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 in 133 practice areas being named to the annual list of Best Lawyers in America®. With more than 130 WRVB attorneys practicing across five Virginia locations, more than half received this honor.
Attorney Christopher Ambrosio was listed for the firm time in the Real Estate Law category. Eleven attorneys have been listed for at least 25 years.
The full list of honorees by region and practice area is below:
| Attorney | Practice Area |
| 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
|
Health Law Law
|
| Robert (Robin) C. Wood III
|
Commercial Litigation
|
| Norfolk, VA | |
| Christopher Ambrosio | Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) |
| Real Estate Law
|
|
| Anne G. Bibeau
|
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 | 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
|
Admiralty and Maritime Law
|
| Adam S. Rafal
|
Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
|
| Michael L. Sterling
|
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 Law Law
|
| Elizabeth Guilbert Perrow | Health Law Law |
| Litigation – Health Law | |
| Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
|
|
| Matthew P. Pritts | Railroad Law |
| Transportation Law
|
|
| Nancy Fuller Reynolds
|
Health Law Law
|
| Brooke C. Rosen
|
Family Law
|
| Alexander I. Saunders | 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 | 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.
About Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black PLC
Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black combines the forces of Woods Rogers, founded in Roanoke in 1893, and Vandeventer Black, established in Norfolk in 1883. The new firm continues to promote the original firms’ principles of mutual respect, community leadership, and unwavering dedication to client service. The combined firm of more than 130 attorneys provides enhanced legal expertise for Virginia businesses, including the growing technology and manufacturing corridors. To learn more, visit wrvblaw.com.
