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.
Attorney Perspectives
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DON’T LET “NON-BINDING” AGREEMENTS ACTUALLY BIND YOU
March 16, 2018 -
THE INFORMATIONAL RIGHTS OF MINORITY SHAREHOLDERS IN VIRGINIA
March 16, 2018
Recognition
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Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 70 WRVB Attorneys
August 17, 2023 -
Twelve WRVB Attorneys Named “Lawyer of the Year” for Roanoke and Norfolk
August 17, 2023 -
70 WRVB Attorneys Named to 2022 “Legal Elite”
November 29, 2022 -
WRVB Attorneys Make Major Showing in Best Lawyers in America
August 16, 2022 -
Vandeventer Black attorneys named 2022 Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year”
August 19, 2021 -
28 Vandeventer Black LLP lawyers named to 2022 Best Lawyers® list
August 19, 2021 -
Vandeventer Black Attorneys Selected as 2020 Legal Elite
November 30, 2020 -
28 Attorneys Named to 2021 Best Lawyers® list
August 20, 2020 -
Vandeventer Black Attorneys Recognized as 2018 Legal Elite
December 11, 2018 -
Vandeventer Black Attorneys Listed as ‘The Best Lawyers in America’ of 2019
August 24, 2018 -
27 Vandeventer Black Attorneys Named ‘The Best Lawyers in America’ of 2018
August 22, 2017 -
Twenty-two Vandeventer Black Attorneys 2016 Legal Elite Finalists
January 9, 2017