Stephen R. Romine
Steve Romine focuses his practice on commercial real estate, land use, financing and business matters. He routinely serves as counsel for owners, developers, financial institutions, telecommunications companies and utilities in commercial transactions. His experience includes entity formation, acquisition, financing, land use approval, zoning, restructuring, leasing and environmental compliance.
Over the past 40 years, Steve has represented national lenders in multi-state financing transactions, navigated the zoning approval process for owners, telecommunications carriers, energy companies and utilities, and helped obtain land use and development approvals for national hotel chains, convenience stores and other retailers. He also has represented clients in the acquisition and financing of large commercial developments.
Steve is a former chair of the Virginia State Bar's Real Property Section and a former president of the Hampton Roads Association for Commercial Real Estate. He is a past chair of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce and is a member and trustee of its Regional Executive Committee. He currently chairs the Chamber's political action committee. In 2015, Steve was named the Hampton Roads Chamber's Volunteer of the Year. He also serves as chair-elect of the YMCA of South Hampton Roads and on its Executive Committee. In 2021, he received The Order of The Red Triangle Award for distinguished service to the YMCA. Steve is a fellow and a member of the Board of Governors of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, serves on the Board of Regents for the American College of Mortgage Attorneys, and is a member of The Counselors of Real Estate.
He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Corporate Law, Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law (2006-2022). Steve has also been listed in Virginia Super Lawyers for Land Use/Zoning Law (2012-2018) and has been named among Virginia's "Legal Elite" by Virginia Business magazine for Real Estate/Land Use (2004, 2007, 2009-2011, 2019-present) and Environmental Law (2015, 2018). In 2014, Virginia Lawyers Weekly named him among its Leaders in the Law.
Steve has published numerous articles on commercial real estate issues, served as an adjunct professor on land use law at two law schools, and lectures frequently on real estate law.
Steve earned his J.D., M.B.A. and B.A. from the University of Richmond.
- University of Richmond School of Law (J.D.), 1980
- University of Richmond (M.B.A.), 1983
- University of Richmond (B.A.), 1977
- magna cum laude
Professional Affiliations
- American College of Real Estate Lawyers - Board of Governors
- American College of Mortgage Attorneys - Board of Regents
- American Bar Association, Real Property Trust and Estate Law Section - Former Chair, Land Use and Environmental Committee; Former Member of the Section Council
- American Bar Association, Business Law Section - Section Liaison to Real Property Trust and Estate Law Section
- Virginia State Bar, Real Property Section - Chair (2002-2003)
- American Land Title Association - Past Chairman, Lenders' Counsel Group
- Hampton Roads Association for Commercial Real Estate - President (1999); Chair, President's Council (2008, 2015, 2024)
- Virginia Association for Commercial Real Estate - Chair (2003-2006); Board Member
- Hampton Roads Chamber - Past Chair (2021); Member and Trustee, Regional Executive Committee; Sports Commission, Chair (2008); Virginia Beach Division Chair (2006)
- Lead Hampton Roads - Chair (2010)
Community Involvements
- YMCA of South Hampton Roads – Chair-elect and member of Executive Committee
- Virginia Beach Neptune Festival – Board Member
Bar Admissions
- New York State Bar
- North Carolina State Bar
- Virginia State Bar
Court Admissions
- All Virginia Courts
- U.S. Supreme Court
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© for Corporate Law, Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law (2006-2022)
Listed in Virginia Super Lawyers for Land Use/Zoning (2012-2018)
Virginia Business - "Legal Elite," Real Estate/Land Use (2004, 2007, 2009-2011, 2019-2020, 2022); Environmental Law (2015, 2018)
Recognized as a Leader in the Law by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (2014)
Named the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce "Volunteer of the Year" (2015)
Recipient of The Order of The Red Triangle Award for distinguished service to the YMCA (2021)
CoVa Biz Magazine - "Top Lawyers of Coastal Virginia," (2022)
Chambers USA – Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use (2023-present)
Experience
- Represented international offshore wind developer in obtaining various permits, options and franchise rights to construct large BOEM regulated project.
- Represented a utility-scale solar developer in obtaining land use approvals for several utility scale solar and battery storage projects including use permits and the negotiation of siting agreements for revenue incentives.
- Represented national retailers in obtaining approvals for numerous convenience stores with gas facilities across Virginia and northeast North Carolina.
- Represented multiple telecommunications carriers and infrastructure providers in obtaining rezoning and use permits for construction of towers and related easements and entitlements.
- Represented FCC licensed telecommunications carrier in obtaining franchise and related agreements to allow for deployment of 5G network technology in public rights of way across Virginia.
- Served as lead Virginia Counsel on the transfer of an obsolete power plant in Alexandria, Virginia. Legal representation included land use/zoning, lease and easement terminations.
- Negotiated and closed transaction with special asset redeveloper including environmental approvals.
- Represented land developer in obtaining rezoning and use permit to develop multiple lot subdivision with substantial proffers and related conditions.
- Represented regulated power company in obtaining rezoning and use permits for two large scale electric producing power plants.
- Represented national outdoor advertising company in obtaining use permits for sites and conversion of existing inventory to digital technology.
- Recurring representation of various independent solar companies in obtaining rezoning and permits for utility scale solar plants.
“Steve was well focused on the business aspects as well as the legal needs of our project.”
“Stephen is an experienced lawyer.”
— Williams Mullen Client Feedback - Chambers USA, 2023 & 2024
