Samuel Y. Lee

Known for his practical approach, Sam Lee helps clients align legal strategy with investment objectives, navigate complex deal issues, and execute transactions efficiently—particularly in fast-moving and high-value commercial real estate markets.

Sam advises national, regional, and Virginia-based clients on sophisticated commercial real estate transactions throughout the U.S., with a particular focus on deals involving institutional investors, national REITs, privately held real estate companies, developers and publicly traded investment firms.

Sam’s practice covers the full lifecycle of commercial real estate investments, including real estate acquisitions and dispositions, ground-up development, redevelopment, landlord and tenant leasing, construction contracting, real estate finance, loan documentation, due diligence, purchase and sale agreements, and complex contract negotiation. He regularly advises clients on transactions involving single-asset deals, portfolio acquisitions, and multi-state real estate investments.

A key member of real estate transaction teams, Sam’s experience spans a wide range of commercial asset classes, including office, retail, industrial and logistics facilities, multifamily housing, hospitality properties, and mixed-use developments, allowing him to tailor deal strategies to asset-specific, market-driven, and financing-related considerations.

In addition to his legal practice, Sam serves on the Executive Committee of the Richmond Bar Association Real Estate Section and acts as General Counsel and a member of the Board of Directors for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Richmond, reflecting his leadership within the Virginia commercial real estate legal community and his commitment to service.

Sam earned his Juris Doctor from William & Mary Law School, where he served on the William & Mary Business Law Review, and his Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Kansas. During law school, he served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Christopher C. Conner of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.