Richard L. Spencer is a recognized expert in Real Estate lending and law.  For 12 years he has been a Best Lawyer in America and for 20 years honored as a Super Lawyer. Spencer is triple-board certified in real estate law and was a member of the Texas Board of Legal Specialization real estate advisory commission. He is a Fellow in the American College of Real Estate Attorneys, a Director of the Texas Bar College, and was Chairman of both the Real Property Probate and Trust Law Section of the State Bar Texas and the Texas College of Real Estate Attorneys. Rick chaired the Texas Real Estate Forms Committee and the committee that drafted and passed the Texas Assignment of Rents Act (Ch. 64 of the Tex. Property Code).  Spencer is also a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and a well-recognized Course Director, author, and presenter in advanced real estate law seminars. He is the recipient of the Jim Bowmer Professionalism Award, Weatherbie Workhorse Award, and Standing Ovation Award from the State Bar of Texas.  Rick is a board member of the Hay Center Foundation and a former Chair.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

  • 1981-2020 Founding Member and President; West University Rotary Club. HAY Center Foundation; Chairman, Board of Directors; Recognized with “Raise-a-Glass” award. West U Rotary Foundation; Board of Directors. MS-150; 6-time participant and Club 300 member. Director for Graduate Business Network; University of Texas Austin. American Heart Association; Jump Rope for Hearts-Board Member.
  • Treasurer and Secretary; Tri-Sports Association of West University Place
  • Scholarship Committee; Texas Ex-Students Association

FEATURED TRANSACTIONS

  • Documented $166 Billion ¥ loan for Japanese lending group.
  • Represented client, as provider, in $1Billion+ services contract. * Documented $60 Million land loan for Japanese lending group.
  • Orchestrated the $55 million financing of the Magnolia Hotel.
  • Represented a $660 million work-out portfolio for First City, Texas. * Conducted nearly 2,000 real property foreclosures. * Documented a mixed-use downtown development with two hotels, condominiums, and retail. * Represented Seller in sale of 825 acres for single family development.
  • Represented a developer in a 2,500 acre master-planned development.
  • Acquired and sold over 5,000 apartment units.
  • Acted as expert witness on real estate foreclosure, legal malpractice, and ethics matters.
  • Cleaned title and worked with Toll Road Authority for consents on $200 Million industrial Project on Houston Ship Channel.
  • Purchased $13 million ranch in South Texas.
  • Represented foundation in grant and land acquisition for housing for former foster youth.

Admitted to Practice

States:
State Bar of Texas
United States District Courts:
Northern District of Texas
Southern District of Texas
United States Courts of Appeals:
Fifth Circuit
Other Admissions:
United States Supreme Court

Education

College of Law, University of Houston, J.D.
Author of: "Commerce v. Consumer, a Texas Position on Due-On-Sale Clauses."
Graduate School of Business, University of Texas at Austin, M.B.A. with concentrations in Finance and Accounting
Author of: "Accounting and Financial Problems and Procedures of a Brazilian Multinational Firm."
University of Texas at Austin, B.B.A. in Finance and Accounting

Recognition, Honors, and Achievements

PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT
Fellow, American College of Real Estate Lawyers.
Board Certified in Commercial and Residential Real Estate Law, 1989-Present, & POA law 2019. Chairman, Texas Assignment of Rents Act Drafting Committee (Ch. 64 Texas Property Code)
Chairman, Texas Real Estate Forms Committee, 2010-2016, Member, 1991-2018.
Chairman, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, 2014-15, Council Member 2000-2004.
Chairman, Texas College of Real Estate Attorneys, 2004-’08, Board of Directors, 2003-’08.
Board of Directors, State Bar College, 36-year Member and Life Fellow.
Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Real Estate Advisory Commission.
State Bar of Texas, 4 D-10 Grievance Committee, 6-year Member.
Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow.
Houston Real Estate Lawyers Council, Member.
American Inns of Court, Master.
Licensed Real Estate Broker-Texas.
Committee on Brokers and Brokerage-ABA; and
Briefing Attorney, Hon. Richard N. Countiss, Texas Court of Appeals.

LEGAL HONORS
State Bar of Texas: “Weatherbie Workhorse” Award, 2014.
State Bar CLE: “Standing Ovation” Award 2015.
State Bar College: Jim Bowmer “Professionalism” Award 2016.
Best Lawyers in America-Real Estate 13 years.
Texas Monthly “Super Lawyer” 20 yrs.
ConnectCRE 2022 Lawyers in Real Estate Award.
H-Magazine “Top Lawyer”.
“AV” rated by Martindale Hubbell; and
AVVO rating of “10”—Superb.

CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATIONS
Course Director:

State Bar of Texas-Advanced Real Estate Law, 2000.
Advanced Real Estate Drafting, 2007.
Advanced Real Estate Strategies, 2015.
University of Texas; Mortgage Lending Institute, 2001 & 2009.
Leasing Institute 2004 & 2005; and
South Texas College of Law Real Estate Course, 2002.
Author and Speaker: 81 times
CLE Planning Committees: 75 times