Local Knowledge | Regional Platform
We make it our business to know our communities. Our land use attorneys thrive at the intersection of local commerce, politics and civic life, leveraging local knowledge, experience and relationships to position our clients’ projects for success.
Williams Mullen’s land use team provides comprehensive guidance in all manner of land use and zoning matters, including preparing, submitting, negotiating, and defending our client’s applications for project entitlements before local government staff, planning commissions, elected bodies, and community stakeholders.
Local Knowledge | Regional Platform
We make it our business to know our communities. Our land use attorneys thrive at the intersection of local commerce, politics and civic life, leveraging local knowledge, experience and relationships to position our clients’ projects for success.
Williams Mullen’s land use team provides comprehensive guidance in all manner of land use and zoning matters, including preparing, submitting, negotiating, and defending our client’s applications for project entitlements before local government staff, planning commissions, elected bodies, and community stakeholders.
“Finding Yes” For Your Project
We assist clients with a broad array of land use and zoning needs, which include:
- Securing non-appealable project entitlements and approvals
- Zoning compliance and appeals
- Acquisition due diligence and site analysis
- Local ordinance amendments
- Site plan, plan of development and other administrative permitting and approval
- Right of way dedications and vacations
- Subdivisions
- Variances
- Historic preservation permitting
- Environmental permitting
- Economic development and local and state economic incentive packages
- Local government relations
What Makes Us Stand Out
Our Reach – It’s in the Numbers
Williams Mullen’s land use practice comprises seasoned attorneys strategically positioned in offices throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, from the Blue Ridge to the Potomac to the Oceanfront, and the State of North Carolina, based in Raleigh. Our formidable team of attorneys has led land use and zoning projects in 93 cities and counties throughout Virginia and over 90 counties in North Carolina.
More than a Useful Rolodex – Trusted Leaders in Land Use & Development
As a regional, full-service law firm, our attorneys proudly invest in the civic and political life of the places where we live, work and play. Our relationships attest to a foundation of trust from stakeholders in all corners of our communities, reflecting our team’s commitment to fostering quality investment in both the built environment and the human capital that brings those communities to life and sustains them.
Our team’s varied and well-honed skills evince the unique demands of this dynamic practice, such as navigating community opposition with targeted education and open communication, developing strategies for mitigating impacts of projects on environmental and historic resources, and building consensus based on our nuanced understanding of the shared values of our communities.
We take pride in our attorneys’ frequent awards and recognition as thought leaders on the legal, policy and political aspects of land development. Our team serves as trusted counselors to associations representing a broad sector of the housing development industry. These roles position us at the forefront of policymaking discussions concerning, for example, affordable housing tools, economic development incentives, cash proffers (i.e. monetary exactions), and a multitude of other key state and local government policies and regulations pertaining to land development.
Extensive Knowledge in Key Industries
While our team regularly assists in land use aspects of commercial real estate transactions in a diverse breadth of industry sectors, Williams Mullen commands a profound depth of experience and knowledge of certain industries. Our land use practitioners apply their understanding of and familiarity with the business realities of these sectors to maximize their effectiveness as advocates for typically complex and controversial land use cases. They include:
- Wireless Telecommunications
- Solar Energy
- Offshore Wind
- Affordable & Workforce Housing
- National Retail
- Master-Planned & Mixed-Use Developments
- Industrial
- Rural Conservation & Easements
- Represented West Broad Village, a 115-acre urban mixed-use development in Henrico County, Va., resulting in a total investment exceeding a value of $1 billion. Provided counsel on all matters related to land planning, amendment of the County’s Comprehensive Plan, rezoning and land use approval, environmental permitting, acquisition and related financing, Plan of Development (site plan) approval, subdivision, construction and related financing, condominium structure, owners’ association documents, residential lot sales and landlord lease negotiations. Approved master plan includes over 500,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, 884 residential units, 430 hotel rooms, and 600,000 square feet of office space in two 18-story towers.
- Rezoned 185 acres for The Village of Swift Creek in the County of Chesterfield, Va. Mixed-use development includes a shopping center with outparcels, office, light industrial, and up to 790 multifamily residential units. Representation included a waiver of development standards to permit location of company’s standard architectural style within shopping center and obtaining additional signage for shopping center.
- Counsel for the Shops at Stratford Hill in the City of Richmond, Va. Created and obtain approval of the first Community Unit Plan in 15 years in the City for a 420,000 square foot shopping center that would replace an existing depreciating center. Anchor retailers are Ukrop's and Target and at the time resulted in the second largest open-air retail center in the City of Richmond. Work involved all aspects of resolution of various title issues, economic development incentives, and resolution of zoning environmental, traffic and utility issues.
- Represented developer of 907-acre mixed-use development off Route 17 in Gloucester County, Va, named The Villages of Gloucester. Assisted with rezoning to permit a planned unit development golf course community, 21-acre business park and mix of housing types with up to 885 dwelling units. Amenities include a public par-72 championship golf course with a practice course and driving range, pro shop, and bar and grill; indoor and outdoor swimming pools; tennis courts; 13-acre public park and walking trails. Unique design features a village center with a mix of uses and housing types, significant open space, landscaping, and buffering that includes over 172 acres of parks. 47 percent of the land is contained in scenic open space with at least six miles of walking trails. The plan contains neo-traditional street and alley design, plus traffic calming measures. All homes are within a three-minute walk of a community center, recreation facility or open space.
News
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01.16.2024
15 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2024 North Carolina Super Lawyers List
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01.08.2024
25 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to CoVa Biz Magazine’s “Top Lawyers” of Coastal Virginia 2024
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11.02.2023
Williams Mullen Nationally Ranked in 20 Practice Areas by Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” 2024
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07.20.2023
The Virginia Supreme Court Has Made it Easier for Neighbors to Challenge Land Use Approvals - Here’s Why it Matters
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07.10.2023
Thomas Johnson Recognized Among the 10 Leading Lawyers in Land Use and Zoning Law in North Carolina
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01.18.2023
15 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2023 North Carolina Super Lawyers List; Camden and Kapp Named to Top List
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01.04.2023
20 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to CoVa Biz Magazine’s Top Lawyers of Coastal Virginia 2023
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11.03.2022
Williams Mullen Nationally Ranked in 16 Practice Areas by U.S. News - Best Lawyers ‘Best Law Firms’ 2023
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08.18.2022
24 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named "Ones To Watch" by Best Lawyers®
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08.18.2022
123 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©
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05.25.2022
Williams Mullen Welcomes Senior Land Use Planner Wayne P. Nicholas
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01.18.2022
16 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2022 North Carolina Super Lawyers List; Camden, Johnson, Kapp and Scott Named to Top List
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01.03.2022
23 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to CoVa Biz Magazine’s Top Lawyers of Coastal Virginia 2022
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11.04.2021
Williams Mullen Nationally Ranked in 16 Practice Areas by U.S. News - Best Lawyers 'Best Law Firms' 2022
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10.13.2021
Preston Lloyd Secures Zoning Approval for Highwoods Properties
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10.07.2021
Williams Mullen Welcomes Senior Land Use Planner Megan Nedostup
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08.23.2021
124 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©
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08.11.2021
Tom Johnson Secures Zoning Approval for Communications Tower Group
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07.26.2021
Tom Johnson Helps TowerCom with Rezoning Approval
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05.07.2021
32 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2021 Virginia Super Lawyers List; 11 Named 2021 Rising Stars
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01.14.2021
17 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2021 North Carolina Super Lawyers List; Camden, Kapp, Scott and Johnson Named to Top Lists
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01.12.2021
19 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to CoVa Biz Magazine’s Top Lawyers of Coastal Virginia 2021
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12.01.2020
61 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite for 2020
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09.15.2020
Recent Virginia Land Use Laws Provide New Tools for Solar Developers
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08.28.2020
Rowland v. Warrenton: Rezoning by Proffer Statement & After Planning Commission Denial
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08.20.2020
116 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©; Most Total Lawyers in Virginia
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05.18.2020
Wireless Industry Foresight and Tenacity Pay Off for the American Economy
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05.07.2020
35 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2020 Virginia Super Lawyers List; 13 Named 2020 Rising Stars
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04.28.2020
29 Williams Mullen Attorneys, 11 Practice Areas Recognized in Chambers USA 2020
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04.23.2020
Back to Business: Land Use Matters & Public Hearings in Virginia - Help is on the Way!
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03.30.2020
COVID-19 Emergency | Impacts on Land Use & Development in Virginia
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01.22.2020
10 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2020 North Carolina Super Lawyers List; Camden, Kapp and Scott Named to Top Lists
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12.17.2019
Williams Mullen Adds Associate to Real Estate Section
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12.04.2019
55 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite for 2019
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11.07.2019
Williams Mullen Nationally Ranked in 13 Practice Areas by U.S. News – Best Lawyers ‘Best Law Firms’ 2020
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08.26.2019
Preston Lloyd Helps Mattaponi Indian Tribe Negotiate Land Trust Agreement to Expand Reservation
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08.15.2019
119 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in 2020 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©
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06.19.2019
IRS Delivers Major Blow to Virginia’s Land Preservation Program
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06.18.2019
Tom Johnson Helps Client Win Approval for 288-Unit Apartment Complex in Southern Pines, N.C.
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06.06.2019
Tyler Rosá Named to CoVa BIZ's 2019 Millennials on the Move
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05.29.2019
Grady Palmer Helps Kotarides Development Earn Rezoning Approval for Chesapeake Mixed-Use Development
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05.23.2019
Preston Lloyd Helps Bonaventure Realty Group Win Land Use Rezoning Approval for 125-Unit Senior Living Facility
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05.07.2019
How Wireless Facility Zoning Gets Help from Recent Legislation
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04.25.2019
30 Williams Mullen Attorneys, 12 Practice Areas Recognized in Chambers USA 2019
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04.22.2019
The Second Tranche of Opportunity Zone Regulations: Answers to “Substantially All” of Our Lingering Questions
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04.10.2019
47 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2019 Virginia Super Lawyers List; 17 Named 2019 Rising Stars
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04.03.2019
Cart Reilly Receives Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association's 2019 Walter E. Hoffman Award
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02.27.2019
Preston Lloyd Helps Harper & Associates Get Special Use Permit for 111-unit Townhome Development in South Richmond
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02.22.2019
Williams Mullen Strengthens Real Estate Practice with Addition of Steve Romine in Hampton Roads
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02.05.2019
Virginia Business Highlights Lori Schweller's Arrival at Williams Mullen
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02.05.2019
11 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2019 North Carolina Super Lawyers List; Keith Kapp and Elizabeth Scott Named to Top Lists
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01.30.2019
Williams Mullen Adds Experienced Real Estate Attorney Lori Schweller in Charlottesville
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01.14.2019
Williams Mullen Helps Property Owner Gain Recommended Approval for Telecommunications Tower in Wilmington
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01.14.2019
Valerie Long Named to Inaugural Class of ‘Influential Women of Law’ by Virginia Lawyers Weekly
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11.30.2018
45 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite for 2018
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11.01.2018
Williams Mullen Ranked Nationally in 15 Practice Areas by U.S. News – Best Lawyers 'Best Law Firms' 2019
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10.24.2018
The Recent Qualified Opportunity Zone Guidance: What We Know, What We Don’t and What It All Means
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10.19.2018
Treasury and IRS Issue Proposed Qualified Opportunity Zone Regulations
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10.18.2018
Status Update on OZ Proposed Regulations
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09.18.2018
Preston Lloyd Testifies Before Virginia Housing Commission on Decline of Home Ownership in Virginia
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09.13.2018
Seeking Guidance? QO Zone Regulations Imminent
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09.05.2018
C-VILLE: Valerie Long helps shape the city’s landscape
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08.29.2018
Preston Lloyd Named to 2018 Class of Up & Coming Lawyers by Virginia Lawyers Weekly
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08.15.2018
110 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in Latest Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©
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07.26.2018
Williams Mullen Announces Qualified Opportunity Zones Resource Page
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05.24.2018
Williams Mullen Helps Tarleton Oak LLC Win BAR Approval for Five-Story Office Building in Charlottesville
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05.03.2018
29 Williams Mullen Attorneys, 12 Practice Areas Recognized in Chambers USA 2018 Guide
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05.01.2018
Williams Mullen Helps Erickson Living Acquire Land for Assisted Living Complex
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04.18.2018
53 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2018 Virginia Super Lawyers List; 20 Named 2018 Rising Stars
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03.21.2018
Williams Mullen Bolsters Real Estate, Land Use Practices with Addition of Tom Johnson
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03.14.2018
Preston Lloyd Helps HHHunt Secure Rezoning for 207-Acre Residential Development
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12.01.2017
46 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine's 2017 'Legal Elite'
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10.31.2017
Williams Mullen Helps TowerCom Obtain Special-Use Permit for Telecommunications Tower in Greene County, VA
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09.14.2017
Williams Mullen Helps UVA Foundation Secure Approval for UVA Indoor Golf Facility
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09.12.2017
Richmond’s Master Plan Update: A Rare Opportunity for the Real Estate Development Industry
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09.12.2017
Single Purpose Limited Liability Companies for Liability Protection: A Word of Caution
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08.14.2017
114 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2018
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08.14.2017
Nine Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2018 ‘Lawyers of the Year’ by The Best Lawyers in America
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05.26.2017
32 Williams Mullen Attorneys, 12 Practice Areas Recognized by Chambers USA for 2017
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04.14.2017
54 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2017 Virginia Super Lawyers List; 21 Named 2017 Rising Stars
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02.08.2017
Veteran Banking and Real Estate Attorney John Faber Joins Williams Mullen
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02.07.2017
Preston Lloyd Quoted in Richmond Times-Dispatch Article on Brook Road Apartment Project
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12.07.2016
50 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to Virginia Business magazine’s 2016 ‘Legal Elite’
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11.03.2016
Williams Mullen Ranked Nationally in 15 Legal Practices by U.S. News – Best Lawyers ‘Best Law Firms’ 2017
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08.15.2016
100 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2017 Best Lawyers in America
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07.15.2016
Valerie Long Comments on Proposal for Wireless Antennas in Charlottesville
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06.28.2016
UVA Law Grad Nicole Scro Joins Williams Mullen’s Charlottesville Office
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03.02.2016
Williams Mullen Welcomes Real Estate Partner Wyatt Booth
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02.17.2016
56 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2016 Virginia Super Lawyers; 22 Named 2016 Rising Stars
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01.27.2016
Valerie Long Quoted By Charlottesville Tomorrow About Cash Proffers in Albemarle County
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12.16.2015
Valerie Long Quoted by Charlottesville Tomorrow about a Developer's Request to Build Fewer Homes in a Community
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12.09.2015
50 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to Virginia Business magazine’s 2015 ‘Legal Elite’
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12.07.2015
Valerie Long Quoted by Charlottesville Tomorrow About Renaming a Road at New Shopping Center
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11.16.2015
Valerie Long Quoted by Charlottesville Tomorrow in Article About Rezoning Amendments
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08.17.2015
15 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2016 “Lawyers of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America
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08.17.2015
106 Williams Mullen Attorneys named 2016 Best Lawyers in America
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08.03.2015
Williams Mullen Bolsters Real Estate Practice with Addition of Land Use Attorney Grady Palmer
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07.08.2015
Valerie Long quoted in C-VILLE Weekly about Fifth Street Station shopping center
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03.05.2015
Preston Lloyd featured in Richmond BizSense article
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12.01.2014
Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to Virginia Business magazine’s 2014 “Legal Elite”
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08.18.2014
100 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2015 Best Lawyers in America
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07.01.2014
Valerie Long quoted in Charlottesville Tomorrow article about cell tower ordinances
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08.16.2013
100 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2014 Best Lawyers in America
Events
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01.23.2024
Valerie Long Joins Panel on the City of Charlottesville’s New Zoning Ordinance and Its Implementation
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04.13.2023
Renewable Energy Webinar Series: Virginia Land Use and Solar Permitting Considerations
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06.02.2022
Solar Webinar: Overview of Siting Agreements and Land Use Considerations for Solar and Energy Storage Projects in Virginia
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12.02.2020
ULI Virginia: Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2021
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05.14.2020
Lease or Cell: 21st Century Legal Issues in Leases and Easements for Cell Tower Facilities
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05.05.2020
Permitting Projects Amid COVID-19: Understanding the Impacts Ahead
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04.30.2019
Webinar: Land Use and Permitting Utility Scale Solar Projects in Virginia
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Charles B. Alvis
Associate- Phone:434.951.5725
- Email:Email
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Anthony J. Bologna
Associate- Phone:919.981.4029
- Email:Email
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Wyatt M. Booth
Partner- Phone:919.981.4031
- Email:Email
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Thomas H. "Tom" Johnson, Jr.
Partner- Phone:919.981.4006
- Email:Email
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T. Preston Lloyd, Jr.
Partner- Phone:804.420.6615
- Email:Email
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Valerie Wagner Long
Partner- Phone:434.951.5709
- Email:Email
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Megan Nedostup, AICP
Senior Land Use Planner*- Phone:434.951.5723
- Email:Email
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Grady A. Palmer
Partner- Phone:757.629.0606
- Email:Email
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Stephen R. Romine
Partner- Phone:757.473.5301
- Email:Email
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Tyler J. Rosá
Senior Associate- Phone:757.282.5052
- Email:Email
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Lori H. Schweller
Partner- Phone:434.951.5728
- Email:Email