Portrait of Howard Kurman

Howard K. Kurman

Principal

Howard K. Kurman is a labor and employment attorney. Howard regularly counsels clients on all aspects of proactive labor/employment issues. He represents employers ranging in size from as small as 20 employees to those employers with geographically disparate locations consisting of over 2,000 employees. Howard assures, through regular contact with his clients, that they promulgate and maintain the most effective employment policies that will, to the extent possible, minimize their legal exposure in today’s litigious workplace. Howard also offers advice on critical employment documents such as employee handbooks, employment agreements, covenants not to compete as well as confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements, stand-alone employment policies and collective bargaining agreements.

Howard is frequently retained by companies to conduct objective and well- respected workplace investigations. These investigations encompass a wide-ranging spectrum of issues including workplace harassment, employee misconduct, whistle-blower complaints and misappropriation of proprietary or confidential company data. He has been widely recognized for his thorough investigatory techniques and his comprehensive written reports which are provided to his clients at the conclusion of his investigation. Frequently following the completion of his investigations Howard is then retained to conduct remedial training of a company’s managerial staff for the purpose of avoiding similar problematic issues in the future. Uniformly his managerial training has received superlative reviews by those companies who have utilized his sophisticated workplace training modules.

Howard is also a skilled employment litigator who has successfully represented employers in a myriad of administrative, judicial, and commercial litigation before the NLRB, EEOC, federal and state courts and other administrative agencies such as the Department of Labor and OFCCP. He also counsels clients on union-related issues, and regularly serves as chief spokesperson in  collective bargaining negotiations on behalf of his unionized clients.

Throughout his extensive legal career, Howard has represented a multitude of nonprofit organizations in both employment-related and governance/compliance issues. Over the years, many nonprofit organizations have sought out his expertise in navigating the often-specialized legal issues which such organizations much confront in today’s extensively regulated nonprofit environment.

Throughout his extensive and sophisticated legal practice Howard has developed a reputation for providing representation to his management clients and high-level executives that is predicated upon sound practical legal advice. Upon returning to private practice after working several years in in-house labor positions (at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, and at The Baltimore Sun), he successfully began the firm's comprehensive labor and employment practice, which currently encompasses dozens of skilled labor and employment attorneys. His prior in-house experience has enabled Mr. Kurman to relate to the middle and upper management levels of any company in a non-legalistic and practical manner. Thus, his clients often perceive him as part of their trusted advisory team, so much so that he is often consulted before an employment issue arises as opposed to after the problem has become a much more inflammatory one to resolve.

    Education

    • Georgetown University Law Center (LL.M.)
    • University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law (J.D., cum laude)
    • University of Maryland College Park (B.S., summa cum laude)
      • Economics (Phi Beta Kappa)

    State Bar Admissions

    • Maryland

    Court Admissions

    • Supreme Court of the United States
    • United States District Court for the District of Maryland
    • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

    Professional Affiliations

    • Unified Community Connections, Board of Directors
    • Member of the Board of Visitors of the University of Maryland Carey School of Law and Past Chair
    • The Children’s Guild, Board of Directors
    • Industrial Relations Research Association, Maryland Chapter, Past President

    Recognitions

    • Named The Best Lawyers in America® for Employment Law - Management (2015-2027)
    • Who’s Who in American Law, 10th Edition
    • AV Preeminent® Rated Attorney​, as reported by Martindale-Hubbell
    • Selected to Maryland Super Lawyers® for Employment & Labor (2010-2013 and 2016-2026)
    • Icon Honors, The Daily Record, 2022
    • Distinguished Lawyer™, The Expert Network©, 2017
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Firm Highlights

  • Events
    RE+ Mid-Atlantic Opportunities: Market Trends and Business Development Tips
    Get ready for RE+ Mid-Atlantic with timely market insights, practical business development strategies, and new opportunities to connect. Join solar and energy storage developers and other industry experts for a discussion of emerging trends, project opportunities, and business conditions across the Mid-Atlantic region. You’ll also learn practical ways to maximize the value of your conference participation—from preparing for productive meetings to building relationships that continue after the event. Speakers: Lindsay Cherry  Director of Regulatory, NineDot Energy Lindsay Cherry is the Director of Regulatory Affairs at NineDot Energy, where she leads efforts at the intersection of clean energy policy, regulation, and distributed energy development. With a background in energy policy and public affairs, Lindsay works closely with regulators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to advance innovative energy solutions and support the transition to a more resilient and sustainable power grid. She holds a master's degree from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). Matthew Karmel, Esq. Principal, Offit Kurman Matthew Karmel is the Practice Group Leader of Offit Kurman’s Environmental & Sustainability Law Group. He advises businesses, developers, and property owners on environmental compliance, site remediation, renewable energy, sustainability, and environmental risk management. A recognized leader in the field, Matthew is a frequent speaker and author on environmental and sustainability issues and serves on the boards of several industry organizations. David Murray Director of Business Development, Turning Point Energy David Murray is the Director of Business Development at TurningPoint Energy, where he leads business development efforts in Maryland and emerging markets. With more than 15 years of experience in clean energy and environmental policy, David has held leadership roles with the Chesapeake Solar & Storage Association and the American Clean Power Association, advancing solar energy, land use, and community engagement initiatives. He holds a B.A. in Public Policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.A. in Renewable Energy & Development from the University of Cape Town, and currently serves on the boards of the Chesapeake Solar & Storage Association and Wallace Centers of Iowa. Alec Ward Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs, SEIA Alec Ward is Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs at the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), where he represents the solar and energy storage industry before federal agencies on key energy policy issues. He brings extensive experience in clean energy, regulatory affairs, and public policy, having previously led legislative and federal affairs efforts at Ava Community Energy, served at the California Public Utilities Commission, and worked on federal conservation and climate policy initiatives with The Nature Conservancy and congressional campaigns. Alec holds degrees from the University of Virginia and Johns Hopkins University and is based in Richmond, Virginia.