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    Michael E. Barney

    Biography

    Mr. Barney, a former principal, who has been with the firm since 1972, practices in the Real Estate Strategies and Trust & Estates Practice Groups, and is located in the firm’s Virginia Beach office. His practice focuses on real estate acquisition and sale, including development, construction, management, leasing, brokerage, financing, lending, workout, environmental and land use. He also has extensive experience in asset and wealth planning, in addition to estate and trust administration. Mr. Barney has had an active Virginia real estate agents license since 1978.

    Representative Matters

    • Represented the developer/operator as local counsel in the acquisition, financing and operation of a large regional mall
    • Represented major aggregates and cement producer on multimillion-dollar sale of U.S. properties
    • Represented developer of several planned unit developments with mixed-uses
    • Represents developers/operators of several golf courses
    • Executor/Trustee of several multimillion-dollar estates, including operating responsibility for multifamily, retail, office and residential properties
    • Represents owners/borrowers under HUD, FNMA, FHLMC and MBS multifamily programs
    • 25 years experience representing the real estate division of a regional national bank, including asset lending, workout/foreclosures, legal file audits, and developing standard forms and procedures

    Recognition & Honors

    • AV® Preeminent (Bar and Judiciary) Rated; Martindale-Hubbell
    • Best Lawyers in America, 2002-2025
    • Virginia Super Lawyers; Law & Politics, 2006-2012
    • Virginia Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition; Law & Politics, 2009-2010
    • Virginia’s Legal Elite; Virginia Business Magazine, 2008, 2018, 2020

    Associations

    • American College of Real Estate Lawyers; Senior Fellow, April 1989-present
    • Virginia State Bar; Real Property Section; Board of Governors, 1982–1988; Chairman, 1988-1997; Area Representative, 1988–present; Trusts and Estate Section
    • Virginia Bar Association; Real Estate Section Council, 1994–2000; Wills, Trust and Estates Section, Member
    • Virginia Beach Bar Association
    • Norfolk-Portsmouth Bar Association; Chairman, Young Lawyers Section, 1979
    • Tidewater Builders Association, former Associate Member
    • Helen G. Gifford Foundation; Director
    • Central Business District Association; Member, Executive Committee of the Board of Directors; Member, Strategic Growth Area Committee
    • Jewish Community Center of South Hampton Roads Foundation; Trustee
    • Tidewater Jewish Foundation; Director; Chair, Gift Acceptance; Member, Investment Committee

    Education

    • University of Virginia; B.A., 1969
    • University of Richmond School of Law; J.D., 1972

    Press & Publications