Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh is pleased to congratulate Jonelle Cameron, John Foote, and Chuck McWilliams on their recognition by Virginia Business as part of the 26th edition of Legal Elite. This annual distinction honors top attorneys across Virginia who have earned the respect of their peers for excellence in their respective practice areas.

Jonelle and John were recognized for their work in Land Use and Zoning, while Chuck was honored in the Taxes, Estates, and Trusts category. Their inclusion reflects the depth of experience and leadership they bring to the firm and the clients we serve throughout the Commonwealth.

Launched in cooperation with the Virginia Bar Association in 2000, Legal Elite is jointly produced by Virginia Business and Virginia Lawyers Weekly. Each year, attorneys licensed in Virginia are invited to identify the top lawyers across more than 20 legal specialties through a peer-driven balloting process.

For the 26th edition, more than 14,000 attorneys and over 50 law firms participated in the nomination process. Balloting was administered by DataJoe, an independent media research and analytics firm. This year’s list includes 1,605 attorneys, representing 38.4% of the 4,179 lawyers nominated by their peers statewide.

Recognition in Legal Elite underscores the professional reputation Jonelle, John, and Chuck have earned within Virginia’s legal community. We congratulate them on this well-deserved honor and are proud to close out an exceptional year for the firm by celebrating their achievements.

Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh is proud to announce that the firm was named 2025 Firm of the Year at the Focus on Excellence – Best of NAIOP Northern Virginia Awards on November 20. This recognition reflects the collective talent, dedication, and expertise of every person at our firm and will be proudly displayed in our lobby as a symbol of the standard we strive to uphold each day. 

The evening brought together hundreds of professionals from across Northern Virginia’s commercial real estate community. The ballroom was filled, and the industry fully embraced the event’s “Black Tie with a Twist” theme — sparkly sneakers, cowboy boots, bling, and creativity everywhere. The atmosphere was energetic, warm, and representative of a market that continues to lead through innovation and collaboration. A huge congratulations to all of this year’s award winners. Your leadership, projects, and contributions continue to shape our region, and this year’s honorees once again raised the bar for excellence. 

As Firm of the Year, Walsh, Colucci was invited to take the stage and offer remarks, an opportunity that allowed us to recognize both the legacy of our founders and the strength of the team that carries that legacy forward. A group of firm leaders accepted the award on behalf of the entire organization; a testament to the depth of experience and commitment shared across our four offices. 

Below are the remarks delivered on behalf of the firm to the 300+ NAIOP members and guests in attendance: 

“On behalf of Walsh, Colucci, thank you for this wonderful recognition. You might have seen us coming in hot to the dinner – that is because we just left a retirement celebration for three esteemed members of our firm, Dave Bomgardner, John Foote and Garth Wainman, which is why you don’t see more of us here tonight as they are still busy partying down in Prince William! Dave, John and Garth have been amazing leaders in our firm and will be missed, but the good news is that they have trained the new leaders in their areas of expertise, so all is well!  Joining me up here to accept this award are some of those leaders and a small complement of the many talented, dedicated individuals who make Walsh, Colucci Best in Business. 

I have been at Walsh Colucci for 27 years and Walsh, Colucci has been a member of NAIOP for even longer.  Art Walsh and Tom Colucci, two simply amazing men who founded our firm in 1983, always emphasized the importance of collaboration with industry organizations like NAIOP, with our clients, consultants, fellow attorneys, staff, citizens, and politicians.  We value our relationship with you.  Being “the landlawyers”  we have the breadth, depth and expertise to get the job done, whether it be land use and zoning, real estate or business transactions, litigation, eminent domain or trust and estates, we our proud of the work we do to advance our clients’ interests.  As our website says, “the future of Virginia is our Business!” and we look forward to doing business with you all for years to come!” 

We are grateful to NAIOP Northern Virginia for this honor and for its continued leadership in supporting and strengthening our region. It was a memorable evening for an incredible community, and we look forward to many more years of partnership, progress, and shared success. 

On December 9, 2025, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a Proffered Condition Amendment, Conceptual Development Plan Amendment, and Final Development Plan Amendment submitted by Timber Ridge Management to allow the development of a new 67-unit residential community in Westfields.  

Walsh Colucci land use attorney Bob Brant represented Timber Ridge throughout the application process, which included close collaboration with Fairfax County staff and key community stakeholders including the Sully District Council Land Use & Transportation Committee.  Among other community benefits, the approved development includes pedestrian enhancements along Newbrook Drive and Westfields Boulevard, over a quarter acre of publicly accessible Urban Park space and, most significantly, the dedication of land and a substantial monetary contribution from Timber Ridge to facilitate the construction of a 15,000 square foot Community Arts Building on the property that will be designed, constructed, and operated by Fairfax County.   

This approval represents the latest in a series of recently-approved residential developments in Westfields, an area of Fairfax that is rapidly transitioning from a suburban office park into an amenity-rich mixed-use area.  Please contact us regarding any of your land use needs in Westfields, Fairfax County, or throughout the region.  

Source:  Bohler Engineering 

On December 9, 2025, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a Special Exception Amendment application submitted by Sonic Automotive to allow an expansion to the BMW of Fairfax automobile dealership located at 8427 Route 29 in Merrifield, Virginia.   

The approval will allow the BMW dealership, a longstanding member of the business community in Merrifield, to upgrade its facilities with a 8,660 square foot, two-story expansion to its existing facilities located at the intersection of Route 29 and Prosperity Avenue.  The approval also includes landscape enhancements along the street frontages, the installation of electric vehicle charging stations on site, and improved stormwater treatment facilities.   

The Walsh Colucci team comprised of land use attorney Bob Brant and land use planner Bernard Suchicital guided Sonic throughout the application process, securing the support of staff, the community, and unanimous votes from the Fairfax County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors.   

In addition to this project, the Walsh Colucci land use team is actively involved in a number of active land use applications and Site-Specific Plan Amendments (SSPAs) in and around the Merrifield Suburban Center.  Please contact us with any of your land use needs in Merrifield, Fairfax County, or Northern Virginia. 

Source:  Penney Design Group 

Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh is pleased to congratulate Andrew Painter on his recognition in Arlington Magazine’s 2025 Top Attorneys list that was featured in the publication’s November/December Philanthropy issue. The annual list highlights leading attorneys across 21 practice areas, based on peer nominations from lawyers practicing in Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church, and Alexandria.

The full 2025 Top Attorneys list is now available on ArlingtonMagazine.com, along with enhanced online features including a searchable directory, links to attorney websites, and an interactive map. Digital versions of all attorney profiles are also accessible for participating attorneys.

This recognition reflects the respect Andrew has earned among his peers and the community. We congratulate him on this well-deserved honor.

Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh is proud to announce its inclusion in the 2026 editions of Best Law Firms® and The Best Lawyers in America®. These honors reflect the firm’s continued excellence, depth of expertise, and commitment to delivering outstanding results for clients across Northern Virginia and beyond.

Best Law Firms® – United States (2026 Edition)

National Tier 3

Commercial Litigation

Land Use and Zoning Law

Litigation – Real Estate

Real Estate Law

Regional Tier 1 (Washington, D.C.)

Land Use and Zoning Law

Litigation – Land Use and Zoning

Litigation – Real Estate

Municipal Law

Real Estate Law

Regional Tier 3 (Washington, D.C.)

Commercial Litigation

The Best Lawyers in America® (2026 Edition)

Arlington, VA

Tom Colucci (Recognized since 2018) – Real Estate Law

Mark Goetzman (Recognized since 2018) – Real Estate Law

Cathy Puskar (Recognized since 2020) – Land Use and Zoning Law

Lynne Strobel (Recognized since 2018) – Land Use and Zoning Law; Real Estate Law

Leesburg, VA

Randy Minchew (Recognized since 2018) – Land Use and Zoning Law; Real Estate Law

Prince William, VA

Dave Bomgardner (Recognized since 2018) – Real Estate Law

John Foote (Recognized since 1995) – Land Use and Zoning Law; Litigation – Land Use and Zoning; Litigation – Municipal; Litigation – Real Estate; Municipal Law; Real Estate Law

Mike Lubeley (Recognized since 2003) – Land Use and Zoning Law; Litigation – Land Use and Zoning; Litigation – Real Estate; Real Estate Law

Garth Wainman (Recognized since 2016) – Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Real Estate; Real Estate Law

These distinctions are the result of independent research and peer evaluations conducted by Best Lawyers® and U.S. News & World Report. They underscore the firm’s long-standing reputation for excellence in land use, zoning, real estate, and litigation matters throughout the region. Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh congratulates all of the attorneys recognized and thanks the firm’s clients and peers for their continued trust and collaboration.

Virginia business owners are reporting an increase in official-looking mailings and emails demanding payment of “registration” or “annual” fees. These solicitations often use government-style language, seals, and formatting that give the false impression they come from the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC). Our office receives multiple inquiries about these mailings each week, and unfortunately more than a few clients have responded to these solicitations before calling to ask if they are legitimate.

Several complaints identify solicitations branded as “Business Filing powered by Firstep,” “Fast Filing Services,” “Next Step Filings,” “The Virginia Commission for Corporations,” or similar entities. In many cases, the requested payment greatly exceeds the legitimate SCC fee – or covers a service the business does not actually need.

How the Scam Works

The pattern is consistent. A company receives a letter, postcard, or email warning that its business registration is about to expire or that it may face “revocation” or “dissolution” if an immediate fee is not paid. The notice directs payment to a private website such as busfile.org, paytofile.com, or a similar domain rather than to the official Virginia SCC site.

These companies usually charge from $150-195 to do nothing more than submit your annual SCC filing fee, which is only $50 for a limited liability company, and which can be submitted online through the SCC website for no additional charge.

While these companies sometimes include a small-print disclaimer stating that they are not affiliated with the government, the overall appearance of the notice and the urgent language often mislead recipients into believing action is required to remain in good standing. A sample disclaimer from one of these solicitations might look something like the language below, and is usually found in small print in an inconspicuous location:

You are NOT required to purchase anything from this company, and the company is NOT affiliated, endorsed, or approved by any governmental entity. The item offered in this advertisement has NOT been approved or endorsed by any governmental agency, and this offer is NOT being made by an agency of the government.

What the SCC Says

The Virginia State Corporation Commission has cautioned business owners to be on guard for deceptive solicitations. All legitimate registration and annual report fees are handled directly through the SCC’s online portal or by mail to the Commission itself—not through any private company. The SCC’s official website is: scc.virginia.gov

What You Can Do

If you receive a solicitation that looks suspicious, do not respond. Legitimate filing fee and annual report requests will only come from the Virginia State Corporation Commission, from your attorney, or from your Registered Agent. If you’ve already succumbed to one of these solicitations, it may be too late to recover your payment, but I would encourage you to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and the Consumer Protection Division of the Virginia Attorney General’s Office.

We are proud to share that Kathy Taylor, Associate in Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh’s Land Use & Zoning practice group, will be honored at Bisnow’s 2025 DMV Women Leading Real Estate Awards on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. The awards celebrate extraordinary women who are shaping the future of commercial real estate across Washington D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia.

Kathy was recognized in the Excellence in Law and Accounting category for her outstanding work guiding clients through complex land use and zoning matters. Since joining the firm in 2018, Kathy has successfully secured rezonings, special permits, special exceptions, and variances for developers, property owners, and institutional clients across Northern Virginia. Her representative achievements include obtaining a special exception for Virginia Hospital Center’s first freestanding emergency department combined with an urgent care center in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and securing a variance under newly adopted Americans with Disabilities Act provisions. She also assists clients in analyzing and appealing Ordinance Notices of Violation and exploring legislative land use solutions to achieve compliance and community value.

A native of Northern Virginia, Kathy remains active in the legal and commercial real estate communities. This recognition underscores her contributions both professionally and within the broader industry.

The 2025 DMV Women Leading Real Estate Awards honor leaders who are driving innovation, championing inclusion, and mentoring the next generation of talent across the CRE industry. Kathy’s work exemplifies the dedication, expertise, and impact celebrated by these awards.