Hercules W. Grigos

Herc is a co-chair of the Real Estate and Finance Department. He represents some of the largest and most complex projects in the region. He focuses his practice on real estate development, particularly on zoning and land use, including handling permits, zoning approvals, land development, acquisitions, financing and leasing. Herc is especially adept at guiding real estate deals with building new properties, from navigating the municipal process and acquisition through the entitlement, financing and construction process, and, finally, through leasing and disposition. Herc is a trusted advocate and counselor to his clients and has distinguished himself as an attorney who gets deals done. 

A sampling of representative matters includes:

• Representation of a New York-based developer in the acquisition of a 67-acre site from one the largest multinational chemical companies by assisting on entitlements and zoning for a 700,000 sq. ft. warehouse and logistics center.
• Representation of a national real estate developer in the development of a 13-story residential mixed-use development in Philadelphia, PA, consisting of 329 residential units and more than 15,000 square feet of retail space and includes 87 parking spaces for vehicles, 111 spaces for bicycles and amenity space on the roof.
• Representation of a New York-based developer on a $62 million construction loan for the development of a 275,000 sq. ft. last-mile distribution center leased to a multinational retail company in Northeast Philadelphia. 
• Representation of a joint venture to assist with the sale of their property in the Tacony section of Philadelphia to a national developer of 300,000 sq. warehouse and logistics centers. We successfully had the property rezoned to industrial before closing. 
• Representation of a New Jersey-based real estate investment and development company as counsel to review zoning matters for three industrial buildings in Hazleton, PA.
• Representation of a vertically integrated real estate investment company successfully at the Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment in obtaining approval for the adaptive reuse of an 80,000 sq. ft. former warehouse into a mixed-use creative office and retail space.

Herc was previously a partner at a mid-sized regional law firm and served as an assistant city solicitor for the City of Philadelphia Law Department, focusing on code enforcement, finance, contracts and real estate. This experience enabled him to excel in administrative law and land use matters.

Panelist, “ULI Philadelphia: Byberry Hospital Redevelopment Event + Tour,” Urban Land Institute Philadelphia, June 3, 2025

Quoted, “Massive Development Near South Philly Sports Complex Could Vie With Comcast Spectacor Project Next Door,” Bisnow, December 5, 2024

Quoted, “Eagles, Phillies, Comcast Spectacor Critique Hines Mega-Development Proposal for the Stadium District,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 4, 2024

Mentioned, “31-acre Manayunk paper plant property sells for $4.5M,” Philadelphia Business Journal, September, 9 2021

Press Release, “New Chairs Named in Zoning and Land Use Practice Group,” December 14, 2020

Mentioned, “Apartment complex plan at Fairmount Ave. near Delaware River will preserve historic rowhouses,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 30, 2020

Press Release, “24 Attorneys Ranked by Best Lawyers 2021,” August 20, 2020

Moderator, “Philadelphia ZBA Goes Virtual: A Practitioner’s Guide,” July 13, 2020

Panelist, “Real Estate in a Post COVID-19 World: Laying a New Foundation for Your Business,” May 26, 2020

Quoted, Klehr Harrison makes noteworthy addition to land use practice,” May 7, 2019

Press Release, “Hercules W. Grigos Expands Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg’s Zoning and Land Use Practice,” May 6, 2019

• Representation of a developer in obtaining approval and community support for the development of a 1,300-unit mixed-use multi-family commercial development on the Philadelphia Waterfront.
• Representation of a developer in obtaining approval for a 75-unit townhome community on the Philadelphia Waterfront.
• Representation of a self-storage developer in the entitlement of a 250,000 sq. ft. self-storage facility with accessory truck rental in Philadelphia.
• Representation of a developer in the redevelopment of a failing mall in the Philadelphia suburbs into a successful retail shopping center.
• Representation of our client in the entitlement and development of an extended-stay hotel in the Philadelphia suburbs.
• Representation of our client in the entitlement of a 250-unit apartment complex in Philadelphia.
• Representation of our client in the entitlement of a 170-unit townhome development on the Philadelphia waterfront.
• Representation of our client in obtaining approval for the adaptive reuse of a large industrial building into 120 multi-family dwellings.
• Representation of our client in the acquisition and financing of a $20 million development parcel in Philadelphia.
• Representation of our client in the financing of a $25 million construction loan for the development of a multi-family property in Philadelphia.
• Representation of our client in the redevelopment of a shuttered Philadelphia hospital and medical school into a mixed-use campus, including offices, student housing, medical, educational and daycare uses.
• Representation of client in connection with the planning, zoning, historic, licensing and inspections and health department permitting of large townhome and high-rise developers.
• Representation for the developer of a 33-story mixed-use high-rise in Philadelphia, including obtaining variances and approvals for construction, negotiating and working with neighbors and civic associations, and drafting development agreements to win their support for the project.
• Representation of our client in the acquisition and financing of a multi-family housing project in Hudson County, NJ.
• Representation of our client, serving as local zoning counsel for the purchase of an approximately two-million-square-foot warehouse project in Central Pennsylvania.