Terry W. Clemons
Terry W. Clemons is the proud founder of the law firm of Clemons Richter & Reiss. Terry focuses his practice on representing individuals, municipalities and homeowner associations in complex civil matters.
After graduating with honors from both West Virginia Wesleyan College and the George Washington University Law School, Terry served as law clerk to the Honorable Edmund V. Ludwig of the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas.
Terry has been a trial attorney since the 1970s when he served as Bucks County Assistant Public Defender. In 1977, Terry began applying his litigation skills to civil matters including representing municipalities concerning validity challenges to zoning ordinances, enforcement actions and other areas requiring redress through the Courts. For private clients, he has litigated real estate matters as well injunction actions, contract disputes, construction defect cases and many other matters.
Terry has served as Solicitor and Special Counsel to municipalities since 1977 providing representation in the broad range of issues they confront, including land use, Ordinance preparation and Open Space preservation.
Terry counts among his municipal clients Wrightstown Township, Milford Township, Springfield Township and Warrington Township. He is also Special Counsel to Solebury Township, and Lower Saucon Township regarding open space matters. With all of his municipal clients, Terry works creatively to preserve farm land and open space.
In addition to the individual municipalities Terry represents, he is counsel to the Bucks County Association of Township Officials. He has written a number of ‘Friend of the Court” briefs on behalf of the Association including the following: Huntley & Huntley, Inc v. Borough of Oakmont, a Marcellus Shale case; Piper Group, Inc. vs. Bedminster Township, a land use appeal involving the constitutionality of a municipal zoning ordinance; Tally v. Pennridge and Central Bucks School Districts, involving the lawfulness of the school districts’ efforts to deprive elected tax collectors of fair compensation. Terry has also written articles in the BCATO Newsletter regarding these and other matters.
Terry also represents private property owners concerning preservation matters, including the sale of conservation easements to Bucks County and other municipal entities as well as securing charitable deductions for contributions of open space interests in real estate. He assists both buyers and sellers of properties subject to conservation easements to assure that the clients’ objectives can be accomplished consistent with the terms of the easement.
Terry established the firm’s strong working relationship with Homeowner Associations. In this regard Terry has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley Community Association Institute, and is a Past President of the organization.
Terry is frequently the “attorney in charge” of litigation matters working with a team that may include, as appropriate, Stefan Richter, Scott MacNair , Daniel Keane and Josephine Lee.
Commitment to the interests of the client, excellence in the work product created for those clients, and a sense that the practice of law involves a public service are the hallmarks of a successful law practice. Those values are shared by all of the firm’s attorneys and support staff.