General Resume of Areas of Practice and Expertise

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
With the growth of government, many matters are no longer resolved in the traditional courtroom environment but rather are handled before administrative agencies. We regularly represent clients before the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission, the various boards of the Department of Health Professions, the Virginia Employment Commission, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Labor and Industry and all local boards of supervisors, planning commissions and boards of zoning appeals. From time to time, we also make presentations to committees of the General Assembly on behalf of clients.

BUSINESS & CORPORATE
Currently the Firm serves as counsel to several corporations whose combined annual sales exceed $300,000,000. Our business/corporate clientele look to the Firm to advise them on corporate structure, establishment of subsidiary corporations, representation with respect to banking arrangements (including a variety of credit facilities), contractual matters, insurance matters, employment and personnel matters, elementary patent and copyright matters, transportation matters and miscellaneous other matters as they arise. Similar services are offered to clients whose operations are smaller.

CONSTRUCTION
We have extensive experience in residential and commercial construction matters, including experience in the field of mechanics' lien law. In addition, we currently advise area school boards and their construction management departments regarding site acquisition and the construction of their elementary, middle and high schools. Over the last five years, total construction contracts have exceeded $100,000,000. Our areas of responsibility include the negotiation and drafting of agreements with architects and engineers, the drafting of specialized general conditions for construction, pre-qualification of general contractors for bidding, evaluation of bids, drafting of contract documents, supervision of construction, evaluation of contractor performance, assertion of and defense of construction claims and the handling of public inquiries relating to construction and school facilities. We also evaluate facilities and plans in order to render opinions on compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act and related legislation.

CRIMINAL LAW
If you have been charged with a criminal or traffic offense, the members of our Firm can advise and represent you in all stages of the criminal justice system. Our extensive experience in the General District Courts, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts, Circuit Courts and the Virginia Court of Appeals, enables us to fairly and aggressively defend you in these cases.

DOMESTIC RELATIONS
The Firm currently serves as counsel in numerous family law cases pending in the Circuit Courts and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts. The subject matters of these suits include custody, child support, divorce, equitable property division, retirement distribution, adoption, restraining orders and other family-related matters.

EDUCATION
The Firm advises local school boards and other entities on education matters. We are responsible for interpreting numerous state and federal regulations and rulings as they relate to local school boards. We also counsel school boards on all issues facing educators, including employment, disability, student conduct, and facility use.

EMPLOYMENT LAW
We regularly advise our corporate and business clients on issues relating to employee rights and obligations. We draft employment contracts, workplace rules and policies, provide counsel on disputes and serve as counsel when litigation results.

ESTATE PLANNING & ADMINISTRATION
The Firm assists clients in the planning of their estates, advising on general probate law, estate taxation, descent and distribution and programs to avoid estate taxation. We prepare wills, trusts, charitable giving instruments, complex trusts designed to avoid estate taxes, life insurance trusts and instruments effecting lifetime giving programs. We also have extensive experience in estate administration.

INSURANCE LAW
The Firm represents a large number of Virginia, national and international insurance companies. We represent insured's in state and federal courts on claims brought under many different types of insurance policies, including homeowner's, commercial liability, automobile, workers' compensation and fire. We also represent insurance companies directly in suits involving bad faith, fraud and policy interpretation.

LITIGATION
The Firm currently serves as counsel in approximately three hundred cases pending in federal and state courts at the trial and appellate level. The subject matters of these suits include automobile negligence, products liability, construction liability, mechanics' liens, employment contracts, workplace torts (e.g., sexual harassment and age discrimination), workers' compensation, insurance coverage disputes, professional liability, contract fraud, domestic relations, criminal, commercial liability, eminent domain, and real estate including easment and boundary disputes.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAW
The Firm has the experience and ability to assist citizens in disputes concerning issues of local government law, including zoning, special use permits and variances. We can appear on your behalf before local boards, such as city councils and boards of supervisors.

PERSONAL INJURY
If you have been injured in an automobile or other accident, the members of our Firm can advise you and represent you in claims against the negligent party. Our experience in handling negligence actions for both plaintiffs and defendants enables us to fairly and accurately assess the value of your case. Our working relationship with insurance companies serves to increase our ability to negotiate on your behalf to achieve settlement. In the event that your claim cannot be settled to your satisfaction, the Firm's extensive trial experience enables us to obtain fair jury verdicts on your behalf.

REAL ESTATE
The Firm handles a large variety of commercial and residential real estate transactions including all contractual matters relating to the transactions, permanent financing, construction financing, leasing (commercial and industrial), as well as zoning and land use.