Virginia Leaders
Our roots are firmly embedded in one of the most vibrant and dynamic communities anywhere— the Commonwealth of Virginia. Our contributions to the legal profession in Virginia began well before the turn of the 20th century. From east to west, the firms that would combine to form today’s Woods Rogers have been instrumental in shaping the legal system across the state.
Professional
Nine members of the current firm have served as president of the Virginia Bar Association, including current Woods Rogers Chairman, Victor Cardwell, the VBA’s first Black president. Several more serve the VBA on the Board of Governors and as section leaders.
The firm’s contributions to the Virginia State Bar (VSB) are also impressive, with Woods Rogers attorneys serving in distinguished roles such as president of the State Examiner’s Board, members of the VSB Board of Governors, and Vice Chair of the Special Committee on Technology and the Future Practice of Law.
Firm attorneys also hold active leadership positions in the Virginia Associate of Defense Attorneys (VADA), the Virginia Women Attorneys Association (VWAA) and local bars across the Commonwealth.
Industry
Three Woods Rogers attorneys currently serve on boards or committees of the Commonwealth:
- Data privacy attorney Elizabeth Waller, who is appointed to the Governor’s Cybersecurity Planning Committee
- Real estate attorney Deborah Casey, who is a member of Virginia’s Common Interest Community Board
- Firm Chairman Victor Cardwell, who serves on the Board of the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority
Community
Woods Rogers attorneys participate on several nonprofit boards across Virginia, in many cases, serving these groups as outside general counsel. Among notable organizations we support through leadership: the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges, the Virginia Historical Society, the Commonwealth Alliance of Rural Colleges, the Virginia Maritime Association, the Virginia Ship Repair Association, Old Dominion University Research Foundation, Virginia Amateur Sports, the Associated General Contractors of Virginia, and the Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance.
Global Reach
Whatever the need, our ability to work seamlessly across practices with clients ensures that we are more than a safe firm—we are the new firm of choice. Our locations in the nexus of a major metropolitan area and our ability to connect the dots across disciplines help keep our clients ahead of their legal and regulatory challenges, wherever they happen to be.
International Network
As the sole Virginia member of the Interlaw network, Woods Rogers draws on the talent and expertise of more than 8,000 lawyers worldwide. Active in the network since 2017, Woods Rogers leverages strong relationships with affiliate firms to support the international legal needs of its clients. In turn, Woods Rogers has been privileged to represent the U.S. interests of clients from more than 15 countries across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.
In March 2024, Interlaw was again ranked as a global elite network in Chambers Global 2024. Notably, the network was noted for its “impressive roster of lawyers,” “top-tier service,” and use of “innovative technology.
