WRVB Attorneys Make Major Showing in Best Lawyers in America

When Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black (WRVB) began operating as a merged firm in July 2022, the combined strength of the two prestigious law firms created a regional powerhouse. When announcing the firms’ intent to merge, Daniel Summerlin, WRVB President said, “[We] look forward to bringing our collective talent and a wider range of specialties to clients as we grow stronger together.”

The first legal rankings released since the merger back those assertions, with 66 WRVB attorneys named to the list of 2023 Best Lawyers in America^® in 132 practice areas. With more than 130 WRVB attorneys practicing across five Virginia locations, more than half received this honor.

Attorney Christopher Ambrosio was listed in the Real Estate Law category for the first time. Eleven attorneys have been listed for at least 25 years.

The complete list of honorees by region and practice area is below:

Charlottesville, VA

Steven W. Blaine
Administrative / Regulatory Law
Real Estate Law

J. Alden English
Banking and Finance Law
Real Estate Law

Timothy I. Kelsey
Real Estate Law

Lynchburg, VA

Bernard C. Baldwin III
Corporate Law
Litigation - Trusts and Estates

S. Henry (Hank) Creasy (2023 Lawyer of the Year)
Health Care Law

Robert (Robin) C. Wood III
Commercial Litigation

Norfolk, VA

Christopher Ambrosio (2023 Lawyer of the Year)
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Real Estate Law

Anne G. Bibeau (2023 Lawyer of the Year)
Employment Law - Management

F. Nash Bilisoly
Workers' Compensation Law - Employers

G. William Birkhead
Transportation Law

Dean T. Buckius
Employment Law - Management
Labor Law - Management

Deborah M. Casey
Community Association Law

Mark T. Coberly (2023 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
Arbitration
Construction Law
Litigation - Construction
Mediation

Patrick A. Genzler
Construction Law
Environmental Law
Litigation - Construction
Litigation - Environmental

Richard S. Guy
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)

James R. Harvey III
Construction Law

Geoffrey G. Hemphill
Tax Law

Patrick W. Herman
Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
Tax Law

Ray W. King
Banking and Finance Law
Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
Corporate Law
Litigation - Real Estate
Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
Real Estate Law

Arlene F. Klinedinst
Employment Law - Management
Labor Law - Management

Neil S. Lowenstein
Construction Law
Litigation - Construction

Bryant C. McGann
Banking and Finance Law
Commercial Finance 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

Edward J. Powers (2023 Lawyer of the Year)
Admiralty and Maritime Law

Adam S. Rafal (2023 Lawyer of the Year)
Workers' Compensation Law - Employers

Michael L. Sterling (2023 Lawyer of the Year)
Construction Law

Brian L. Sykes
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

Douglas M. Palais
Commercial Litigation
Insurance Law
Litigation - Securities
Securities / Capital Markets Law

Joseph (Jay E.) Spruill
Banking and Finance Law
Financial Services Regulation Law

Roanoke, VA

D. Stan Barnhill
Commercial Litigation
Construction 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

Claude D. Carter
Real Estate Law

Francis H. (Chip) Casola
Commercial Litigation
Litigation - Antitrust
Litigation - Intellectual Property
Litigation - Real Estate

Agnis C. Chakravorty
Employment Law - Management
Labor Law - Management
Litigation - Labor and Employment

Michael E. Hastings
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Litigation - Bankruptcy

Michael J. Hertz
Trade Secrets Law

Patice L. Holland
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

R. 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

C. Carter Lee
Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants

Mark D. Loftis
Commercial Litigation
Insurance Law
Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Technology Law

Joshua F. P. Long
Litigation - Labor and Employment

Richard C. Maxwell
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Litigation - Bankruptcy

J. Lee E. Osborne
Trusts and Estates

Thomas T. Palmer
Health Care Law

Elizabeth Guilbert Perrow
Health Care Law
Litigation - Health Care
Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants

Matthew P. Pritts (2023 Lawyer of the Year)
Railroad Law
Transportation Law

Nancy Fuller Reynolds
Health Care Law

Brooke C. Rosen
Family Law

Alexander I. Saunders (2023 Lawyer of the Year)
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 (2023 Lawyer of the Year)
Employment Law - Management
Labor Law - Management

Thomas M. Winn III
Employment Law - Management
Labor Law - Management
Litigation - Labor and Employment

Dudley F. Woody (retired)
Employment Law - Management

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 a singular honor.