
Brian Winterhalter
PartnerBrian Winterhalter is an experienced commercial real estate attorney with a particular focus on and history of success in land use and zoning matters throughout Northern Virginia. He represents major developers and national, regional and local companies in all facets of land use, including noteworthy transit-oriented, mixed-use projects – office, hotel, residential and integrated retail and urban infill residential projects, as well as major data center projects and related fiber optic conduit facilities throughout the Ashburn area of Loudoun County.
Brian counsels on all aspects of the land use, planning, zoning and development processes. He is well known for succinctly and persuasively presenting complicated developments to state and local governing authorities throughout Northern Virginia, including Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William Counties and the cities and towns within this region, along with the local planning, transportation, and environmental staffs, planning commissions, elected officials and interested citizens organizations.
In addition, clients turn to Brian for his regional experience in crafting the complex ownership and governance regimes for horizontal and vertically integrated mixed-use developments, including the creation of condominium and subdivision structures, commercial and mixed-use property owners' associations and reciprocal easement agreements. Brian navigates the complicated endorsements needed from owners, developers, tenants and lenders – as well as the necessary governmental approvals – to ensure an approvable, financeable and implementable legal structure.
EXPERIENCE
- TF Cornerstone, Campus Commons – Rezoning approval to develop a high-rise residential tower with 515 units, a mid-rise residential building with 140 units, an office building of over 290,000 square feet, and ground-floor retail near the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station
- JBG Smith and EYA, Midline – Rezoning approval for the development of 1,100 residential units, a 260,000 square foot office building, an independent/assisted living facility, and ground-floor retail totaling over 1.8 million square feet of development near the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station
- JBG Smith, Reston Town Center West – Rezoning approval for three additional office buildings with 675,000 square feet of office, two high-rise residential buildings with 576 units, and additional retail totaling over 1.8 million square feet of development near the Reston Town Center Metro Station
- Boston Properties, Reston Town Center, Signature Site – Development approvals for a high-rise multi-family residential building with 549 units and ground-floor retail and the redevelopment of a low-rise office block with a 17-story office building containing over 275,000 square feet
- Boston Properties, Reston Town Center, The Avant – Conversion of prior approvals for Block 16 of the Reston Town Center to permit the development of a 359 unit, high-rise multi-family building with ground-floor retail
- Bozzuto Development Company, Aperture – Rezoning approval for the redevelopment of an office and light industrial site near the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station with over 420 multi-family units with ground-floor retail
- JBG Smith, 6862 Elm Street – Rezoning approval for a mixed-use project with 240 multi¬family residential units and additional retail uses with an existing office building in downtown McLean
- Renaissance Centro, LLC, The Harrison – Redevelopment of a portion of an existing, low-rise multi-family apartment complex with a 360 unit, high-rise multi-family building near Reston Town Center
- Pulte Homes, Lofts at Reston Station – Rezoning approval for 44 multi-family residential units near the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station
- Stanley Martin Companies, Park Place - Rezoning approval for the development of 141 townhouse and stacked townhouse units in the Town of Herndon
- Life Time Fitness – Special permit approval for a premier, full-service health club of over 115,000 square feet in Reston
Awards
Chambers USA
- Band 2, Virginia: Northern Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use, (2025)
- Band 3, Virginia: Northern Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use, (2023 – 2024)
The Legal 500 United States
- Recommended, Land Use/Zoning, (2022, 2024 – 2025)
- J.D., University of Virginia School of Law
- B.A., Urban and Environmental Planning, University of Virginia
High Honors
Media Mentions
- "States Consider Pumping The Brakes On Data Centers," Law360, February 4, 2026
- "How Energy Scarcity Is Changing Data Center Deals," Law360, December 3, 2025
- "Housing proposal continues push to redevelop challenged Woodland Park offices near Herndon," FFXnow, August 8, 2025
- "'First of its Kind' Substation Considered by Supervisors," Loudoun Now, May 15, 2025
- "Planning Commission Defers Vote on Proposal to Increase Residential Density at Merrifield Site," The Fairfax Newsletter, November 2024
- "Maturing debt, strict land use regulations confront struggling segments of Fairfax office market," Washington Business Journal, July 25, 2023
- "Loudoun supervisors approve public financing structure to kickstart massive Rivana project," Washington Business Journal, July 20, 2023
- "County Board Approval Expected in June for Data Center Campus at Fomer AOL HQ Site," The Loudoun Newsletter, May 30, 2023
- "Loudoun lawmakers approve Rivana rezoning, huge win for proponents of slow-to-realize projects along Metro's Silver Line," The Loudoun Newsletter (May 17, 2023)
- "Rivana at Innovation Station gets final approval," Loudoun Times-Mirror, May 17, 2023
- "Loudoun Supervisors Get First Look at Massive Metro Development," Loudoun Now, April 14, 2023
- "Proposed mixed-use development near Metro station approaches approval," Loudoun Times-Mirror, April 12, 2023
- "AREP Secures Planning Commission Support for Ashburn Data Center; Files Plans for Another in Arcola," The Loudoun Newsletter, March 23, 2023
- "Peterson Cos., other owners target Fair Lakes for more residential, not office," Washington Business Journal, March 17, 2023
- "Planning Commission recommends one-to-one replacement of affordable housing," Annandale Today, February 18, 2023
- "Mid-Rise Multifamily Planned for Herndon Office Site near Innovation Center Metro," The Fairfax Newsletter, January 19, 2023
- "Comstock Reorganizes Reston Station Holdings; Proposes High-Rise Multifamily Closer to Metro," The Fairfax Newsletter, July 19, 2022
- "Pulte Files Residential Rezoning in Reston; 190 Housing Units Proposed," The Fairfax Newsletter, February 18, 2022
- "Comstock Unveils Plans for Commerce Metro Center in Reston;24M-SF Mixed-Use Development Proposed," The Fairfax Newsletter, February 18, 2022
- "Comstock unveils plans for next massive Reston development," Washington Business Journal, February 15, 2022
Memberships And Affiliations
- Urban Land Institute
- National Association of Industrial and Office Properties
- Northern Virginia Building Industry Association
- Fairfax County Economic Advisory Commission
- University of Virginia Real Estate Development Advisory Council
- Community Residences Board of Directors