Riparian Rights & Waterfront Property Law Firm

We Protect your Waterfront, Maritime, and Environmental Rights

Over 30 years of experience defending Virginians who live, work, and play on the water.

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WHO WE SERVE

Virginia Residents

Residential cases directly impact the riparian and littoral rights of waterfront property owners. Whether you’re looking to build a pier on your property or need help dredging a waterway to access the water again, Jim Lang’s advanced legal degree in environmental law, the decades of legal experience built up by the four attorneys on the Pender & Coward Waterfront Law Team, and the team’s experience working with the Virginia Marine Resources Commission and other regulatory agencies, equips them with the hard-earned know-how that helps their clients clear up waterfront land development legal issues.

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Commercial Representatives

Your company has a lot on the line when acquiring commercial or industrial waterfront real estate. You need a trusted, knowledgeable legal advisor for that and also when something comes up that threatens your ability to operate your waterfront business in the face of environmental and other types of challenges. Our four-attorney Waterfront Law Team, backed by the strength of the Pender & Coward law firm, has decades-long experience in federal and state courts, in federal and state agencies, local boards and commissions, and negotiating deals between private parties.

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DO YOU KNOW YOUR RIGHTS?

Piers and Docks

Building a Pier or Dock for Your Virginia Waterfront Property

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Oyster Aquaculture

Oyster Planting Ground Leases, Floating and Bottom Cages

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Wetlands

Virginia Wetlands Compliance and Provisions

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Poultry Farms

Industrial Farming Along the Eastern Shore

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Waterfront Land Development

Environmental Law Legal Services for Development

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Waterfront Property

Commercial and Residential Buildings on the Waterfront

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Our Team is Here to Help You

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Client Testimonials

REAL ESTATE INVESTOR IN VIRGINIA BEACH VA

★★★★★

Thank Trust and heart are the two words that I will use to describe working with Jim Lang. I trust Mr. Lang to do a great job for me, and let me know up front what my legal fees will total. In the past, he has given me the option to do some of the legal work myself in order to stay within my budget. Mr. Lang also has a heart. He understands life's many ups and downs. I felt that he was really on my side, that he was concerned about me, and how I was doing with my new business. Mr. Lang is an outstanding lawyer but more importantly, Mr. Lang is a good man. I highly recommend him.

- Liz R.

SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN VIRGINIA BEACH VA

★★★★★

Jim Lang has represented my company and myself in litigation several times. These were events that occurred at years of doing business of no fault of my own. I can not express the relief of having Jim by my side. The courtroom is not a place I like to find myself. He was very knowledgeable, professional, and understanding. He explained all my options and even what was going to occur before it happened. He knew what opposing council was going to do like as if he read their notes. I never at any time felt my decision for him to represent me was a wrong decision. I know sometimes life has a way of creating issues beyond your control. These issues can be handled in and a lot of times out of court. I know as long as James (Jim) Lang is my attorney I sleep better at night for those what if's life sometimes throws at you.

- David M.

CONSTRUCTION COMPANY OWNER CHARGED WITH WETLANDS VIOLATION IN CHESAPEAKE VA

★★★★★

Thank you so much Bryan Peeples, attorney for Pender and Coward for representing my company in a legal matter. The situation was handled in a timely, professional way and we are so happy with the positive outcome!! We would highly recommend Mr. Peeples and the firm of Pender and Coward to anyone needing sound, legal representation. Great job!!!

- Gary S.

LITIGATION INVOLVING LARGE PIER ON POTOMAC RIVER IN LORTON VA

★★★★★

Hi Jim and Jeff, Yay!! Thank you, thank you, thank you! . . . I can't tell you how relieved I am and how much I appreciate your efforts on our behalf! . . . Jim and Jeff, we always were confident that we found, not only the right attorneys in you, but also true advocates for our case. Thank you so much for your diligence and for the thoughtful and thorough way you represented us!

- Mary S.

HELPED CLIENTS BUILD PIER ON THE EASTERN SHORE VA

★★★★★

My husband, Paul, and myself cannot say enough good things about our experience with Pender and Coward. We worked with James Lang and Jeff Wilson on a rather complicated issue that we were not sure we could get a solution to. However, because of their professionalism, their vast knowledge and the ease with which they worked with us, it ended up to be a great success story. They were able to handle something a bit out of the norm and helped us achieve our goal without the issue escalating. They listened and actually heard us and their communication was always immediate and personal. We can't thank them enough. They lifted a huge weight off our shoulders and we are forever grateful.

- Louisa F

WATERFRONT PROPERTY RIGHTS FOR REALTORS ASSOCIATION IN VIRGINIA BEACH VA

★★★★★

Your presentation (plus Tom’s) was one of the most important educational sessions I’ve attended in my 30+ years in real estate. I sincerely value your good advice.

- Betty Moritz Associate Broker, BHHS Towne Realty Liz R.

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Our Law Practice Areas

Waterfront (Riparian) Property Rights Law

Benjamin Lambert/stocksnap.io

Maritime & Admiralty Law

Ramone Photography

Environmental Law

Linda Harms/Shutterstock.com

See Examples of Our Team's Work

Donal Tong/stocksnap.io

Our Experienced Team of Attorneys

Jim Lang and his team at Pender & Coward, P.C. work hard to protect the rights of Virginians who live, work, and play on the 3,285 square miles of water in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Jim and his team have decades of experience taking care of people like you throughout Virginia in all matters related to waterfront (riparian) property rights,
maritime & admiralty law, and environmental law.

MEET JIM MEET THE TEAM

In The Community

Going the extra mile. For Jim Lang, his fellow attorneys, and staff members at Pender & Coward, P.C., this Restore the Shore community service project was the natural next step in a more than three-year highly successful legal effort to clear an inlet of some 30 hulking, rusting vessels. Watch the video below to learn the story of the Restore The Shore Project.

"Jim's maritime background was really essential to putting this all together."

- Bob Kerr, Kerr Environmental Services

CONTACT OUR TEAM

COMMONLY ASKED WATERFRONT LAW QUESTIONS

What are Riparian Rights in Virginia?

Riparian rights is a legal system that allocates the right to use water and bottomland among owners of waterfront property. Our experienced team of attorneys can help you navigate your riparian rights under Virginia law. Owning waterfront property is no small investment, and all waterfront property owners are purchasing their property and the riparian property rights that come with it.

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How Do I Build a Pier in Virginia?

A common reason for living on the water is so property owners can have access to deeper water through a pier. Building a pier may seem simple, but there are a variety of disputes that can arise and hinder construction. Our team shares the common pitfalls that waterfront property owners face when pier building.

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How Do I Use Riparian Rights to Establish a Riparian Area?

A riparian area is unique to each waterfront property. Under Virginia law, only a Court can establish the riparian area for a waterfront property. This process can be quite extensive and complicated. Learn more about the requirements waterfront property owners must meet to establish their riparian area.

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Do I Control What Happens on the Water at My Waterfront Property on a Creek, River, Bay or Shore of the Sea?

Waterfront property owners must depend on bottomland ownership if they want to control the water on their waterfront property. For properties on a creek, river, bay, or shore of the sea, the requirements for bottomland ownership may differ. Learn more about how bottomland ownership can impact your riparian rights, and how to navigate it.

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Recent Articles Written By Jim Lang and The Team

Jim Lang and his team are published authors and thought leaders in waterfront (riparian) property rights law, maritime & admiralty law, and environmental law.

I Want to Purchase and Then Develop a Property that has Wetlands - What Next?

October 9, 2024

Virginia is a “caveat emptor” state, meaning that the responsibility falls on the buyer to investigate and discover any defects in real estate property before completing a purchase. This article will explain how "caveat emptor" applies to environmental laws such as wetlands regulations. Read the full article.

Bryan Peeples of the Waterfront Law Team Lends His Expertise to HalfMoon Education in Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Webinar

September 30, 2024

On October 10th, Waterfront Law Team attorney, Bryan Peeples, will join HalfMoon Education for a live, interactive webinar on the topic of Groundwater and Surface Water Regulation in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Read the full article.