Maryland Lobbyist & Government Relations Attorney
Government relations and legal counsel for organizations doing serious work in Maryland — grounded in policy fluency and a command of the programs that move projects forward.
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The Coale Firm is a Maryland government relations and law practice founded by Tom Coale, a Maryland lobbyist and land use attorney recognized as one of the state's most active advocates on housing finance, land use, and economic development policy.
Tom has represented developers, technology companies, financial institutions, and nonprofits before the Maryland General Assembly, state agencies, and county bodies across the state. His practice is built on fluency in the tools that actually finance and entitle projects — LIHTC, NMTC, Opportunity Zones, TIF, C-PACE, and the full range of DHCD programs.
Tom is a graduate of Georgetown Law and a regular contributor to Maryland Matters. He lives in Howard County with his family.
This practice is built on a simple premise: the best advocacy is a better argument.
The strongest cases are built on the fiscal note, the program manual, and the regulatory history.
That means we write the amendments, and we know the program manuals, the allocation formulas, and the regulatory history cold — because a well-supported case is what moves a room. And it means we take on work where we can bring that level of depth.
The result is a practice trusted on both sides of the table: by clients who need outcomes, and by the public officials who have to defend them.
Tom writes regularly on housing finance and land use policy — as a contributor to Maryland Matters and in longer-form research for the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.
Maryland has big housing problems and ambitious housing goals — and an example of a solution close at hand. Makes the case that the state should scale up Montgomery County's Housing Production Fund model statewide.
Maryland's housing shortage is, at bottom, a numbers problem for builders. On the investment and policy changes needed to close the gap and get projects built.
Unlocking investment in the parts of Maryland that need it most will take more than good intentions. Makes the case for a dedicated state New Markets Tax Credit program.
Ten policy recommendations — drawn from interviews with planners, developers, and land use attorneys across the state — to accelerate project timelines and cut the cost of building new housing.
Each year, the firm accepts a small number of pro bono legislative engagements — selected by an independent advisory panel from open applications. If your organization qualifies, we'd like to hear from you.
We take on a limited number of clients so every engagement gets principal-level attention. Let's find out if we're the right fit.
