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Elliot Doomes

Elliot Doomes

Senior Counsel
Overview

An accomplished government attorney who previously oversaw the 360 million square foot federal real estate portfolio, Elliot helps clients with real estate needs before the United States General Services Administration (GSA).

Elliot supports clients in every aspect of working with GSA, from leasing and construction to property dispositions, redevelopment projects, and public-private partnerships (P3). He regularly represents municipalities seeking to obtain property from the federal government, landlords aiming to secure or retain a GSA lease, and developers involved in transferring land from the federal government to the private sector. When challenges or delays arise in federal real estate transactions, Elliot steps in to troubleshoot and move projects forward.

Elliot joined Husch Blackwell in 2025 after a 20-year career with the federal government. In 2003, his interest in public policy led him to a position as a congressional staffer, where he discovered real estate’s role as a key driver of policy outcomes. Elliot was soon working on GSA real estate projects, including oversight of the $200 million redevelopment of the Old Post Office building and the $4.5 billion Department of Homeland Security headquarters. He also served as the principal drafter of the Federal Assets and Sales Transfer Act, which aimed to streamline the disposition of federal property. Elliot was later appointed as Public Buildings Service Commissioner at GSA, overseeing the entire federal real estate portfolio across the U.S. and six territories.

Thanks to his decades on Capitol Hill, Elliot brings deep insight into not only the laws that govern GSA, but also how the agency operates in practice. Elliot knows the major players and decisionmakers, understands the mechanisms that drive and accelerate action, and has seen firsthand the common challenges and delays that can affect federal real estate projects. He is highly skilled at strategically structuring his advocacy to highlight the alignment of government and client interests, helping him expedite transactions and negotiations. Elliot’s experience means that he knows exactly how to approach the acquisition of federal property or the negotiation of a federal lease in the most efficient and effective way.

In Elliot’s view, real estate defines communities and reflects a society’s priorities and values. He sees real estate as a tool for economic development and financial empowerment, and he is truly passionate about facilitating projects that contribute to communities across the country.

Industry

Services

Recognition

  • Dynamic Capitol Hill Staffers, Lawyers of Color, 2020

Education

  • J.D., Georgetown University Law Center
    • Georgetown Journal on Gender and the Law, Editor
  • B.S., Morehouse College

Admissions

  • Maryland

Application to practice in the District of Columbia pending; practice limited pursuant to D.C. App R. 49(c)(8), with supervision by Hal Perloff, member of the D.C. Bar.

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • Maryland State Bar
  • Federal Real Property Association, Board of Directors, 2025-present
Experience
  • Oversaw 360 million square foot federal real estate portfolio, comprising 183 million owned square feet and 176 million leased square feet. Administered construction, repair, and operations for 8,800 assets, including courthouses, office buildings, laboratories, and land ports of entry.
  • Administered a $10 billion annual budget for U.S. General Services Administration, including $3.4 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law projects and $3.4 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funding.
  • Achieved $1.9 billion in real estate cost avoidance in one fiscal year by executing timely leases and increasing operational efficiency.
  • Testified regularly before congressional committees and briefed senior executive branch officials on federal real estate policies and initiatives.
  • Oversaw $200 million redevelopment of the Old Post Office Building into the Trump International Hotel, a public-private partnership executed through GSA. Ensured compliance with federal property disposal laws, facilitated hearings to address transparency concerns, evaluated lease provisions, and monitored compliance with historic preservation requirements. Principal author of the Old Post Office Redevelopment Act of 2008 and shepherded it through Congress.
  • Lead congressional staffer responsible for the $100 redevelopment of the three National Park Service (NPS) golf courses—East Potomac, Langston, and Rock Creek—which entailed complex negotiations given the federal land's public use and historical significance. Engaged in legislative and oversight activities; coordinated with NPS, local stakeholders, and private developers to address competing priorities; and facilitated reviews of concession agreements, ensuring alignment with federal policies on land stewardship.
  • Lead congressional staffer and principal drafter of legislation authorizing the $2.5 billion redevelopment of the Wharf, located along the Southwest Waterfront in DC, involving federal and local collaboration. Navigated legislative requirements and competing priorities of three separate congressional committees related to the District of Columbia, federal property transfers, and waterway management.
  • Principal author of the legislation directing the $30 million redevelopment of the Cotton Annex in Washington, DC which involved transforming a historic federal office into a mixed-use property. Supported GSA in executing a competitive sale process, ensuring compliance with federal surplus property regulations.
  • Principal staffer responsible for oversight of the successful $3.5 billion mixed-use redevelopment of a former Navy Yard industrial site into The Yards. Worked with GSA and DC to enable the transfer of the land to Forest City Realty Trust under the Southeast Federal Center Public-Private Development Act of 2000. Ensured compliance with environmental remediation, infrastructure investment by the local DC government, and public access to the waterfront while enabling private investment in retail, residential, and office spaces.
  • Principal staffer responsible for oversight of the The Volpe Center redevelopment in Cambridge, MA, a $1.1 billion public-private partnership to modernize the U.S. Department of Transportation research facility while allowing for the construction of commercial and residential buildings. Facilitated oversight of GSA's exchange of 10 acres of land for a new government facility on four acres of land. Focused on land valuation, transparency, and ensuring the project aligned with local and federal priorities.
Outside the Office

Elliot is a recreational tennis and basketball player who can often be found on a court in the middle of a game. He also loves spending as much time as possible with his two daughters, who are on the cusp of adulthood—and who still love to play tennis with their dad.