68 Woods Rogers Attorneys Named to the 2027 Best Lawyers® List

At Woods Rogers, client service is at the heart of everything we do. Our attorneys work to help clients navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and achieve their goals through practical legal counsel and trusted partnerships. Recognition from our peers is a meaningful reflection of that commitment.

Woods Rogers is pleased to announce that 68 attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2027 Best Lawyers in America®. With more than 135 attorneys serving clients across six Virginia offices, this recognition highlights the depth of talent and dedication throughout the firm.

In addition, nine attorneys from our Roanoke, Richmond, and Norfolk offices have been named “Lawyer of the Year” in their respective practice areas. 16 Woods Rogers attorneys were also recognized in the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America list.

These recognitions reflect not only outstanding legal knowledge and professional achievement, but also a steadfast commitment to delivering exceptional service for our clients.

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

Lynchburg, VA

Bernard C. Baldwin III

• Corporate Law
• Litigation - Trusts and Estates

Eric J. Sorenson, Jr.

• Banking and Finance Law
• Corporate Law
• Securities / Capital Markets Law

Norfolk, VA

Christopher Ambrosio

• Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
• Corporate Law
• Real Estate Law

Anne G. Bibeau

• Employment Law - Management
• Litigation - Labor and Employment

F. Nash Bilisoly

• Workers' Compensation Law – Employers

G. William Birkhead

• Transportation Law

R. Patrick Bolling

• Employment Law - Management
• Litigation - Labor and Employment

Deborah M. Casey

• Community Association Law

W. Thomas Chappell

• Appellate Practice

Mark T. Coberly (2027 Lawyer of the Year)

• Admiralty and Maritime Law
• Transportation Law

Richard J. Crouch

• Banking and Finance Law
• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
• Corporate Law
• 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)
• Mergers and Acquisitions Law

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

• Banking and Finance Law
• Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Corporate Law
• Litigation - Real Estate
• Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
• Financial Services Regulation Law
• Litigation - Banking and Finance
• Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
• Project Finance 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 Ottinger

• Admiralty and Maritime Law

Anita O. Poston

• Corporate Law
• Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

Adam S. Rafal (2027 Lawyer of the Year)

• Workers' Compensation Law – Employers

James B. Rixey III (2027 Lawyer of the Year)

• Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
• Corporate Law
• Real Estate Law

Michael L. Sterling

• Construction Law
• Litigation – Construction

Brian L. Sykes

• Workers' Compensation Law – Employers

Richmond, VA

Timothy J. Bechen

• Litigation - Intellectual Property
• Litigation – Patent

John K. Byrum, Jr.

• Administrative / Regulatory Law

Donna L. Foster

• Health Care Law

Tracy Taylor Hague

• Health Care Law

Charles Carter Lee

• Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants

Douglas M. Palais

• Commercial Litigation
• Insurance Law
• Litigation - Securities
• Securities / Capital Markets Law

Frederick H. Schutt

• Commercial Litigation

William H. Shewmake

• Land Use and Zoning Law

Joseph (Jay) E. Spruill III (2027 Lawyer of the Year)

• Banking and Finance Law
• Financial Services Regulation Law

Roanoke, VA

D. Stan Barnhill

• Commercial Litigation
• Construction Law
• First Amendment Law
• Litigation - Construction
• Litigation - First Amendment
• Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants

Victor O. Cardwell (2027 Lawyer of the Year)

• Employment Law - Management
• Labor Law - Management
• Litigation - Labor and Employment

Agnis C. Chakravorty

• 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

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Litigation – Bankruptcy

Michael J. Hertz

• Trade Secrets Law

Patice L. Holland (2027 Lawyer of the Year)

• Employment Law - Management
• Insurance Law
• Litigation - Labor and Employment
• Railroad Law

Nicole F. Ingle

• Real Estate Law

James W. Jennings

• Commercial Litigation
• Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
• Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
• Railroad Law

Neal Keesee Jr.

• Corporate Law

Talfourd H. "Fourd" Kemper, Jr.

• Securities / Capital Markets Law

Talfourd H. Kemper, Sr. (2027 Lawyer of the Year)

• Corporate Law
• Real Estate Law
• Trusts and Estates

Mark D. Loftis

• Commercial Litigation
• Insurance Law
• Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
• Technology Law

Joshua F.P. Long

• Litigation - Intellectual Property
• Litigation - Labor and Employment

Justin M. Lugar

• Criminal Defense: White-Collar

Richard C. Maxwell

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Litigation – Bankruptcy

Lee E. Osborne

• Trusts and Estates

Elizabeth Guilbert Perrow

• Health Care Law
• Litigation - Health Care
• Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants

Matthew P. Pritts

• Railroad Law
• Transportation Law

Brooke C. Rosen (2027 Lawyer of the Year)

• Family Law

Benjamin Rottenborn

• Commercial Litigation
• Criminal Defense: White-Collar
• Commercial Litigation
• Litigation – Bankruptcy

Daniel T. Sarrell

• Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants

Alexander I. Saunders

• Corporate Law
• Tax Law
• Trusts and Estates

Justin E. Simmons

• Commercial Litigation
• Litigation - Bankruptcy

Christopher W. Stevens

• Insurance Law
• Litigation – Insurance

Daniel C. Summerlin III

• Labor Law - Management
• Litigation - Labor and Employment

King F. Tower (2027 Lawyer of the Year)

• Employment Law - Management
• Labor Law – Management

Joshua R. Treece

• Commercial Litigation

Elizabeth Burgin Waller

• Corporate Law
• Privacy and Data Security Law

Thomas M. Winn III

• Employment Law - Management
• Labor Law - Management
• Litigation - Labor and Employment

Other acknowledgments given to Woods Rogers attorneys include Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America 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. Learn more at www.bestlawyers.com.