WTOP: Why law firm, 50 years in, continues to think like a startup
March 3, 2023
Shulman Rogers hit the 50-year mark in 2022, but that’s less interesting to Managing Partner Sam Spiritos than ensuring the law firm keeps thinking like a startup.
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.”
“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 was recently named to The Daily Record’s Power 100 List for 2023, recognizing men and women who play an outsized role in the culture, lifestyle, civic conversation and economic fortunes of Maryland. 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).
Acquisitions, Financing and Leasing
Square 85 Assemblage
1900, 1920, L Street and 1020 19th St., N.W.
311,062 sq/ft buildings
Prime Class A redevelopment site
Acquisition, Financing and Leasing
1400 Eye Street, N.W.
175,000 sq/ft office building subject to
WMATA ground lease
Acquisition, Financing and Leasing
1625 K Street, N.W.
121,000 sq/ft office building
Hotel Joint Venture and Mixed Use Development
City Market at O
880 P Street, N.W.
182 room hotel in 1,000,000 sq/ft
Acquisition, Financing, and Development
“The Swift” in Petworth, Washington, D.C.
62,400 sq/ft grocery store
220 multi-family units
Acquisition, Financing, Leasing and Disposition
1350 Eye Street, N.W.
381,000 sq/ft office building
Acquisition, Financing and Development
Tysons Central – Silver Line
Rt. 7 and Rt. 123
1,500,000 sq/ft mixed use project
Apartments, office, hotel and retail
Acquisition, Financing and Development
Rutherford Crossing
151 Market Street, Winchester
400,000 + sq/ft shopping center
Acquisition and Financing
493 units – Fairfield Crossing Apts.
7703 Lee Highway, Falls Church
Hotel Development and Financing
Homewood Suites
Dulles International Airport
2185 Fox Mill Road, Herndon
Acquisition and Financing
BJ’s Wholesale Club
6607 Wilson Blvd., Falls Church
Acquisition and Financing
Gaithersburg Hilton
620 Perry Parkway, Gaithersburg
Lord Baltimore Hotel
20 W Baltimore St.
Baltimore
Acquisition, Financing and Development
Luxury Condominium Building
4990 Fairmont, Bethesda
March 3, 2023
Shulman Rogers hit the 50-year mark in 2022, but that’s less interesting to Managing Partner Sam Spiritos than ensuring the law firm keeps thinking like a startup.
January 3, 2023
Shulman Rogers’ Managing Shareholder, Sam Spiritos was honored to be profiled in The Daily Record for his inclusion on its […]
November 1, 2022
As part of its commitment to the growth of minority-owned businesses, the Shulman Rogers Law Firm today announced that it will provide free legal support for one year to a Black-owned business in the D.C./Maryland/Virginia (DMV) region.
August 18, 2022
POTOMAC, Md., Aug, 18 2022 – Eighteen Shulman Rogers attorneys have been named to the 2023 Best Lawyers in America® […]
February 10, 2022
The Shulman Rogers’ Real Estate Team, including Alexis Peters, Samuel Spiritos and Colin Lynch, is pleased to assist with and announce the successful acquisition and financing of the Holiday Inn Asheville East by our client, Woodmont Lodging.
December 30, 2021
Shulman Rogers’ Managing Shareholder, Samuel M. Spiritos is honored to be included in The Daily Record’s Power 30 Law List, recognizing members of the Maryland legal community who have most successfully adjusted and adapted amid the coronavirus pandemic.
August 19, 2021
Shulman Rogers’ Managing Shareholder, Sam Spiritos, looks forward to leading a panel discussion at the Lodging Conference next month in Phoenix, Arizona.
August 19, 2021
Ten Shulman Rogers attorneys have been named to the 2022 Best Lawyers in America® list.
June 8, 2021
Shulman Rogers’ client, Broad Street Realty, Inc. recently completed mergers involving the 57,513 square foot Highlandtown Shopping Center in Baltimore, Maryland, the 233,486 square foot Cromwell Fields Shopping Center in Glen Burnie, Maryland and the 190,650 square foot Spotswood Shopping Center in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
April 5, 2021
The Shulman Rogers’ Real Estate Team, including Samuel Spiritos, Alexis Peters and Douglas Hirsch, was pleased to support Woodmont Lodging in its successful financing of ground lease capital for the renovations at the Sheraton Hotel in Brookfield, Wisconsin.
October 2, 2020
Samuel Spiritos, Shulman Rogers’ Managing Shareholder and Chair of the Firm’s Hospitality Law Group, is honored to serve as a panelist at the 9th Annual Hotel and Lodging Legal Summit, hosted by Georgetown CLE on October 21-23.
September 3, 2020
Shulman Rogers’ Managing Shareholder, Sam Spiritos, was pleased to be featured on CEO’s You Should Know, a weekly program produced by iHeartMedia and sponsored by M&T Bank, that profiles the businesses that drive our regional economy.
August 20, 2020
Thirteen Shulman Rogers attorneys have been named to the 2021 Best Lawyers in America® list.
July 16, 2020
Shulman Rogers’ client Woodmont Lodging, and partners, Blue Vista Capital Management and Milestone Companies, recently announced their joint venture recapitalization of the 388-room Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel in Wisconsin.
October 7, 2019
Shulman Rogers’ clients, Woodmont Lodging, a leading hotel company, and Milestone Companies, a premier full-service real estate development company specializing in hotel assets, today jointly announced the completed acquisition of the 98-room Fairfield Inn & Suites Pittsburgh Downtown.
September 5, 2018
POTOMAC, Md., Sept. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire — Six Shulman Rogers attorneys have been named to the 2019 Best Lawyers in America® list. Recognized attorneys […]
October 13, 2017
Five Shulman Rogers attorneys have been named to the 2018 Best Lawyers in America® list. Recognized attorneys and their respective practice […]
November 17, 2016
POTOMAC, Md., Nov. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Shulman Rogers represented Capital One in a syndicated credit facility of more than $100 million for a subsidiary […]
October 5, 2016
POTOMAC, Md., Oct. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — The Cordish Companies have acquired combined Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn properties, with plans to […]
September 23, 2016
Shulman Rogers served as lead pro bono counsel for Montgomery College Foundation for the acquisition of a 115,000 square foot […]
August 15, 2016
POTOMAC, Md., Aug. 15, 2016 — Shulman Rogers is pleased to announce the following attorneys were named to the 2017 Best […]
February 25, 2016
Montgomery County Attorney Samuel Spiritos Elected Chairman of Best Buddies Maryland Baltimore, MD – Best Buddies Maryland announces the recent election […]
December 2, 2015
Sam Spiritos, Managing Shareholder of Shulman Rogers, and Alexis Peters, Shareholder in Shulman Rogers’ Commercial Real Estate and Hospitality Groups, were […]
August 20, 2015
Sam Spiritos, Managing Shareholder of Shulman Rogers, was quoted in an article published by The Daily Record. Outside the Baltimore […]
August 18, 2015
POTOMAC, Md., Aug. 18, 2015 — Shulman Rogers is pleased to announce the following attorneys were named to the 2016 […]
May 11, 2015
POTOMAC, Md., May 11, 2015 — Shulman Rogers is pleased to announce the following attorneys were named to the 2015 […]