John R. Bsharah

John R. Bsharah is a Member at Lewis Gianola PLLC who maintains a robust legal practice in West Virginia. Mr. Bsharah’s practice focuses on real estate, corporate, commercial, and transactional law. Mr. Bsharah’s real estate practice includes significant amount of work with common interest communities (homeowners associations) in West Virginia. Mr. Bsharah’s practice includes the preparation of estate documents and estate administration. Mr. Bsharah is experienced in matters related to West Virginia’s lottery, alcohol, and medical cannabis industries. Mr. Bsharah grew up in Charleston, West Virginia, graduating from George Washington High School. He went on to graduate from West Virginia University and the West Virginia University College of Law. Mr. Bsharah lives in Charleston with his family.

Education, Recognition and Community Involvement

Education

West Virginia University College of Law, JD, 2014
West Virginia University, BA, 2010

Recognition

Selected to Super Lawyers® Rising Stars, 2022 to 2025
Member of the American Bar Association
Member of the West Virginia Bar Association
Member of Community Associations Institute
West Virginia Organization of Homeowners Associations, Legislative Review Committee Chair

Community Involvement

The Counseling Connection, Board Member
St. George Orthodox Cathedral, Former Parish Council Member
Craik-Patton House, Former Board Member

Admissions

State of West Virginia

Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia

United States District Court for Southern District of West Virginia

Presentations

  • “The Clash of Interests in the Short-Term Rental Wars: HOAs, AirBnB, and NIMBYISM,” West Virginia Bar Association Real Estate Law Conference, May 2024
  • “The Obligations of Officers and Directors Under the Corporate Transparency Act: Your Money or Your Life,” West Virginia Organization of Homeowners Associations, February 2024
  • “Cannabis in West Virginia,” West Virginia Women Attorneys, July 2023
  • “Current Issues in the World of Common Interest Ownership,” 2022 West Virginia Bar Association Real Estate Law Conference, May 2022
  • “Short Term Rentals, Leases, Businesses, Policy & W. Va. Law,” West Virginia Organization of Homeowners Associations, November 2021
  • “Common Interest Communities in West Virginia; Assessments, Taxability, and Collections; Legal Underpinnings of Common Interest Communities,” West Virginia Organization of Homeowners Associations, June 2020
  • “Land Use Regulation and Medical Cannabis Uses in West Virginia,” Strategic Cannabis Conference 2020; Advanced Topics presented by West Virginia University Continuing Legal Education Program, October 2020
  • Presenter, West Virginia Medical Cannabis Law & Business Conference, Mountain State Educational Services Cooperative, October 2017

Mr. Bsharah has experience examining title and preparing title reports, and is an approved attorney with Old Republic National Title Insurance Company. John has experience researching, preparing, and negotiating documents associated with real estate transactions, including purchase and sale agreements, easements, rights-of-way, deeds, releases, leases, lien and security documents, etc. Mr. Bsharah works with builders and developers in the construction, development and management of a variety of real estate projects, including the development of low-income housing projects throughout West Virginia utilizing federal and state tax credits. John has also worked on land use and zoning matters related to local planning and zoning commissions.

Mr. Bsharah has extensive experience with the Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act and works with homeowners associations and developers in all matters related to common interest communities. Mr. Bsharah has been involved in the development and creation of common interest communities, as well as the preparation of declarations, bylaws, rules and policies, and other related documents. John has worked with homeowners associations on a variety of matters, including governance and procedural matters, elections, assessments, sales and purchases, document revision, document enforcement, finance and budgeting, and the host of other matters faced by homeowners associations.

Mr. Bsharah works with clients operating under the various corporate forms, including limited liability companies, for-profit corporations, non-profit corporations, and public corporations. John has extensive experience with the Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, the West Virginia Business Corporation Act, and the West Virginia Nonprofit Corporation Act. Mr. Bsharah’s work with corporate clients extends to all areas of business and operations, including the preparation and filing of organizational and governing documents, general transactions, corporate governance and procedure, contract procurement, mergers and acquisitions, asset sales and acquisitions, personnel matters, real property matters, financing, and management. Mr. Bsharah also has experience representing professionals and professional organizations (e.g., physicians, engineers, architects, and accountants) on matters related to regulatory boards and agencies.

Mr. Bsharah’s practice includes estate planning and administration, including the preparation of wills, trusts, financial powers of attorney, and medical powers of attorney. Mr. Bsharah also represents clients involved in West Virginia’s lottery, alcohol, and medical cannabis industries, including representing clients in licensing and regulatory issues.

John R. Bsharah

Member | Charleston, WV

Contact John R. Bsharah

Mr. Bsharah is dedicated to his work as a West Virginia corporate law attorney and to providing the highest quality of service and representation to his clients. For help with your commercial, real estate, and transactional law matters, contact John R. Bsharah at Lewis Gianola PLLC in Charleston by calling (304) 345-2000 or completing the law firm’s online contact form.