People

Sam Spiritos’ clients recognize him as a sophisticated transactional attorney, a trusted business advisor and an effective negotiator who truly understands their business needs. Over the course of his thirty-plus year career of successful deal-making, Sam has developed a masterful legal ability and strong relationships with many key players in the real estate markets in DC, Maryland, Northern Virginia and throughout the country. He draws upon this experience (which includes training at a “big law” firm), along with his education credentials, to provide efficient legal services and strategic guidance that enables his clients to succeed and grow.

“Working with Sam Spiritos and the real estate attorneys at Shulman Rogers is like having an in-house legal team. I know they have other clients – but I always feel like I am their top priority. They have been instrumental in helping us with strategic acquisitions around the country and providing support throughout the life cycle of our various real estate assets. As a young and growing company … we rely on the folks at Shulman Rogers to help us manage risk and spot the opportunities that will contribute to our continued growth.”

— Elliott Estes, Woodmont Lodging

“We call him when we need a high degree of sophistication, knowledge of and relationships within the greater D.C. real estate market. He’s one of the most connected people in the field, and his willingness to make introductions to other players along with his skills, have always benefited me. He takes my business so seriously, one might think it was his own.”

— Steve Cumbie, NVCommercial, Inc.

A nationally-recognized authority on hospitality-related issues, Sam chairs the firm’s Hospitality Practice, focusing on deal structuring, purchase and sale contracts, franchise agreements, management agreements, financings (representing creditors and owners), joint ventures, construction and development. Clients including international hotel operators, boutique hotel groups, casino and gaming operators and private clubs benefit from Sam’s unique skill set, his strong business sense and the 360 perspective he brings to every transaction.

Sam has proudly served as the Managing Shareholder of Shulman Rogers since 2013 and has deftly navigated the firm through many changes, including the unprecedented and unforeseeable challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. He has been named to The Daily Record’s Power 100 List since 2022, celebrating influential individuals shaping Maryland’s culture, lifestyle, civic dialogue and economic success. His leadership position has afforded him the opportunity to develop relationships with business leaders and elected officials, and he appreciates that he can extend those relationships and make valuable connections for his clients.

In addition to being Managing Shareholder, Sam actively advises clients in commercial real estate transactions involving all asset classes. In this role, he serves many of the preeminent players in some of the largest and most complex acquisition and development projects in the DC Metro Area and nationwide. In the financing arena, Sam represents lenders and borrowers in commercial loan transactions, particularly acquisitions and development financings, asset-based lending, health care financings, construction and permanent loans, retail, office and hotel development and financings, and workouts.

Clients consistently express their appreciation to Sam for his pragmatic and on-point legal advice, and business sense and for the meaningful connections to deals, investors, lenders and other opportunities that he generates for them.

“I trust and value his judgment as a lawyer and a business advisor. He’s also the best at thinking ahead in terms of who I need to meet.”

–Charles Gravely, Zuckerman Gravely

“Sam is always looking to introduce us to development or acquisition opportunities, and we have capitalized on Sam’s relationships.”

–Cameron Pratt, Foulger-Pratt Companies

Recognized for his thought leadership in the hospitality industry, Sam is frequently invited to speak at industry events including the Georgetown University Hotel and Lodging Summit (Purchase and Sale of Pandemic – Distressed Hospitality Assets), ALIS Hotel Conference (Negotiating Hotel Acquisition Agreements) and The Lodging Conference (Negotiating Franchise Agreements and Debt Markets: Refinancing, Acquisition and Construction Loans).