Sam Spiritos is a seasoned transactional attorney and trusted business advisor known for his deep understanding of real estate markets in DC, Maryland, Northern Virginia and nationwide. With more than three decades of successful deal-making and a background in “big law,” Sam brings a rare combination of legal acumen, business insight and strong industry relationships to each client engagement.

Clients describe working with Sam as having a true partner in their business. “We call him when we need a high degree of sophistication, knowledge of and relationships within the greater D.C. real estate market,” says Steve Cumbie of NVCommercial, Inc. “He’s one of the most connected people in the field… His willingness to make introductions along with his skills has always benefited me. He takes my business so seriously, one might think it was his own.”

Sam chairs the firm’s Hospitality Practice and is a nationally recognized authority on hospitality transactions. His practice includes deal structuring, franchise and management agreements, financings, joint ventures and acquisitions and dispositions. Clients—including global hotel brands, boutique operators, casino groups and private clubs—value his industry knowledge, strategic thinking and 360-degree approach to every deal.

“Working with Sam Spiritos and the real estate attorneys at Shulman Rogers is like having an in-house legal team,” says Elliott Estes of Woodmont Lodging. “I know they have other clients – but I always feel like I am their top priority. As a young and growing company we rely on them to help us manage risk and spot the opportunities that will contribute to our continued growth.”

Since 2013, Sam has served as Managing Shareholder of Shulman Rogers, guiding the firm through strategic growth and change. He has been named to The Daily Record’s Power 100 List since 2022, recognized for his leadership and influence across Maryland’s business and civic communities. This role has also expanded his extensive network, which he frequently leverages on behalf of clients.

In addition to his leadership role, Sam maintains an active real estate practice representing many of the region’s leading developers and investors in high-value commercial transactions. He also counsels clients in complex financings including acquisition and development loans, asset-based lending, health care financings and workouts.

Sam’s clients consistently praise his sound legal judgment and ability to open doors. “I trust and value his judgment as a lawyer and a business advisor,” shares Charles Gravely of Zuckerman Gravely. “He’s also the best at thinking ahead in terms of who I need to meet.” Cameron Pratt of Foulger-Pratt adds, “Sam is always looking to introduce us to development or acquisition opportunities and we have capitalized on his relationships.”

Recognized for his thought leadership in hospitality, Sam is a frequent speaker at industry events including the Georgetown University Hotel and Lodging Summit, ALIS Hotel Conference and The Lodging Conference, where he presents on topics such as hotel acquisition agreements, franchise negotiations and real estate financing trends.

  • Broad Street, Board of Directors
  • Best Buddies Maryland, D.C. Metro Advisory Board Chair
  • American Bar Association, Member, Hospitality Committee
TDR Power 100 List (2023-Current)
Best Lawyers Award 2025
Martindale AV Award 2024

Results

OFFICE

  • 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
  • Acquisition, Financing, Leasing and Disposition, 1350 Eye Street, N.W., 381,000 sq/ft office building

MULTIFAMILY

  • Acquisition and Financing, 493 units – Fairfield Crossing Apts., 7703 Lee Highway, Falls Church
  • Acquisition, Financing and Development, Luxury Condominium Building, 4990 Fairmont in Bethesda
  • Negotiation of a $76,000,000 two-tiered loan for the acquisition of newly subdivided land and the development and construction of a 624-bed student housing building with ground-level retail known as Midtown Row, located adjacent to the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia

HOTEL

  • 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
  • Hotel Development and Financing, Homewood Suites, Dulles International Airport, 2185 Fox Mill Road, Herndon
  • Acquisition and Financing, Gaithersburg Hilton, 620 Perry Parkway, Gaithersburg
  • Lord Baltimore Hotel, 20 W Baltimore St. in Baltimore, Maryland
  • Acquisition, Financing, Management Agreement and Franchise Agreement for a Marriott-flagged 96-room hotel in North Charleston, South Carolina
  • Acquisition, Financing, Management Agreement and Franchise Agreement for a newly constructed 96-room Fairfield Inn and Suites in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Acquisition, Financing, Management Agreements, Franchise Agreements and ultimate Disposition of a Spring Hill Suites and a Home2 Suites located adjacent to each other in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
  • Negotiation of Ground Lease Financing for capital from Twain Financial Partners for the renovation and repositioning of a 388-room Sheraton located in Brookfield, Wisconsin

DEVELOPMENT

  • 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 of DC office building intended for residential conversion, 1201 Connecticut Avenue in Washington, DC
  • Acquisition and financing, 1801 E. Main Street in Richmond, Virginia
  • Acquisition and financing of retail building to be converted to residential units using timber construction, 29-33 Crown Street in New Haven, Connecticut
  • Acquisition, Financing, and Development, “The Swift” in Petworth, Washington, D.C., 62,400 sq/ft grocery store, 220 multi-family units

RETAIL

  • Acquisition and Financing, BJ’s Wholesale Club, 6607 Wilson Blvd., Falls Church
  • Purchase and CMBS loan assumption of The Shops at Greenwood Village, a 209,953 sq/ft shopping center located in Greenwood Village, Colorado
  • Purchase, Financing and Redevelopment of a 249,895 sq/ft neighborhood shopping center located in Williamsburg, Virginia
  • Ground Lease Purchase and Financing of Cromwell Fields, a 233,885 sq/ft shopping center located in Glen Burnie, Maryland
  • $24,000,000 CMBS Refinance of Heritage Square, a 188,000 sq/ft regional retail center located in Granger, Indiana
  • Purchase and CMBS loan assumption of Hollinswood Shopping Center, a 112,581 sq/ft shopping center located in Baltimore, Maryland
  • $55,000,000 Life Company Refinance of Potomac Place, a 79,438 sq/ft shopping center in Potomac, Maryland

INDUSTRIAL

  • Acquisition, financing and leasing single tenant industrial, 3-5 Opportunity Way in Newburyport, Massachusetts
  • Acquisition and financing single tenant industrial, 5834 Richard Street in Jacksonville, Florida

Recognition

  • The Daily Record’s Power 100 List, 2022-2024
  • The Best Lawyers in America, 2008-2025
  • Joseph Wharton Award Honoring Leading Wharton Alums, 2023
  • Maryland Bar Foundation, Fellow
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating

Seminars & Speaking Engagements

  • Purchase and Sale of Pandemic – Distressed Hospitality Assets, Georgetown University Hotel and Lodging Summit
  • Negotiating Hotel Acquisition Agreements, ALIS Hotel Conference
  • The Lodging Conference, Negotiating Franchise Agreements
  • The Lodging Conference, Debt Markets: Refinancing, Acquisition and Construction Loans

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