Hugh M. Fain, III
Attorney, Shareholder

- hfain@spottsfain.com
- tel: (804) 697-2040
- fax: 804) 697-2140
- 411 E. Franklin Street, Suite 600
Richmond, VA 23219 - Download vCard
- Print Page


Hugh Fain has been a litigator and dispute resolver for over thirty-eight years. With broad experience as a civil trial attorney, his practice has focused on commercial and business litigation, including contract disputes, business torts, employment law, intellectual property, construction litigation, and shareholder and partnership disputes. Hugh is licensed in both Texas and Virginia.
Hugh is Past President of the Virginia Bar Association and Past President of the Bar Association of the City of Richmond. He has been named by his peers in Chambers USA and Best Lawyers in America in four categories; Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Employment Litigation, and Intellectual Property Litigation. Hugh is a Fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation.
Education
- University of Virginia School of Law (J.D., 1983) Raven Society
- Virginia Military Institute (B.A., Economics, with distinction, 1980)
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
- Texas
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Virginia Bar Association
- Past President
- Richmond Bar Association
- Past President
- VMI Board of Visitors
- Member, July 2017--
- VMI Foundation, Inc.
- Past President
- VMI Alumni Association, Inc.
- Past President
- Innsbrook Rotary Club
- Past President
- Texas State Bar, Member
Honors and Awards
- Virginia Super Lawyers 2021 Top 50: Richmond and Top 100: Virginia
- Best Lawyers in America, Lawyer of the Year 2021 and 2023 for Bet-the-Company Litigation in Richmond, Virginia
- Best Lawyers in America 2010-2023 for Bet-the-Company Litigation, Richmond, Virginia
- Best Lawyers in America 2008-2023 for Commercial Litigation, Richmond, Virginia
- Best Lawyers in America 2011-2023 for Employment Litigation, Richmond, Virginia
- Best Lawyers in America 2011-2023 for Intellectual Property Litigation, Richmond, Virginia
- Virginia Business magazine's Legal Elite 2003 - 2022 for Civil Litigation
- Chambers USA 2014-2018 for Litigation (Virginia)
- The Virginia Bar Association's 2016 Walker Award of Merit
- Virginia Lawyers Weekly's Leaders in the Law 2014
- Virginia Super Lawyers 2006 - 2021 for Business Litigation
- Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
Classes/Seminars Taught
- Faculty, Virginia State Bar Harry L. Carrico Professionalism Course, 2013-2016
- Ethical and Other Considerations in Business Divorces, January 11, 2012
- Best Practices in Circuit Court: An Interactive Judges' Forum for Richmond Area Litigators, Moderator, April 3, 2012
- Difficult Depositions, Virginia CLE, August 28, 2009
- Best Practices in Circuit Court: An Interactive Judges' Forum for Richmond-Area Litigators: Pleadings, Practice, Discovery, and Expert Witnesses, Virginia CLE, February 24, 2009
Published Works
- Pooling and Unitization in Virginia: The Law, the Regulations And the Reality, Landman - Official Journal of the American Association of Professional Landmen, May/June, 1993