The 22nd edition of the Virginia Business Legal Elite

Legal Elite recognizes leading Virginia attorneys across 20 specialties

Published November 30, 2021 by Richard Foster

Launched in cooperation with the Virginia Bar Association in 2000, Virginia Business’ Legal Elite polls lawyers licensed to practice in Virginia each year, asking them to identify which of their peers are the top attorneys across 20 categories of legal specialties.

In compiling this year’s Legal Elite, Virginia Business contacted more than 14,000 attorneys and more than 50 law firms, directing them to a balloting website, which was available only during the annual voting period.

This year’s Legal Elite categories include a total of 1,271 lawyers, 23.3% of the 5,453 attorneys who were nominated by their peers this year. Attorneys cast 1,612 ballots, making 27,340 separate votes across all 20 legal specialty categories.

Virginia Business also profiles a representative from each legal category.

Of the 20 attorneys who have appeared in all 22 editions of the Legal Elite, 10 of the long-term honorees hail from Central Virginia, while six are based in Hampton Roads and four are based in Northern Virginia.

Three firms are well-represented in this list of 22-year honorees. The group includes four lawyers from Willcox & Savage PC in Norfolk: Allan G. Donn, William M. Furr, Thomas G. Johnson Jr. and Conrad M. Shumadine. McCandlish Lillard PC in Fairfax has two lawyers on the long-term list: R. Peyton Mahaffey, who becomes chairman of the firm’s board on Jan. 1, and Ralph M. Tener. Williams Mullen also has three long-term honorees: William D. Bayliss and Calvin W. “Woody” Fowler Jr., who are based in Richmond, and Thomas R. Frantz, the firm’s chairman emeritus, in Virginia Beach. 

In it to win it: The 20 lawyers who have made the list every year since 2000

Click on category to see complete list and profile.

• Alternative Dispute Resolution

  • P. Marshall Yoder, Wharton Aldhizer & Weaver PLC, Harrisonburg

• Appellate Law
  • Lucas I. Pangle, Wharton Aldhizer & Weaver PLC, Harrisonburg

• Bankruptcy/Creditors’ Rights
  • Ann Burke Brogan, Davey | Brogan PC, Norfolk

• Business Law
  • Steven A. Meade, Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein LC, Newport News

• Civil Litigation
  • Glen Michael Robertson, Wolcott Rivers Gates, Virginia Beach

• Construction Law
  • Joshua C. “Josh” Johnson, MichieHamlett Attorneys at Law, Roanoke

• Corporate Counsel
  • Carlos M. Brown, Dominion Energy Inc., Richmond

• Criminal Law
  • James S. Abrenio, Abrenio Law, Fairfax

• Elder Law
  • Susan I. Jean, The Heritage Law Group, Yorktown
    

• Environmental Law
  • Brian L. Buniva, B.L. Buniva Strategic Advisor PLLC, Richmond     

• Family Law/Domestic Relations
  • Kristen Konrad Johnstone, Parks Zeigler PLLC, Roanoke

• Health Law
  • Mary Elizabeth “Mary Beth” Sherwin, Kaufman & Canoles PC, Norfolk

• Immigration Law
  • Lysandra Pachuta, Henson Pachuta & Kammerman PLLC, Fairfax

• Intellectual Property/ Information Technology
  • Peter J. Van Bergen, Patent Attorney, Williamsburg

• Labor/Employment Law
  • Laurie L. Kirkland, Blankingship & Keith PC, Fairfax

• Legal Services/Pro Bono
  • Tara Casey, University of Richmond School of Law, Richmond

• Legislative/Regulatory/Administrative
  • Gregory D. Habeeb, Gentry Locke Attorneys and Gentry Locke Consulting, Richmond

• Real Estate/Land Use
  • Cartwright R. “Cart” Reilly, Williams Mullen, Virginia Beach

• Taxes/Estates/Trusts
  • Farhad Aghdami, Williams Mullen, Richmond

• Young Lawyer
  • Simone T. Williams, Harman, Claytor, Corrigan & Wellman, Glen Allen

Past Legal Elite

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