George H. Bowles
George Bowles has tried numerous cases in state and federal courts as well as arbitrations proceedings, mediations and appeals. He represents and defends individuals, businesses, partnerships and corporations in complex commercial disputes. George has experience representing clients in banking, business, consumer law, construction, employment, estate and trust, franchise, intellectual property, personal injury, real estate and securities litigation.
George's recent cases as defense counsel include:
- Defense and appeal of a multimillion-dollar Lanham Act claim against a government contractor.
- Defense of a multimillion-dollar professional malpractice claim against an environmental services company.
- Defense of a multimillion-dollar claim against a national bank for alleged wrongful issuance of a signature guaranty.
- Defense of fraud in the inducement claim against a franchisor.
- Prosecution of a faulty design and construction claim against an architect and general contractor.
- Prosecution of a claim for breach of a commercial lease against a developer and national drug store chain.
- Prosecution of a fraud claim seeking return of funds invested in a fraudulent diamond mining company.
- Prosecution of a fraud claim seeking return of funds invested in a fraudulent restaurant franchise.
- Prosecution of a shareholder derivative action involving a family owned business.
- Prosecution of an ESOP’s claim for overvaluation against the company and its principals.
- Prosecution of patent infringement, trade dress infringement, unfair competition, and breach of contract claims against a manufacturer of children’s ride on vehicles.
- Challenge to government’s decision not to renew security clearance to the president of NASA contractor.
George is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Real Estate, Litigation - Securities, Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Litigation - Banking & Finance (2011-present) and Litigation - Construction (2013-present). He has been recognized by Virginia Super Lawyers magazine each year since 2012, and he has been named among Virginia's "Legal Elite" by Virginia Business (2017-present). George has also been listed as one of the Top Lawyers in Coastal Virginia by CoVa Biz Magazine (2019-present).
He is a member of the Virginia Beach Bar Association and the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association. He serves on the board of directors of the Virginia Aquarium and on the board of The Sandler Center Foundation. He is also involved with Leadership Hampton Roads.
A 1995 graduate of Washington & Lee University School of Law, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree, with distinction, in electrical engineering from Virginia Military Institute in 1989. Between college and law school, George worked as a project engineer for an architectural and engineering firm designing electrical systems for hospitals and commercial buildings.
- Washington and Lee University School of Law (J.D.), 1995
- Virginia Military Institute (B.S.), 1989
- with distinction
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association – Business Law Section
- Virginia Beach Bar Association
Community Involvements
- Virginia Aquarium – Board of Directors, Chair of the Education Committee
- The Sandler Center Foundation – Board Member
- Leadership Hampton Roads
Bar Admissions
- Virginia State Bar
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of International Trade
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia
The Best Lawyers in America® – Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Real Estate, Litigation - Securities, Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Litigation - Banking & Finance (2011-present), Litigation - Construction (2013-present)
Best Lawyers® – Norfolk "Lawyer of the Year" for Litigation - Trusts and Estates (2014)
Best Lawyers® – Norfolk "Lawyer of the Year" for Litigation - Banking and Finance Law (2022)
Virginia Super Lawyers - Business Litigation (2012-present)
Virginia Business - "Legal Elite," Civil Litigation (2017-present)
CoVaBiz Magazine - "Top Lawyers of Coastal Virginia" (2019-present)
Experience
- Represented manufacturer of tagging-and-tracking pursuit management technology for law enforcement in pursuit of injunction against a vendor preventing the vendor from using the threat of discontinuing critical services to extort extra-contractual payments from client.
- Asserted landowner's claim against guarantors and subtenant under land lease for the development of a drug store.
- Defended bank against negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of warranty, and conversion claims asserted by depositor.
- Defended franchisor against fraud claims by franchisee.
- Defended used car dealer at trial against fraud and conspiracy claims asserted by dealer's primary lender.
- Defended a NASA contractor against Lanham Act false advertising and trade secrets claim of a purported competitor.
