​David A. Carney, HoCo Law Firm Founder, Dies Leaving Behind A Legacy

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — David A. Carney, a founding partner of Columbia-based Carney, Kelehan, Bresler, Bennett and Scherr LLP, died Dec. 8, in Aiken, South Carolina.

Born in Baltimore, Md., Carney graduated from Loyola High School, Loyola University Maryland and the University of Maryland School of Law. He began his legal career with the Baltimore firm Mylander, Atwater, Carney and Stone, performing specialized real property appellate work and later developed a HUD-based real estate practice representing large, regional HUD-approved lenders and borrowers.

In 1977, he moved his practice to the firm of Reese and Kane in Howard County, where his practice grew to include zoning/development approval practice and administrative approval work, while growing the firm’s real estate client base.

During his extensive career, Carney was a member of the Maryland State Bar Association Board of Governors, chaired the Committee on Resolution of Fee Disputes, was a section council member of the real property, planning and zoning committee and served as president of the Howard County Bar Association. He chaired the State Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commission and was general counsel to the Howard County Chamber of Commerce. He served on the Howard County Economic Development Advisory Council and was the initial chair of the Howard County Economic Development Authority, remaining on its board of governors from 1991-2003.

Carney also was active in the civic life of the community serving as president of the Howard County Youth Program and as one of the founders and past president of the Cattail Creek Country Club. He received the Howard County Council Boy Scouts’ Good Scout Award in recognition of his lifetime of community service.

“Those who have heard of Dave’s passing, be they developers, lenders or opposing counsel, have said that Dave brought more to the table than just his legal expertise – he brought a commitment to solve any difficult problems that were preventing settlement with collaboration, knowing that committing to the deal, not just insisting that one side win, was the way to closure,” said Kevin Kelehan, a partner with CarneyKelehan. “His commitment to that collaboration informs the practice in our entire firm to this day.”

Funeral arrangements will be announced in early 2022. Carney is survived by Daria Carney, his wife; Sean Carney, his son; and Michael Russell, his stepson. His son David Carney Jr. predeceased him.