Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 70 WRVB Attorneys

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.