Heather R. Steele

Principal

 

hsteele@altmillerlaw.com

Tysons (703) 506-9440   ext 224

Fax (703) 506-0929

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Emphasizes litigation for businesses and people, including landlord-tenant, HOA/condo associations, and business lawsuits

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Practices

 

Heather Steele is a partner in the firm. Ms. Steele handles many types of civil matters, including lease disputes, homeowners association (HOA) and condominium associations (condos), business law, civil lawsuits, contracts, and preparation of limited liability company (LLC) and other corporate documents. Ms. Steele also handles land use and zoning matters.​

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Ms. Steele deals with legal issues for businesses and individuals, including contract review, contract drafting, creating and incorporating corporations and limited liability companies, as well as preparing demand letters and handling business litigation. Ms. Steele represents commercial and residential landlords in lease disputes while also handling litigation for businesses and community associations. Heather drafts leases, lease amendments, lease default notices, lease extensions, and lease terminations. Heather advises clients in estate litigation matters, including will contests, estates without a will, and lawsuits against executors or personal representatives.

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Heather is peer-rated by Martindale Hubbell as AV-Preeminent. The Martindale Hubbell Peer Review is a rating given by a lawyer’s peers, and an AV-Preeminent rating is a significant rating accomplishment – a testament to the fact that a lawyer’s peers rank her at the highest level of professional excellence.

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Heather serves the Northern Virginia area, including Fairfax County, Prince William County (including the Woodbridge, Manassas, Haymarket, and Gainesville areas), and surrounding counties such as Stafford County, Spotsylvania County, Fauquier County and Fredericksburg City.

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Education

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• Liberty University (B.A., summa cum laude, 2003)

• George Mason University School of Law (J.D. 2007)

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Bar Admissions

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• Virginia

• Maryland

• District of Columbia

 

 

Awards & Activities

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• Prince William County Bar Association

• American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division

• Prince William Regional Chamber of Commerce

• Leadership Prince William, Alumnae, Class of 2012

• SPARK Board Member (Supporting Partnerships and Resources for Kids -
  Prince William Education Foundation)​​​

• Smart Beginnings Greater Prince William Board Member (Supporting Literacy and
  Education for 0-5 years in Prince William)

• Co-chair of the Real Estate Section of the Fairfax Bar for 2021-2023

• ​​​Best Lawyers for 2022–2023, US News and World Report Real Estate and Trusts and Estates

• Virginia Legal Elite 2023

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Reported Cases

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Murphy v. Dang, 2022 Va. App. LEXIS 429 (2022), holding that a lease termination (cash-for-keys) agreement can satisfy the Virginia Code requirement for a termination notice to a tenant.

Nejati v. Stageberg, 286 Va. 197 (2013), holding that an unlawful subdivision only affects the
use of the lots and does not affect the interests transferred.

Shirley Venture #1 v. Bond Constr. & Design Group, 2008 Va. Cir. LEXIS 2019 (Prince William Co., 2008), regarding default judgment.

G.H. Watts Constr., Inc. v. Cornerstone Builders, LLC, 95 Va. Cir. 121 (Hanover Co., 2017),
regarding mechanics lien enforcement, breach of contract, and unjust enrichment actions.

Prince William Bd. Of Cty. Supervisors v. Archie, 296 Va. 1 (2018), regarding lawful
nonconforming use not discontinued for more than two years.

Henecke v. Scriyb, LLC, 2020 Va. Cir. LEXIS 1224 (Prince William Co., 2020), regarding default
judgment and legal service on defendant through Secretary of the Commonwealth.

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Seminars

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• Annual Virginia Legislative Update Seminar, Apartment and Office Building Association (AOBA)

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• Annual Prince William County Neighborhood Services HOA/COA Leadership Seminar

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• Association of Wedding Professionals – Business Continuity Planning

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• You Can Do Anything Too Symposium – Montclair Library (discussing Wills and POAs)

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• Prince William Living Magazine’s Meet The Expert Series: Heather Steele Talks About Business Continuity Planning

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• Expecting the Unexpected in Business: Keynote at Women’s Wedding Network

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• An Introduction to Community Association Law: The Interplay Among Community Associations, Landlords, and Tenants

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• CLE: Landlord/Tenant Law: How to Prosper in the New Market

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• Prince William County Bar Association Library Legal Series: Landlord/Tenant Issues