Susan M. Pesner

Principal

 

spesner@pesner.com

(703) 506-9440  ext 222

Fax (703) 506-0929

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"If we build a great experience working together, you will tell others about our experience.

Word of mouth is very powerful."

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Emphasizes real estate transactions, real estate and land development, residential and commercial construction matters, real estate litigation, wills, trusts and estate planning and business transactions.

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Ms. Pesner also acts as an expert witness in trials involving liability of real estate lawyers, real estate agents, real estate brokers and settlement agents and litigation involving title matters.

 

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Education

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• The American University (B.A., 1973)

• Washington College of Law of The American University (J.D., 1976).

 

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Bar Admissions

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• Virginia

• U.S. Supreme Court

• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

• U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

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Activities

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• Founding Chair, Virginia Association of Realtors® Attorney Roundtable (2014-2018)
   

• Member, Council of the Virginia State Bar (1997-2003; 2009-2012;2020-2023)​
   

• Member, Executive Committee of the Council of the Virginia State Bar (1998-2003; 2009-2012)
   

• Member, Northern Virginia Association of Realtors Attorney Roundtable (2011-Present)
   

• Chair, (1996-1997) Board of Governors of the Virginia State Bar, Real Property Section
   

• Chair, Ethics Subcommittee Real Estate Section, Virginia State Bar (1991-2014)
   

• Member, Council of the Real Estate Section of the Virginia Bar Association (1995-2002; 2008-2015) and Area Representative (1996- present)
   

• Co-Chair, Real Estate Section, Fairfax Bar Association
   

• Chair, (1999-2002) Lawyers Malpractice Insurance Committee, Virginia State Bar
   

• Member, Title, Conveyancing and Bar Related Title Insurance Funds Committee and Research Task Force, American Bar Association (2007-present)​
   

• Appointed Member of Joint Subcommittee of Virginia State Bar, State Corporation Commission and Virginia Real Estate Board to establish the unauthorized practice of law guidelines for the Consumer Real Estate Settlement Protection Act (CRESPA-effective 07/01/97)
   

• Fellow, American Bar Foundation
   

• Fellow, Virginia Bar Foundation
   

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Awards & Recognitions

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• Virginia Lawyers Hall of Fame – Class of 2021

 

• 2022 Edition of Washington DC Best Lawyers

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• Leaders in the Law – Virginia Lawyers Weekly – Class of 2020
   

• Martindale-Hubbell® Bar Register for Preeminent Women Lawyers
   

• Who's Who in America
   

• Who's Who Top Professionals Series 2020
   

• Virginia Top Lawyers, Washingtonian Magazine 2023
   

• Virginia Super Lawyers (Real Estate) 2006-2023
   

• Washington D.C. Super Lawyers (Real Estate) 2007-2023
   

• Virginia Top Lawyer, Northern Virginia Magazine​
   

• Virginia’s Legal Elite, Virginia Business 2012 – 2023
   

• Northern Virginia Magazine Top Lawyers 2019 – 2023
   

• Recipient, Traver Scholar Award (2008), Virginia Bar Association and Virginia
  Continuing Legal Education, recognizing outstanding contribution for education of
  lawyers

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• VACLE lecturer for 2020 and 2021
   

• Featured in Law Practice Today - Women Rainmakers, American Bar Association, November 13, 2020

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• ​​​Best Lawyers for 2022 – 2023, US News and World Report Real Estate and Trusts and Estates
   

• Women Leaders – Top Rated Lawyers 2023 – The American Lawyer and The National Law Journal
   

• Included in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers in America® for Real Estate Law

 

Articles, Publications & Seminars

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1. Author/Lecturer: "Settlements During Crisis and Continuing Updates on Deeds",
   Annual Real Estate Seminar VA CLE May 2020
    

2. Author/Lecturer: "Essentials of Drafting Deeds", VA CLE 2019
    

3. Lecturer: Fidelity National Title Group - Spring Education Seminar May 2019
    

4. Author/Lecturer: "Deed Issues: Every Deed Tells a Story", Annual Real Estate Seminar VA CLE May 2016
    

5. Author/Lecturer: "Deed Issues II: Those Other Deeds - Every Deed Tells a Story (continued)", Annual Real Estate Seminar VA CLE May 2018; American Bar Association Aug 2018
    

6. Webinar/Panelist - In Good Faith: Navigating the New Federal RESPA Rules presented by the American Bar Association, General Practice Division (January 2010)
    

7. Fee Agreements for Virginia Lawyers [Real Estate], 2009 Edition, Virginia CLE Publications.
    

8. How Soon We Forget or Going Down the Slippery Slope-Split Settlement and Lay Settlement Agencies’ Attempt To Act On Behalf of Sellers, The Fee Simple, Newsletter of the Real Estate Section of the Virginia State Bar and the VLTA Examiner (Fall 2008)
    

9. Property Law, 31 Univ. of Richmond Law Review, 1145 (1997)
    

10. Troubleshooting Title and Title Insurance Problems, Annual Fidelity National Title Insurance Company Seminar,"Ethics for Virginia Practitioners, Residential Real Estate Transaction in Virginia," 1997 edition, Virginia Lawyers Practice Handbook
     

11. Storm Clouds on Your Horizon, General Practice Section Seminar, American Bar Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL (Aug 2009)
     

12. Avoiding Ethical Disputes, 13th Annual Advanced Real Estate Seminar, Virginia Continuing Legal Education, Williamsburg, VA
     

13. Best Practices in Closing Real Estate Transactions, Virginia Continuing Legal Education (Oct 2008)
     

14. Feeling Handcuffed-RESPA and AfBA, Virginia Land Title Association (June 2008)
     

15. Playing In Dirt, Advanced Business Law Section, Virginia Continuing Legal Education (Feb 2008)
     

16. Attorneys as Settlement Agent Under CRESPA and the Role of the Virginia State Bar, Virginia Law Foundation, 15th Annual Real Estate Practice Seminar, May 1997, republished as Attorneys as Settlement Agents - Practice Tips for Working Under CRESPA, Virginia Lawyer, Vol. 46, No. 1, June/July 1997
     

17. True or False-Does a General Warranty Deed Necessarily Include English Covenants of Title?, 16 Fee Simple 2 (May 1996)
     

18. The Unauthorized Practice of Law Rules, The Unauthorized Practice of Law Opinions and The Unauthorized Practice Consideration, Virginia Law Foundation, 12th Annual Real Estate Practice Seminar, 1994