusted advisor in complex legal matters.
Before joining KatzDay, Zaheer garnered extensive legal experience in both England and the U.S., spanning the commercial real estate and corporate legal fields. His diverse background includes roles in government, law firms, and in-house positions, showcasing his adaptability and comprehensive understanding of the legal landscape.
Zaheer's educational journey is marked by excellence. He earned his law degree from the prestigious University of Liverpool, England, laying the foundation for his legal career. Building on this foundation, he pursued an LLM from the George Washington School of Law, specializing in Business and Finance Law, further enhancing his expertise in areas critical to clients' success.
An active member of the Maryland, New York, and D.C. bars, Zaheer demonstrates his commitment to staying abreast of legal developments and serving clients across multiple jurisdictions. His multi-jurisdictional expertise allows him to navigate complex legal scenarios with ease and effectiveness.
Matt Tucker joined KatzDay as a Senior Associate in 2024, bringing a unique skillset and combination of transactional and litigation experience developed as both an in-house generalist and as a firm trial lawyer. Matt is an adaptable, strategic, and collaborative team member with excellent communication, negotiation, and transactional skills, who has developed a reputation as an invaluable advisor for his clients.
Matt’s practice focuses on transactional real estate, where he represents a broad range of developers, investors, home builders, and landlords throughout all aspects of real estate acquisitions, dispositions, development, land use, joint ventures, and commercial leasing. Specifically, Matt takes a “soup to nuts” approach to guiding clients through the entire lifecycle of real estate transactions, guiding them from deal sourcing and structuring to contract negotiation and drafting, through the due diligence investigation process, to closing and post-closing matters.
Matt also brings extensive experience overseeing commercial contracts, corporate governance, board affairs, regulatory compliance, risk/litigation management, and employment law/human resources to Katz Day.
Prior to joining Katz Day, Matt served as General Counsel for a Maryland-based vacation realty company and previously worked as a litigation associate in a mid-size Philadelphia-area law firm.
Matt holds a B.A. in Political Science from Tufts University and earned his law degree from Rutgers School of Law – Camden. He is an active member of the New Jersey bar and is in the process of applying for admission to the Maryland bar.
Representative Matters
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Representation of purchaser tenant-in-common entities in acquisition of a $22.5M, 5-parcel portfolio of commercial real estate in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, including the negotiation and drafting of transactional documents and acquisition financing instruments, formation of tenancy-in-common, coordination of two 1031 exchanges, negotiation and resolution of title review cure items including preparation of access easement, as well as associated due diligence, including lease review for 30 tenants. Read more here: https://hyattcommercial.com/crofton-retail-office-portfolio-sale/
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Representation of Seller in sale of a $22.5M, 27-acre industrial site in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, including the negotiation and drafting of transactional documents and development agreement, termination of existing tenant leases, negotiation and resolution of title review cure items including preparation of easements, as well as all related due diligence. Read more here: https://hyattcommercial.com/hyatt-commercial-closes-22-5m-industrial-land-sale-in-gambrills-md/
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Represented Seller's counsel in $6m sale of a ±9-acre industrial outdoor storage (IOS) property under a ground lease, including the negotiation and drafting of transactional documents, title/survey review and cure matters, and associated due diligence.
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Represented Seller's counsel for sale of ±10,000 SF freestanding retail/warehouse building in Annapolis, Maryland for $4.25M, including the negotiation and drafting of transactional documents, coordination of 1031 exchange and formation of tenancy-in-common for replacement property, negotiation and resolution of title review cure items, and related due diligence. Read more here: https://hyattcommercial.com/hyatt-commercial-facilitates-4-25-million-sale-of-1940-west-street-in-annapolis/
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Represented Buyer's counsel for $7M acquisition of a fully leased, +/- 21,000-square-foot mixed-use building in Downtown Annapolis, including the negotiation and drafting of transactional documents, negotiation and resolution of title review cure items including preparation of necessary instruments, as well as associated due diligence, including lease review for existing tenants. Read more here: https://hyattcommercial.com/hyatt-brokers-7-million-sale-of-prominent-downtown-annapolis-building/
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Representation of a national homebuilder in acquisition of 195-acres of undeveloped land in Jefferson County, WV for $12.5M, including the negotiation and drafting of transactional documents including a land-bank takedown structure with a third-party investor, development agreements, negotiation and resolution of title review cure items including preparation of necessary instruments, as well as associated due diligence.
Abdul-Ali "Ali" Wali joined KatzDay in 2025 as a Senior Associate and brings deep experience in residential and commercial real estate law, with a focus on guiding clients through complex transactions and resolving disputes with clarity and care. Before joining Katz Day, Ali served as in-house counsel at DRB Homes, where he supported home builder real estate development projects from land acquisition through homebuyer settlements. His work ranged from conducting due diligence and advising on underwriting compliance to maintaining a comprehensive $20M+ multi-state portfolio of ongoing sales—always with an eye toward protecting company interests and moving deals forward efficiently.
Ali is an expert in title-related matters and brings years in hands-on experience identifying and resolving complex title defects, all while ensuring seamless closings. Earlier in his career, Ali also gained valuable litigation and transactional experience at Hijazi & Carroll, P.A.. There, he managed a wide range of real estate matters including leasing, foreclosures, landlord/tenant matters, and contractual disputes.
Known for his affable demeanor and clear communication style, Ali is a natural client advocate who enjoys helping people navigate real estate challenges and reach successful outcomes. His approach is grounded in a belief that good lawyering means not only knowing the law—but understanding the people behind each deal.
Ali holds a J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law, where he was a Leadership Scholar and active in the Intellectual Property Clinic, and is a member of the Maryland bar. He earned his undergraduate degree in Chemistry, cum laude, from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
Jacob G. Pesetsky joined KatzDay in 2025 as an Associate after the completion of his year-long clerkship with the Honorable Julie L. Glass in the Circuit Court of Baltimore County. Jacob’s experience with the Court provided him a fundamental perspective on contract provisions, statutory interpretation, corporate litigation, and appeals of governmental decisions. Jacob pairs this enhanced judgement with his financial background to effectively and efficiently counsel clients, draft reliable contracts, and minimize risk throughout each transaction.
Jacob graduated magna cum laude from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 2024 and received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Sewanee: The University of the South in 2018. Prior to attending law school, Jacob was a financial analyst at Regions Financial Corp. (RF) for numerous years focused on corporate initiatives and the footprint of the consumer bank.
Representative Matters
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Represented a regional developer in the simultaneous acquisition of two properties, one in Morris County, New Jersey and the other in Prince George County, Virginia.
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Negotiated and closed a $7.5M debt refinancing for a private real estate company (partnership).
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Assisted in the acquisition of 18 finished lots in Sussex County, Delaware for a national homebuilder.
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Assisted a regional REIT in the acquisition of a $4.75M commercial, fully-leased property in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
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Assisted a private company in the acquisition of a $7.2M commercial, fully-leased property in Annapolis, Maryland.
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Utilized the Courts of Prince George's County, Maryland to assist a regional real estate investment company in removing unauthorized individuals from encumbering the property.
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Provided detailed legal analysis and support to national affordable housing developers regarding local zoning laws and requirements to support their applications and projects.
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Assisted a local development company in the $2.65M sale of a property in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
Monica L. Thompson is an accomplished Advanced Certified Paralegal with more than nine years of experience focusing on real estate, land use, and commercial and residential real estate transactions. She supports attorneys, developers, lenders, and property owners throughout Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic on complex real estate matters from initial due diligence through closing and post-closing.
Monica joined KatzDay in 2025, where she concentrates on commercial closings and real estate transactions. Her experience includes drafting and reviewing letters of intent and purchase and sale agreements; conducting detailed due diligence and title review; preparing easements, declarations, and closing documents; and coordinating with lenders, title companies, and local agencies. She also assists with zoning and land use matters, including special exceptions, site plans, and governmental approvals.
Monica holds an Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies from Chesapeake College, where she graduated with Honors of Distinction, was a Dean’s List recipient, a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and received the Legal Studies Outstanding Graduate Award for her graduating class. She is a Certified Paralegal through the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), with Advanced Certified Paralegal credentials in Trial Practice, Land Use, Business Organizations, and Real Estate Principles, and is licensed as a Maryland domestic title insurance producer and a non-resident title insurance producer in Delaware and Virginia.
Monica has substantial experience with condominium and development-related matters, including preparation of condominium and homeowner association documents, public offering statements, and entity formation and governance documents for real estate ownership and development. Her article "This Land Is My Land?" which explores the history and legal standards of adverse possession was published in NALA’s Facts and Findings magazine.