Laura Lee Garrett

"My clients are like precious gems to me. I realize how valuable they are to my success, and treat each one special. The investment of all my talents into their transactions has often led to friendships with my clients as well."

Laura Lee handles all client matters with great care and sense of urgency, a philosophy of law practice that has earned her the loyalty of a diverse client base of real estate professionals. Clients value her commitment to mitigating their risk exposure while ensuring smooth and efficient transaction closings. To serve the unique needs of her clients, Laura Lee frequently collaborates with other attorneys at the firm, leveraging their skill sets tailored to each situation.

Her clients include developers, end-users and lenders involved in the development, leasing, management of various commercial projects, spanning retail, office, multi-family, student housing, mixed-use, and healthcare facilities. With more than 33 years of experience in commercial real estate, Laura Lee is frequently sought after to navigate her clients through their most complex purchase, sale, and finance transactions. She has a niche practice representing developers and lenders in affordable housing projects with layered capital stacks involving LIHTC financing, bridge loans, VHDA or HUD construction financing and various grants and sponsor loans.

Laura Lee’s professional journey also includes past experience as in-house real estate counsel for two Fortune 500 retailers, Circuit City, and Richfood. Furthermore, she has contributed to academia as adjunct professor at her alma mater, William and Mary Law School, where she imparted knowledge on real estate transactions.

Actively engaged in giving back to the community, Laura Lee has held leadership positions in various non-profit organizations and industry trade groups. These include the Better Housing Coalition, RVA ToolBank, ULI, Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network (the industry's premier business networking organization), ChildSavers and Fan District civic associations.

Best Lawyers in America®, Real Estate Law, 2013 - 2025

Named to “Legal Elite” (Real Estate, Real Estate Land Use), Virginia Business, 2008, 2010 - 2012, 2018 - 2022, 2024

Virginia Super Lawyers, Real Estate, 2006 - 2009, 2012 - 2014

AIA Richmond 2012 Chapter Citation in recognition of positive influence on the built environment in the City of Richmond

Chosen one of CREW’s Top 20 Women in Commercial Real Estate, 2010

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association

Business and Civic Organizations

Innovating Commerce Serving Communities (ICSC)

Urban Land Institute, ULI Virginia Advisory Council

RVA ToolBank, Board of Directors, Talent Committee Chair

Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Richmond

To balance out her hectic schedule between private law practice and hosting guests at her short term rental, Laura Lee regularly practices Ashtanga yoga, a dynamic, physically demanding practice that synchronizes breath and movement to produce an internal heat designed to purify the body. She also spends as much time as possible in Nags Head, North Carolina enjoying her ocean-front home and helping her husband run their vacation cottages rental business, Sea Spray Cottages. She is a loyal UVA sports fan, and during basketball season can be found standing, not sitting, in front of the television cheering on the ‘Hoos.