In more than 30 years of practice, Richard Spore has advised hundreds of real estate investors and other capitalists on how to best reach their business objectives through three primary areas: commercial real estate and lending, business and transaction planning, and business divorce. Richard has represented private investors, publicly traded REITs and institutional lenders in commercial real estate projects across the nation. He has been at the center of numerous high profile transactions in Memphis, including landmark buildings and projects such as International Place, Crescent Centre, Clark Tower, Hard Rock Cafe relocation, Overton Square and Crosstown Concourse.

Richard brings passion and curiosity about the law, and a practical, results-oriented approach to structuring complicated deals, creating plans to solve a wide range of complex business problems, and helping clients execute on those strategies. His practice involves:

• Real Estate – Representing clients in commercial real estate and lending transactions involving office, retail, industrial, multi-family, hotel/hospitality, timber and agricultural land; represents both landlords and tenants in commercial lease transactions, including complex build to suit leases; advises developers on a variety of development projects and public/private partnerships, including various payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) matters; represents publicly traded REITs in acquisitions and portfolio financing; represents borrowers, lenders and investors involved in distressed real estate situations.
• Business and Transaction Planning – Advising investors and private company owners in a wide variety of investment partnership, joint venture and start-up situations.
• Business Divorce – Advising business owners, partners or co-investors who no longer get along.

A perpetual student and teacher of the law, Richard has taught business law and business planning to undergraduate and graduate business students and to law students. He has taught dozens of classes and seminars to lawyers, business executives and commercial real estate professionals and has published award-winning articles in regional and national publications. His third book, The Guide to Business Divorce, was published by the American Bar Association in 2012. He also chaired the committees that adopted Tennessee’s current laws in the areas of limited liability companies and general partnership entities.

Richard has been actively involved in firm management having served on the firm’s executive committee and as the managing partner of the firm’s Memphis office. He currently serves as chair of the firm’s Real Estate & Debt Financing Practice Group.

He has also served on several nonprofit boards, including a two-year term as president of the board of directors of Memphis Botanic Gardens, where he helped lead the board during the MBG’s construction of a world class $6,000,000+ Children’s Garden.

Memberships

Urban Land Institute (ULI), Memphis Chapter

ULI Technical Assistance Panel — Chair (2018)

Lambda Alpha International

Memphis Botanic Gardens — Board Member and Volunteer Legal Counsel (2006-2010)

Memphis Bar Association

Tennessee Bar Association

American Bar Association

Accolades

Chambers USA — Real Estate (2008-2023)

Best Lawyers® — Memphis Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) “Lawyer of the Year” (2024, 2019, 2015); Memphis Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law “Lawyer of the Year” (2024, 2021, 2017, 2013); Memphis Banking and Finance Law “Lawyer of the Year” Memphis (2022)

The Best Lawyers in America© — Banking and Finance Law; Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships); Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law; Project Finance Law; Real Estate Law (2006-2024)

Memphis Business Journal “Best of the Bar” — Private Firm, Medium (2016 finalist)

Mid-South Super Lawyers (2006-2022)

Bass, Berry & Sims — Memphis office, Managing Partner; Former Executive Committee Member