To secure the proper legal foundation for your Virginia expansion, you need a firm that understands the intersection of the 2015 JOBS Act (Regulation CF) and the Virginia Intrastate Crowdfunding Exemption (Va. Code § 13.1-514.1).
Based on current 2026 legal rankings and expertise in the Commonwealth, here is the Legal Engagement Brief and a list of recommended attorneys specifically qualified to handle your Wyoming-to-Virginia structure.
RECOMMENDED VIRGINIA SECURITIES COUNSEL
| Firm | Lead Attorney Recommendation | Specialization |
|---|---|---|
| Williams Mullen | Richard P. “Chip” Cunningham, Jr. | Expert in REITs, fund formation, and real estate private equity. Deeply understands “tax-advantaged” investments and SCC compliance. |
| Kaufman & Canoles | Corporate & Public Finance Group | Extensive experience with “Blue Sky” laws and exempt offerings. They specialize in balancing business growth with regulatory reporting. |
| Woods Rogers | Emerging Growth Team | Focused on innovative capital-raising solutions and “Legacy” preservation in Virginia’s business community. |
LEGAL ENGAGEMENT BRIEF: THE GONEN STATUTORY TRUST
To: Proposed Legal Counsel
From: Managing Trustee, GONEN Statutory Trust Financial Center
Matter: Virginia Intrastate Crowdfunding Compliance & JOBS Act Integration
1. BACKGROUND & LEGACY
The GONEN Statutory Trust is a Wyoming-domiciled entity with a 40-year history in media and finance (Est. 1988). We are expanding our GONEN TV and GONEN FUNDS operations into the Commonwealth of Virginia, with a primary physical presence being established in Charlotte, NC.
2. OBJECTIVE
We seek to launch a real estate crowdfunding portal for Virginia residents to invest in local property acquisitions. We intend to utilize the Virginia Intrastate Crowdfunding Exemption (§ 13.1-514.1) and ensure our digital portal complies with the verification standards of 21VAC5-40-190.
3. SCOPE OF SERVICES REQUIRED
- Entity Structuring: Advise on the formation of a Virginia-based “Issuing Entity” (subsidiary) to satisfy the “organized in Virginia” requirement of the intrastate exemption.
- SCC Notice Filing: Prepare and file the 20-day pre-offering disclosure document with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC).
- Portal Compliance: Review our Digital Residency Agreement and IP Geofencing protocols to ensure we satisfy the “reasonable care” standard for resident verification.
- Wyoming Integration: Ensure the flow of capital from the Virginia subsidiary to the Wyoming “Parent” Trust maintains our 40-year asset protection shield.
4. REQUESTED ACTION
Please provide an initial conflict check and a proposed fee structure for a Phase 1 Compliance Audit of our current Virginia Investor Disclosure Document.
Trustee Note: The “Hometown” Law Firm Advantage
I recommend starting with Williams Mullen or Kaufman & Canoles specifically because they have offices in Richmond. Since the Virginia SCC is located in Richmond, these firms often have direct, “first-name” relationships with the regulators who will be reviewing your crowdfunding notice.
Would you like me to draft a “Technical Specifications” document for your web developers so they can build the “Gonen Gate” to the exact standards your lawyer will require?