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James Ettelson, Principal

Real Estate Law and Transactions

Business and Real Estate Attorney James Ettelson
Email: jettelson@offitkurman.com
Office Phone: 267.338.1300
Fax: 267.338.1335
Mailing Address: Ten Penn Center
1801 Market Street
Suite 2300
Philadelphia, PA 19103
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Practice Areas

Practice Focus

Mr. Ettelson is a member of the firm’s Business Law And Transactions Practice Group and he has a diverse background in business management gained in both the public and private sector. He concentrates his practice in the fields of corporate transactions, business and real estate law. His extensive legal experience ranges from business organization and counseling, equity and debt finance negotiation, lease/sale negotiation and agreement preparation to land use and zoning issues.

Education

  • J.D. Temple University School of Law
  • B.S. Penn State University

Bar and Court Admissions

  • Pennsylvania
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • United States Third Circuit Court of Appeals
  • United States Supreme Court

Points of Distinction

Mr. Ettelson began his career as a Captain in the United States Army and served two years as Asst. Chief, Textile Division of the Defense Supply Agency of the Department of Defense.  He received the nation’s highest peacetime award, the Joint Services Commendation Medal, recognizing his leadership in the inauguration of Project LOSTRIP, a program for the utilization and liquidation of military material which, in its first year, saved the government over sixteen million dollars.

Mr. Ettelson has served three, four-year terms as Commissioner of Lower Merion Township.  He has served as Chairman of the Building and Planning Committee of the Board, which directs the operation of the Planning Commission, Zoning Hearing Board, Environmental Advisory Council, Historical Commission and the Historical Architectural Review Board.

Mr. Ettelson has engaged in more than sixty-five court trials in both Federal and State courts involving both civil and white collar criminal matters. He was recently included in the 2012 Edition of Top-Ranking Lawyers in Philadelphia published by the Legal Intelligencer and is peer rated “AV Pre-eminent” by Martindale Hubbell. Mr. Ettelson currently serves on the Urban Land Institute's (ULI) Policy and Land Use Council.

Activities

Mr. Ettelson presently serves on several nonprofit and civic boards such as the Methodist Home for Children, New Horizons Senior Center, and the Lower Merion Library Foundation and is currently President of the Merion Community Association and CEO of the Merion Foundation, a charitable trust.

Previous Work

Prior to practicing law, Mr. Ettelson directed the operation of a Philadelphia apparel manufacturing firm for over twenty years. He was the fourth generation to manage a 75 year old family business, which grew to be the country’s largest producer of extra-sized men’s clothing.

Mr. Ettelson also spent over eight years as a part time associate professor and lecturer at the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science, now Philadelphia University.

Publications/Speeches

  • Presenter, "The Paralegal's Guide to Commercial Real Estate Closings, July 24, 2013.
  • Presenter, "Transfer of Title," National Business Institute Seminar, July 10, 2013.
  • Presenter, "Title Insurance on Commercial Property," National Business Institute Seminar, April 2013.
  • Presenter, "Owners' and Lenders' Concerns," National Business Institute Seminar, February 2013.
  • Presenter, “Real Estate: Advanced Issues and Answers,” National Business Institute Seminar, November 2012.
  • Presenter, “Legal Issues for Pennsylvania Landscape Architects,” HalfMoon Education Inc. Seminar, October 2012
  • Presenter, “Title Workshop: From Examination to Commitment,” National Business Institute Seminar, July 2012.
  • Presenter, “Handling Commercial Real Estate Transactions: A Legal Primer,” NBI Teleconference and West/Edcenter Webcast, June 2012.
  • Presenter, “Top 10 Title Defects – Cured,” National Business Institute Seminar, December 2011.
  • Presenter, “Handling Real  Estate Transactions With Confidence,” National Business Institute Seminar, August 2011
  • Presenter, “Pennsylvania Land Law,” Half/Moon Seminar, June 2011 and November 2010.
  • Presenter, “Fundamentals of Commercial Leasing Transactions” sponsored by NAIOP and Allen Kells School of Real Estate, Pittsburgh, April 2010
  • “Fundamental Considerations in a Real Estate Transaction,” National Business Institute Seminar, September 2009