Virginia’s Go To Lawyers – Business Law: Adam N. Harrell Jr.

Adam Harrell Jr.
Harrell & Chambliss LLP
Co Managing Partner
Richmond

Education / Certifications:

BA, with distinction, University of Virginia
JD, University of Pennsylvania School of Law

What is the field or practice area for which you are best known?

Residential and commercial real estate

Please describe a signature case, deal or transaction.

Theatre Row Building, a commercial office building in Richmond. This project involved the construction of an office building owned by the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority. This project kept the front entrance/visage of the Theatre Row Movie Theatre intact. The RRHA issued revenue bonds to finance this project and the building’s anchor tenant was the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Department of Social Services. The building was later transferred to the City of Richmond from RRHA. This method of construction, preserving a significant portion of an old building with new construction was innovative, being one of the first projects of this type built in the city. Our firm served as bond counsel and counsel to RRHA from the time the building was under construction until its transfer to the City of Richmond.

Please briefly mention up to three additional important cases, deals or transactions.

Richmond Hilton Hotel – Rehabilitation of the old Miller & Rhoads department store building. Worked with the City of Richmond’s planning and zoning departments to assist the developer in working through all of the land use, zoning and building permit issues to facilitate the rehabilitation and construction of the Richmond Hilton Hotel, formerly known as the Richmond Garden Inn Hotel.

Southside Community Development  and Housing Corporation — Assisted CDC with the development of affordable housing subdivisions in Chesterfield (Rachel’s Way) and the City of Richmond (Matthews at Chestnut Hill, Mimosa Creek and the Hollands).

El Tapatio — Assisted company with the acquisition of restaurant properties in Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

Describe your approach to working with clients.

We develop strategies that allow our clients to efficiently achieve their goals as economically feasibly as possible. We also focus on maintaining consistent communication with our clients.

What is the best career advice you’ve received?

If you cannot find a way, make a way and then get paid.

What developments in business law do you expect to see in 2021?

We will see the continued increase in transactions closing remotely via the use of electronic signatures and notarizations.