Virginia Landlord/Tenant Law Seminar 2025
The Virginia General Assembly had a very active 2025 session. In preparation for several legal changes dues to take effect on July 1, AOBA will host a webinar for members on Virginia's Landlord/Tenant law in conjunction with prominent local law firm Offit Kurman.
Sidney Washington, Gwendolyn Roy-Harrison, and Brittany Rainey, attorneys at Offit Kurman, will lead this informational session designed to educate members about changes to state laws and regulations affecting commercial and multifamily properties. New laws adopted during this year’s Virginia General Assembly session will take effect on July 1. The seminar will provide members with valuable information on these legislative changes and provide a forum for questions and answers about the changing legal landscape in Virginia.
Meet Your Speakers
Sidney Washington is the practice group leader of Offit Kurman’s Landlord Representation Practice Group, representing landlords and property managers in various residential and commercial real estate matters. Prior to joining the Landlord Representation Practice Group at Offit Kurman, Sidney was in house claim litigation counsel for one of the country’s largest insurance companies. While there, she provided insurance litigation defense services to policyholders in the Northern Virginia area. As a criminal defense attorney, Sidney represented clients in a number of cases ranging from traffic offenses to serious felony charges. As a result, she has extensive experience with bench and jury trials in both civil and criminal defense cases.
Gwen Roy-Harrison’s practice focuses on representing multi-family housing providers, developers, and business owners of all sizes, including litigating residential and commercial landlord disputes. She spends much of her time in court prosecuting and defending cases on behalf of large property management companies, small to medium businesses, and individual owners. Gwen has honed an expertise in The Fair Housing Act (FHA) and The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), with respect to housing providers and HUD compliance. She advises and represents clients involved in HUD complaints, state/local discrimination investigations, regulatory compliance, and conducts Fair Housing Act trainings. Gwen has also honed a specialty in resolving disputes for condominium and cooperative associations. Outside of the courtroom, she devotes considerable time to the transactional sphere, including lease review and drafting, non-disclosure agreements, and confidential settlement or general release agreements.
Gwen is frequently conducting virtual and in-person presentations in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia on HUD compliance, FHA training, and best practices for housing providers to avoid a fair housing/discrimination complaint.
Brittany Rainey is a member of Offit Kurman’s Landlord Representation Practice Group. She represents clients in a variety of civil litigation matters, including landlord-tenant claims, real estate disputes and debtor/creditor litigation. Brittany assists clients throughout the litigation process, from pre-filing advice through settlement negotiations and trial. She devotes a substantial amount of her practice to the representation of commercial and residential landlords and property managers in litigation associated with unlawful detainers, tenant’s assertions and breach of lease claims.
Outside of the office Brittany participates in Richmond Law School's mentorship program, as a mentor, providing guidance to first year law students.
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