ABOUT

Meet Rick Chess

Strategic Legal Advisor for Real Estate Growth & Transitions

40+ years of experience guiding real estate owners, developers, and business leaders through high-stakes decisions.

Rick Chess is a Marine Corps veteran, former state legislator, and trusted legal advisor with more than 35 years of experience. He’s led over $1 billion in real estate transactions and served as President of ADISA during its critical post-recession turnaround.

Known as the "Realty Transaction Sherpa™," Rick brings calm leadership and strategic insight to every complex deal—from acquisition to exit.

Watch Rick in Action

$1.5B+

50,000+

$100M+

REIT Growth

First Potomac Realty Trust

Apartments Acquired

United Dominion Realty

Raised

Capital Square 1031

Educated at the University of Pittsburgh (B.S.) and the University of Richmond (J.D.), Rick Chess has learned there’s no single way to succeed — but there is often a best way, based on the market and the moment.

More About Rick Chess

Over the past 40+ years, Rick has lived the full arc of strategic advising — acquiring 50,000 apartments, building a NYSE-listed REIT, chairing an audit committee, serving in public office, and leading in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. These experiences shaped the clarity, discipline, and results-oriented mindset he brings to every client.

What follows are just a few real-world lessons Rick has earned — in growth, governance, and exits — and why they worked (or didn’t). Maybe your situation will echo one of them.

GROWTH – Acquired 50,000 apartments; Raised $100,000,000+ of Equity
GOVERNANCE - Audit Committee Chair NYSE REIT; National President REISA
GOVERNMENT – PA General Assembly; Allegheny County Law Department
Managing Partner, Chess Law Firm, PLC (Current)
Registered Representative, Crescent Securities (Current)
Senior Advisor, Business Transition Services (Current)
President, Encore Equities, Inc. (Dallas based real estate developer)
President, American Realty Capital Markets (FINRA MBD)
Director – 1031 Transactions, NNN Properties (Securities Sponsor)
Adjunct Instructor, Virginia Commonwealth University, Real Estate Law
Audit Committee Chair, First Potomac Realty Trust (now GOV)
Of Counsel, Hirschler Fleischer (Real Estate, Securities, Tax)
Real Estate Manager, Winstar Wireless (Telecom Access Leases)
Director of Acquisitions, United Dominion Realty (NYSE REIT)
Senior Analyst, ManEquity (Manufacturers Life Insurance)
Economic Development Director, Richmond Chamber of Commerce
State Legislator, Pennsylvania General Assembly
Assistant County Solicitor, Allegheny County Law Department
J.D., University of Richmond Law School
B.S., Psychology/Economics, University of Pittsburgh
Chair, Commercial Real Estate Committee, Real Estate Section, VA State Bar President, Real Estate Investment Security Association (now ADISA) Commissioner, James River Soil & Water Conservation District President, Richmond Association for Business Economics Producer, "Consumer Corner", WXEX-TV (ABC) Sergeant, United State Marines Corps Reserve

What My Clients Say

Rick has been extremely helpful and resourceful in navigating my clients through the legal and tax quagmire. We work primarily on real estate and business transitions (many on the same transaction), and his knowledge of both has been invaluable. I have turned many client projects over to him for fulfillment and can trust that it will get done correctly without oversight. In particular, his knowledge of the integration of business, real estate and tax has been extremely helpful for my clients.

— Dr. Gary L. Ackerman
President, Business Transition Services, Inc.

For over 20 years, Rick Chess has provided me with sound business and legal advice.…His insights have been particularly helpful on real estate, tax structure, and equity access issues.…I have turned many client projects over to him for fulfillment and can trust that it will get done correctly without oversight.

— Rick Provost
Principal at First Verify