Best Lawyers in Virginia, United States
Navigating Virginia’s legal system isn’t always straightforward. From unique state codes to overlapping federal jurisdictions, legal issues here demand skill, experience and a deep understanding of the local landscape. Whether you’re facing a contract dispute, a criminal matter or a family-related concern, finding the right attorney is a critical first step
Best Lawyers and our peer-reviewed directory connects individuals and businesses with top attorneys in Virginia—professionals recognized by their legal peers for excellence, ethics and performance. Whether you know exactly what you’re looking for or need help exploring your options, our listings are designed to make your search simple, credible and efficient.
How the Directory Works
The Best Lawyers directory offers more than just names and practice areas. It’s a curated platform, built around user-friendly search tools and objective recognition. You can begin your search by:
- Practice area: From personal injury to patent law, each listing is categorized for ease
- Geographic location: Filter by city or region to find attorneys near you
- Attorney name: Search directly for individuals or firms you’ve heard of
Every lawyer listed in our Virginia directory has been selected through Best Lawyers’ rigorous, confidential peer-review process. There’s no pay-to-participate option. Recognition must be earned, not bought.
Each year, thousands of attorneys nationwide are asked to evaluate their peers based on their professional expertise, client service and ethical standards. Only the highest-scoring candidates are included in the final list, ensuring that recognition reflects current performance, not just past reputation.
Legal Representation Across Virginia
Virginia is home to a dynamic and wide-reaching legal community. From urban centers to rural counties, you’ll find attorneys handling matters across the full spectrum of practice areas.
In Northern Virginia, lawyers regularly advise clients on federal regulatory issues, business transactions, immigration law and civil litigation. In central and southern regions of the state, attorneys assist with everything from family law and criminal defense to land use and agriculture-related legal issues. And across the coast, attorneys support clients in maritime law, government contracting, personal injury and more.
But legal needs aren’t confined to any one region. A startup founder in Lynchburg may need IP counsel. A small business in Alexandria may require help with a lease dispute. A retiree in Danville might be starting the estate planning process. That’s why the Best Lawyers directory covers every corner of the state—because important legal matters can arise anywhere.
Our listings reflect this diversity. You’ll find attorneys with decades of experience, as well as rising stars earning their first recognitions. From solo practitioners to large firms, from transactional lawyers to trial-focused litigators, each profile offers a trusted starting point for your search.
Why Peer Review Matters
Unlike general directories or client review platforms, Best Lawyers relies solely on professional peer feedback. The goal is to offer meaningful, objective recognition based on performance—not advertising.
Here’s how the process works:
- Attorneys are nominated by clients and peers
- Voters—already recognized attorneys practicing in the same area—are asked to evaluate their peers’ legal knowledge, judgment, communication and integrity
- All evaluations are confidential and structured to minimize bias
- Results are reviewed, verified and analyzed annually
This system removes the guesswork. You’re not relying on marketing or a star rating with little context. You’re relying on the judgment of attorneys who’ve seen these professionals in action—on opposing sides of cases, as co-counsel, or as trusted voices in their fields.
The annual update cycle is critical, too. It ensures that recognition is timely and reflective of a lawyer’s most recent work. It also means attorneys must continue earning their reputation—not just rest on it.
When you use the Best Lawyers directory, you’re accessing a shortlist shaped by legal peers who understand what quality advocacy looks like. That level of validation is especially important in high-stakes or complex legal matters, where experience and professionalism can directly impact outcomes.
Finding the Right Fit
Even among top attorneys, not every lawyer is the right fit for every client. Each listing includes background details that help you better assess the right match, such as the attorney’s location, practice focus, years recognized and firm affiliation.
We encourage users to go beyond credentials alone. Consider your priorities. Do you need someone local for ongoing representation? Are you looking for an attorney with litigation experience, or someone focused on negotiation and resolution? Use the directory as your launchpad, then schedule consultations to discuss your needs and expectations.
Peer-reviewed recognition tells you the attorney is trusted. Your personal consultation helps determine whether they’re right for you.
Start Your Search With Confidence
Legal decisions can carry life-changing consequences. When the stakes are high, don’t leave your search to chance.
Use Best Lawyers to find the best attorney in Virginia—someone trusted by their peers, committed to their clients and proven in their field. Search by practice area, explore by region or look up a specific name.
Your legal journey deserves a credible beginning. Start with Best Lawyers.
Select a city or practice area from the list below to find the best legal talent for your needs.
Cities
Practice Areas
Alice Ahearn is a Partner at Eris Law Group. She guides family law clients through one of the most difficult times in their lives to emerge optimistic about the future. Alice excels at solving contentious and complex child custody problems, including relocation cases. She is also adept at resolving divorces with complicated financial issues, including business and stock valuations, the division of marital interest in a business, and spousal support. Her clients include professionals, physicia...
Alan Albert is a nationally-honored trial lawyer who has represented clients from Muhammad Ali to multinational corporations in a broad array of commercial disputes, white-collar criminal investigations and prosecutions, intellectual property litigation and other governmental and regulatory matters. Mr. Albert has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America continuously for the past 20 years, and is one of a small number of lawyers in the country to be recognized by Best Lawyers in six dis...
Debbie has over 37 years experience handling all aspects of family law. Her practice areas include Contested and Uncontested Divorces, Spousal Support, Child Custody, Visitation and Support, Separation Agreements, Equitable Distribution of Property, Division of Retirement, Pensions and Profit Sharing Plans, Business Valuation and Division, Post-Divorce Issues, Pre-marital Agreements and Marital Agreements. She practices in the Circuit Courts and the J & DR courts throughout Hampton Roads....
Since 1983, Attorney George Albiston has been representing injured people who have suffered serious and permanent injuries. His practice has included all types of cases, including wrongful death, brain injury and other serious injuries. George's focus has always been on trying to help those injured or bereaved by the negligence of others. He came to understand that this practice involves helping people during their most difficult time in their lives, financially, physically, and emotionally. ...
Edward is an accomplished and indefatigable litigator who has tried and won an impressive variety of cases in state and federal courts including personal injury, premises liability and insurance coverage matters. An extremely talented trial attorney, he has mastered the courtroom skills necessary to obtain substantial verdicts for his clients. Edward helped spearhead the firm's expansion to Northern Virginia and has been the managing partner there since the Fredericksburg office opened in 199...
Allison received her Juris Doctor in 2001 from Loyola University School of Law at New Orleans. After law school, Allison returned to Virginia and clerked for an Administrative Law Judge with the Department of Labor in Washington, DC for one year. Thereafter, she worked as an associate at McKenry, Dancingers, Dawson & Lake from 2003 to 2006, as an associate and partner at Kaufman and Canoles from 2006 to 2015, and as a partner at Parks Zeigler from 2015 to 2022. Allison’s has exclusi...
Erik Anderson directs Goel & Anderson's Immigrant Visa Practice, overseeing the development of case strategies to address the recruitment and transfer of human resources in the United States and overseas. In this role he provides strategic immigration planning to clients in the information technology, telecommunications, biotech, insurance and finance, healthcare, maritime, food and beverage and entertainment industries. He also directs the firm's nonimmigrant and immigrant (EB-5) investo...
Mr. Atkins is the leader of Pillsbury’s Intellectual Property Litigation team. He is a trial and appellate lawyer with 20 years of experience. He is a registered patent attorney who personally handles all of his cases and has won jury verdicts on both sides of the courtroom. Recent victories include (1) getting two university co-inventors added onto two NIH cancer drug patents with annual sales of approximately $2B, (2) an infringement jury verdict for a consumer product against a major...
Adam J. August is a partner in Holland & Knight's Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group. Mr. August counsels public and private company clients in a variety of industries including information technology, government contracting, software and telecommunications. He has been actively involved in merger, acquisition and disposition transactions with a combined value more than $1 billion, and financing/investment transactions and securities offerings worth more than $600 million...
Eddie Bagnell serves on Spotts Fain's executive committee and is secretary of the firm. He is a litigator whose practice includes a wide range of civil litigation matters, including business torts, commercial litigation, real estate disputes, eminent domain, construction, employment, insurance coverage and defense, and estate litigation. Eddie's experience includes trials and appeals in state and federal court throughout Virginia, as well as proceedings before the Virginia State Corporation C...
David G. Barger focuses his practice on white collar criminal defense, government investigations, including Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) investigations, corporate compliance, including FCPA compliance, criminal and civil tax controversies, and complex commercial litigation. His practice includes representing companies and individuals in civil and criminal government investigations, often involving government contract issues; and handling complex civil litigation in both state and fede...
Michele Bartoli Cain practices in the following areas of law: Personal Injury ; Medical Malpractice ; Dental Malpractice ; Automobile Accidents and Injuries Michele Bartoli Cain earned her B.A. cum laude at North Carolina State University , and was inducted ito the following Honor Societies: Pi Sigma Alpha; Blue Key and then Golden Chain. Based on her university-wide contribution, she was named Outstanding Senior Sorority Woman. While a law student at Wake Forest University , she excelled at ...
With extensive experience in civil litigation and several other areas of law, personal injury attorney Allen Beasley provides well-rounded representation to his clients at Breit Biniazan. Allen fights for justice in cases where individuals have been wronged or injured due to another party’s negligence, seeking to deliver the best possible outcome every time. Allen is a Virginia Beach native who returned to the Tidewater area in 1985 upon graduation from University of Richmond School of ...
Carlton Bennett is recognized as an expert in traumatic brain damage litigation, nursing home malpractice and wrongful death caes. Mr. bennett was co-counsel in the largest mild-traumatic brain injury jury verdict, $10.2 million, ever awarded in Norfolk Circuit Court. He specializes in mild brain damage cases, but also handles moderate and severe cases. He has obtained numerous multi-million dollar jury verdicts and settlements for traumatic brain injury survivors, and other cases involving s...
David Bilodeau has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in electrical engineering from the California State University at Long Beach, and a second master’s degree in telecommunications from Johns Hopkins University. He also has a Juris Doctor degree in Law from George Mason University. Mr. Bilodeau has extensive industry experience while employed as an electrical engineer with the Hughes Aircraft Radar and Space and Communication Groups. He has practiced in the intellectual prop...
For more than two decades, Jo Anne Bitner has helped commercial and residential real estate developers to navigate the array of legal and business challenges inherent in a complex and ever-growing market. Her work with regional and national developers has been an integral key in bringing to life many of the vibrant neighborhoods, commercial centers, sprawling data centers, and public transportation systems that define the growing western suburbs of Washington, D.C. Jo Anne regularly coordinat...
As a trial lawyer for over 30 years, Bruce Blanchard understands the pressure, expense, frustration, and uncertainty that litigation imposes upon a client. In order to achieve a desired outcome in court, Bruce works with his clients to define their priorities and develop a strategy that achieves the clients’ objectives. He brings common sense, an affinity for people, and a commitment to ethics in both his civil and criminal practice. Bruce believes hard work, preparation, and identifica...
Elizabeth’s practice has focused exclusively on family law since 2016. She handles matters including divorce, custody, child support, spousal support, equitable distribution, business valuation, step-parent adoption, premarital agreements, protective orders, and enforcement issues. Her cases have included complex issues such as mental health concerns, domestic abuse, alcohol and drug addiction, parental alienation, financial tracing, and unilateral dissipation of assets. Elizabeth belie...
Rob Boyle practices in the firm’s Commercial Real Estate section. He has fostered a nationwide practice assisting clients with the acquisition, sale, financing, and leasing of commercial real estate. He has represented a national entertainment company as outside real estate counsel for over fifteen years, handling the acquisition and sale of numerous properties along with negotiating multi-site master leases, ground leases and reciprocal easement and shared use/development agreements. H...
Amy Bradley is passionate about seeking justice for her clients. Ms. Bradley zealously protects her clients interests while guiding them through the legal process with a compassionate and relatable approach. She works closely with her clients to strategize and achieve the best possible outcomes. Ms. Bradley’s experience includes more than 100 bench and jury trials. In personal injury matters, she represents clients who have sustained life-altering injuries from the negligence or unlawfu...
“…You can’t get good settlements unless you have good trial results” Working with a Federal Court Judge in New Orleans while he was in college fueled Jeffrey Breit's interest in the law. A native of the Tidewater area, his father, brothers and even his wife have all been attorneys at one time or another. In 1988, he left the firm where his father had practiced and together with Jack Drescher started Breit, Drescher & Imprevento specializing in representing injured...
Steve Briglia has extensive trial experience in both civil and criminal law matters. He has tried cases before judges and juries in both state and federal court. He has also served as counsel in administrative hearings and arbitrations. Mr. Briglia’s clients range from national and regional businesses to individuals involved in business disputes and criminal investigations. Mr. Briglia is a founding member of BrigliaHundley. Mr. Briglia has served on numerous boards and commissions in h...
John M. Bryson II is a principal in the Washington, D.C. Region office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He is a former co-leader of the firm’s Corporate Diversity Counseling practice group engaging in diversity assessments and counseling, preparing comprehensive action plans and related litigation issues. He is also a nuclear engineer by training. John was recently honored with the BTI Client Service MVP Award as one of 28 nation-wide employment lawyers selected by General Counsel of the country&r...
Scott Bucci focuses his practice on catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death . He has tried a wide variety of cases, including automobile accident , premises liability , products liability and construction dispute cases. Other lawyers frequently bring Scott in as co-counsel on significant, complex cases, particularly in the area of premises/retailer liability, an area of the law Scott has developed a particular expertise in. Scott has received several awards and accolades over the year...
Elliott represents clients in every kind of personal injury claim, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, tractor-trailer crashes, car collisions, and product liability cases. He also handles wrongful death claims on behalf of families who have experienced loss due to negligence. He is passionately committed to his clients and their cases, and he recognizes the responsibility and role he has in helping them rebuild their lives after a tragedy. No matter the situation, Ellio...
Chris Burke has over 20 years of experience litigating construction disputes both domestically and internationally. Chris has tried multiple disputes through final award, with amounts in dispute of over US$1 billion. Chris represents clients in state and federal courts and in arbitration proceedings, and has considerable experience with international dispute resolution. Chris represents owners, general contractors, construction managers, and subcontractors through the various stages of disput...
Peter C. Burnett is a graduate of Hobart College and the Antioch School of Law. He has been licensed to practice in Virginia and the District of Columbia for over 40 years. Initially Peter served Loudoun County as a general practice lawyer, but in 1988, he decided to limit his practice to personal injury law. In the 25 years since, he has established an impressive track record, building Burnett & Williams into one of the most experienced personal injury firms in the state. Peter has guide...
John E. Byrnes has been practicing exclusively in the area of family law since 1996. He practices in all of the northern Virginia circuit courts and juvenile and domestic relations district courts as well as the Virginia Court of Appeal. While most matters are amicably resolved thorough negotiation or mediation, John has extensive litigation experience. During his career, John’s practice has covered virtually every aspect of family law, from: complex equitable distribution matters invol...
Since 1979, Attorney Irv Cantor has been dedicated to the families of those who have suffered serious injuries or wrongful death . His work has resulted in more than 2,000 favorable verdicts and settlements for his clients, including more than 450 traumatic brain injury cases . He has recovered more than 50 verdicts and settlements larger than $1 million for injured men and women in Richmond and throughout Virginia and the U.S., securing their futures and their peace of mind for the rest of t...
Brian P. Casson is the founder and Managing Partner of the Northern Virginia Immigration Law Firm, PLLC in Falls Church, VA. Mr. Casson's fearless advocacy and legal acumen have earned him the respect of clients and colleagues alike. He is recognized as a leading immigration attorney in the DC Metropolitan Area and has been both appointed and elected to serve in leadership roles with the DC Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyer's Association (AILA) from 2017 to present, currently serving...
Tanja H. Castro co-founded CastroHaase PLLC in 2012. She is included in the 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 editions of Washington, DC & Baltimore’s Best Lawyers. Her practice is focused in the areas of commercial real estate valuation and taxation issues, including property tax assessment appeals. She advises clients on minimizing their real estate tax obligations. Ms. Castro is experienced in reviewing, analyzing and obtaining reductions in the assessments of all types of commercial pro...
Jim is Chairman of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. His primary practice areas include admiralty, business, cybersecurity, data privacy, railroad/transit, and unmanned systems. Jim has tried over 100 cases to jury verdicts for clients involving a broad range of legal disputes. Jim advises governing boards and senior leadership regarding risks and resolution strategies in high-profile cases. His service as general counsel to companies, and as a director and officer of several non-pr...
Robert Chappell’s practice focuses on commercial bankruptcy, bankruptcy litigation, creditors’ rights insolvency, and business. He represents lenders in all facets of commercial credit transactions from origination to work-out and recovery. Recently, he has represented asset purchasers in complex bankruptcies, represented debtors in Chapter 11 cases selling real properties, helped restructure the finances of a continuing-care-retirement-community and assisted in the resolution of ...
Brian Chase serves on Spotts Fain's executive committee and is treasurer of the firm. He practices in the Business section on the Real Estate, Financial Services, and Corporate teams. Brian's practice focuses on representing sellers, buyers, developers, investors and lenders with respect to commercial real estate, corporate, and lending transactions, including the acquisition, financing, development, leasing, management, and disposition of multifamily, office, retail, industrial, and mixed us...
