The attorneys at Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black (WRVB) have built a reputation of impressive legal acumen combined with a passion for the practice of law and a service mindset. Recognition for these qualities from peers is a high honor. For that reason, WRVB is pleased to announce that 70 attorneys have been named to the 2024 Best Lawyers in America. With more than 130 WRVB attorneys practicing across five Virginia locations, more than half received this honor.
Eight attorneys were listed for the first time in their respective practice areas and six attorneys have been listed for at least 25 years. Demonstrating their excellent legal work and commitment to their profession, 12 attorneys from Roanoke and Norfolk also were named “Lawyer of the Year.”
The complete list of honorees by region and practice area is below.
Charlottesville, VA
Steven W. Blaine
Administrative / Regulatory Law
Land Use and Zoning Law
Real Estate Law
Alden English
Banking and Finance Law
Real Estate Law
Lynchburg, VA
Bernard C. Baldwin III
Corporate Law
Litigation – Trusts and Estates
Henry (Hank) Creasy
Health Care Law
Corey S. Davis
Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law
Robert (Robin) C. Wood III
Commercial Litigation
Norfolk, VA
Christopher Ambrosio
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Corporate Law
Real Estate Law
Anne G. Bibeau
Employment Law – Management
Nash Bilisoly
Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
William Birkhead (2024 Lawyer of the Year)
Transportation Law
Dean T. Buckius
Employment Law – Management
Labor Law – Management
Deborah M. Casey
Community Association Law
Mark T. Coberly (2024 Lawyer of the Year)
Admiralty and Maritime Law
Transportation Law
Richard J. Crouch
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Real Estate Law
William E. Franczek (2024 Lawyer of the Year)
Arbitration
Construction Law
Litigation – Construction
Mediation
Patrick A. Genzler
Construction Law
Environmental Law
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Environmental
Richard S. Guy (2024 Lawyer of the Year)
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
James R. Harvey III
Construction Law
Litigation – Construction
Geoffrey G. Hemphill
Tax Law
Patrick W. Herman
Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
Tax Law
Ray W. King (2024 Lawyer of the Year)
Banking and Finance Law
Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Litigation – Real Estate
Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
Real Estate Law
Neil S. Lowenstein
Construction Law
Litigation – Construction
Bryant C. McGann
Banking and Finance Law
Commercial Finance Law
Commercial Transactions/UCC Law
Financial Services Regulation Law
Litigation – Banking and Finance
Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
Project Finance Law
Richard H. Ottinger
Admiralty and Maritime Law
Anita O. Poston
Corporate Law
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Adam S. Rafal
Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
Michael L. Sterling
Construction Law
Brian L. Sykes (2024 Lawyer of the Year)
Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
Daniel R. Weckstein
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Richmond, VA
John K. Byrum Jr.
Administrative / Regulatory Law
Donna L. Foster
Health Care Law
Tracy Taylor Hague
Health Care Law
Jon Hollis
Commercial Litigation
Douglas M. Palais
Commercial Litigation
Insurance Law
Litigation – Securities
Securities / Capital Markets Law
William H. Shewmake
Land Use and Zoning Law
Joseph (Jay) E. Spruill
Banking and Finance Law
Financial Services Regulation Law
Roanoke, VA
Stan Barnhill
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
First Amendment Law
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – First Amendment
Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
Neil V. Birkhoff
Tax Law
Trusts and Estates
Victor O. Cardwell
Employment Law – Management
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Francis (Chip) H. Casola
Commercial Litigation
Litigation – Antitrust
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Litigation – Real Estate
Agnis C. Chakravorty (2024 Lawyer of the Year)
Employment Law – Management
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Martha (Mollie) Withrow Elder
Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
Michael P. Gardner
Employment Law – Management
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Michael E. Hastings (2024 Lawyer of the Year)
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Michael J. Hertz
Trade Secrets Law
Patice L. Holland (2024 Lawyer of the Year)
Insurance Law
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Railroad Law
Nicole F. Ingle
Real Estate Law
James W. Jennings Jr.
Commercial Litigation
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Railroad Law
Neal Keesee Jr.
Corporate Law
Fourd Kemper
Securities / Capital Markets Law
Talfourd H. Kemper
Corporate Law
Real Estate Law
Trusts and Estates
Alton L. Knighton Jr.
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Project Finance Law
Public Finance Law
Carter Lee
Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
Mark D. Loftis (2024 Lawyer of the Year)
Commercial Litigation
Insurance Law
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Technology Law
Joshua F. P. Long
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Richard C. Maxwell
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Lee E. Osborne
Trusts and Estates
Thomas T. Palmer
Health Care Law
Elizabeth Guilbert Perrow (2024 Lawyer of the Year)
Health Care Law
Litigation – Health Care
Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
Matthew P. Pritts
Railroad Law
Transportation Law
Nancy Fuller Reynolds
Health Care Law
Brooke C. Rosen
Family Law
Benjamin Rottenborn
Commercial Litigation
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Alexander I. Saunders
Corporate Law
Tax Law
Trusts and Estates
Christopher W. Stevens
Insurance Law
Litigation – Insurance
Daniel C. Summerlin III
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Labor and Employment
King F. Tower
Employment Law – Management
Labor Law – Management
Joshua R. Treece
Commercial Litigation
Elizabeth Burgin Waller
Privacy and Data Security Law
Thomas M. Winn III (2024 Lawyer of the Year)
Employment Law – Management
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Other acknowledgments given to WRVB attorneys include Best Lawyers’ “Ones to Watch” and “Lawyer of the Year” lists.
Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on an exhaustive evaluation. Attorneys are reviewed by their peers based on professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to ensure they are in current practice and in “good standing.” Lawyers are not required nor allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered an honor.
