Thomas helps his clients accomplish their goals and solve problems. While he has diverse experience in a variety of civil litigation areas, his practice focuses on appellate advocacy, trust and estates litigation, land use litigation, collections and representing community associations.
Thomas has an active appellate litigation practice and has represented clients before the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission, the Court of Appeals of Virginia, the Supreme Court of Virginia, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Prior to joining Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black (WRVB), Thomas served as a judicial law clerk for Justice S. Bernard Goodwyn of the Supreme Court of Virginia and as an extern for Judge Roger L. Gregory of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
In addition to his appellate practice, Thomas represents client in diverse areas of civil litigation. Thomas frequently handles trust and estates litigation matters. He also represents clients in land use disputes. He has experience representing clients before local Boards of Zoning Appeals. He also handles collections matters on general district and circuit courts.
Thomas regularly appears on behalf of community associations in courts throughout Hampton Roads. Thomas frequently presents on diverse legal topics to community association industry groups. He is actively involved in the Southeastern Virginia Chapter of the Community Association Institute, and is a member of Virginia’s state-wide Community Association Institute’s Legislative Action Committee, which advocates on behalf of community associations in the General Assembly.
Thomas attended the College of William & Mary, where he majored in Government and Economics and received a B.A. (magna cum laude). He attended the University of Richmond School of Law and earned a J.D. (magna cum laude). He was a John Marshall Scholar, a member of the University of Richmond Law Review and named to the Order of the Coif and the McNeill Law Society. He was also an executive board member of the law school’s Christian Law Fellowship.
Outside of the office, Thomas plays volleyball and is an avid William & Mary sports fan.
Attorney Perspectives
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Interpanel Accord: An Important Concept for Civil Litigants in the New Court of Appeals of Virginia
June 27, 2023 -
2023 Virginia Legislative Changes Affecting Community Associations
June 14, 2023 -
Legal SPF: Summer Protection For Community Associations
March 8, 2023 -
An Appeal of Right: Navigating the New Court of Appeals of Virginia
September 9, 2022 -
Civil Interlocutory Appeals In Virginia
August 17, 2022 -
What To Expect From The Virginia Supreme Court Regarding Certified Questions Of Law
June 13, 2022 -
The New Court of Appeals of Virginia Issues Its First En Banc Ruling, Issuing an Important Ruling on Preservation of Error
June 2, 2022 -
A Brief Overview of Suspension Bonds and Appeal Bonds for Appeals to the Court of Appeals of Virginia and the Supreme Court of Virginia
April 13, 2022 -
Effect of Expanded Jurisdiction of Virginia Court of Appeals on Community Associations
January 11, 2022 -
2021 Legislative Changes that Impact Virginia Community Associations
December 27, 2021
Recognition
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Ten WRVB Attorneys Named “Ones to Watch”
August 17, 2023 -
Thirty-Seven WRVB Attorneys Named to 2023 Virginia Super Lawyers and Rising Stars List
May 1, 2023 -
26 WRVB Attorneys Named “Top Lawyers” for Norfolk, Coastal Virginia Magazine
January 24, 2023 -
70 WRVB Attorneys Named to 2022 “Legal Elite”
November 29, 2022 -
Ten WRVB Attorneys Named “Ones to Watch”
August 19, 2022 -
Attorney Thomas Chappell Appointed Executive Member of the Chesapeake Bar Association
April 25, 2022 -
Vandeventer Black Attorneys Recognized as 2022 Top Lawyers of Coastal Virginia
January 1, 2022 -
Vandeventer Black attorneys named 2022 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
August 19, 2021 -
Vandeventer Black Attorneys Selected as 2020 Legal Elite
November 30, 2020 -
Vandeventer Black LLP Attorney Named to 2021 Best Lawyers®: Ones to Watch
August 27, 2020 -
Chappell Appointed to the Community Associations Institute’s Virginia Legislative Action Committee
January 28, 2020 -
Twenty-two Vandeventer Black Attorneys Selected as 2019 Legal Elite
November 25, 2019 -
Thomas Chappell Named Up & Coming Lawyer for 2019
September 23, 2019 -
Vandeventer Black Wins Large Firm (Per Capita) Category in 2018 Virginia Legal Food Frenzy
June 29, 2018 -
Vandeventer Black Recognized as a Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year
October 19, 2017