Robert A. Foster
Robert A. Foster
Tel 202.689.1900, ext. 3029
Cell 202.257.4151
foster@slslaw.com
Experience. Passion. Solutions.
Practice Areas:
- Business/Commercial Transactions
- Corporate/Limited Liability Company/Partnership and Joint Venture Law
- Real Estate
Bar Admissions:
- District of Columbia, 1983
Education:
- J.D., University of Illinois, cum laude, 1983
- M.B.A., University of Illinois, 1983
- B.A., Northwestern University, 1979, Phi Beta Kappa
Professional Memberships:
- District of Columbia Bar Association
- International Council of Shopping Centers
- LEED® Accredited Professional
Experience.
Bob Foster is a Vice President of Shapiro, Lifschitz & Schram and has been with the firm since its inception in the early 90's. Back then, Bob already had a reputation for achieving results for his clients, as evidenced by the fact that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Resolution Trust Corporation turned to Bob for his expertise with loan workouts, foreclosures and asset dispositions during the savings and loan meltdown in the late 1980's and early 1990's. Since then, Bob has seen his fair share of financial opportunities and challenges, and his clients know they can call him for wise counsel when it comes to their most important business needs.
Bob dedicates his practice to real estate and business transactions and has represented developers, banks, brokers and other parties in some of the most complex and significant commercial transactions in the Washington metropolitan area, including syndications, acquisitions and sales of multi-family residential properties, hotels, shopping centers, and commercial office buildings. Bob rounds out his practice with the representation of landlords and tenants in office and retail leases in the Washington, DC area and around the country. When Bob's clients need assistance with commercial transactions or leases of any complexity, they know that Bob has likely already "been there, done that," and can help them achieve success. This makes it no surprise that he's a Martindale-Hubbell AV rated attorney.
Clients have often commented that they feel spoiled by Bob's responsiveness and efficiency, but Bob is doing nothing different than being Bob. He also rises to the occasion to ensure he finds ways to save them time and money. After all, if he can reconfigure the structure of a mortgage loan to save a shopping center more than $100,000 in deed recordation taxes, shouldn't he? Bob sees this as matching great legal skill with over-the-top client service.
Passion.
Bob is passionate about achieving the result his client needs. Many lawyers are known as good talkers, and Bob can hold his own in that department. However, he is also recognized as a careful listener. Not only does he hear what his clients want and need, but he also listens carefully to understand what the other parties to a transaction want and need. Listening carefully to both sides avoids misunderstandings and gets the deal across the finish line faster and with less wear and tear on his clients.
Bob also enjoys the intellectual aspect of the law, and he puts his broad legal knowledge to practical use for his clients' benefit. He shared and grew his skills in several areas of law in his stints as Editor of The National Property Law Digests, The National Financing Law Digest and The Digest of Environmental Law of Real Property. Bob has kept on top of real estate finance law by serving as a guest lecturer at Georgetown University Law Center and he has lectured and published in the area of environmental law. He served on the steering committee for the District of Columbia Bar Association's Commercial Real Estate Opinions Project.
Bob is committed to the Washington, DC area and has used his legal know-how to better the community. He has served on the board of directors of several local charitable organizations, including the Whitman-Walker Clinic and the Washington Area Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. Bob has provided pro bono counsel to numerous non-profits in the area, including So Others Might Eat, which feeds, houses and provides medical care for the less privileged citizens of the community.
When he gets the chance, Bob likes to hit the open road and take motorcycle trips in North Carolina, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Solutions.
Bob is always on the look out for the right solution for his client, not just a solution. Here are a few examples:
View Solutions »
- Bob has represented First Centrum, LLC in more than 30 residential projects in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia, including apartments complexes and single-family homes for persons 55 and older. Each project involved land acquisition, financing and development.
- Bob has represented Mattress Warehouse, Inc. in more than 150 retail leases for shopping centers and stand-alone buildings in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and Washington, DC
- Bob has represented BB&T in more than 50 commercial loans secured by business assets and real estate in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC, including apartment buildings, shopping centers, and office buildings.
