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.
Richard Spencer
Attorney / Shareholder
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
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 CLEReceived 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