Law: JOEL M. BIRKEN
FOUNDING SHAREHOLDER, CHAIR OF CORPORATE GROUP, REES BROOME, TYSONS
Published
A George Washington University School of Law graduate, Birken co-founded Rees Broome & Birken in 1974 with Jon Broome and the late Jim Rees. Half a century on, the law firm has become one of the 20 largest in the state, employing 50 attorneys. Birken remains at its head, handling cases involving closely-held and family businesses dealing with acquisitions, mergers and management issues.
One of his signature cases was representing a government contractor “from formation to sale for in excess of $100 million,” he told Virginia Lawyers Weekly. He’s also had two “round-trip” clients who sold their companies, then later bought them again. “I was glad to get the clients back!” he says.
His work regularly lands him on honor rolls for corporate law, and Birken has also made time for multiple civic and volunteer positions. He’s a past chair of the Virginia State Bar’s standing committee on lawyer discipline, a former president of the Fairfax Bar Association and a past chairman and general counsel for the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce.
