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08.20.2026 Firm News

129 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named in 2027 Edition of The Best Lawyers® in America

Williams Mullen is pleased to announce that 129 of the firm’s lawyers in 55 practice areas were selected for inclusion in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. In addition, nine attorneys were also named “Lawyers of the Year” by Best Lawyers® in their respective localities and practice areas.

The recognized attorneys given the title “Lawyers of the Year,” by office location, are:

Charlottesville

  • Valerie Wagner Long

    • Real Estate Law

Raleigh, NC

  • Robert C. Van Arnam

    • Litigation  – Patent

Richmond, VA

  • Farhad Aghdami

    • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
    • Trusts and Estates
  • J. Conrad Garcia

    • Tax Law
  • David M. Lay

    • Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law

Virginia Beach, VA

  • George H. Bowles

    • Litigation  – Real Estate
  • David C. Burton

    • Employment Law – Management
  • Patrick R. Hanes

    • Litigation  – Intellectual Property
  • Meagan J. Kalantar

    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law

The recognized attorneys given the title “Best Lawyers,” by office location, are:

Charlottesville, VA

  • Thomas F. Bergert (2023)

    • Litigation – Intellectual Property
    • Patent Law
  • Valerie Wagner Long (2009)

    • Land Use and Zoning Law
    • Real Estate Law
  • Lori H. Schweller (2015)

    • Community Association Law
    • Land Use and Zoning Law
    • Real Estate Law
  • Ken Shevlin (2025)

    • Corporate Law

Columbia, SC

  • Ryan W. Trail (2024)

    • Environmental Law
  • Ethan R. Ware (2006)

    • Environmental Law
    • Litigation – Environmental
  • Richard H. “Dick” Willis (1995)

    • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants

Raleigh, NC

  • Wyatt M. Booth (2024)

    • Banking and Finance Law
    • Real Estate Law
  • Carrick C. Brooke Davidson (2008)

    • Environmental Law
  • Miles S. Bruder (2021)

    • Corporate Law
    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Wes J. Camden (2018)

    • Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • Amber R. Duncan (2024)

    • Corporate Law
  • Kelly C. Hanley (2019)

    • Commercial Litigation
    • Construction Law
  • Joy Heath (*)

    • Health Care Law
  • David L. Hillman (2020)

    • Real Estate Law
  • Thomas H. Johnson, Jr. (2021)

    • Land Use and Zoning Law
    • Real Estate Law
  • Gilbert C. “Gib” Laite, III (2007)

    • Commercial Litigation
    • Construction Law
    • Land Use and Zoning Law
    • Litigation – Banking and Finance
    • Litigation – Construction
    • Litigation – Real Estate
    • Real Estate Law
  • Robert Charles Lawson (2018)

    • Real Estate Law
  • Michael C. Lord (2001)

    • Employment Law – Management
    • Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Rick Matthews (2017)

    • Litigation – Intellectual Property
    • Litigation – Patent
    • Patent Law
    • Trademark Law
  • Jennifer A. Morgan (2019)

    • Administrative/Regulatory Law
  • David F. Paulson, Jr. (2011)

    • Corporate Law
    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Mike Sajovec (2013)

    • Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice
    • Litigation – Intellectual Property
    • Litigation – Patent
    • Patent Law
  • Dr. David M. Saravitz (2023)

    • Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice
    • Patent Law
  • Aaron G. Spencer (2015)

    • Corporate Law
    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Sean M. Sullivan (2020)

    • Environmental Law
    • Litigation – Environmental
  • Walter L. Tippett, Jr. (2013)

    • Commercial Litigation
    • Construction Law
  • Robert Van Arnam (2014)

    • Copyright Law
    • Litigation – Intellectual Property
    • Litigation – Patent
    • Patent Law
  • Camden R. Webb (2012)

    • Commercial Litigation
  • Lemuel D. “Uel” Whitsett, V (2024)

    • Banking and Finance Law
  • Richard A. Zechini (2019)

    • Government Relations Practice

Richmond, VA

  • Farhad Aghdami (2006)

    • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
    • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
    • Tax Law
    • Trusts and Estates
  • D. Earl Baggett (2016)

    • Employment Law – Management
  • James T. Bailey (2023)

    • Corporate Law
    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Jeremy A. Ball (2020)

    • Health Care Law
  • William D. Bayliss (2001)

    • Commercial Litigation
    • Criminal Defense: White-Collar
    • Litigation – Construction
    • Litigation – Real Estate
  • Wyatt S. Beazley IV (2010)

    • Corporate Law
    • Health Care Law
    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • William J. Benos (2018)

    • Immigration Law
  • Gregory R. Bishop (2013)

    • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
    • Corporate Law
    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Jonathan H. Bliley (2023)

    • Corporate Law
    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • J.P. McGuire Boyd, Jr. (2019)

    • Financial Services Regulation Law
    • Litigation – Banking and Finance
  • Turner A. Broughton (2013)

    • Commercial Litigation
    • Litigation – Banking and Finance
    • Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants
    • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
  • Jamie Watkins Bruno (2019)

    • Banking and Finance Law
    • Real Estate Law
  • W. Alexander Burnett (2017)

    • Commercial Litigation
    • Construction Law
    • Litigation – Construction
  • Matthew E. Cheek (2012)

    • Banking and Finance Law
    • Real Estate Law
  • Janet W. Cho (2022)

    • Copyright Law
    • Litigation – Intellectual Property
    • Trademark Law
  • Matthew M. Cobb (2018)

    • Administrative/Regulatory Law
    • Health Care Law
  • Jenny H. Connors (2022)

    • Corporate Law
    • Tax Law
  • Richard P. Cunningham, Jr. (2016)

    • Corporate Law
    • Real Estate Law
    • Securities/Capital Markets Law
  • Brydon M. DeWitt (2024)

    • Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
  • Steven D. Delaney (2007)

    • Litigation – Real Estate
    • Real Estate Law
  • Anna K. Derewenda (2023)

    • Corporate Law
    • Tax Law
  • Robert C. Dewar (2009)

    • Corporate Law
    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Allison T. Domson (2015)

    • Real Estate Law
  • Daniel J. Durst (2018)

    • Tax Law
    • Trusts and Estates
  • Calvin W. “Woody” Fowler, Jr. (2009)

    • Bet-the-Company Litigation
    • Commercial Litigation
    • Litigation – Banking and Finance
    • Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Jonathan A. Frank (2018)

    • Real Estate Law
  • W.F. Drewry Gallalee (2011)

    • Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
    • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
  • J. Conrad Garcia (2009)

    • Tax Law
  • Philip H. Goodpasture (2007)

    • Corporate Law
    • Entertainment Law – Music
    • Media Law
    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Alexander C. “Sandy” Graham, Jr. (2016)

    • Leisure and Hospitality Law
  • Andrea J. Harlow (2019)

    • Banking and Finance Law
    • Real Estate Law
  • Meredith M. Haynes (2023)

    • Commercial Litigation
    • Litigation – Health Care
    • Litigation – Insurance
  • Sean D. Hicks (2025)

    • Real Estate Law
  • A. Brooks Hock (2007)

    • Real Estate Law
  • Eileen Setien Jackson (2025)

    • Real Estate Law
  • Charles E. “Chuck” James, Jr. (2015)

    • Commercial Litigation
    • Criminal Defense: General Practice
    • Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • Harold E. Johnson (2020)

    • Litigation – Insurance
    • Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Stephanie P. Karn (2026)

    • Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Matthew B. Kirsner (2011)

    • Commercial Litigation
  • Otto W. Konrad (2018)

    • Real Estate Law
  • Nathan A. Kottkamp (2024)

    • Administrative/Regulatory Law
    • Health Care Law
  • Kathy A. Lawrence (2025)

    • Real Estate Law
  • David M. Lay (2013)

    • Corporate Law
    • Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
    • Venture Capital Law
  • Gary D. LeClair (2006)

    • Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice
    • Corporate Law
    • Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
    • Private Funds/Hedge Funds Law
    • Venture Capital Law
  • Lee G. Lester (2022)

    • Corporate Law
    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Jennifer Ligon (2025)

    • Health Care Law
  • T. Preston Lloyd, Jr. (2018)

    • Land Use and Zoning Law
    • Real Estate Law
  • Channing J. Martin (2007)

    • Environmental Law
    • Litigation – Environmental
  • Jamie Baskerville Martin (2005)

    • Health Care Law
  • Nona K. Massengill (2024)

    • Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
    • Tax Law
  • Benjamin A. McCall (2022)

    • Banking and Finance Law
    • Corporate Law
    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Mary Katherine McGetrick (2017)

    • Real Estate Law
  • Jennifer McLain McLemore (2013)

    • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
    • Commercial Litigation
    • Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • John M. Mercer (2008)

    • Real Estate Law
  • Michael D. Mueller (2022)

    • Banking and Finance Law
    • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
    • Financial Services Regulation Law
  • R. Joseph Noble (2018)

    • Real Estate Law
  • Brendan D. O'Toole (2017)

    • Commercial Litigation
  • W. Benjamin Pace (2016)

    • Litigation – Trusts and Estates
  • Laurence V. Parker, Jr. (2022)

    • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
    • Corporate Governance Law
    • Corporate Law
    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Henry R. “Speaker” Pollard, V (2018)

    • Environmental Law
  • Marc Purintun (2013)

    • Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
  • Scott H. Richter (2010)

    • Banking and Finance Law
    • Corporate Governance Law
    • Corporate Law
    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
    • Securities/Capital Markets Law
    • Securities Regulation
  • Douglas L. Sbertoli (2011)

    • Corporate Law
    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Edward R. “Ned” Turnbull (2022)

    • Corporate Law
    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • John L. Walker III (2007)

    • Commercial Litigation
    • Litigation – Banking and Finance
    • Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
    • Litigation – Real Estate
  • Lauren W. Waller (2023)

    • Commercial Litigation
  • Andrew W. White (2016)

    • Corporate Governance Law
  • Edward T. White (2015)

    • Copyright Law
    • Litigation – Intellectual Property
    • Trademark Law
  • Laura D. Windsor (2015)

    • Employment Law – Management
    • Insurance Law
    • Labor Law – Management
    • Litigation – Labor and Employment

Tysons, VA

  • Hon. David B. Albo (2024)

    • Administrative/Regulatory Law
    • Criminal Defense: General Practice
    • Criminal Defense: White-Collar
    • DUI/DWI Defense
  • Clinton H. Brannon (2023)

    • Litigation – Intellectual Property
  • Brian Cashmere (2016)

    • Commercial Litigation
    • Construction Law
    • Litigation – Construction
  • Edmund D. Harllee (1997)

    • Banking and Finance Law
  • Arnie B. Mason (2018)

    • Construction Law
    • Litigation – Construction
  • Bradley J. Nowak (2024)

    • Energy Law
    • Energy Regulatory Law
  • Robert F. Riley (2020)

    • Energy Law

Virginia Beach, VA

  • George H. Bowles (2011)

    • Commercial Litigation
    • Litigation – Banking and Finance
    • Litigation – Construction
    • Litigation – Real Estate
    • Litigation – Securities
    • Litigation – Trusts and Estates
  • David C. Burton (2008)

    • Employment Law – Management
    • Labor Law – Management
    • Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Elizabeth S. Chapman (2025)

    • Real Estate Law
  • Benjamin C. Crumpler (2020)

    • Corporate Law
    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Alyssa Carducci Dangler (2018)

    • Real Estate Law
  • Anne E. Domozick (2022)

    • Corporate Governance Law
    • Corporate Law
    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • John F. Faber, Jr. (2018)

    • Real Estate Law
  • Thomas R. Frantz (1983)

    • Corporate Law
    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
    • Tax Law
    • Trusts and Estates
  • Patrick R. Hanes (2018)

    • Commercial Litigation
    • Criminal Defense: White-Collar
    • Litigation – Intellectual Property
    • Litigation – Patent
  • Meagan J. Kalantar (2024)

    • Corporate Governance Law
    • Corporate Law
    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
    • Venture Capital Law
  • Monroe “Mike” Kelly, III (2008)

    • Banking and Finance Law
    • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
    • Litigation – Banking and Finance
    • Real Estate Law
  • Ryan C. Kenrick (*)

    • Real Estate Law
  • Samuel M. Kroll (2024)

    • Corporate Law
  • Scott C. Miller (2022)

    • Commercial Litigation
    • Corporate Law
    • Litigation – Construction
    • Litigation – Insurance
    • Litigation – Real Estate
    • Litigation – Trusts and Estates
  • Grady Palmer (2024)

    • Land Use and Zoning Law
    • Real Estate Law
  • John M. Paris, Jr. (2011)

    • Corporate Law
    • Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
    • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
    • Tax Law
    • Venture Capital Law
  • Christine Nguyen Piersall (2018)

    • Trusts and Estates
  • Amy G. Pruett (2026)

    • Entertainment Law – Music
  • Cartwright R. “Cart” Reilly (2021)

    • Real Estate Law
  • Stephen R. Romine (2006)

    • Land Use and Zoning Law
    • Real Estate Law
  • Julia A. Rust (*)

    • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
    • Commercial Litigation
  • Vanessa T. Yearick (*)

    • Corporate Law

(Year) First year the lawyer was listed in the published practice area.
(*) Lawyers who are listed for the first time in Best Lawyers.

For information about the Best Lawyers® rankings, click here.