Elizabeth is a trial lawyer who practices primarily in the area of medical malpractice defense. She has extensive experience representing healthcare providers and has successfully defended physicians, nurses, and hospitals. Best Lawyers in America named Elizabeth as the 2017 Roanoke Lawyer of the Year for Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants.

Elizabeth has tried numerous jury cases in circuit courts and has participated in numerous mediations. She was recognized by Virginia Lawyers Weekly for receiving one of the largest defense verdicts in 2007 and for receiving “million-dollar med-mal defense verdicts” from 2010 through 2015.

Elizabeth has lectured extensively on risk management issues to professional groups in Virginia and has authored a chapter of Virginia CLE on Medical Malpractice Law in Virginia.

Elizabeth has been recognized by Virginia Super Lawyers for many years and listed in Super Lawyers—Top 50 Women in 2014, 2015, and 2017. She has been one of Martindale-Hubbell’s “Preeminent Women Lawyers” since 2011 and holds a Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rating. In 2016, she was among the Best Lawyers list of “Women in the Law” for Medical Malpractice Law. Best Lawyers has also recognized her for Medical Malpractice Law-Defendants since 2012. In 2013, she was named by Virginia Lawyers Weekly as one of the “Influential Women of Virginia.” Additional awards include being a Virginia Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2008, 2009, and 2011. Blue Ridge Business Journal recognized Elizabeth in their “20 Under 40” list in 2009. The Roanoke Bar Association chose her as “Young Lawyer of the Year” in 2008.

She was the second-youngest president and only the second woman to serve as president of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys (VADA), a statewide bar association for defense attorneys. She is the third Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black attorney to serve as president of the organization.

Elizabeth graduated from Lynchburg College cum laude and earned her law degree at Oklahoma City University School of Law, summa cum laude, where she received the award for Outstanding Woman Graduate in her class.

Thought Leadership

You’ve Been Poked: Social Networking and Civil Litigation, co-author with Aaron B. Houchens, The Journal of Civil Litigation, 2010

Telemedicine in Virginia: Some Legal Implications of Care from a Distance, co-author with Daniel T. Sarrell, The Journal of  Civil Litigation, 2009

Chapter 4: Investigating the Factual Background (Defendant’s Perspective), Medical Malpractice Law in Virginia, Virginia Continuing Legal Education, 2002, 2003

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act: An Overview of Administrative Simplification, co-author with Thomas W. Farrell, The Journal of Civil Litigation, 2002

Overview: Custody and Visitation Matters, Associates’ Notes, VADA newsletter, 2000

Featured Posts

Speaking Engagements

  • Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce LeadHERship Luncheon Series | Women in the Workplace: Stand Up and Stand Out
    May 16, 2023
  • Virginia Bar Association 132nd Summer Meeting | Medical Malpractice Litigation in Virginia – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
    July 22, 2022
  • Virginia CLE | Controlling the Deposition: Inside the Deposition Room
    April 5, 2019

Recognition