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Mr. Kaufmann is counsel to Jackson & Campbell, P.C. and is a member of the BusinessGeneral Litigation and Trial, and Real Estate Practice Groups.

His law practice focuses on litigation and transactional matters involving the purchase, sale, operation, titling, and financing of real estate and businesses, as well as licensing, employment, contract, and commercial leasing issues. He also serves in various fiduciary capacities as trustee for large trusts.

Roy’s breadth of trial, appellate, and transaction experience in real estate, title, contract, and business matters has made him well-known in the legal and business communities. He is a frequent lecturer to The District of Columbia Bar and to real estate professionals on complex property and title issues. He serves as the lobbyist for the D.C. Land Title Association, the trade group representing title underwriters and agents in the District of Columbia; is a frequent commentator and drafter of legislation; and served two terms as Chair of The District of Columbia Bar’s Real Estate, Housing, and Land Use Section.

Roy serves as an arbitrator on the American Arbitration Association’s Large, Complex Case and Commercial Panels. Cases included disputes where the amounts at issue have exceed $20 million, including construction and architect matters, corporate acquisitions and governance, trust administration, and real estate matters.

Roy is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, District of Columbia Court of Appeals, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.

Roy has earned an AV® rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, the highest recognition achievable for professional ability and ethics and has been selected as a Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers magazine for his work in Real Estate and Business law.

Roy serves as the editor of the Firm’s Title and Real Estate Blog and Newsletter and has authored many of the articles therein.

  • August 2024
    The Best Lawyers in America 2025
    Jackson & Campbell, P.C. is pleased to announce a number of our Directors have been named The Best Lawyers in America© 2025 Edition. Congratulations to: Nathan J. Bresee (2025) - Real Estate Law Arthur D. Burger (2015) - ... Read More
  • May 2024
    How to Make Sure You Know the Boundaries of Your Property: The Difference Between a House Location Drawing and a Survey
    How to Make Sure You Know the Boundaries of Your Property The Difference Between a House Location Drawing and a Survey By Roy L. Kaufmann Prudent buyers of real estate (excluding most condos and co-ops) will want to know where the property ... Read More
  • April 2024
    Congratulations to our 2024 Super Lawyers and Super Lawyers Rising Stars
    Please join us in congratulating our firm’s attorneys who were selected as 2024 Super Lawyers and Super Lawyers Rising Stars. Honorees for these awards have achieved a multitude of professional achievements and earned recognition and respect from their peers ... Read More
  • September 2023
    Maryland Employers – Requirement To Establish Retirement Savings Program
    In recognition of the advantages of employees establishing retirement savings accounts, with few exceptions, Maryland employers (including non-profits) are now required to establish a payroll deposit retirement program for employees and must file an annual certification of compliance every December 1.  Employers could offer 401(k), SEP or Simple IRA, or similar programs, but, fortunately, the State of Maryland ... Read More
  • September 2023
    Simply Owning or Renting a Home in DC May Subject You to DC Income Tax
    D.C.  Simply Owning or Renting a Home in DC May Subject You to DC Income Tax (regardless of whether you live outside DC for the majority of the year) – Statutory Residency in the District of Columbia  As a general proposition, States tend to impose their income taxes on people who reside within the state or who ... Read More
  • August 2023
    The Best Lawyers in America 2024
    Jackson & Campbell, P.C. is pleased to announce a number of our Directors have been named to The Best Lawyers in America© 2024 Edition. Congratulations to: Arthur D. Burger (2015) - Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law Christopher ... Read More
  • May 2023
    Security Deposit Requirements for DC Residential Leases
    The District of Columbia, with its rich history of protecting the rights of tenants, has strict rules governing security deposits on residential leases.  Landlords who manage their own properties and professional managers should be familiar with these rules. Limitations on the amount of the security deposit.  The deposit shall not exceed ... Read More
  • April 2022
    Short-Term Rental License – DCRA Extends Grace Period for Obtaining License.
    The District regulates short-term residential rentals, such as "AirBNB". The regulations are found The grace period for obtaining the license and endorsement is extended to June 9, 2022. A Basic Business license is required, with two, alternative endorsements available. Short-Term Rental Endorsement (Host is present during rental – such as renting out bedrooms). Eligibility for License: Must be within host/applicant's primary residence. Must ... Read More
  • May 2021
    Client Alert: Maryland Real Estate Commission Activity
    Various bulletins and notices from the Maryland Real Estate Commission serve as important reminders: Real Estate Agents Not to be Paid by Title Company or Others – Must be Paid Through the Brokerage. Payment of real estate commissions to agents or associate brokers may not be from the settlement company's account.  Instead, payments of commissions need to be paid through the real ... Read More
  • January 2020
    Settlement Considerations on Acquisitions of DC Commercial Property – Plan Early and Keep Lines of Communication Open Between Settlement Company and Lender
    The settlement process on commercial transactions and, more particularly, the completion of the FP7/C (Real Property Recordation and Transfer Tax Form) is markedly different than residential transactions. One particular pitfall has recently come to light that has plagued and delayed some transactions and has resulted in more money being due for recordation taxes than the buyer or lender had anticipated ... Read More
  • December 2019
    Expansion of Home Purchase Assistance Program to Include Construction/Repair Money
    A new bill has been introduced before the Council of the District of Columbia that would amend the Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP). This program provides assistance to first time home buyers of lower and medium income households by offering interest free loans towards down payments and some assistance towards closing costs. These loans generally take the form of ... Read More
  • August 2019
    Commercial Recordation/Transfer Tax Increase and Mandatory Use of New FP7
    The Washington, D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue has issued an official notice of the increase on transfer and recordation tax on commercial properties where the consideration (real or imputed) is more than $2 million. The increase is effective on October 1, 2019 and is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2023. A ... Read More
  • August 2019
    The Best Lawyers in America 2020
    Jackson & Campbell, P.C. is pleased to announce a number of our Directors have been named to The Best Lawyers in America© 2020 Edition. Congratulations to: Arthur D. Burger, Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law David H. Cox, Real Estate Law, Real Estate Litigation William E. Davis, Trusts and Estates, Trusts ... Read More
  • July 2019
    Washington, D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue Homestead Unit Suspending Processing Of Homestead Applications
    The division of the DC Office of Tax and Revenue that processes homestead, senior, and disabled applications (FP-100) has announced that, as of July 17, 2019, it will suspend the processing of applications, grant benefits, and tax account adjustments. This action was “taken to meet a demanding billing timeline to reconcile tax accounts” associated with the upcoming 2019 second half ... Read More
  • March 2019
    Revocable Trusts and Real Property in Washington, D.C.
    When thinking about transferring a Washington, D.C. real property into a revocable trust, there are several considerations to take into account. Beginning Steps: To ensure the transfer occurs properly, a deed has to be recorded. A transfer is usually exempt from transfer and recordation taxes, provided that the trust is revocable and that the grantor remains the beneficiary. Deductions: In most circumstances, the property ... Read More
  • November 2018
    Protect Yourself Against Wire Transfer and Credit Card Fraud
    We are seeing two varieties of online fraud, but the good news is securing your information is as easy as a few steps. The first type of fraud involves fake wiring instructions. The criminal learns that a transaction is about to occur and sends an email to a title company, bank, buyer, seller, or real estate agent saying that the wiring instructions ... Read More
  • September 2018
    Pending Emergency Legislation to Affect Tax Sales and Recordation Tax on Leases
    The Washington, D.C. Council is considering B22-922: Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2018 which, among many provisions, contains a few changes of interest to real estate practitioners which are found here. Recordation Tax: On leases in excess of 30 years, the Washington, D.C. government may determine the fair market value of the leasehold interest ... Read More
  • September 2018
    D.C. Announces New Tax Rates for First-Time Homebuyer
    Washington, D.C.’s innovative First Time Homebuyer’s tax rate reduces the recordation tax to .725 percent. The statute is found at Official Code §42-1101(17). The tax rate and value of the property changes from year to year based upon the C.P.I. Effective on October 1, 2019, the purchase price may not exceed $632,500 and the income for a single-member household may not ... Read More
  • September 2018
    D.C. Tax Rate Changes Effective October 1, 2018
    The District of Columbia’s Office of Tax and Revenue has issued a notification of changes in various tax rates that will become effective on Monday, October 1, 2018. The real property tax for Class 2 properties will increase to $1.65 per $100 of value for properties worth less than $5,000,000; $1.77 from $5 million to $10 million; and $1.89 for ... Read More
  • August 2018
    New Maryland Statute: Corporate Articles of Transfer No Longer Needed to Transfer Real Property
    Until August 2018, Maryland was one of the few states that required a state-based corporation that transfers all of its real property assets to execute and file articles of transfer with the State Department of Assessment and Taxation (SDAT). This regulation is outlined in the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland Section 1-101(y) and 3-109 ... Read More
  • August 2018
    Housing Licensing and TOPA in the District of Columbia
    Recent changes to the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) in the District of Columbia have had broad repercussions in the single-family rental market. Since TOPA’s inception, the competing purposes of maintaining a rental market and encouraging tenants to leave the rental market and become homeowners have resulted in a structure that is difficult to follow and has ... Read More
  • May 2018
    TOPA Update - Single-Family Homes, DC Legislation Passed
    This is an update from the articles posted March 9, April 4, April 6, and April 10, 2018 relating to Single-Family Homes – DC Legislation Proposed to Exclude from TOPA. The District of Columbia Council passed legislation today, April 10, 2018, that excludes single-family homes from TOPA. Bill 22-315, was first introduced last ... Read More
  • April 2018
    DC Reduced Rate of Recordation Tax – Applies to Revocable Trust
    The District recently passed legislation which reduces the Recordation Tax for most first-time homebuyers.  The Recordation Tax for a “first-time District homebuyer” purchasing “eligible property” is reduced to 0.725% (transfer taxes owed by the seller of 1.1% or 1.45% are unchanged) for houses and, for transfers of economic interests in a housing cooperative unit (co-op unit), the recordation tax rate is ... Read More
  • April 2018
    TOPA - Proposal to eliminate Bankruptcy and Court-Order Exemptions
    Earlier this month, Bill 22-0739 was introduced to the District of Columbia Council. The Bill is named the TOPA Bankruptcy Tenant Displacement Prevention Amendment Act of 2018. The Bill seeks to amend the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act to remove TOPA’s exemption of bankruptcy sales and to require owners of property acquired via court order to submit to TOPA ... Read More
  • September 2017
    Roy L. Kaufmann Testifies before the D.C. City Council on proposed TOPA legislation
    Roy L. Kaufmann, from the Firm's Real Estate Group, testified before the D.C. City Council's Committee on Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization on behalf of the D.C. Land Title Association.  He testified on a proposed legislation to amend the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) called the TOPA Accessory Dwelling Act of 2017. REDLINE of DCLTA-requested revisions vs. current law 9-8-17 ... Read More
  • September 2017
    New Emergency and Proposed Inclusionary Zoning Regulations
    The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), which oversees the Inclusionary Zoning program in DC, has new proposed regulations relating to Inclusionary Zoning.  The nature of these Emergency and Proposed regulations, can be found here.  Although the regulations are called “proposed”, they are effective.  Public comment ends on September 30.  If you care to make any comments, you ... Read More
  • August 2017
    Wire Theft - Third Major Money Wiring Theft in DC Area. Stop, review your procedures and alert your staff today!
    By: Roy L. Kaufmann I have become personally aware of THREE wire thefts affecting title companies in the immediate DC metro area.  One, wherein fraudsters got away with over $1,500,000, was the subject of a recent lawsuit. This is affecting local title companies - ... Read More
  • February 2017
    Commercial Tenant’s Lease – Estoppel and Attornment Considerations
    A standard provision of commercial lease agreements is an agreement by the Tenant to execute estoppel certificates, and to attorn to a lender. An estoppel certificate is a statement from the tenant to either a lender or a prospective purchaser that clarifies: what property is leased (often includes square footage) the length term of the lease that the lease has or ... Read More
  • February 2017
    Forgiven Debt – Taxable to the Borrower?
    Generally, if a borrower is required to pay a sum certain at a specific time, the obligation is considered “debt” under the Internal Revenue Code.  If the lender forgives a portion, it has “cancelled” the debt and the borrower must declare and take into income the dollar amount cancelled.  A lender may unilaterally decide that a debt is not collectable ... Read More
  • November 2016
    Attorneys Quoted in Legal Description Article
    Roy Kaufmann and Brian Thompson, attorneys here at Jackson & Campbell, P.C., were in The Legal Description article "Trump Victory Opens Door for Industry Changes." ... Read More
  • September 2016
    Under TOPA, a Bona Fide Offer Cannot Be Based on Future Market Value
    On September 22, 2016, in Parcel One Phase One Assoc.., LLP v. Museum Square Tenants Ass’n., Inc., No. 15-CV-609, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of the tenants’ association that Parcel One’s offer of sale was not a ... Read More
  • September 2016
    Work In Progress – Further Technical Modifications to ZR16
    The Office of Planning recommended last Friday to the Office of Zoning further revisions to the new zoning regulations that became effective on September 6, 2016 (“ZR16”).  Such revisions notably include changes to measurements such as lot occupancies.  The proposed revisions (found here) will be considered on September 12 ... Read More
  • September 2016
    Are You Ready? DC’s Overhauled Zoning Regulations Become Effective September 6
    DC’s new zoning regulations – referred to as “ZR16” – become effective September 6.  They are the product of a multi-year review by the Zoning Review Taskforce of the original zoning regulations enacted in 1958 and amended or updated through a patchwork process in the succeeding decades.  The Zoning Review Taskforce was comprised of representatives of the DC Government, the ... Read More
  • July 2016
    MD: Montgomery County Recordation Tax Changes Effective September 1
    James E. Babb, Tax Operations Manager for the Montgomery County Department of Finance, issued a memorandum explaining the revisions to the law concerning recordation tax, which goes into effect on September 1, 2016. He has included 12 examples which are intended to help the public understand their interpretation of the new law as it pertains to recordation tax calculations. A copy of Bill 15-16 can ... Read More
  • March 2016
    Consider Carefully The New Certification Required Under The Revised D.C. FP7
    The D.C. Recorder of Deeds announced today that it has revised the Real Property Recordation and Transfer Tax Form FP 7/C (herein “FP7C”). The purpose of this revision was to “contain a self-certification of compliance with tax payment, per DC Code § 42-407(2).” That statute, reprinted below, says that D.C. shall not record if any Transfer ... Read More
  • September 2015
    Analysis of Key Changes To GCAAR Documents
    Analysis of Changes in 10/2015 Version Roy L. Kaufmann Jackson & Campbell, P.C. A well-formatted, printable .pdf of this article is available here. GCAAR SALES CONTRACT (GCAAR FORM 911) [1] General Comments             The new GCAAR Sales Contract (here, we will call it the “Contract”, formerly called the “Regional Sales Contract”) to ... Read More
  • April 2014
    Online Filing - Income and Expense Report DC and Building Permits.
    DC moves its technology forward to facilitate easy on-line filing. Commercial property owners can anticipate receipt of notification from OTR that on-line filing of Income and Expense forms is available. While online filing will be option for this year, it will be mandatory next year. The due date for the form remains unchanged: April 15. The paper forms are available at the OTR website ... Read More