John W. Steele - Attorney

John W. Steele - Attorney

 

Jay Steele is a member of the firm's Real Estate section and focuses his practice on commercial real estate acquisition, development, financing and leasing. Jay began his practice representing developers and other real estate entrepreneurs in the mid 1980s and his career has spanned several economic cycles. Jay's early work in handling the purchase and sale of many types of real estate has evolved into a practice focusing on the needs and concerns of real estate investors and developers, particularly focusing on acquisition, sales and leasing of commercial retail properties, office buildings, apartment projects and shopping centers.

In his tenure with the firm, Jay has provided legal services and counseling to a wide array of businesses and individuals, including builders, investors, institutional pension funds, major lending institutions and other entrepreneurs in connection with the acquisition, development, leasing and sale of office buildings, apartment projects, shopping centers and raw land. Jay's practice has not been limited by geographical territory, with his work in connection with leasing, sale and acquisitions involving commercial properties nationwide. Statewide, Jay's practice involves representation of clients in Richmond and in northern Virginia, including Fredericksburg and its surrounding counties. Jay spearheaded the establishment of a branch office for the firm in downtown Fredericksburg and counts among his clients the primary Food Lion shopping center developer in northern Virginia and the largest commercial real estate developer in the Fredericksburg region. Jay's practice offers to his clients a powerful blend of knowledge of Virginia's real estate markets, experience in counseling and aggressively representing real estate driven businesses and skill in analyzing and drafting complex leases, contracts and financing documents.

Relevant Experience:

  • Representation of lenders and borrowers in commercial lending transactions
  • Representation of lenders and borrowers in restructuring troubled loans
  • Foreclosures
  • Representation of landlords and tenants in office, retail, warehouse and ground leases, including complex leases involving nationally known tenants
  • Representation of investors in structuring and negotiating real estate joint ventures and limited partnerships
  • Formation of limited liability companies, partnerships and corporations
  • Representation of buyers and sellers in purchase and sale of real estate
  • Corporate asset acquisition and disposition
  • Structuring and negotiating comprehensive covenants, restrictions and easements for large scale residential, commercial and mixed use developments

Education:

  • University of Richmond T.C. Williams School of Law, J.D., 1985
  • Randolph Macon College, B.A., 1980

Pro Bono/Community Service:

  • Rotary International
  • Rotary Club of Innsbrook
  • Episcopal Church
  • Meals on Wheels
  • Boy Scouts of America

Recognition:

  • Virginia Business Magazine's Legal Elite, 2004 and 2008
  • Virginia Super Lawyers, 2008, 2009 and 2010
  • Best Lawyers in America, 2008 25th Anniversary Edition and 2009 Edition
  • "AV" rated by Martindale-Hubbell

Memberships:

  • Richmond Bar Association (Member, Real Estate Law Committee)
  • Virginia Bar Association
  • American Bar Association (Member, Property and Probate Section)
  • International Council of Shopping Centers

Bar Admission:

  • Virginia, 1985