Virginia’s Go To Lawyers – Business Law: Richard J. Crouch

Richard Crouch
Vandeventer Black LLP
Partner
Norfolk

Education / Certifications:

BSBA, University of Richmond, E. Claiborne Robins School of Business
JD, University of Richmond, T.C. Williams School of Law

Best Lawyers in America, Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating,  Virginia Business – Legal Elite, Coastal Virginia Magazine – Top Lawyers, SuperLawyers

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

Commercial real estate and capital raises

Please describe a signature case, deal or transaction.

Handled a $37.3 million portfolio acquisition, mortgage financing and mezzanine financing of four office buildings in Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina, with 1031 exchange implications and financing exceeding $28 million.

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

Handled documentation of an equity raise of $100 million, including private placement memorandum, subscription agreement and related exemption filings for a real estate investment fund.

Handled real estate acquisitions for a $20 million real estate equity fund for the purpose of acquiring shopping centers, office buildings, self-storage facilities and light industrial properties.

Handled approximately 50 acquisitions for a fee developer of a national discount variety store in multiple jurisdictions.

Describe your approach to working with clients.

Develop a well-organized, cost-effective and logistically-efficient approach to executing deals in a timely and responsive manner.

What is the best career advice you’ve received?

Always answer the question that your client has asked, give practical advice, communicate frequently with the client (even if there is no significant update) and remember that time kills deals.

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

Parties will continue to focus more on force majeure provisions in contracts, including the negotiation of automatic payment reduction or deferral mechanisms, in the event of a pandemic. Multifamily and industrial acquisitions will maintain strength, while other sectors slowly recover.