Robert J. Krapf

Robert J. Krapf is the executive vice president of the firm.  Rob focuses his practice on a variety of transactional matters in the areas of real estate and land use law. His clients include many of the regional and national developers, landlords, banks and other lenders, conservation organizations, institutions, businesses and industries operating in Delaware.

An active member of the bar and numerous other professional organizations, Rob has held many local and national leadership positions. He is a frequent speaker on topics of real estate, land use and business law, and has published educational materials and articles about real estate law and land use regulation. Rob has served as a member and officer of the boards of many local, regional and international business, charitable and cultural organizations.

Representative Experience

• International real estate development company: Through multi-tiered, ground leasing, financing and equity, development of first significant shopping center in the City of Wilmington in over a decade.
• Regional insurer: For client who needed to relocate its corporate headquarters, helped craft tax incentives for the client to maintain high-quality jobs for the community. The client was able to use these tax savings to balance its community’s higher rental costs and remain in its community.
• Multi-state developer: Created multiple condominium projects for master-planned resort community of over 1,000 units.
• Regional developer: Developed major regional retail center from acquisition, through rezoning, construction and leasing.
• Large regional bank: Mezzanine loan for the acquisition of one of Wilmington’s largest office buildings.

Professional and Community Activities

• Delaware State Bar Association
  • Executive Committee, Assistant Secretary, 2011-2012
  • Executive Committee, New Castle County, Vice President, 2010-2011
  • Committee on Judicial Compensation, 2004
  • Real and Personal Property Section, Chair, 1990-1992
    • Section 2118 Subcommittee (principal drafter of revisions to future advances priority legislation)
    • Condominium Act Subcommittee (a principal drafter of Delaware Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act)
    • Commercial Landlord-Tenant Subcommittee (participant in review and redraft of Landlord-Tenant Code of 1996)
  • Ad Hoc Committee on Attorney Accounts and Unauthorized Practice 
• American Bar Association
  • Real Property Division of Real Property, Probate and Trust Section
    • Real Property Division Council, 2009-present
    • Real Property Division Council, Assistant Secretary, 2004-2005
    • Advisor to NCCUSL Drafting Committee on Amendments to Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, 2003-present
    • Committee on Groups and Committees, Past Co-Chair, 2005-2008
    • Real Property Division Special Investors Group, Past Chair
    • Land Use Regulation Committee, Past Chair 
    • RP Division CLE Committee, Past Chair, 2003-2005
    • Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies Committee, Past Vice-Chair, 2002-2005
    • Planning Committee, 2008-present
    • Corporate Sponsorship Committee, Co-Vice Chair, 2010-present
  • State and Local Government Law Section (Zoning Committee)
  • Business Law Section Partnerships Committee
  • Construction Law Forum
• International Bar Association
  • Real Estate Law Committee
• American College of Mortgage Attorneys  
  • President, 2009-2010 
  • President-Elect, 2008-2009
  • Treasurer, 2007-2008
  • Secretary, 2006-2007
  • Regent, 2000-2006
  • State Chairs Committee, Past Chair 
  • Legislation Committee, Past Chair
  • Representative to Association Advisory Board of the Working Group on Legal Opinions
  • Liaison to Joint Editorial Board for Uniform Property Acts, NCCUSL, 2002-2005
  • Budget Committee
  • Opinions Committee
• American College of Real Estate Lawyers Fellow
  • Land Use Committee
  • Legal Entities Committee, Chair 2011-present 
  • Opinions Committee
• Lex Mundi
  • Real Estate Practice Group, Chair Emeritus, 2007-2009
  • Real Estate Practice Group, Chair, 2005-2007
  • Real Estate Practice Group, Regional Vice Chair (North America),  2003-2005
• Other Professional Activities
  • Delaware Law Review, Editorial Board, 2005-present
  • Practical Law Company, PLC Law Department Panel for Real Estate, 2009-present
• Community Activities
  • The American University of Rome
    • Trustee (2003-present)
    • Secretary (2007-present)
    • Presidential Search Committee Chair (2005-2006) 
  • Delaware Art Museum, Trustee (2010-present)
  • Delaware Center for Horticulture, Board Member (2003-2005) 
  • Committee of 100, Board Member (1998-2004)
  • Martin Luther Foundation, Wilmington, DE, Past Chair
  • Lutheran Community Services, Inc., Wilmington, DE, Past President 
  • Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts, Past President (1996-2000), Board of Trustees (1994-2000)
  • Council of Delaware Humanities Forum, Vice-Chair (1996-1999)
  • Lincoln Club of Delaware, Board Member, President (1998)
  • Lutheran Senior Services Admission Board (1997-1999) 
  • Committee of 100, Land Use and the Environment Committee
  • Reporter (Delaware), ABA Real Estate Quarterly Report

Professional Recognition

• American Bar Foundation Fellow, since 2010
• Exemplary Pro Bono Public Services Award, Delaware Supreme Court, 2006
• President’s Citation, Delaware State Bar Association, 2000
• Chambers USA, since 2003
• The Best Lawyers in America, since 1993
• Delaware Today, “Top Lawyers,” 2010, 2008, 2001, 1999, 1996
• Lawdragon, since 2006
• Super Lawyers, since 2007
• Who’s Who Legal, since 2004
• Guide to the World’s Leading Real Estate Lawyers, since 2004

Pro Bono Activities

• Court-appointed receiver for the law practice of a disbarred Delaware lawyer, 1999-2010
• Lutheran Community Services, merger with Faith Center, 2008
• Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts, acquisition and construction of new arts facility in Wilmington, 2000