Legislative/Regulatory/Administrative

Published November 30, 2016 by Virginia Business

Meade A. Spotts

Spotts Fain PC
Richmond

Other legal specialties: General business, real estate and environmental
Birthplace: Richmond
Education: Bachelor’s degree, Virginia Military Institute; law degree, College of William & Mary; U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Spouse: Cheryl Young Spotts
Children: Clair, Meade A., J.D. and Rennie
Hobbies or pastimes: Hunting, military history, anything with the kids, farming and beekeeping.
First job as a lawyer: Blowing things up! I received my bar exam confirmation while stationed at Fort Sill, Okla., as a field artillery officer.
Fan of: The Keydets, any soccer venue and football (U.S. variety)
Favorite vacation spot: Any island, Alaska and anywhere with no WiFi and limited cell service.
Recently read book: “Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah,” by Richard Bach
Career mentors: My parents, my grandparents and E.H. “Judge” Williams, VMI ‘35

What issues before the General Assembly have you worked on? What have you learned?
I have worked on everything from land rights to landfills, data centers to delivery by drone, health care to hunting, finance and banking to wetlands banking, cigarette licensure to solar location and COPN certification to energy deregulation. This experience has taught me that it is important to surround yourself with good people, show up, be aggressive but fair and truthful in presenting both sides of the argument, and when possible, be on the same side of the issue as Chuck DuVall (Lindl Corp).

Please tell me about your trade missions to China.
I was conned by my friend James Xu into going on Governor Warner’s first trade mission to China, and now I never miss an opportunity to return. I expected to find “red” China, but instead I found one of the most entrepreneurial and capitalistic countries in the world.