Richard Spencer

Attorney / Shareholder
3200 Southwest Freeway
Suite 3200
Houston, TX 77027
713.403.4200
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Richard (Rick) Spencer is recognized throughout Texas as a leader in real estate law and is triple board-certified in Commercial and Residential Real Estate Law. Throughout his career, he has represented a wide range of businesses and individuals in purchases and sales, contracts, business conflicts, commercial transactions, complex financings, securities fraud, corporate matters, and stock and asset acquisitions. Rick has also served as an expert witness and litigation consultant on several legal, ethical and business matters and has successfully drafted and helped pass new real estate statutes before the Texas Legislature.

Rick received both his B.B.A. and his M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and his J.D. from the University of Houston. Most recently, he was recognized as one of the best The Best Lawyers in America© (2022) in Real Estate Law. Rick also has received the Weatherbie Workhorse Award by State Bar of Texas CLE (2014), the Standing Ovation Award from State Bar of Texas CLE (2015), the Jim Bowmer Professionalism Award by Texas Bar College (2016). He was voted a Top-Rated Lawyer (Super Lawyers, 2003-2019). He has received an AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell.

Practice Areas

Banking and Finance
Commercial Real Estate
Transactional Law

Admitted to Practice

State Bar of Texas
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. District Court
Federal District
Northern and Southern Districts of Texas
U.S. Court of Appeals
5th Circuit

Education

University of Houston, J.D.
University of Texas at Austin, M.B.A.
University of Texas at Austin, B.B.A.

Recognition, Honors, and Achievements

Awarded 2014 Weatherbie Workhorse Award by State Bar of Texas CLE
Received 2015 Standing Ovation Award from State Bar of Texas CLE
Presented Jim Bowmer Professionalism Award in 2016 by Texas Bar College
Voted a Top Rated Lawyer 2003-2019 by Super Lawyers, part of Thompson Reuters
Rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell

Representative Commercial Real Estate Matters


Real Estate Brokers
  • Negotiated numerous pipeline and utility easements for both landowners and pipelines.
  • Purchased $13 million ranch in South Texas
  • Represented office sharing client in numerous office leases
  • Represented non-profit in obtaining $25 Million “Harvey” grants and acquisition of land for construction of HAY Center campus
  • Cleaned title and worked with Toll Road Authority for consents on $200 Million industrial project on Houston Ship Channel
  • Represented client, as provider, in $1Billion+ services contract
  • Represented a City in the acquisition of a YMCA property.
  • Represented a developer in a 2,500 acre master-planned development
  • Orchestrated the $55 million financing of the Magnolia Hotel
  • Represented seller in stock sale of entity owning $33 Million Hotel
  • Represented a $600 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 appraisal district in collection of ad valorem taxes
  • Represented a purchaser of several automobile dealerships
  • Facilitated a land swap between the Houston Museum of Fine Arts and the First Presbyterian Church, allowing museum expansion and increased access to parking for both entities.
  • Acquired and sold over 5,000 apartment units
  • Acted as expert witness on real estate matters
  • Acquired and financed hospitality properties
  • Acquired third-largest citrus fruit producer in Rio Grande Valley
  • Provided local counsel legal opinions in lending transactions totaling over $3 Billion