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.
