About me  (Para leer la versión en español, oprima aquí)

 My background and experience are very unique.  

I am an enforcement attorney with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and a former federal environmental crimes prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).  I was also a Land Acquisition Attorney with DOJ, where I acquired residential, commercial, and industrial properties on behalf of the federal government, and successfully handled numerous and complicated issues of property valuation, tried various cases in federal court, and negotiated real estate fair market value settlements in the millions of dollars.   

Three years ago, I joined FORTNEY FINE PROPERTIES of Alexandria, Virginia, as a REALTOR®.   My team and I are committed to assist buyers and sellers in accomplishing all of their real estate needs and goals with the utmost degree of care and professionalism.   We've got this!

With more than 20 years of experience as a lawyer, I am an expert negotiator, having successfully negotiated thousands of deals -- from small claims to multi-million-dollar property acquisitions.  In addition to my successful legal career, I have been a property manager in Maryland and Virginia, have served as a personal representative and executor of various estates, and am currently a Board Member of a Condominium Association at Wintergreen Ski Resort, Wintergreen, Virginia. 


I have lived in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area for more than 20 years and now reside in Springfield, Virginia, with my wife, two children, and two fun dogs.  Some of my favorite things to do are to  coach my youngest daughter's soccer team, going downhill skiing with my wife and children, running, and playing basketball.   I also love to cook and enjoy reading fiction books and watching movies. 

I am certified by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® as a REALTOR® and e-PRO® real estate specialist on how to effectively use technology in the Real Estate business.  

I have  a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from Columbia Law School in New York City, and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees from the University of Puerto Rico. I am a licensed attorney in the District of Columbia, New York, and Puerto Rico.  I was born in San Juan, PR, and am a native Spanish speaker.


David Lastra
Springfield, VA 
Fall 2017