James R. Hart has been practicing law for more than 39 years and is AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review RatedSM by Martindale-Hubbell® and listed in Super Lawyers. Mr. Hart received his B.S. in in Architecture 1980 and J.D. in 1983 from both from the University of Virginia, where he was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and the Raven Society. He provides comprehensive assistance in matters involving::

  • Construction law
  • Real estate
  • Arbitration
  • Mediation
  • Commercial litigation
  • Commercial mediation

Admissions and memberships

Initially admitted to the Virginia Bar in 1983, Mr. Hart was subsequently admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia; the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia; the U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit; and the U.S. Supreme Court. His professional affiliations include the:

Fairfax Bar Association: 

Chair, State Bar Council Committee, 1992 to 1993; Chair, Law Library Committee, 1991 to 1992; Co-Chair, Professionalism Committee, 1995 to 1997; Chair, Membership Committee, 1997 to 2000

Virginia State Bar:

Chair, Construction Law and Public Contracts Section, 1994 to 1995; Member, Board of Governors Construction Law Section, 1988 to 1996

Additional information

Mr. Hart has served since 2000 on the Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals, and is its current Vice-Chairman.  He served over sixteen years as an at-large member of the Fairfax County Planning Commission, including terms as Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Parliamentarian, and Environment Committee Chair.  A frequent author and lecturer on construction law issues, he was the editor of the case supplements to the Virginia State Bar Construction Law Handbook and Reference Manual from 1990 to 1996, and has published numerous articles, including:

  • 'Blanket Mechanic's Liens in Virginia, Post-Addington-Beaman,' Virginia Lawyer, September 1991
  • 'Due Process and Mechanic's Liens: The Necessary Party Doctrine in Virginia,' Virginia Lawyer, January 1993
  • 'The Reinecke Problem: Timeliness of Open Account Mechanic's Liens,' Virginia Lawyer, September 1993
  • 'The Kenbridge Defense: Offsite Improvements and Mechanic's Liens,' Virginia Lawyer, December 1996

He formerly served as neutral case evaluator for the Fairfax Circuit Court.