Christen G. Pionzio is a Principal of the firm and a member of the Real Estate and Zoning Department at Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin. For the last 28 years, Christen has handled significant real estate, zoning, municipal, and land use matters on behalf of large corporate clients and private individuals. With respect to real estate transactions, Christen has facilitated land acquisition and development for commercial landowners, developers and private citizens by way of local, state and federal approvals and sophisticated financing. In addition, she also represents buyers and sellers of commercial real estate, providing cost-saving strategies and resolving obstacles in ways to keep the deal together.

Christen effectively obtains zoning relief and land use approvals for private developers to enable them to fully utilize and develop their property. She understands the process and constantly looks for opportunities to save her clients time and money. Christen is not only effective but efficient, and she thrives when handling highly controversial and publicized land use matters. Christen represents townships to protect their interests in matters, and advises zoning hearing board members as to how to apply the law to the zoning cases before them. She serves as Solicitor to Hatfield Township and six local Zoning Hearing Boards in Bucks and Montgomery Counties. She frequently serves as conflict counsel for various solicitor colleagues. Christen served as solicitor for the Office of the Montgomery County Prothonotary for two years and was appointed Master by the Court of Common Pleas in two partition actions.

Serving both sides of the table gives Christen the advantage of having the other’s perspective. She is a practical lawyer who can anticipate issues well in advance and solve problems before they arise. Christen is known for her knowledge of the law, her ability to form personal relationships, her sense of humor, charismatic energy, being well prepared and thinking fast on her feet. She invests herself in her clients’ problems and cares how they affect them from a business perspective and personally. Christen is tenacious and pays attention to detail while keeping her clients and consultant team focused on the ultimate goal.

Christen has been selected by her peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America for Land Use and Zoning Law for 2021-2024. Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin has been selected as a “Best Law Firm” for the years 2015-2024 by U.S. News and World Report. Best Lawyers® is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. A listing in Best Lawyers is widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honor, conferred on a lawyer by his or her peers. For more than three decades, Best Lawyers® lists have earned the respect of the profession, the media, and the public, as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals anywhere.

Christen served on the Montgomery Bar Association’s Executive Committee for the year 2010 and served on its Board of Directors from 2010-2013. A member of the Real Estate/Land Use Committee and the Municipal Law Committee of the Montgomery Bar Association, she is also a member of the Pennsylvania and Bucks County Bar Associations. Christen has been the President of her Homeowners’ Association of 211 townhouses for the past three years and currently still serves in that role. She formed the Irish-American Society and served on its Board of Directors as Vice President. A graduate with honors from the University of Scranton (B.S. 1991), Christen received her law degree from Widener University School of Law (J.D. 1994).

Representative Cases

  • Chaired hearings and meetings for municipality and guided them through zoning changes for highly controversial hospital proposal which attracted hundreds.
  • Obtained approvals and successfully closed deal for developer for 300+ unit development that faced 3 lawsuits, a sewer moratorium and skyrocketing costs.
  • Responsible for the redevelopment of blighted properties with uses such as gas stations, drug stores, wine and spirit stores and McDonald’s Restaurants.

News

Credentials

Admissions

  • Pennsylvania

Education

  • Widener University School of Law (J.D. 1994)
  • University of Scranton (B.S. with honors, 1991)

Memberships

  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Bucks County Bar Association
  • Montgomery Bar Association
    • Member, Board of Directors
    • Past Member, Executive Committee
    • Member, Real Estate/Land Use Committee
    • Member, Municipal Law Committee
  • Homeowners Association
    • President
  • Irish-American Society
    • Founding Member
    • Former Vice President, Board of Directors

Publications & Speeches

  • Amazon Parking Facility Approved for ‘Eyesore’ Property Along Route 13, LevittownNow.com, February 21, 2021
  • Towamencin storage facility gets waivers approvedThe Reporter, July 10, 2020
  • Hatfield board could OK new Walnut Street project on Nov. 28, The Reporter, Nov. 27, 2018
  • Don’t Forget the Muffins, HRMM&L Legal Spotlight, November 1, 2016
  • Ethics in Zoning and Land Use Law, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, August 2013
  • Presenting to a Zoning Hearing Board – Surveys are Tools, Know the Rules, Don’t Look Like a Fool, annual Real Estate Institute, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, December 2010
  • Dealing with Contentious Public Hearings and Meetings, Montgomery County Association of Township Offices, January 2010.
  • Getting Approvals, a Solicitor’s Point of View, Montgomery Bar Association, March 2009
  • Understanding Development Plans and Schedules, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, December 2008
  • Plans and Surveys:  Tools for Lawyers, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, August 2007
  • Plans and Surveys:  Tools for Lawyers, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, December 2006
  • Understanding Plans and Surveys, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, October 2006
  • When Do I Need Them and How Do I Read Them?, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, October 2005
  • Residential Real Estate Transactions, Montgomery County Bar Association
  • Residential Real Estate Transactions, Bucks County Bar Association

Honors & Awards

  • Selected by peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America for Land Use and Zoning Law for the years 2021-2024.
  • Moe Levine Trial Advocacy Honor Society
  • The International Legal Fraternity of Phi Delta Phi

Personal Interests

Christen enjoys adventures with her 3 children, running outdoors, weight training and taking various classes at her local YMCA in Doylestown.