Valerie Long focuses her practice on real estate transactions and land use matters. Ms. Long represents parties in all phases of acquisition, disposition and development of commercial, residential and industrial properties, including drafting and negotiating of contracts, due diligence and closings. She is highly experienced in all aspects of large-scale commercial, residential and industrial developments and has experience representing both borrowers and lenders in commercial lending transactions.

Valerie Long focuses her practice on real estate transactions and land use matters. Ms. Long represents parties in all phases of acquisition, disposition and development of commercial, residential and industrial properties, including drafting and negotiating of contracts, due diligence and closings. She is highly experienced in all aspects of large-scale commercial, residential and industrial developments and has experience representing both borrowers and lenders in commercial lending transactions.

Ms. Long regularly guides clients through the intricacies of obtaining local government land use approvals. Her experience includes rezonings, special use permits and variances for numerous large, mixed-use developments, shopping centers, a community hospital, research parks, residential developments, industrial sites, over 60 wireless telecommunications facilities, and the creation of a new zoning district for a national historic landmark. Ms. Long has experience drafting conservation easements and also advises clients on applicable land use regulations prior to acquisition and/or development of property.

Ms. Long is listed in Virginia Super Lawyers Rising Stars magazine and has been named one of Virginia’s “Legal Elite” by Virginia Business magazine. The Best Lawyers in America has recognized Ms. Long as a top attorney for both Land Use & Zoning and Real Esate Law.

She is a member of the Virginia State Bar, the Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association and the Virginia Bar Association. She currently serves on the boards of directors of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Smart Beginnings Leadership Council. She has served on the board of directors of the Free Enterprise Forum and was chairman of the board for two terms. In addition, Ms. Long was appointed by the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors to serve on the Albemarle County Development Process Review Task Force which proposed measures to improve the review process for land use matters. She was a member of the United Way Executive Committee from 2001 to 2004 and the Board of Directors from 2000 to 2009. She is a 1999 graduate of Leadership Charlottesville.

Ms. Long earned her bachelor of arts degree, cum laude, from Tulane University in 1992 and her juris doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1998. While in law school, Ms. Long served on the managing board of the Virginia Environmental Law Journal.