Overview
Amy Harman’s practice focuses primarily on real estate development, and the transfer, encumbrance, non-residential leasing, and financing of real estate.
Amy advises developers, purchasers, retailers, franchisees, trusts, religious organizations, companies of all sizes, lenders and other creditors, property owners associations, and condominium owners associations on a wide range of real estate and transactional matters. She drafts and reviews transaction and encumbrance documents, as well as residential, commercial and mixed-use declarations—and their amendments, supplements, and common interest community governance documents.
With experience in all phases of real estate development, Amy represents developers in the creation of residential communities, office buildings, retail and mixed-use developments, and industrial sites. She works closely with colleagues across practice areas including environmental, land use, planning and zoning, tax, construction, title disputes, and economic incentives to deliver comprehensive legal solutions that support her clients’ development goals.
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Representative Matters
Represents national, regional and local developers and landowners in matters involving the purchase, sale, financing, development, re-financing, re-development, licensing, and leasing of commercial projects of all types and sizes, including, shopping centers anchored by “big box” retailers and grocery stores in Virginia, as well as across the U.S. Such work includes the preparation and negotiation of purchase agreements; the review of title work, surveys and other due diligence; the negotiation of acquisition and construction loan documents; preparation and negotiation of various easement agreements, common interest community association declarations and governance documents, storm water management and drainage agreements, shopping center covenants and restrictions, cell tower and solar farm leases, and leases involving national, regional and local retailers and businesses, which may or may not include negotiating terms with national franchisors
Works with developer-controlled and property owner-controlled common interest community associations regarding governance documents and association matters
Works with large, national companies on leasing analysis projects
Works with a large defense contractor to review and negotiate documents pertaining to leasing and development of real estate
Represents national, regional and local lending institutions in secured commercial loan transactions, analyzing the nature of the loan to be made and the collateral to be taken to determine the steps necessary to perfect liens or security interests and preparing and negotiating loan documents for acquisition, construction, term and revolving credit loans, and loans secured by real and personal property
Represents secured lenders, property owners and title insurance companies in the investigation, resolution and negotiation of title disputes
Represents religious organizations in purchasing, financing and developing places of worship in Virginia which includes obtaining court approval for the appointment of trustees to acquire and hold title to, sell, and grant liens on, real property on behalf of unincorporated religious organizations
Represented a large national services provider and its subsidiaries in all of their lease negotiations across the country, as well as their sales of real estate; also represented them in asset sales and purchase transactions involving real estate and lease components
Represented a regional fuel supplier-distributor for many years, prior to acquisition by a national company, in transactions regarding secured product sales agreements and consignment agreements for the supply of fuel to gas stations and convenience stores, while also advising on the applicability of the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act (PMPA)
In 2011 and 2012, served as interim in-house counsel for a national mortgage subservicing client, assisting with corporate, contract, compliance, foreclosure and litigation matters
Recognition & Honors
Honors & Recognitions
Best Lawyers in America, 2025-2026
Virginia’s Legal Elite; Virginia Business Magazine, 2025
President’s Award for Outstanding Service; Virginia Animal Control Association, 2022
Chesapeake Leadership Award; Central Chesapeake RWC, 2022
The inaugural Seven Sisters Award for Dedicated Service; Help and Emergency Response, Inc., 2018
Virginia Rising Stars; Law & Politics, 2010, 2013
Women of Distinction Award; YWCA of South Hampton Roads, 2010
Top 40 Under 40; Inside Business, 2009
Judicial Clerk to The Honorable G. Steven Agee, Court of Appeals of Virginia, for the 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 judicial years
Press & Publications
News
Community & Professional
Associations
Southeastern Virginia Chapter Community Associations Institute (SEVA-CAI)
Virginia Bar Association Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) – Coastal Virginia
Hampton Roads Association for Commercial Real Estate (HRACRE)
Friends of the Animals – Greater Hampton Roads; Founder and President, 2022-present
GFWC Great Bridge Woman’s Club; member and committee chair
Organizer of “The Over Hill Bowl” Fundraiser for The H.E.R. Shelter, 2013-present
The Junior League of Norfolk – Virginia Beach, Incorporated; sustaining member
Virginia Federation of Humane Societies; Supporting Member, 2023-present
City of Chesapeake Library Board, 2023-present
City of Chesapeake Animal Services; Advisory Board, 2014-2022; Board Chairman, 2018-2022
City of Chesapeake Utility Review Board, 2007-2014
City of Chesapeake Groundwater Committee, 2010-2013
Soroptimist International of the America’s South Atlantic Region; Region Governor 2016-2018 and Board of Directors, 2008-2018
Great Bridge United Methodist Church; Board of Trustees, 2007-2010; Children’s Policy Committee, 2009-2011; Emergency Preparedness Committee, 2013
Ignite Chesapeake, 2009
Credentials
Education
University of Richmond; B.S.B.A., cum laude, 1997
University of Richmond School of Law; J.D., cum laude, 2000
Beyond the Law
Outside of her legal practice, you will more than likely find Amy out and about on one of the many beautiful trails in Southeastern Virginia and Northeastern NC with one of her beloved dogs, a foster dog, or a shelter dog whom she either has out on a field trip (providing the dog with a needed break from the noise and stress of the shelter); and/or advocating and working to help animals, especially those in municipal animal shelters.
