Richard S. Guy

Richard concentrates his practice in business formations, purchases, sales and mergers; banking, commercial finance, secured transactions and purchases, sales, and financing of vessels; creditor’s rights and bankruptcy; commercial real estate; commercial litigation; maritime and admiralty law.

Richard is a “womb to tomb” business lawyer. At the start of the lifecycle of a business, Richard assists the owners in choosing the entity that is best for their particular business plan. His assistance includes advice about financing their growth (either conventionally or through private placements), handling offensive and defensive commercial litigation, and arranging for the owners to share in the benefits of the commercial real estate that supplies the office space to the business. As businesses reach the critical mass where they seek to acquire other businesses or are themselves attractive targets, he represents both buyers and sellers in stock, asset, and merger transactions. In several instances, his clients have sold businesses he helped them start and have begun the cycle again by forming new businesses with their sales proceeds.

In addition to representing borrowers, Richard represents financial institutions and private lenders in loan transactions of varying sizes.  In order to fully service the needs of lenders, he also negotiates workout agreements and handles commercial foreclosures. When borrowers file bankruptcy petitions, Richard helps lenders realize on their collateral.

Richard received a B.A. (magna cum laude) from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. and J.D. from the University of Virginia.

In addition to his years in private practice, Richard served as in-house counsel to General Electric Capital Corporation (1986-1992) and as General Counsel and President of Commonwealth Health Care, Inc. (1992-1996).

He is a member of the Norfolk & Portsmouth, North Carolina, Virginia, and American Bar Associations (Business Law Section), as well as Virginia and North Carolina State Bars.