Paul W. Gerhardt
Biography
Paul is the Managing Director of Kaufman & Canoles’ Richmond office as well as a member of the firm’s Williamsburg office. He serves on the firm’s Executive Committee and is a member of the firm’s Real Estate Strategies Group and Health Care Group. Paul represents owners, lenders and developers in all aspects of real estate related transactions, including land use and entitlements, sales, purchases, leasing, construction and financing, and loan workouts and restructuring. He regularly negotiates lease agreements for land, office, retail and industrial space.
As a member of the firm’s Health Care Practice Group, Paul also leads the Senior Housing and Care Team at Kaufman & Canoles and has extensive experience serving the unique needs of developers and owners and operators of senior housing and long-term care facilities. He provides legal counsel with the day-to-day operational needs and the intermittent transactional needs of his clients, which include for-profit and nonprofit developers, owners and operators of independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing facilities. Additionally, Paul serves as General Counsel to a leading continuing care retirement community operator.
Representative Matters
- Advises clients in the acquisition, development and financing of commercial and residential properties such as shopping centers, hospitality properties, planned communities, office buildings, hotels, mixed-use properties, assisted living facilities and industrial properties
- Counseled client in the acquisition and development of healthcare-based community and creation of a community development authority supported with tax-exempt financing
- Serves as General Counsel to a leading Continuing Care Retirement Community and counsels clients in the area of senior continuing care and housing
- Counsels borrowers and lenders in project construction, financing, and loan restructuring transactions
- Negotiates lease agreements for land, office space, and retail and industrial space
- Advocates on behalf of clients before planning commissions and local governing bodies in issues pertaining to land use and zoning
Recognition & Honors
- Best Lawyers in America, 2012-2025
- AV® Rated; Martindale-Hubbell
- Norfolk Real Estate Lawyer of the Year; Best Lawyers in America, 2022
- Virginia Super Lawyers; Law & Politics, 2006, 2010-2012
- Virginia’s Legal Elite; Virginia Business Magazine, 2004, 2009-2014, 2016-2023
- Top Lawyers; CoVaBIZ Magazine, 2020
Associations
- James City County Economic Development Authority; Former Director, 2008-2018; Chairman, 2012-2013
- Williamsburg Health Foundation; Member, Board of Trustees, 2013-2021; Executive Committee and Chair, Governance and Nominating Committee, 2016-2021
- Hampton Roads Association of Commercial Real Estate (HRACRE); Former Board Member, 1994-2007; Past President, 2002, President’s Council
- Williamsburg Community Foundation; Former Trustee, 2012-2018; Chair, Board of Trustees, 2016-2018
- American Health Lawyers Association; Post-Acute and Long Term Services Practice Group
- LeadingAge
- Virginia State Bar; Real Property, Business Law, and Health Law Sections
- Virginia Bar Association; Real Estate Section
- Williamsburg Bar Association
- Wyoming State Bar
Education
- Washington & Lee University; B.A., 1979
- Washington & Lee University School of Law; J.D., cum laude, 1984
Press & Publications
- 55 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America 2025, 7 Named “Lawyer of the Year,” and 13 Named “Ones to Watch”
- Kaufman & Canoles Ushers in New Era with Leadership Transition
- 53 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2023
- 54 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America© 2024, 6 Named “Lawyer of the Year,” and 10 Named “Ones to Watch”
- 53 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2022
- 48 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers In America© 2023, 5 Named “Lawyer of the Year” and 8 Named “Ones to Watch”
- 52 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2021
- 48 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America© 2022, 4 Named “Lawyer of the Year” and 8 Named “Ones to Watch”
- 53 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2020
- 46 Attorneys Named “Best Lawyers in America 2021”, 5 Named “Lawyer of the Year” and 7 Named “Ones to Watch”
- 45 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named CoVaBIZ Magazine’s “Top Lawyers” 2020
- 48 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2019
- 45 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America 2020 and 3 Named “Lawyer of the Year”
- 48 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2018
- 43 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named “Best Lawyers in America 2019” and 8 Named “Lawyers of the Year”
- 46 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America 2018
- 48 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2017
- 48 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2016
- 40 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America 2017
- Paul W. Gerhardt Elected to Executive Committee
- 42 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2016
- 45 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2014
- 42 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2015
- 54 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2013
- 42 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2014
- 55 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2012
- 41 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2013
- 40 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers 2012 and 14 Named as Rising Stars 2012
- 53 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2011
- 40 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2012
- 36 K&C Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers 2011 and 14 Named as Rising Stars 2011
- 39 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2010
- 31 K&C Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers & 11 Named as Rising Stars 2010
- Real Estate Strategies Update – “Inverse Condemnation” Explained