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Contact Information

4507 Irvington Road
Suite 300
Irvington, Virginia 22480
(804) 438-9895
(804) 697-2087
(804) 697-2187 (fax)
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Current Employment Position(s):

Associate

Areas of Practice:

  • Conservation Easements
  • Agriculture Law
  • Business & Commercial Law
  • Business Organizations
  • Litigation & Appeals
  • Real Estate Law
  • Land Use & Zoning
  • State, Local & Municipal Law
Litigation Percentage:

75% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions:

  • Virginia
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Virginia
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Virginia
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit
Published Works:

  • Wine Tasting Activities in Virginia: Is America's First Wine Producing State Destined to Wither on the Vine Due to Overregulation?, (Co-Author), 23 T.M. Cooley L. Rev. 221, 2, 2006

  • Sustainable Forestry in Virginia: Opportunities for Overdue Legislation and Options for Private Landowners, 7 Appalachian J.L. 1, 1, 2007

  • Nothing in My Backyard? The Case Against Expanding Third Party Rights to Challenge Local Land Use Decisions in Virginia, 39 ELR 10097, February, 2009

Representative Cases:

  • J.P. v. County School Board, 516 F.3d 254 (U.S. 4th Cir. 2008)

  • Jakabcin v. Town of Front Royal, 71 Va. 660, 628 SE2d 319 (on Brief) (Va. Sup. Ct. 2006)


Robert J. Allen

Robert J. Allen is an associate with the firm. He divides his time between the main Richmond office and the Irvington office that serves clients on the Northern Neck. He is admitted to practice in all Virginia state and federal courts, and he has argued appellate cases in the Virginia Supreme Court and the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Robert's practice focuses on civil litigation, business law, and commercial real estate.  A significant portion of his transactional practice involves placing conservation easements for property owners in Virginia. His litigation practice is concentrated in commercial landlord-tenant disputes, construction matters and other contract cases. Prior to joining Spotts Fain PC, Robert was in private practice in Richmond focusing primarily on land use and zoning litigation and representation of Virginia farm wineries. He also has experience in the areas of special education and personal injury.

Robert earned his B.S. in City Planning from the University of Virginia School of Architecture in 1999 and his J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law in 2003. He was raised in Essex County, Virginia and, in his spare time, he enjoys hunting, fishing and golf.

Articles:

Purchase of Development Rights: Another Option for Conservation Minded Landowners

Farm Bill Improves Tax Benefits for Donors of Conservation Easements

Nothing in My Backyard? The Case Against Expanding Third Party Rights to Challenge Local Land Use Decisions in Virginia

Education:
  • University of Richmond, The T.C. Williams School of Law, Richmond, Virginia, 2003
    J.D.
    Honors: Moot Court Board

  • University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, 1999
    B.S.
    Honors: Echols Scholar
    Major:  City Planning
    Minor:  Environmental Science

Professional Associations and Memberships:
  • Virginia State Bar
  • Virginia Bar Association
  • Richmond Bar Association
  • Northern Neck Bar Association
  • Essex County Countryside Alliance
    Board of Directors
Birth Information:

1977, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America

October 5, 2010 - Mike Rothermel will speak at a seminar in Richmond, Practical Guide to Zoning and Land Use Law

August 20, 2010 - Michael Yager, a Legal Assistant in our Litigation Section, spoke at a NALA LIVE! presentation on electronic discovery, "E-Discovery - Slow Down the Train" 

August 5, 2010 - Four Spotts Fain lawyers named in Best Lawyers in America, Meade Spotts, Hugh Fain, Robert Chappell and Dana McDaniel.

August 2, 2010 - Spotts Fain attorney, Lee Stephens assisted clients with first Fort Pickett Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) conservation easement held by a State agency.

July 28, 2010 - Lessons on Charitable Conservation Contributions from Schneidelman v. Commissioner, by Robert Allen and Lee Stephens.

July 2010 - Spotts Fain congratulates Brian Marron, who begins his term as President of the Greater Richmond Bar Foundation.

July 9, 2010 - 'Much Ado About Nothing' - Bilski v. Kappos, by Bob Barrett.

June 23, 2010 - We are proud to announce that six Spotts Fain lawyers were named in the Virginia Super Lawyers list for 2010 and six named Virginia Rising Stars.

June 21, 2010 - Section 1031 Update - Exchange Facilitators Act is effective July 1, 2010, by John Anderson

June 19, 2010 - You may be required to notify your employees of their right to join a union, by Betsy Davis.

June 15, 2010 - Spotts Fain Creditors' Rights lawyers spoke at a Virginia Association of Community Banks Teleseminar on Bankruptcy and Collections

May 24, 2010 - Virginia Supreme Court Affirms Circuit Court Decision Confirming Arbitration Award in Dispute Involving a Limited Liability Company, by Andrew Oxenreiter and John Anderson.

May 18, 2010 - Health Care Reform - Priorities for Employers 2010 by Elliot Fitzgerald

May 13, 2010 - Mark With Care: The Rise of § 292 False Patent Marking Lawsuits, by Bob Barrett.

April 23, 2010 - Business people should be aware of the consequences for violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

April 23, 2010 - Bob Barrett presented The $612.5 Million Question: How to protect your intellectual property at the Greater Richmond Chamber.

April 7, 2010 - The Spotts Fain Intellectual Property Team welcomes Bob Barrett to our growing practice group.

April 1, 2010 - We are very pleased to announce that Connell Mullins has been elected a shareholder of the firm and Deborah Fourness has been elected a director. 

January 27, 2010 - We are proud to announce that Spotts Fain Managing Director, Hugh M. Fain, III has been elected Chair of the Board of Governors of the Virginia Bar Association

Spotts Fain Consulting