Richard C. Stephenson, Partner
rcs@stephenson-law.com
Direct: (919) 459-2187
A Cary native, Rick Stephenson co-founded StephensonLaw in 2002 with his cousin, Jim Stephenson. For more than two decades Rick has grown our real estate and corporate practice areas and now works to mentor the firm’s next generation of transactional lawyers. Building on his substantial commercial real estate experience, Rick now leads the firm’s eminent domain practice. He has successfully litigated land condemnation cases throughout the Triangle area and has secured strong outcomes for his clients.
Rick began his legal career as a Judge Advocate (JAG) in the United States Navy, and later served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, where he prosecuted white-collar felonies and also represented the federal government before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
An active member of the Cary community, Rick has served as a former Chair of the Board for the Cary Chamber of Commerce and has also chaired the Taylor Family YMCA’s annual “We Build People” Campaign. He has also volunteered as a member of the board The Carying Place which provides housing and financial literacy for homeless working families with children.
Rick has been recognized by NC Legal Elite (Business North Carolina Magazine) and Best Lawyers in America on numerous occasions.
Outside of work, Rick enjoys spending time with his wife, Marcia, and their two labrador retrievers. Together Rick and Marcia are the proud parents of three adult children who reside in North Carolina, Washington D.C. and California. Rick also enjoys spending time in the North Carolina mountains where he enjoys fly-fishing at a “recreational” level.
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Corporate:
Lead counsel for disposition of Triangle-based insurance agency to subsidiary of publicly traded company.
Corporate counsel for real estate developers including drafting and negotiation of operating agreements.
Counsel for Cary-based software firm disposition to publicly traded Silicon Valley financial software firm.
Counsel to national marketing firm with Triangle-based headquarters sale to private equity fund.
Real Estate:
Lead counsel to various Triangle-based homebuilders in acquisition of unimproved land for upscale single family planned communities.
Counsel to various developers in acquisition, development, leasing and disposition of land for industrial, office and retail projects.
Land Condemnation:
Achieved a post-mediation settlement of $4,375,000 for the owners of a 77,000 square foot medical office condominium building in Wake County after NCDOT initially deposited $629,250 for a partial taking which included a grade separation and project related permanent and temporary easements.
Co-counsel on adjacent vacant parcels in Craven County: recovered in excess of $1,000,000 over the initial deposits based on intended joint-development.
Retail building in Wake County: recovered over seven (7) times the initial deposit for reduction in access.
Mixed Use/Flex building in Wake County: recovered over six (6) times the initial deposit for loss of parking and reduced access.
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•Special Assistant United States Attorney, Eastern District of Virginia, 1994-1995
• Member, Cary Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors: Chair 2021-2022 and Vice Chair of Education 2016-2017
• Taylor Family YMCA, Cary Advisory Board: 2014 - 2017
• Campaign Chair, Major Gifts, Cary Family YMCA: 2021-2022
• The Carying Place, Boad of Directors: 2010-2016
• Member, Cary MacGregor Rotary Club
• NC Legal Elite (Business North Carolina Magazine) and Best Lawyers in America on numerous occasions
• JAGC Lt. U.S. Navy, 1992-1995
• Retired Commander, U.S. Navy Reserve -
• Appalachian State University, B.S.B.A. (1987)
• Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law J.D. (1992)
