G. Michael Pace, Jr.

Partner

Phone: 540.983.9312
Fax: 540.983.9400
Pace@gentrylocke.com

G. Michael ("Mike") Pace, Jr., former Managing Partner of the firm, represents privately held companies, colleges, universities, and school boards. His practice expertise includes land use and zoning, real estate development, banking and finance. Mike is a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College, where he serves on the Board of Trustees. He received his Juris Doctorate from Washington and Lee University School of Law. He is also an adjunct professor at Washington and Lee University School of Law and at Roanoke College. Mike is the founder and president of The Center for Teaching the Rule of Law (www.thecenterforruleoflaw.org) and its signature project, the Virginia Law Foundation & The Virginia Bar Association Rule of Law Project (www.ruleoflaw.vba). He is a member of The Virginia Bar Association (2008 president), the Virginia State Bar, the Roanoke Bar Association (2000-2001 president), the American Bar Association, the National Conference of Bar Presidents, and a member and a fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation. He is also a fellow of the American Bar Foundation and the Roanoke Law Foundation. Mike is a member of the National Council for the Social Studies, the Virginia Council for the Social Studies, and the Virginia Consortium of Social Studies Specialists and College Educators.

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Education

Washington and Lee University School of Law, J.D. 1984; Hampden-Sydney College, B.A. 1979

Experience

Serves as General Counsel to a number of successful companies, including a national credit company, one of the largest petroleum distributors in Virginia, an e-commerce company that provides services to prominent national companies, a developer of nursing homes and retirement/rehab centers, commercial real estate developers, private colleges and others
Representing two of the largest telecommunication carriers in obtaining more than 200 re-zonings and use permits for the operation of wireless facilities in over 25 cities, counties and towns in Central, Western and South Western Virginia
Serves as regional counsel for a large national bank
Serves as special counsel in Virginia in connection with the closing of a 2.35 million dollar multi-state credit facility for a corporate borrower
Represented a local school board in connection with the negotiation, drafting and closing of a purchase agreement for land to be used as a new elementary school and playground
Represented the purchaser of a large tract of land at Smith Mountain Lake and its redevelopment into a mixed residential / commercial use, including marina, boat docks, dry docks, retail shops and other amenities
Obtained a rezoning and use permit for one of the first planned residential units in Roanoke County
Facilitated the issuance of an Occupancy Permit for a large retailer in connection with its new store in Roanoke City
Obtained a rezoning of a parcel of land in Botetourt County for use as a franchised hotel
Drafted and negotiated the documents related to the purchase and lease back up property and improvements for the new corporate headquarters for one of the firm's principal clients
Handled the closing of over 150 commercial loan transactions as bank counsel in secured and unsecured term and revolving credit, asset based loans, participation arrangements and other types of commercial loans
Represented a preferred developer of a major retail pharmacy company in connection with a successful rezoning of a parcel within a larger development on a tract in Roanoke County
Represented the owner of a shopping mall in connection with its purchase and redevelopment under a phased master plan in Blacksburg
Represented family members in connection with the sale or development of family farms in Montgomery County

Education

Washington and Lee University School of Law, J.D. 1984
Hampden-Sydney College, B.A. 1979

Articles

Why Appropriate Land Use Planning Matters, 03/17/2006

News

Published Work

Strategies in Negotiating, Drafting and Closing on Contracts for the Purchase and Sale of Commercial Real Estate in Virginia; (2001, revised 2007).

Awards

Recipient of the Gerald L. Baliles Distinguished Service Award, awarded by The Virginia Bar Association for exceptional service and contributions to the bar and public at large (2012)
Recipient of the Patrick Henry Awards for public service by The WIlson Center for Leadership in the Public Interest at Hampden-Sydney College (2012)
Named a Top Rated Lawyer for Business & Commercial, Zoning, Planning and Land Use by American Lawyer Media (2013)
Inducted into the The Virginia Law Foundation 2010 Class of Fellows
Honorary Order of the Coif Award from the alumni, faculty and administration of Washington and Lee University School of Law (2008)
Inducted into the Salem Alumni Hall of Fame by the Salem Educational Foundation and Alumni Association in recognition of his many outstanding career achievements (2008)
VBA Community Servant with 500 hours or more of certified pro bono legal and nonlegal community service, The Virginia Bar Association (2009)
Roanoke Bar Association President's Volunteer Service Award, Silver level, for 500 hours of community service (2009)
Named one of twenty-eight "Leaders in the Law" statewide by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (2009)
Named "2012 Roanoke Litigation Real Estate Lawyer of the Year" by The Best Lawyers in America, and noted in the areas Banking and Finance Law (2003-2013), Corporate Law (2006-2013), Land Use & Zoning Law (2007-2013), Land Use & Zoning Litigation (2011-2013), Real Estate Litigation (2011-2013), and Real Estate Law (2003-2013)
Designated one of the Legal Elite in the fields of Real Estate/Land Use (2008-2011), Business (2005-2007), and Real Estate/Construction Law (2003-2004) by Virginia Business magazine
Named to Super Lawyers Business Edition US in the area of Real Estate Law (2012); named to Virginia Super Lawyers in the area of Real Estate Law (2007-2010-2013)
Voted Top Real Estate Attorney in The Roanoker magazine's "Best Of" (2012)
Named a "Legal Eagle" for Banking & Finance Law, Corporate Law, Land Use & Zoning Law, Litigation - Real Estate, and Real Estate Law by Virginia Living magazine (2012)

Mike Pace Roanoke Lawyer of the Year 2013 Real Estate

Affiliations

President, The Virginia Bar Association (2008); Chair, Board of Governors (2006); Member, Board of Governors (2004-Present)
Creator, The Virginia Bar Association Rule of Law Project: ruleoflaw-vba.org (2008)
Creator, Third Year Externship Curriculum for Washington and Lee University School of Law
Fellow, American Bar Foundation
Member, The Virginia Law Foundation Board of Directors (2009-Present)
Member, Business Law Section, The Virginia Bar Association
Member, Real Estate Section, The Virginia Bar Association
Past Chairman, Real Property Section of the Virginia State Bar
Chairman, The Business Leadership Fund (2005-Present)
Chair, The Business Council (2009-2011)
Member, SunTrust Bank Roanoke Advisory Board
Past Chair, Executive Committee and Board Member, Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce (1998-2004)
Past President, Roanoke Valley Economic Development Partnership (2002-2005)
Member, Executive Committee, Roanoke Regional Partnership (2008-2009)
Member, Roanoke Regional Airport Alliance
Trustee, Hampden-Sydney College (2005-2009, 2010-Present)
Past-President, Hampden-Sydney College Alumni Association (2005)

Toll-free: 866.983.0866
Telephone: 540.983.9300
Fax: 540.983.9400

10 Franklin Road S.E., Suite 800
Roanoke, VA 24011

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 40013
Roanoke, VA 24022-0013

Legal Disclaimer: The results of client matters depend on a variety of factors unique to each matter. Past successes do not predict or guarantee future successes. Attorneys licensed to practice in VA, MD, DC, TN, NC, and TX.