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 Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
Paul E. Fletcher

Executive Editor
Deborah Elkins

News Editor
Peter D. Vieth

Digital Editor
Jordan Bondurant Setting the standard
___________________
Virginia Lawyers Weekly is pleased to introduce the 2016 class of honorees in
Ad Director our “Leaders in the Law” program. We seek to recognize attorneys who are setting
Sherma Mather the standard for other lawyers – those who changed practice, advanced the law or
improved the justice system in Virginia.
Account Executives
We considered numerous nominations from across the commonwealth, and all of the
Katie Lee
Renée Baldwin
nominees were highly accomplished. We are very proud to honor these 26 people.
___________________ In addition, this year we are recognizing Up & Coming Lawyers. These are legal
practitioners who are establishing a name for themselves and displaying the ambition,
Office Manager drive, determination and accomplishments that set them apart among their peers — in
Denise Woods their first 10 years in practice.
___________________
The 2016 Leaders and Up and Coming Lawyers were feted at a reception Oct. 27. But
in this special section, we are highlighting their responses to a questionnaire, providing
Business Manager
Amanda Passmore insight about them as individuals and about their accomplishments.
___________________ Paul E. Fletcher
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
Audience Development Manager
Tracy Bumba
___________________
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Production Manager
John Reno Leaders in the Law
___________________
Jonathan T. Blank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Declan C. Leonard . . . . . . . . 12
Roberta A. Bondurant. . . . . . . . . . 5 Hon. Michael J. Lindner . . . . 12
Designer
Thomas J. Bondurant Jr.. . . . . . . . . 6 Hon. Marcus H. Long Jr. . . . . 13
Michael Duntz Harris D. Butler. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 R. Peyton Mahaffey . . . . . . . 14
___________________ David C. Canfield. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Mary T. Morgan . . . . . . . . . 14 Brett A. Callahan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Patice L. Holland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Victor O. Cardwell . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Jay Prabhu . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Alyssa C. Embree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Macel H. Janoschka . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Copyright © 2016 Terrance Shea Cook. . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Gene Schleppenbach . . . . . . 15 Robert F. Friedman . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Laura Golden Liff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Virginia Lawyers Media Sherry A. Fox. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Cullen D. Seltzer . . . . . . . . . 16 Melanie A. Friend . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 D. Bradley Marshall . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Stephanie E. Grana. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Kristina Keech Spitler . . . . . . 16 Ryan A. Glasgow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Edward A. Mullen . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
John T. Jessee . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Melissa S. VanZile . . . . . . . . 18 Colleen M. Haddow . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Dipti Pidikiti-Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Brian H. Jones . . . . . . . . . . 10 Susheela Varky . . . . . . . . . . 18 Lisa J. Hedrick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Jeremy S. Williams . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Material published in the 2016 Reginald N. Jones . . . . . . . . 11 James L. Weinberg . . . . . . . . 19
Leaders in the Law magazine, a special Lorri Kleine . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 John E. Zydron . . . . . . . . . . 19
supplement to Virginia Lawyers
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2016 Leaders in the Law Virginia Lawyers Media |   Page 3  
Leaders
VIRGINIA’S

Law
IN THE

2016
Jonathan T. Blank
McGuireWoods LLP, Charlottesville

A highly regarded specialist
in energy law, Blank is a key
player in the Charlottesville
legal aid community; he
currently serves as the Legal
to maintain that Rule of Law that other fields
do not have. If we fail, society will fail.
Personal accomplishment:
My biggest personal accomplishment is
assisting my wife in raising two sets of twin
daughters.

Aid Justice Center’s board Surprising advice:

president and has been a
leader in efforts to provide
relief for low-income drivers
facing license suspensions.
Looking back:
I grew up in Richmond, Virginia, and I remem-
ber my father taking me to Capitol Square
to see President Ford speak. I later became
a page in the General Assembly. Even as
an adult, when I am downtown, I gravitate
towards Capitol Square whether to meet
people or sit in the park and each lunch. And I
always remember that moment in time, on my
father’s shoulders, looking over the crowd.
I have received these three pithy pieces of
advice: Showing up is 90 percent of success.
Always return the email or phone call you
least want to return before all others. Park on
the top deck of a parking deck every time and
you will never forget where your car is parked.
A less succinct piece of advice is: When you
think the worst has happened, stop and walk
around the block. Everything will still be there.
The world has not ended. Catch your breath.
And deal with what lies ahead.
First job:
I was a page in the General Assembly. It was
truly a life-changing experience. I learned
how laws are made.

An important mentor: Biggest career challenge:

University of Virginia Professor Ernest “Boots”
Mead. His office in the University’s Old Cabell
Hall was famous for its position “beneath the
truth,” that is, under the words “the truth” in the
carving on the pediment, “You shall know the
truth and the truth shall set you free.” Boots
shared with me, as well as the thousands he
taught, the wise counsel to go find the truth.
He also told me to ask my now wife out on our
first date. I always listened to Boots, whether
about my wife or seeking the truth.
Leadership in the law is:
The Rule of Law is the foundation of our soci-
ety. As leaders in the law, we have obligations
My biggest challenge has been to understand
that it is called the practice of law for a rea-
son and that there is no perfect game.
Best tip for balance:
Find things that you love to do that you can
do with those in your professional life. It
makes your personal life more rewarding.
I might have been:
A design build developer/renovator.
Guilty pleasure:
French fries.
Favorite get-away: Education:
Locally, 72nd Street, Virginia Beach, in a BA, University of Virginia
kayak chasing dolphins. Internationally, Chang JD, University of Virginia
Mai, Thailand.
If I had a free month: ting a foul in a high school basketball game
Travel. but never officially playing in the game. And it
happened twice. I have studied, with varying
You didn’t know: degrees of success, French, Spanish, He-
I hold an unofficial VHSL record of commit- brew, Greek, Latin and I just started German.

Roberta Motherway Bondurant

Bondurant Law, Bent Mountain

A former assistant public high treason, hung, drawn and quartered. In

defender and long-time
community activist, Bondurant
was a driving force in securing
an absolute pardon for a
man wrongfully convicted of
setting a fire that killed his
two children.
Looking back:
I was born in Bath, Maine, and grew up on
both coasts. Our dad was a career Ma-
rine, and our family, 10 of us including the
Great Dane, had the best of times traveling
cross-country in a station wagon and a camp-
er. An especially fond and impactful memory
was a moment during a camping trip to
Lake Marion, South Carolina. Guided by our
parents to sit behind the camper with eyes
away from the sun, my sibs and I listened and
watched in wonder as the day turned to night
in the forest, and back again, in the midst of a
solar eclipse.
An important mentor:
My eighth-grade middle school teacher
at Virginia Beach Junior High School, Ms.
Shesso, assigned me to research the case
and play the role of defense counsel for
Edmund Campion, a Jesuit priest who was
arrested in officially Anglican England in
1581 for conducting an underground Catho-
lic ministry. He was tried and found guilty of
our mock jury trial, our class rewrote Father
Campion’s fate.
I’m also grateful for the generosity of time
and expertise of the late Washington and
Lee Law Professor Roger Groot, who
guided students and defense counsel in the
Virginia Capital Case Clearinghouse (VC3)
for many years, and eventually himself
accepted court appointments to death pen-
alty cases. Professor Groot supported Mr.
Reedy’s case for a half-dozen years until
his death in 2005.
Personal accomplishment:
I’m blessed to have shared with my husband
the journey of parenting our three very capa-
ble and courageous, grounded and kind-
hearted, fun and interesting children, who are
personally invested in the world they’ll inherit.
In matters great and small, our children have
been my truest teachers.
First job:
In eighth grade I took over my sister’s paper
route, six days a week and Sunday morn-
ings. I learned to throw from a bicycle riding
“no hands.” In my biweekly collection visits, I
learned a little something about my neighbors
– people from all walks of life.
You didn’t know:
My maternal ancestors came from the Al- and Switzerland. My paternal ancestors hail Education:
sace-Lorraine region in France, which today from the village of Ladysbridge in County BA, Providence College
borders Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg Cork, Ireland. JD, Washington & Lee School of Law

2016 Leaders in the Law Virginia Lawyers Media |   Page 5  
Thomas J. Bondurant Jr.
Gentry Locke, Roanoke
Formerly a top federal
prosecutor with numerous
commendations under his
belt, Bondurant is now an in-
demand white-collar defense
lawyer, who brought his
wide-ranging skills to bear
in winning exoneration for a
wrongly imprisoned man.
Looking back:
I grew up in Russell County, Virginia. A con-
tinuing anecdote is my parents would take
extended camping trips every summer. From
the age of four until starting college at the
age of 18, I had traveled (and camped) in ev-
ery state, except Hawaii, and every Canadian
Province/Territory at least twice.
An important mentor:
John Perry Alderman was a long-time state
prosecutor and the U.S. Attorney for the
Western District of Virginia for eight years at
the start of my career. We jointly tried at least
a dozen criminal jury trials and he was my ad-
visor on dozens of jury trials I took solo. John
Perry was one of the best trial lawyers I have
observed and everything about the art form
I have learned had its genesis in observing
John Perry’s skills and being mindful of his
advice.
Personal accomplishment:
I hope my biggest personal accomplishment
hasn’t happened yet.
Harris D. Butler III
Butler Royals PLC, Richmond
Butler is an elite employment
and civil rights lawyer, who
is a champion of the “little
guy,” individually and in class
actions. A state committee
member in the American
College of Trial Lawyers,
Butler wins referrals from
lawyers he has opposed in
court.
Looking back:
I grew up in Houston, Texas. I obtained my first
“legal” job by painting a high-profile Houston
civil rights’ lawyer’s house. The homeowner/
lawyer convinced me to go to University of
Houston, where I could clerk at his firm.
An important mentor:
I have to say two federal judges. My ex-wife
clerked for a Houston federal judge, James
DeAnda, the Chief Judge for the Southern
District of Texas. I was a young civil rights
lawyer and, just getting started, had asserted
several claims with emotional distress and
little economic damage. Judge DeAnda, a
former civil rights lawyer, gave me guidance
on how juries view disputes and what types
of violations motivate juries to help a victim
of discrimination; when he practiced civil
rights law, the injuries were broken bones,
not hurt feelings! After moving to Richmond, I
tried several of my first area jury trials before
Judge Merhige. One day, he took me aside
and told me, “Butler, you’re a good trial lawyer,
but sometimes you allege the kitchen sink –
remember this, if you want to shoot to kill, use
a rifle; if you shoot with a shotgun, you only
Page 6   |   Virginia Lawyers Media 2016 Leaders in the Law
Surprising advice:
Although not very surprising, the advice of
never giving up and never hiding behind ex-
cuses was best expressed by my high school
football line coach. Whenever you suffered
a minor injury below the neck Coach Moore
would growl, “Get up boy, it’s a long way
from your head.” If you had the misfortune of
suffering a minor head injury, Coach Moore
would strongly implore, “Get up boy, it’s a long
way from your heart.”
First job:
I do not recall which job came first but as a
pre-teen and young teen I regularly cut/hung
tobacco, put up hay and mowed yards. I dis-
tinctly recall the tobacco and hay labor paid
50 cents per hour and the mowing endeavors
were far more lucrative. While I lived in fear
of falling out of the top of the barn while
hanging tobacco, lawn work was sometimes
rather pleasant. I learned from this experience
I would rather mow lawns than cut tobacco
and put up hay.
I might have been:
Captain of a recreational SCUBA boat.
Guilty pleasure:
Life is too short. I don’t feel guilty about any
pleasure.
Favorite get-away:
Ocracoke Island, N.C. You didn’t know:
Education:
I have the long standing desire to write a BA, Emory & Henry College
If I had a free month:
book. Early in my career I often wrote short JD, University of Richmond
Be a Captain of a recreational SCUBA boat
stories based on my involvement in ongoing
on Ocracoke Island.
investigations and prosecutions. Employment
and family time constraints ended that prac- tice, but the desire to be an author remains.
shoot to wound.” Since then, I have found the
wisdom in focusing claims to the facts and
issues central to prevailing.
Leadership in law is:
It requires a broader commitment to the
sanctity of the legal process and all that the
rule of law entails – commitment to constitu-
tional principles such as fair process, and the
equalizing force of the courts for individuals
against what may seem to be overwhelming
odds.
Personal accomplishment:
Rearing and educating four wonderful chil-
dren, ages 21, 25, 27 and 29. As the child
of an educator, surveying how we fund and
support that role, I am constantly reminded
how little credit society gives to teachers for
one of society’s most important roles.
Surprising advice:
My college public speaking professor: “Have
you ever thought about going to law school?”
First job:
Age 15, sacking groceries at Sacco Brothers
Food Market – the largest volume grocery
store at the time in Houston. I learned who
were the best tippers!
Biggest career challenge:
The business of being a small law firm. I just
want to do the fun stuff, practice law! or economist. Education:
BBA, Texas A&M University
Best tip for balance: Guilty pleasure: JD, University of Houston School of Law
Always put your family first. Never missing a The Grateful Dead – what can I say?
child’s event is difficult when your schedule is
often dictated by court deadlines. But it’s worth it! Favorite get-away:
Cat Island, Bahamas. You didn’t know:
I might have been:
I would have first tried out my college degree, If I had a free month: I’m already outed as a Deadhead; I was a
BBA in Finance; perhaps investment analysis I would read. house painter in a prior life.
David C. Canfield
Bean, Kinney & Korman PC, Arlington
Canfield has served as board
chairman and a foundation
director for Goodwin House,
a faith-based nonprofit
operator of residential
retirement services, and is a
winner of a leadership award
from LeadingAge, a national
group that aims to expand
possibilities for aging.
Looking back:
I grew up in Meadville, Pa., in the country. One
of my childhood chores was driving our cow
to the milking shed in the evening, aided by a
sturdy stick to nudge her along. Near Hallow-
een, my college-age brother thought donning
a sheet and jumping out at me from behind
the shed would be great fun. It was for him,
until the first blow of the stick landed on his
head and I heard him swear. With him tangled
up in the sheet, it was the best opportunity for
revenge a 9-year-old ever had and I took full
advantage.
An important mentor:
Edward Smith was one of the senior attor-
neys in the first law firm I joined (Tolbert,
Smith, FitzGerald and Ramsey). He was a
gentle, generous and genial man who could
be forceful when needed, but more often was
simply persuasive. In him I saw unfailing com-
passion for others much less fortunate, and
from him I learned that leaving something on
the table for the other side in any transaction
invariably pays off many times over.
Victor O. Cardwell
Woods Rogers PLC, Roanoke
One of Virginia’s foremost
labor and employment
lawyers, Cardwell lends legal
counsel to many Roanoke-
area nonprofit groups and
serves on the boards of
the Bradley Free Clinic, the
Science Museum of Western
Virginia and the Virginia High
School League Foundation.
Looking back:
I was fortunate to have a very loving family as
the source for my work ethic and my sense
of community. My father, Thomas J. Card-
well Sr.; my mother, Jean B. Cardwell, and
my siblings: Renee Cardwell Hughes, Ret.
Judge; Dr. Reva Cardwell Cosby, Thomas
J. Cardwell Jr., and B. Kevin Cardwell, were
the standards used by many. Neither of my
parents went to college, but they had a vision
of their five children going off to college at
UVA, and ultimately obtaining post-graduate
degrees. Their vision allowed us to achieve
heights that should not have been possible
for five kids growing up on Diamond Hill in
Lynchburg, Va.
An important mentor:
William B.”Bill” Poff, my mentor after I joined
Woods Rogers, impressed upon me the im-
portance of intellectual curiosity and a desire
to learn. He taught me to be a counselor.
Leadership in law is:
I really do not see a difference between lead-
ership skills in most fields, and I see benefits
to various styles. As law partner, I want to hear
2016 Leaders in the Law Virginia Lawyers Media |   Page 7
Leadership in law is:
I think legal professionals in general are
subjected to very high expectations by clients,
colleagues and their communities. Wheth-
er true or not, we’re looked upon as smart,
broadly knowledgeable and having all the
right answers. We have to repeatedly climb
steep learning curves without looking like
we’re breaking a sweat. For those who seek
to lead in the profession, there’s a constant
fear of falling short of expectations.
Personal accomplishment:
Raising three children who have seemingly
become responsible adults. Res ipsa loquitur.
Surprising advice:
If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.
First job:
Clerk in an auto parts supply store. Attention to
detail is essential if your boss is a perfectionist.
Biggest career challenge:
Figuring out how to mentor younger lawyers
effectively when the work product has to be
turned around in a nanosecond.
Best tip for balance:
When you leave the office, leave the
office. “Do Not Disturb” is a wonderful cell
phone feature.
Favorite getaway: Education:
I might have been: Domestic – Rehoboth Beach, Del.; BA, University of Virginia
Mom wanted me to be a pharmacist. I’d likely Foreign – Provence. JD, William & Mary Law School
have gone into something like book editing or
public relations. If I had a free month:
I would go to a golf camp and really learn the game. uate class at UVA and married one of the first
Guilty pleasure: coeds who entered the following year – 42
Banana cream pie. You didn’t know: years and counting. I’m a cancer survivor –
I was in the last all-male entering undergrad- four years, nine months and counting.
what others believe is in the best interest of
the firm, but ultimately you must chart a course
and stick with the plan until new events require
an adjustment. Similarly, I try to build partner-
ships with my clients so they can see I am as
committed to obtaining the best results for
them, as I am to simply being their “lawyer.”
Personal accomplishment:
My wife and kids, who provide me with
the love and foundation to face so many
challenges.
Surprising advice:
Bo Rogers told me to take time for my own
physical well-being on a consistent basis.
First job:
Working at a Wendy’s fast food restaurant, I
quickly learned that you must love your work.
Biggest career challenge:
Coming to Woods Rogers in November 1991
from Washington, D.C. presented some unique
challenges, as most of the firm’s clients did not
anticipate having an African-American lawyer.
Real or perceived, I felt as though I had to
constantly demonstrate my capabilities to my
partners, the local bar, clients and many others.
Best tip for balance:
Put your phone and tablet down sometime
before bed time so that you can look your
loved ones in the eye and show them, not just Education:
tell them, that you love them. Favorite get-away: BA, University of Virginia
Family vacations at Myrtle Beach. JD, Washington & Lee School of Law
I might have been:
I would have had a short career as a pro- If I had a free month:
fessional football player, then moved into a Smile and smile. After I stopped smiling, I “straighten out” my legs. I appreciate fine mu-
career where I interacted with people. would like to travel to Europe with my family. sical soundtracks, e.g., Little Shop of Horrors,
Guilty pleasure: You didn’t know: Jesus Christ Superstar, The Wiz and recently
Popcorn with real butter and salt. I wore braces on my legs as a child to help HAMILTON!
  
Terrence Shea Cook
T. Shea Cook PC, Richlands
Widely recognized for his
knowledgeable and creative
approach to mineral rights
issues, Cook served 30
years in the Virginia Army
National Guard, including a
2007-2008 tour in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom, as a
Command Judge Advocate in
Baghdad.
Looking back:
I grew up in Richlands, Va., where I still prac-
tice law today.
Leadership in law is:
I don’t see the basic principles of leadership
in the law as different from the principles for
leadership in the military or in business. It’s
about providing a quality service, and seeing
that employees or others you are leading
buy into an environment of excellence, while
managing your brand.
Personal accomplishment:
Accepting Jesus Christ as my personal savior.
He gave me a new life.
Sherry A. Fox
ThompsonMcMullan PC, Richmond
A consummate litigator,
Fox has a diverse practice
representing businesses,
adoptive families and
constitutional officers; a
MRWBA board member, she
is an outstanding mentor
to young lawyers and pre-
law students, and offers pro
bono service on housing and
domestic violence issues.
Looking back:
I grew up in Queens, N.Y., where I had my first
fight. In my six-year-old mind, when I watched
actors on TV smash cakes into each other’s
faces, I thought that would be a hilarious
good time. When I smashed chocolate birth-
day cake in my good friend Raneeya’s face,
the reality did not mirror the fantasy. She pro-
ceeded to thrash me and we were not friends
for at least a week. I have since learned not to
repeat antics that I see on television without
express consent from the other participant.
An important mentor:
My college professor, Dr. Snyder, made me
feel smart and capable. I loved her classes and
the discussions we had about politics and the
world. She really believed in me and inspired
me to follow my heart and pursue law.
Leadership in law is:
This question made me think of the line from
Shakespeare’s Henry VI, “The first thing we
do, let’s kill all the lawyers,’’ which actually
suggests the rebels would need to get rid
of the lawyers, who are the keepers of law
Page 8   |   Virginia Lawyers Media 2016 Leaders in the Law
First job:
Working as a janitor, I learned humility.
Biggest career challenge:
Representing small landowners in efforts to
secure gas royalties from the Virginia Gas
and Oil Board’s escrow account, while main-
taining a personal injury and criminal defense
practice and serving in the National Guard.
Best tip for balance:
Never lose sight of the priorities in life: God,
family and profession.
I might have been:
A salesman.
Guilty pleasure:
Exercising on my rowing machine while
binge-watching Netflix series.
Favorite get-away:
Paris, France.
If had a free month:
I’d be in Paris, France!
You didn’t know:
I was commissioned as a U.S. Army Officer in
1988, after completing Airborne School. I was
commander of two separate combat engineer
companies until 1999, when I transferred into
the JAG Corps, serving there until I retired in
2016 as a Lt. Colonel.
Education:
BA, Virginia Tech
JD, George Mason University
and order. Our role as lawyers is to advance
the cause of justice. If I am achieving justice
for my client, that victory is meaningful and
the collective impact of this work over time
is significant. Being a leader in the legal field
differs from leadership in other fields be-
cause we are not often lauded for efforts, but
what we do is vitally important to the success
of our society.
Personal accomplishment:
My biggest personal accomplishment is rais-
ing my two children.
Surprising advice:
A good friend, also an attorney, once told
me sometimes you have to remember it was
broken when you got there.
First job:
Working retail at the mall, I learned that I
never wanted to work retail again.
Biggest career challenge:
I think my biggest challenges have been not
taking losses too personally and using those
instances as learning experiences.
Best tip for balance:
I don’t believe that balancing professional life
and personal life is a realistic goal. I simply
strive to do my best in each sphere of my life,
while acknowledging that the results will not
always be perfect. British Bake Off.” Education:
BA, George Mason University
I might have been: Favorite get-away: JD, Washington & Lee School of Law
In my youth, I would have gotten a Ph.D. in Any destination with a beach or history and
American Political Theory, then entered poli- good food.
tics. Now, I would be a travel writer. friends, take a vacation and read with abandon.
If I had a free month:
Guilty pleasure: I would take some time to be still and to not You didn’t know:
I love watching British television shows such rush. I would spend more time with my family, Jane Austen is my favorite author. And I love
as “Keeping Up Appearances” and “The Great make more elaborate dinners, visit family and Disney World.
Stephanie E. Grana
Cantor Stoneburner Ford Grana & Buckner PC, Richmond
A top-rated personal injury
lawyer, Grana currently serves
as president of the Virginia
Trial Lawyers Association
where she helps guide
the agenda for more than
2,000 members. She also is
president-elect of the Virginia
chapter of the American
Board of Trial Advocates.
Looking back:
I grew up in a small town that measured one
square mile. As my brother was 18 months
older, I often recall entering a classroom or a
sporting event being called “Little Grana.”
An important mentor:
Judge Joseph E. Baker of the Court of
Appeals of Virginia referred to all of his law
clerks as “Baker trained.” He stressed that
your reputation is one of the most precious
attributes in the law – don’t jeopardize it.
Moreover, he valued hard work and attention
to detail.
Leadership in the law is:
Lawyers value intellect and intelligence,
not one’s bank account, brute strength or
physical prowess. Moreover, leadership in the
law is typically something that we strive for
above and beyond our specific legal positions.
It requires patience, perseverance and, most
importantly, passion!
Personal accomplishment:
My husband of 20 years and our three
Congratulations
Cullen D. Seltzer
Sands Anderson is very proud of Cullen and
his recognition is richly deserved!
Richmond | Christiansburg | Fredericksburg | McLean | Raleigh
2016 Leaders in the Law Virginia Lawyers Media |   Page 9
children: Nicole 16, Garrett 15 and Dakota
12. Why? Just let me tell you all about each
of them. They are beautiful, handsome,
smart, athletic, kind, creative, helpful, happy,
disciplined, confident, respectful, fun … Shall
I keep going?
Surprising advice:
Be nice to your legal assistant. Leave the
office to get lunch.
First jobs:
McDonald’s employee, lifeguard and swim
team coach. I learned that I did not want
to have to punch a time clock; wearing
polyester in the heat is not fun; one should
not eat at fast food restaurants late in the
evening unless you place a special order;
learn how to swim when you are young;
wear sunscreen; coaching includes teaching
the parents as well as the children and it
is important and exciting to take chances.
Leave your comfort zone.
Biggest career challenge:
My biggest career challenge is getting my
work done at home and at the office.
Best tip for balance:
There is no balance. Some days, I am a good
wife and mother and, some days, I am a good
lawyer. On a great day from time to time, I am
great at both.
I might have been: Education:
Favorite get-away: BA, University of Richmond
Honestly, I don’t know. Being a lawyer is what Someplace with a beach and the sun. JD, University of Richmond
I have wanted for a very long time.
If I had a free month:
Guilty pleasure: Relax and read all the unread books on my You didn’t know:
Having desert for dinner (or breakfast or shelf (without having to check emails).
I was a varsity synchronized swimmer in
lunch) is my “guilty pleasure.”
college. I have flown on a trapeze next to the
East River in NYC.
Named among Virginia Lawyers Weekly
2016 Class of
Leaders in the Law
Cullen is a shareholder at Sands Anderson PC and focuses his practice
on mass tort and mass claim settlements, white collar criminal
defense, commercial and civil litigation, and corporate matters.
Cullen is known for his leadership, commitment and vision. He is an
adjunct professor at the University of Richmond Law School teaching
ethics in litigation. He is a board member of the Weinstein Jewish
Community Center and the former chair of The Virginia Capital
Trail Foundation.
www.sandsanderson.com
(804) 648-1636
  
John T. Jessee
LeClairRyan, Roanoke
An authority in medical
malpractice defense in
Virginia, Jessee heads a
practice group at LeClair’s
Roanoke office. He has been
involved in more than 100
medical negligence trials in
Virginia and West Virginia.
Looking back:
I grew up in Princeton, West Virginia.
An important mentor:
I clerked for Judge John A. Field Jr. of the
4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after law
school and he always had a wonderful story
with a moral to help cope with any problem.
Leadership in the law is:
The rule of law is the cornerstone of our
country and attorneys have an obligation to
help in their communities.
Personal accomplishment:
Raising four daughters, one of whom hopes
to practice law with me.
Surprising advice:
To be a successful lawyer you must believe in
what you say.
Brian H. Jones
Barnes & Diehl PC, Richmond
With court victories and
three multi-million-dollar
settlements among his
accomplishments, Brian
Jones has made a name for
himself in the Richmond legal
community. His primary field is
family law, but he has enjoyed
success in trying criminal and
civil matters, as well.
Looking back:
After a grim Connecticut prep school expe-
rience, I visited UNC-Chapel Hill. There were
just a bunch of happy people there - the
opposite of my prep school experience. I
applied for early decision admittance and was
accepted. The following four years were the
best of my life.
An important mentor:
Ed Barnes is that man for me. I worked about
10 years in general practice, working sev-
en-day weeks and barely making it. Ed asked
if I would be interested in working for him.
Ed made the point that I would never be truly
great at any area of law if I continued to be a
jack of all trades.
Leadership in law is:
As lawyers, we have so much power to affect
people’s lives that we have to be careful
about it.
Biggest personal accomplishment:
I just try hard every day to do the best I can
for my clients and my family – and I feel good
Page 10   |   Virginia Lawyers Media 2016 Leaders in the Law
First job:
I worked for a family friend one summer who
had a wholesale business. I spent half my
time in the office and half in the warehouse. I
realized the warehouse was much more fun!
Biggest career challenge:
Defending a surgeon sued 56 times in the
Roanoke Valley. We never settled a case and
tried several cases to defense verdicts before
the rest of the cases were dismissed.
Best tip for balance:
Always put family first.
I might have been:
An architect.
Guilty pleasure:
Action movies.
Favorite get-away:
I like to take my family to different locations.
We have visited Egypt, Russia and were on
a safari in Africa. Of all the places we have
visited, we like Hawaii the best.
If I had a free month:
Travel the world.
You didn’t know:
I was a fox hunter for more than a decade.
I was arrested for taking photographs of the
Presidential Palace in Caracas, Venezuela. Education:
BS, Concord College
JD, Washington & Lee School of Law
about that.
Surprising advice:
As a young pup getting my feet wet as a crim-
inal defense attorney, I asked Dave Whaley
how to build a practice. His reply was, “Go win
some cases and you will get clients.” Brilliant.
First job:
I picked tobacco as a summer job as a teen.
It was an awful job – hot, dirty and low-pay-
ing. Later, I was probably the only practicing
lawyer and pizza delivery man in Virginia. I
actually made more delivering pizzas than I
did practicing law. I still have the T-shirt and I
will never throw it away.
Biggest career challenge:
Coming out of law school, I could not find
a job. I had worked for the Clinton-Gore
campaign. A campaign official offered to take
me with him to the Justice Department. I de-
clined, because I wanted to be a trial lawyer.
I literally had to start in the basement of law
practice, trying to get on court-appointed lists
in juvenile courts, just to get some money in
and build a practice.
Best tip for balance:
I work 60 hours per week and typically do
not see my family from Monday morning to
Thursday evening. Putting the time in during
the week makes me more available to them
on the weekends, though. Favorite get-away:
Education:
The wine country of northern California. BA, University of North Carolina
I might have been:
Probably in government or politics. JD, University of Richmond
If I had a free month:
I would travel to Australia and New Zea-
Guilty pleasure: land. I have always been fascinated with
You didn’t know:
Wine. I have about 250 bottles at any those places.
I love to cook, although my closer friends
given time.
know that. I also continue to play soccer as a
goalkeeper.
Reginald N. Jones
Williams Mullen, Richmond
Jones has more than 40 years
of experience representing
clients before the General
Assembly and state agencies.
His extensive involvement in
community activities, including
service at the University of
Richmond, has won him wide
recognition.
Looking back:
My parents were merchants who ran grocery
and clothing businesses in the small town
of Jarratt. One childhood memory is helping
manage a Christmas shop where girls who
lived at the Jackson Feild Home could come
in and spend one dollar that they’d been
given to buy a present for a parent. This made
a lasting impression about the value of family
and the meaning of Christmas.
An important mentor:
Jimmie Mays, a civics teacher, baseball and
basketball coach. He pursued excellence on
and off the athletic field with a strong sense
of fairness, an even temper, and a belief in
the rule of law.
Leadership in law is:
Former Richmond law school Dean William
Muse instilled in students that lawyers have
an expectation of civic mindfulness and
community engagement, be it through pro
bono service, public service or charitable
endeavors.
Lorri J. Kleine
Norfolk Southern Corporation, Norfolk
Kleine, a General Solicitor at
Norfolk Southern, handles
complex legal matters,
including Federal Railroad
Safety Act whistleblower
cases.  She is a former
member of the Virginia
Board of Medicine and a past
chair of the VSB Corporate
Counsel Section.
Looking back:
I grew up in McMurray, Pa., one of four girls
all five years apart. My parents recognized
each of our individual strengths and remain
very supportive of us to this day.
An important mentor:
Roger Petersen recruited me more than 23
years ago and has been a valuable resource
and sounding board throughout my career.
My friend Magda Culver, with a successful
career of her own while raising four ex-
ceptional children, is a constant source of
wisdom and inspiration.
Leadership in law is:
I have been privileged to work for a law de-
partment where leadership and “giving back”
is steeped in our culture.
Biggest personal accomplishment:
Raising a happy, thoughtful and accomplished
son and maintaining a strong marriage while
balancing the demands of community service
endeavors and two successful legal careers.
2016 Leaders in the Law Virginia Lawyers Media |   Page 11
Biggest personal accomplishment:
My family, because that is what is most im-
portant and enduring.
Surprising advice:
It is difficult to choose. My wife is full of wis-
dom on a daily basis.
First job:
My first job was working in my parents’ store
for 25 cents a day. I learned to appreciate the
value of the customer, how to be accommo-
dating to those you are serving, and the value
of interactions with people in the community
on a daily basis. I also saw and learned from
my parents’ work ethic.
Biggest career challenge:
Navigating contentious legislative policy issues
involving emotional topics such as health care
in a contested political environment.
Best tip for balance:
Marry an understanding spouse.
I might have been:
A basketball coach or PGA tour player.
Guilty pleasure:
Ice cream.
Favorite get-away:
To Dornoch, Scotland, to play golf with my You didn’t know:
friends or to the mountains with my family. Education:
Arnold Palmer is my favorite golfer of all time, BA, University of Richmond
because he was a great golfer who embod- JD, University of Richmond
If I had a free month: ied the spirit of the game as a gentleman in
Cut my grass and go to Costco. And play golf. victory and defeat. Also, I once spent a day
with James Brown.
Surprising advice:
When he was a high school freshman, our
son spent the night with a friend who lived
in Virginia Beach near the ocean. Chandler
came home and implored us to consider
moving. On a bit of a whim, we sold our home
of 13 years and moved 30 miles, to a quaint
street not far from the beach. We could not
imagine living any place else!
First job:
My first job was working as a waitress in high
school. I learned the importance of good inter-
personal communication skills and the value of
being a hard and conscientious worker.
Biggest career challenge:
I have some perfectionist tendencies, so
without question, balancing the demands of
a full workload, while also being there for my
son, husband and family and finding time to
contribute to the community.
Best tip for balance:
Take time out for friends and family events no
matter how pressing the demands seem to
be. Maintain an exercise routine and engage
in hobbies outside of work.
I might have been:
I probably would have worked in the human
resources area. I hold a Master’s Degree in
Industrial Organizational Psychology, and
have always had an interest in that field. family, and Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Education:
Guilty pleasure: BS, Wheeling Jesuit College
If I had a free month: MA, Radford University
I share my father’s love of good food and I would talk my husband and son into walking JD, Washington & Lee School of Law
restaurants, so I would have to say “eating out.” the “Camino” with me.
Favorite get-away: You didn’t know: began my professional career working in the
Any place with sunshine, beaches and walk- I now share the Leader in the Law honor banking industry as an assistant vice presi-
ing and biking trails. I also love Barcelona, with my husband, Thomas C. Kleine, who
Spain, where one of my sisters lives with her dent for Crestar Bank (now SunTrust) before
was a Leader in Law for the Class of 2013. I attending law school.
  
Declan Leonard
Berenzweig Leonard LLP, McLean
Leonard works with
companies in the Washington
metro area and nationally to
navigate employment and
business laws. He is licensed
in Virginia, Maryland and
Washington and is one of
the few area lawyers certified
as a Senior Professional in
human resources.
Looking back:
I grew up in Fairfax County. I didn’t really real-
ize who he was at the time, but U.S. Supreme
Court Chief Justice Warren Burger was my
neighbor.
An important mentor:
Before he became my law partner, Seth
Berenzweig was a significant mentor. Seth
has led the growth of our firm’s sports, media,
and entertainment law practice, one of the
first such comprehensive practice groups in
this region.
Leadership in law is:
To be a leader in the legal field, you have to
achieve a fine balance between being an
effective advocate and maintaining the appro-
priate level of professionalism and civility.
Biggest personal accomplishment:
My family will be my legacy long after my
legal career is over. But I am also very proud
of the family environment we have built at
Berenzweig Leonard.
Hon. Michael J. Lindner
Judge, Fairfax County General District Court, Fairfax
Judge Lindner has been
a leader both on and off
the bench. As a lawyer, he
nurtured the criminal practice
section of the Fairfax County
Bar Association. As a judge
he runs the court’s innovative
Veteran’s Docket program.
Looking back:
As a high school student studying advanced
field biology in the Florida Everglades, I man-
aged to get bitten by a small rattlesnake. I
was 20 miles from the nearest ranger station
and probably violated many traffic laws get-
ting there before passing out.
An important mentor:
I attended a program in high school that sent
me to Israel for a semester. One of my teach-
ers, a Methodist minister named Bill Waters,
told me that whatever I did in life I should
do with excellence. For some reason, it was
exactly the point in my life when I was open
to the idea. I think of him often.
Leadership in law is:
Leadership is universal. While I do not think
of myself as a natural leader and envy
somewhat those to whom leadership comes
naturally, leadership in all fields of endeavor
always comes with sacrifice, dedication, and
hard work. Talent certainly helps.
Biggest personal accomplishment:
My biggest personal accomplishment has
been raising my two children. It was the hard-
est and best job I’ve ever had.
Page 12   |   Virginia Lawyers Media 2016 Leaders in the Law
Surprising advice:
An older lawyer I once worked for used to
chide me to “pick up the darn phone.” I see
time and again how emails or letters so often
just fan the flames of conflict, whereas a
phone call can cut through things and resolve
the matter.
First job:
I worked for my friend’s family trash business
on the truck that picked up mattresses and
old furniture that the regular trash trucks
could not haul. I came away thinking you
should not look down on anyone for the type
of job they have.
Biggest career challenge:
To continually remember that, with all the
advances in technology in the legal field, the
practice of law is still primarily about making
human connections.
Best tip for balance:
I have learned over the years that you can be
productive each day and still make it home
for dinner most nights.
I might have been:
One of my brothers owns a landscaping
company. On beautiful days, I have a tinge of
jealousy that he gets to work outdoors while I
am in the office.
Guilty pleasure: ends at Rehoboth Beach where I watch my Education:
I’m a big fan of live music, and most recent- kids ride the same Funland rides I did as a kid. BS, University of Mary Washington
ly saw one of my favorites: Bruce Spring-
steen and the E Street Band outdoors at JD, George Mason University
If I had a free month:
Nationals Park. I think my opportunity to be a rock drummer
has passed by, and my family has threatened You didn’t know:
Favorite get-away: to leave me if I made good on my threat to I am deathly afraid of roller coasters, and I
At the beach with family, whether it’s our take up the accordion, so I would delve into have an unhealthy addiction to Post-It notes.
annual trek to the Outer Banks or long week- learning the guitar or piano.
Surprising advice:
During a road trip on I-95, my daughter
noticed me getting irritated at other drivers’
behavior. She told me to chill out. I needed to
hear that from someone, and it worked.
First job:
I was a bicycle newspaper delivery boy, a job
for young people that seems to have gone
the way of the dinosaurs. I got daily exercise
and got ripped off regularly by my customers,
but I got enormous satisfaction from doing a
big job well.
Biggest career challenge:
My biggest career challenge as a lawyer was
a daily one, practicing and perfecting my skills
as a trial attorney. My biggest challenge as a
judge is keeping my mouth shut and letting
attorneys make all the mistakes I made while
in practice.
Best tip for balance:
Lawyers and advocates of all stripes regu-
larly encounter other people’s tragedies and
horrors. We encounter people on their worst
days. It is very important to maintain healthy
relationships with those we love as a buffer for
all the tragedy we bear witness to every day.
I might have been:
I was a software developer, a game designer,
an entrepreneur and a trial lawyer. While I
Favorite get-away: Education:
have loved practicing law immensely, I have Emerald Isle, N.C.
also thought that aerospace engineering BA, Kenyon College
would be an awesome career. Maybe some- JD, American University
If I had a free month:
day I’ll work for SpaceX. I’d tour France and Italy with my wife. We both
love fine art and good food. You didn’t know:
Guilty pleasure:
I love motorcycle riding. I am a proficient
Military board games.
guitar and piano player.
Hon. Marcus H. Long Jr.
Judge, 27th Judicial Circuit, Pulaski

Judge Long established a drug treatment courts approved in the 27th

family drug treatment program
as a juvenile and domestic
relations judge and set up
drug treatment dockets
in both Pulaski and Floyd
Counties. He often speaks
publicly about the benefits of
drug treatment courts.
Looking back:
My high school guidance counselor told me
that I was not college material. She was right.
I needed a couple of years to mature. I did go
on to college, because Vietnam was the al-
ternative. I became an attorney and practiced
law for 29 years. I was fortunate to practice
law with my father until his death.
An important mentor:
Judge Duane Mink taught me that prepara-
tion is the most important aspect of trials. You
always left his court knowing that he listened
to all sides and would make the right decision
based on the law and the facts. Lelia Hopper
introduced me to drug treatment courts when
I was a juvenile and domestic relations judge.
The result was a drug treatment court for
families with children in foster care.
Leadership in law is:
As lawyers and judges, we see the needs
of the people, and I believe we need to be
involved in civic groups and other community
activities. I became interested in starting a
drug treatment court, and we now have four
Judicial Circuit and District.
Biggest personal accomplishment:
My biggest personal accomplishment is my
family. I have a wonderful wife, Elizabeth,
who is the foundation of our family, and two
beautiful and talented daughters. The older
is a soloist with Miami City Ballet, and the
younger is an editor with Southern Living
Magazine.
Surprising advice:
If you want to be truly happy, help others.
First job:
My first job was teaching golf at a sports
camp at Virginia Tech. I learned that I didn’t
want to teach golf as a career.
Biggest career challenge:
The ability to properly evaluate cases before
agreeing to represent the client. I never
learned how to say “no.”
Best tip for balance:
Always, always take time for your family. Plan
family outings and vacations on a regular
basis. Also, find a hobby doing something that
you love.
I might have been:
A golfer.
If I had a free month: Education:
Guilty pleasure: A family vacation to New Zealand and
Oysters and martinis. BS, Virginia Tech
Australia. JD, University of Richmond
Favorite get-away: You didn’t know:
Palmetto Bluff, S.C., and San Francisco, Calif. I held the Virginia High School League’s and I was in the Corps of Cadets
individual scoring record in golf for 40 years, at Virginia Tech.

CONGRATULATIONS
R. PEYTON MAHAFFEY
Virginia Lawyers Weekly
2016 LEADERS IN THE LAW
R. Peyton Mahaffey is the President and Managing Partner of
McCandlish Lillard, and has over thirty-five years of experience in
the litigation of business, corporate, commercial, fiduciary and
appellate matters.

A Tradition of Excellence.
For more than a century, McCandlish Lillard has been helping its clients successfully
address today’s legal challenges, and anticipate tomorrow’s.  Building on this legacy,
attorneys at McCandlish Lillard strive to provide excellence with effective and
efficient legal representation that meets our clients’ needs and is consistent with
the finest traditions of legal practice in the Commonwealth.

FAIRFAX LEESBURG
11350 Random Hills Road 201 Loudoun Street, S.E.
Suite 500 Suite 201
Fairfax, Virginia 22030 Leesburg, Virginia 20175
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2016 Leaders in the Law Virginia Lawyers Media |   Page 13  
R. Peyton Mahaffey
McCandlish Lillard PC, Fairfax
Mahaffey, a leading business
litigator in Virginia, is the
president and managing
partner of McCandlish &
Lillard in Fairfax. His bar work
includes his current service on
the Virginia Bar Association
board of governors.
Looking back:
I grew up in Danville, Virginia.
An important mentor:
Stephen L. Best impacted my career by
example: He set a standard for work/life
balance that I have never forgotten. Steve
was a named partner in my current law firm
who, after 33 years of practice, pursued his
interests in art and sailing, eventually moving
to his own small piece of paradise in the
Bahamas. Almost none of his many friends in
the Bahamas ever knew he was a lawyer.
Leadership in law is:
We lawyers operate in a pre-determined are-
na – the law. We are advocates, but we are
also rule-makers and rule-followers. Leaders
in many other fields are unencumbered by
such rules so when they have a vision, they
may grasp the meaning of what is seen which
changes what has come before, and are free
to transform it to something new.
Personal accomplishment:
Whatever small assistance I was able to pro-
vide to my wife in raising two great kids who
seem to be well grounded, launched in their
Mary T. Morgan
Golightly Mulligan & Morgan PLC, Chesapeake
Morgan was named the
2016 “Bar Leader of the
Year” by the Virginia State
Bar Conference of Local Bar
Associations; a past president
of the Virginia Women
Attorneys Association, she is
immediate past president of
the Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar
Association.
Looking back:
I grew up in Spokane, Wash.
An important mentor:
Coach White, my high school swim team
coach, was an important mentor to me. He
demanded hard work and dedication, but
was fair and realistic. He treated parents,
swimmers, staff and adversaries with respect.
He was kind and compassionate, but also
tough and persistent. He understood how to
motivate different individuals, and diligently
tried to teach not only swimming skills to his
team, but life skills. Looking back, I realize
that Coach White’s confidence in me inspired
me to be a good swimmer and a good stu-
dent. The skills that he possessed in terms of
leadership and management instilled in me
core values to which I attribute my success in
my own career.
Leadership in law is:
I don’t believe leadership varies tremendously
from profession to profession. It is not the
skill set that an individual possesses that
makes them a good leader, but rather the
Page 14   |   Virginia Lawyers Media 2016 Leaders in the Law
careers and happy people.
Surprising advice:
“Be a coach for your kids.” Whether it’s
soccer, baseball, t-ball or basketball. Just try
to make a point of coaching in some way and
make a point to get away and do it.
First job:
Stock boy/delivery boy at a local pharmacy in
Danville. I learned the advantages of knowing
all of the streets and short cuts in town, and
how to drive a manual VW Beetle fast without
using the clutch.
Biggest career challenge:
To follow this good advice: Don’t allow the law
to squeeze out the time you spend with your
family, your spouse, and your kids. Those days
will be gone before you know it.
Best tip for balance:
Take the vacation. Don’t check email, voice
mail, and social media fanatically, and enjoy
your time away.
I might have been:
I might have at least attempted sports broad-
casting at some level.
Guilty pleasure:
Ice cream at night while watching Sports
Center.
Favorite get-away: Education:
You didn’t know: BA, University of Virginia
The British Virgin Islands. I got married outside, on a farm, in a double JD, University of Virginia
wedding. My wife’s parents told her and her
If I had a free month: brother that they would do it once if both cou-
I would go somewhere in the BVI, take photo-
ples really wanted to get married in the same on Thanksgiving Day. My mom said I was her
graphs, fly a sea plane, finally figure out how year on their farm – and we did. I was born
not-so little “Turkey.”
to sail properly, and be generally adventurous.
way they carry themselves and interact with
other people, especially the people they lead,
command or manage. Among a myriad other
traits, a good leader is demanding of them-
selves and of others, but at the same time
can motivate people to do/be their very best.
Personal accomplishment:
Getting into law school and passing the
Virginia State Bar the first time, because my
parents were uneducated, and a lot of people
didn’t think I would ever accomplish much of
anything based on my socioeconomic status.
Surprising advice:
You’re the only one who can give yourself
permission to truly be happy.
First job:
A lifeguard at a city pool. I learned that you
can work hard and have fun at the same time.
Biggest career challenge:
Learning how to balance marketing, the
running of a business and the practice of law,
all at the same time.
Best tip for balance:
Make a point to take time off, and when you
take time off, don’t spend the time thinking
about work, checking in with work, or wonder-
ing what is happening at work.
I might have been: Favorite get-away: Education:
I probably would have remained in the food The Turks and Caicos Islands. BA, Loyola Marymount University
and beverage industry because I enjoy work-
ing with people. JD, University of Richmond
If I had a free month:
I would travel and play golf.
Guilty pleasure:
Getting frequent pedicures. You didn’t know:
I’m a blue belt in Tae Kwon Do and I once
lived in a small town in Germany.
Jay V. Prabhu
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the
Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria
Prabhu, an assistant U.S.
attorney in Alexandria, is chief
of his office’s cybercrime unit;
he has been lead prosecutor
on numerous technology,
intellectual property and
computer hacking cases,
including the largest criminal
copyright prosecution ever.
Looking back:
I spent my childhood in central New Jer-
sey. Bruce Springsteen was the next door
neighbor of my very small elementary school.
We had a school dance. The Boss showed up
with an acoustic guitar.  He played a couple
of songs for the few dozen of us who were
there.  It was a wonderful gesture from a
good neighbor.
An important mentor:
Fairfax Circuit Judge John M. Tran has always
been someone I could turn to for advice. His
elevation to the bench, though an immense
personal achievement for John and his family,
also has great meaning for the Asian-Ameri-
can community in our commonwealth.
Leadership in law is:
As a member of the relatively small cadre of
criminal prosecutors, my duty is to do justice,
rather than merely prevail. Every action prose-
cutors take profoundly impacts people’s lives,
whether they are defendants or victims. Trying
to make just choices for our community and
making sure my colleagues do the same each
and every day is not typical in many other
professions.
Gene Schleppenbach
Miles & Stockbridge PC, Tysons Corner
A corporate lawyer working in
the Tysons Corner of Miles &
Stockbridge, Schleppenbach
has put together numerous
deals that spurred economic
development and greater
technological innovation in
the Northern Virginia region
and elsewhere.
Looking back:
I grew up in Pierce, Nebraska, a small farm
town in northeast Nebraska.
An important mentor:
As an undergrad at the University of Nebraska
planning to go to law school, I signed up for
a political science course involving elements
of international law taught by David Forsythe,
one of the true deep thinkers and writers on
human rights and humanitarian affairs.
Personal accomplishment:
Apart from family – it is not a single accom-
plishment, but rather a successful career
that has resulted in many satisfying client
relationships where I have become a trusted
advisor who not only provides legal advice,
but helps to make business decisions based
upon legal and business circumstances faced
by the client.
Surprising advice:
Put yourself in your client’s shoes. Don’t pro-
vide legal answers that present only problems
and do not offer possible solutions. They do
not want a recitation of issues without provid-
2016 Leaders in the Law Virginia Lawyers Media |   Page 15
Personal accomplishment:
I can think of a number of cases that I pros-
ecuted involving the exploitation of children
where our efforts ended the suffering of a
child or took a child out of harm’s way in time.
Surprising advice:
Writing is the key to effective advocacy, and it
is impossible to fake great writing.
First job:
I worked behind the counter at the Sunshine
Deli, and learned to sweat the value of a dol-
lar and gained a lifetime love of sandwiches
with extra jalapeños.
Biggest career challenge:
Staying on top of technology is critical, as the
bad guys are always finding ways to exploit
new vulnerabilities and to make it harder to
catch them. I have worked hard to develop
one of the country’s leading practices in
cybercrime and technology, and yet I learn
something new nearly every day.  
Best tip for balance:
Still working on it.
I might have been:
I think I would have particularly enjoyed being
an archeologist. I love reconstructing events,
personalities, and motivations through the Stadium on Thanksgiving. Education:
use of logic and evidence. BA, Boston College
If I had a free month: MPP, John F. Kennedy School
Guilty pleasure: Scuba diving in Belize, Cozumel, Cairns, Ha- of Government
Poker. Seven card stud preferred, but Texas waii, and Palau ... again. JD, Harvard Law School
Hold ‘Em if necessary. I’ve played against a
world champion and outlasted him. You don’t know:
Though I am not a big fan of karaoke, this National Cathedral, and the Vatican.  I wrote
Favorite get-away: former choir boy has sung at New York’s the FBI anti-piracy warning that appears on
Yankee Stadium in October; Cowboys Carnegie Hall, Boston’s Symphony Hall, most DVDs.
ing guidance on how to address those issues.
Biggest career challenge:
Over the course of my career, there have
been several economic slumps that have
inevitably resulted in significant downturns in
transactional legal work.
Best tip for balance:
Taking time off – true time off, not just mov-
ing work to a “vacation” location – is critical.
I might have been:
I am energized by the process of helping to
build the businesses of my clients, so I would
likely have sought to be an entrepreneur or
pursued a management role in business.
Guilty pleasure:
I allow myself to be far too passionate about
Husker football!
Favorite get-away:
Park City, Utah, with Lake Tahoe as a close
second.
If I had a free month:
Now that my wife and I are empty nesters,
I would travel to reconnect with friends we
did not see as much as we would have liked
while we were happily consumed by raising
our children.
You don’t know: is nothing like the richness of experience that Education:
First, I grew up in a small farm town in a large, close family provides – both as I was BA, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Nebraska as one of 11 children in our family, growing up and even to this day. JD, George Washington University
which gave me an appreciation of the virtues
of hard work – something I witnessed every Second, I love riding bicycles, which is not only
day from farmers and people who lived in a terrific source of exercise, but allows for a
farm communities. Also while such large special view of countryside that you cannot
families are obviously increasingly rare, there appreciate in a vehicle at 60 miles per hour.
  
Cullen D. Seltzer
Sands Anderson PC, Richmond
A business litigator with
the Richmond office of
Sands Anderson, Seltzer
is a past president of the
John Marshall Inn of Court.
His community service
includes work for several
different Jewish groups in the
Richmond area.
Looking back:
My dad worked for the State Department so
we travelled a lot when I was young. I was
born in Athens. We later lived in Tokyo, Dar
es Salaam, Tanzania, Miami, La Paz, Bolivia,
and Lima, Peru. We moved back to the
states, in Vienna, when I was in high school.
I came to Richmond in 1990 and have been
here ever since.
An important mentor:
My first mentor as a practicing lawyer was
Judge Jim Benton of the Virginia Court of
Appeals for whom I clerked right after law
school. He really was the best.
Personal accomplishment:
I’m so grateful for the love and company of
my family. I’m lucky in lots of ways, but mostly
in the good fortune to have married Rose-
mary who’s smarter and better looking and
kinder than me, and in having Kate and Sarah
who mean everything to us, and who give
us hope that the world will be a little better
tomorrow.
Kristina Keech Spitler
Vanderpool, Frostick & Nishanian PC, Manassas
Spitler heads the employment
law practice at Vanderpool,
Frostick & Nishanian in
Manassas. A founding
member of the Prince William
County Virginia Women
Attorneys Association
chapter, she helped create
and chaired a mentorship
program for the Prince
William Bar Association.
Looking back:
My father was in the Army Corps of Engi-
neers, so we moved just about every year
growing up. I was born in Frankfurt, Germany,
and we lived at Ft. Belvoir; San Jose, Califor-
nia; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Ft. Leaven-
worth, Kansas; North Little Rock, Arkansas;
Richmond; and Alexandria.
Leadership in law is:
Leadership when working with other talented
and smart people is generally very fun. You
can both come up with ideas as well as get
some great ideas from others. The final
results are usually made better from the
collaborative efforts.
Personal accomplishment:
For the reasons mentioned above about moving
every year and the difficulties in trying to learn
to read, write and do math while going to differ-
ent schools in different states’ school systems
every year, I was very excited to have gone to
UVA and then to William & Mary Law school.
Page 16   |   Virginia Lawyers Media 2016 Leaders in the Law
First job:
Apart from house sitting and babysitting
jobs, my first job was as a telemarketer. I
learned that people didn’t necessarily want to
be called at home and asked their opinions
about consumer goods.
Biggest career challenge:
Practicing law can feel, sometimes, like
drinking from a firehose. Even if you’re really
thirsty, you can’t help but get a little wet. Still,
representing clients, figuring out their needs
and their businesses and helping them solve
problems, in a really broad set of contexts, is
lots of fun and really interesting.
I might have been:
I’d thought about a career in the Foreign
Service or in government.
Guilty pleasure:
Living and suffering through decades of the
travails of the Boston Red Sox.
Favorite get-away:
Traveling with family and friends is always a
great time – I’m glad to go almost anywhere
the company is good.
If I had a free month:
Travel some, read some, catch some ball-
games.
You don’t know: Kennedy in what remains the highlight of my Education:
In 1988, I was an intern for then Sen. John
very short athletic highlight reel. BA, Mary Washington College
Kerry and played on his DC office’s softball
team. Each summer, Kerry’s team played JD, University of Richmond
Sen. Ted Kennedy’s team for Massachusetts As a young public defender, one day I once
bragging rights and for that game, the sena- had cases in General District Court, Circuit
business if I won any of them.
tors came and played a little. Both senators Court, the Virginia Court of Appeals, and
pitched a couple innings. I hit a double off Ted the Supreme Court of Virginia. It’s no one’s
Surprising advice:
I am sure that I have received many surprising
bits of good advice but unfortunately, I cannot
think of them at this moment.
First job:
I was a waitress at Breakfast King on Route
1 in Alexandria. I learned that waitressing
is hard work. As a result, I really appreciate
those that work at jobs such as being a wait-
er or waitress and appreciate their efforts at
trying to earn a living.
Biggest career challenge:
My biggest career challenge is being a lawyer
as a single mother after my divorce. I tried
to be a strong, loving, firm, and supportive
mom for my twin daughters while also trying
to build my legal practice which includes
marketing efforts and events, learning to be
a rainmaker while keeping current clients
happy, litigating cases and meeting a mul-
titude of time deadlines, volunteering in the
community, and trying to have some fun in a
personal life.
Best tip for balance:
Make the best decisions you can with the in-
formation and resources that you have at the
time. Do not beat yourself up when you have
not done such a good job of balancing your
professional life and your personal life. Finally,
frequently reassess and make adjustments if
you can. becoming a helicopter pilot at one point. Education:
BA, University of Virginia
I might have been: Guilty pleasure: JD, William & Mary Law School
When I was young, I wanted to be a rock I sometimes read romance novels!
star and wear white go-go boots and a gold
lame dress (I was a child in the ’60s!). After You don’t know:
I learned that I could not carry a tune, I had See above regarding wanting to be a rock
to try some other career. I had thought of star and wear go-go boots. I love to dance.
 LEADERS IN LAW 2016
Congratulations to

SHERRY FOX Macel Janoschka

Named among
Virginia Lawyers Weekly
2016 Class of Up & Coming Lawyers
Macel H. Janoschka, a principal with the Roanoke law firm of Frith
Anderson & Peake, PC. Ms. Janoschka received her B.A. degree at
Virginia Tech and her J.D. degree at the University of South Carolina
School of Law. Ms. Janoschka focuses her practice on civil litigation,
particularly in the areas of long term care litigation, premises liability,
automobile liability and workers’ compensation.
Frith Anderson & Peake is very proud of Macel and her
recognition is well deserved.

29 Franklin Rd SW, Roanoke, VA 24011 • (540) 772-4600 • faplawfirm.com

ThompsonMcMullan is proud to announce
that Sherry Fox has been selected by the
Virginia Lawyers Media for the 2016 Class
of Leaders in the Law. Now in its 11th year,
this awards program recognizes leaders
across the Commonwealth who are setting the
standard for other lawyers in Virginia. Sherry
has been an attorney with ThompsonMcMullan
since 2006. She represents constitutional
officers, businesses, adoptive families,
adoption agencies, employers, and insurance
companies. Congratulations Sherry!
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Melissa S. VanZile
Barnes & Diehl PC, Richmond
A veteran practitioner of
domestic relations law,
VanZile has been assisting
families in Richmond since
2004. She has received
numerous awards from bar
and community groups and
currently serves as president
of the Metropolitan Richmond
Women’s Bar Association.
Looking back:
I was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where my father
served in the Coast Guard. We returned to
Hanover County where I lived with my parents
and younger sister, and where many of my
extended family members still live.
An important mentor:
My first job as a lawyer was working for
Phoebe Hall. She was my first mentor and
she taught me how to be a lawyer. I learned a
lot by watching her in court.
Leadership in law is:
Understanding the daily ups and downs of
practicing law as we face challenges. We
support and encourage each other’s profes-
sional development.
Personal accomplishment:
My biggest personal accomplishment is being
a mother to my two daughters, Chloe, who is
3, and Isabella, who is 6.
Susheela Varky
Virginia Poverty Law Center, Richmond
Helping low-income
Virginians in domestic and
sexual violence cases, Varky
has been an attorney at
the Virginia Poverty Law
Center for nine years. She
also started a pilot pro bono
program with immigration
law firm Challa Law Offices
for undocumented immigrant
victims of sexual and
domestic violence.
Looking back:
I grew up in New York City and a small sub-
urb of NYC in New Jersey. While I understand
why my parents moved to the suburbs, I still
have not forgiven them for wrecking my
chances of being a “cool” city kid.
An important mentor:
Judy Winston was my Civ Pro professor.
She had had a long career in the civil rights
arena, including developing policy for the U.S.
Department of Education before coming to
American as a law professor. I attended law
school in the early ’90s when fellow 1Ls were
still sending out dozens (nay, hundreds) of
cold, mail-merged cover letters to prospective
employers to find a summer job. Instead of
doing that, I talked to Judy about what I want-
ed to do for the summer. She gave me the
names of about 15 of her own colleagues. I
wrote each of them very specific cover letters
of why I wanted to work for them and their
organizations, mentioning that Judy had given
me their names. I had several interviews and
two job offers from that effort.
Page 18   |   Virginia Lawyers Media 2016 Leaders in the Law
First job:
Most of my work experience prior to becom-
ing a lawyer was gained during summers off
from college when I worked as a legal assis-
tant for different law firms in the Richmond
area. I learned about the different practice
areas of law and what it was like to work in a
law office. It helped me determine what kind
of law I wanted to practice and made me real-
ize that I really enjoyed the one-on-one client
interaction, and that I wanted to practice in an
area that gave me that experience.
Biggest career challenge:
Setting and maintaining client expectations is
always important and is a big part of our job
as lawyers. As a family law practitioner, I work
with clients who are going through what is
probably one of the worst times of their lives.
There is a lot of emotion involved in these
cases and the decisions they make and the
outcome of their cases directly and signifi-
cantly impacts their families, their children,
their livelihood and their quality of life.
Best tip for balance:
For me, when I am at work my focus is on
helping my clients, but when I am at home my
focus is on my family. I have a definite begin-
ning and ending to my work day, and I don’t
take my work home with me. It also helps that
I have a great partner in my husband.
I might have been: Education:
A journalist traveling the world or a fashion Favorite get-away: BA, University of Mary Washington
designer. My husband and I were married in Harbour JD, University of Richmond
Island, Bahamas, and it is still my favorite
Guilty pleasure: place where I have vacationed.
Wine! Wine with a nice dinner out with my If I had a free month:
husband is even better. Travel to Europe with my family.
Leadership in law is:
One of the ways in which leadership in the
legal field appears to differ from leadership
in other fields is that in the business arena,
for example, I think more people enter
that world to become leaders … whereas
leaders in the legal field may tend to be
perceived as leaders.
Personal accomplishment:
My biggest personal work accomplishment
is starting out after law school and remaining
a public interest attorney for more than two
decades. I have wanted to be a lawyer ever
since I was a child. I wanted to be a public
interest lawyer at that. So, I feel as if I have
been true to my childhood self.
Surprising advice:
From my Business Associations Law profes-
sor, Perry Wallace, during my second year, as
many of us were worried about landing a job
in the slow economy of the early ’90s with a
glut of lawyers in the DC area: “Don’t let your-
self get discouraged. In five years, you will be
where you want to be.”
First job:
I worked at a flower shop. I learned how won-
derful it is to give and receive flowers.
Biggest career challenge:
Sadly, I would have to say that ignorance/rac- Education:
ism has been my biggest career challenge. Guilty pleasure: BA, Tufts University
Eating Sour Patch Kids candy (especially JD, American University
Best tip for balance: during late-night House Courts of Justice
Work out. Don’t put it off. Don’t make lame Criminal Subcommittee hearings).
excuses. Just. Do. It (to borrow Nike’s slogan). which I would write, read, work on my gar-
Favorite get-away: den/yard, work out and/or dance every day
I might have been: London, England. and volunteer at the SPCA.
If I did what I wanted to do, I would have tried
to become a professional dancer. If I did what If I had a free month: You didn’t know:
my parents wanted me to do, I would have Assuming I couldn’t afford a vacation for one I am an introvert and I want to learn how cars
become a doctor or an engineer. whole month, I would do a staycation during work and how to repair them.
James L. Weinberg
Hirschler Fleischer, Richmond
Weinberg, a Richmond
native who has specialized
in mergers & acquisitions,
gaming law and securities,
currently serves as president
of Hirschler Fleischer. Heavily
involved in community service,
he helped merge the Central
Virginia Food Bank and Meals
on Wheels into FeedMore.
Looking back:
I grew up in Richmond. As a very young boy, I
remember visiting my father in his office. As I
walked down the hall past Mr. Hirschler’s and
other attorney’s offices, I noticed pipe racks
with tobacco containers on the desks. My
father had an assortment of pipes as well. For
a while, I thought if you were a lawyer, you
were obligated to smoke a pipe.
An important mentor:
U.S. District Judge Richard L. Williams, of the
Eastern Division of Virginia, was an important
mentor. After graduation from law school, I
clerked for Judge Williams for a year. I had
a law professor who frequently reminded his
students, “The law is a beautiful thing.” Judge
Williams demonstrated that to his clerks in
the way he ran his courtroom, the thought he
put into his decisions, and the time he took
to teach and mentor his clerks. Although I am
not a litigator, I retain from Judge Williams a
healthy dose of skepticism; the lesson that
your client’s story always has to make sense;
and the imperative to get to the facts and
conclusions efficiently and succinctly.
Leadership in law is:
Lawyers as a group have characteristics that
pose management challenges. They have a
strong desire for autonomy and are extremely
analytical and skeptical. Leadership needs to
John E. Zydron
The Zydron Law Firm PLLC, Virginia Beach
A retired Brigadier General
who served in the Virginia
National Guard, Zydron
practices law out of Hampton
Roads in his own firm. He is
also co-commissioner for the
Virginia Marine Resources
Commission, appointed by
Gov. Terry McAuliffe.
Looking back:
I grew up in Chesapeake in a small neigh-
borhood called Sunray. I grew up on a farm,
loved raising animals and working outdoors.
My brother and I rode our horses to Sunday
services at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
An important mentor:
Major General Robert C. Dechert, Jr. He
taught me the importance of God, family and
country, loyalty, integrity and honesty.
Leadership in law is:
It all comes down to hard work, doing the ab-
solute best you can do, and looking for ways
to make it happen correctly and honestly.
Personal accomplishment:
My family relationship and devotion to coun-
try. Our family is always there for each other
in good times and difficult times. It helps us
get the most out of life. I spent 32 ½ years in
2016 Leaders in the Law Virginia Lawyers Media |   Page 19
listen well, understand and respect differing
points of view and then be able to synthesize
these perspectives into a strategy and actions
that everyone will get behind and support.
Personal accomplishment:
Raising two remarkable and wonderful
daughters with my wife of 26 years is my big-
gest personal accomplishment. But if you are
asking, of what besides my family am I most
proud, it is the merger of the Central Virginia
Food Bank and Meals on Wheels Serving
Central Virginia. The process of building a
kitchen together led to the entities combining
resources to form FeedMore -- a powerful,
collaborative organization that continues to
reduce hunger in Central Virginia. It was a
very rewarding process.
Surprising advice:
Make yourself uncomfortable. Judge Williams
first gave me that advice, and when I prac-
ticed in New York for several years after my
clerkship, others shared similar advice. My
greatest personal and professional growth has
come in situations where I was uncomfortable
because of the challenges presented, the
uncertainty that I could handle them, the sense
of accomplishment when things went well, and
the lessons learned when they didn’t.
was emotionally draining. Both instances put Education:
First job: me in uncomfortable situations from which I BA, Brown University
One of my first jobs was to monitor tennis grew and learned. JD, University of Virginia
courts to ensure users had purchased a sum-
mer pass. The courts were not that popular Best tip for balance:
from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the day. An understanding spouse. Setting realistic Family.”
expectations with your family, partners and
Biggest career challenge: clients for both your professional and person- Favorite get-away:
When I was a new partner, an attorney left al life and then meeting them. Paris.
our firm to join a long-standing client. The
client was undertaking a series of transfor- I might have been:
If I had a free month:
mative acquisitions, and I became first chair In college I ran the business side of a daily
on the matter, which consumed a substantial college newspaper. I enjoyed it and thought Travel the Southwest visiting national parks.
portion of my time for the next year and about enrolling in business school and going
provided challenging work. From a man- into the newspaper industry. You didn’t know:
agement perspective, help guiding our firm I can ride a unicycle. My wife and I began our
through the 2008 recession required difficult Guilty pleasure: married life in Paris where we both practiced
decisions and unpleasant conversations; it I think I have seen all episodes of “Modern law at large international firms.
the military and retired as a Brigadier General
in the VA National Guard/ VA unorganized
militia.
Surprising advice:
That our family is a “can do” family and “can
do” anything we set our minds to.
First job:
I worked as a service station attendant. One
time a truck customer filled up with 100 gal-
lons of diesel and left without paying. I had to
pay for it. It taught me about accountability.
Biggest career challenge:
To be the best personal injury lawyer I could
be and find innovative ways to win tough and
unusual cases.
Best tip for balance:
Treat every aspect of life with the same level
of importance and learn to share, make time
for each other and just “do it.”
I might have been:
Airline pilot or medical doctor.
Guilty pleasure:
Hunting, fishing and growing loblolly pines
Favorite get-away:
Saint Martins, British Virgin Islands
If I had a free month: You didn’t know:
Hunt, fish and work on my farms Education:
I served 18 years as a substitute Judge for BA, University of Richmond
the Virginia General District Courts. JD, George Mason University
  
2015 J. Jonathan Schraub Jeffrey K. Lehrer Nina J. Ginsberg Donald H. Clark 2011
Everette G. Sands Anderson PC DLA Piper LLP DiMuroGinsberg PC Williams Mullen
“Buddy” Allen * Irving M. Blank
LeClairRyan Rupen R. Shah Bryant C. McGann Jill A. Hanken Joseph P. Corish
Commonwealth’s Vandeventer Black LLP Virginia Poverty Law Bean Kinney & ParisBlank
Cheryl L. Black Attorney’s Office Center Korman PC
Judge John J. Jeffrey A. Breit
Evergreen Enterprises Breit Drescher
Brooks Meredith Smith McGrath Jr. (ret.) Patrick W. Herman James C. Cosby
Troutman Sanders Juridical Solutions PLC Vandeventer Black Vandeventer Black LLP Imprevento & Walker
Doris Henderson
Causey Craig S. Cooley
Central Virginia Legal The Honorable * Senior U.S. District James Hingeley David G. DeFazio
James R. Spencer Judge Robert E. Payne Albemarle Barnes & Diehl PC Attorney at Law
Aid Society Inc. Elizabeth K. Dillon
U.S. District Court, Eastern District Charlottesville Public
Eastern District of Defender Sen. John S. Edwards Guynn Memmer &
Joseph A. Condo Dillon
The Condo Law Virginia Dennis J. Quinn
Group PC Carr Maloney PC Stephen A. Isaacs Evan H. Farr CELA
William L. Stauffer, Jr. Law Office of Stephen Law Firm of Evan H. Michael R. Doucette
Williams Mullen, Douglas Ramseur A. Isaacs Farr PC Commonwealth’s
John T. Frey Attorney
Clerk of the Fairfax Newport News Office of the Capital
Circuit Court Defender Gary W. Kendall Robert M. Galumbeck
Del. Scott A. Surovell MichieHamlett Galumbeck Dennis & Cheshire I’Anson
Surovell Isaacs Kenneth T. Roeber Kegley Eveleigh
Frank K. Friedman Wolcott Rivers Gates
Woods Rogers PLC Petersen & Levy Sands Anderson PC Thomas C. Kleine
Troutman Sanders LLP Tracy A. Giles
Charles J. Zauzig O. Randolph Rollins Giles & Lambert PC Carolyn M. Grimes
J. William Gray Lieblich & Grimes
Hunton & Williams LLP Nichols Zauzig Drive to Work Tara M. Lee
Sandler PC DLA Piper Franklin P. Hall
Stephen R. Romine Hall & Hall PC Phoebe P. Hall
Jonathan E. Halperin Hall & Hall
Halperin Law LeClairRyan George K. Martin
Center LLC McGuireWoods LLP Jack L. Harris
Micheal L. Hern
2014 Robert Tayloe Ross Virginia Trial Lawyers
LeClairRyan
Amberley Gibbs Midkiff Muncie Bruce H. Matson Association
Hammer & Ross PC LeClairRyan
Ralph L. “Bill” F. Warren Haynie Jr. Jon D. Huddleston
Hammer Law PC Axselle Jr. Sevila Saunders
James W. “Jay” Speer * John B. McCammon
Williams Mullen Virginia Poverty Law The McCammon Harry M. “Pete” Huddleston & White
Sandra L. Havrilak
The Havrilak Center Group Johnson III
Thomas R. Bagby Hunton & Williams LLP Judge J. Samuel
Law Firm PC Woods Rogers PLC Johnston (retired)
James W. Theobald John D. McGavin
Hirschler Fleischer Bancroft McGavin Sharon K. Lieblich Campbell County
Collin J. Hite Matthew P. Bosher Circuit Court
Hirschler Fleischer PC Horvath & Judkins PC Lieblich & Grimes PC
Hunton & Williams LLP Robert Wagner
Office of the Federal Neil A.G. McPhie Edward B. Lowry J. Jack Kennedy
James W. Korman Dawn Butorac Circuit Clerk of Wise
Bean, Kinney & Public Defender Tully Rinckey PLLC MichieHamlett
Fairfax County Public County
Korman PC Defender’s Office Edward S. Whitlock III James V. Meath Scott C. Oostdyk
Lafayette Ayers & Williams Mullen McGuireWoods LLP Neil S. Kessler
Del. James M. Donald Caldwell Troutman Sanders
LeMunyon Whitlock PLC
Roanoke Jay B. Myerson Mary M. H. Priddy
Oak Hill Technology Commonwealth’s H. Lane Kneedler
Partners LLC Larry D. Youngner The Myerson Law Goodman Allen &
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Michael S. Lieberman Manuel A. Capsalis Richard E. Ladd Jr.
DiMuroGinsberg PC U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Pustilnik
Capsalis Fitzgerald PLC David J. Novak Richmond General PennStuart
Thomas A. Lisk Vinceretta Taylor Chiles 2013 Eastern District of District Court
David W. Lannetti
Eckert Seamans Cherin Virginia
Chiles Law Offices PC Roscoe C. Roberts Vandeventer Black
& Mellott LLC Heidi W. Abbott Paula L. Peaden Virginia State
Roger T. Creager Hunton & Williams Parker Pollard Wilton University U.S. Magistrate Judge
John R. “Jack” Maus Creager Law Firm PLC M. Hannah Lauck
Law Office of & Peaden
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Demleitner Commonwealth’s Virginia Christopher M.
Kathleen M. McCauley Washington & Lee Attorney McCarthy
Moran Reeves Commonwealth Douglas P. Rucker Jr.
University law school University Sands Anderson PC White & McCarthy
& Conn PC Matthew W. Broughton
Bernard J. DiMuro Gentry Locke Rakes & James R. Schroll Sandra L. Sampson Dale G. Mullen
Thomas H. Miller DiMuroGinsberg PC Moore Louisa County
Frankl Miller Bean Kinney & Byler & Sampson PC
Korman PC Attorney
& Webb LLP Hugh M. Fain III Marni E. Byrum Edward E. Scher
Spotts Fain McQuade Byrum PLLC Thomas R. Scott Jr. Law Office of Albert M. Orgain IV
Elizabeth Murtagh Sands Anderson
Charlottesville Public The Street Law Firm Edward Scher
Michael Goodove Sandra Chinn-Gilstrap
Defender Office Swartz Taliaferro Woods Rogers PLC W. Joseph Owen III
John R. Walk Susan Stoney
Swartz & Goodove Hirschler Fleischer PC Legal Services of Owen & Owens
Sharon D. Nelson Thomas J. Curcio
Sensei Enterprises Inc. Northern Virginia
Linda M. Jackson Curcio Law Luis A. Perez
Littler Richard C. Sullivan Jr. Luis A. Perez PC
John R. Owen S. Miles Dumville
Harman, Claytor, Kristi Cahoon Kelly Reed Smith LLP 2012 Reed Smith LLP
Sen. J. Chapman
Corrigan & Wellman Kelly & Crandall PLC Petersen
Lori D. Thompson
Karen L. Fortier Steven D. Benjamin LeClairRyan Surovell Isaacs
John D. Padgett Judge Stanley Karen L. Fortier PC Benjamin & Petersen & Levy
McGuireWoods LLP P. Klein (ret.) DesPortes PC * Lucia Anna “Pia”
Blankingship Jeffrey H. Geiger Trigiani Todd A. Pilot
Sharon Elizabeth & Keith PC Sands Anderson PC David Bernhard The Trademark Institute
Pandak MercerTrigiani
Bernhard & Gardner
Greehan, Taves,
Pandak & Stoner PLLC

Page 20   |   Virginia Lawyers Media 2016 Leaders in the Law
Andrew J. Reinhardt John L. Costello 2008 2007 Jeffrey S. Kinsler
Reinhardt & Harper Michael HuYoung George Mason Appalachian School
Barnes & Diehl PC University Law School of Law
Linda F. Rigsby David P. Baugh Richard J. Bonnie
Williams Mullen John C. Johnson Raighne C. Delaney Virginia Capital University of Virginia David S. Mercer
Frith Anderson & Bean Kinney & Defender (Central) Institute of Law Troutman Sanders LLP
Arthur E. Schmalz Peake PC Korman PC Psychiatry and Public
Hunton & Williams Mark D. Braley Policy Craig T. Merritt
Judge Colleen Lawrence D. Diehl Legal Services Corp. Christian & Barton
Guy K. Tower K. Killilea Barnes & Diehl PC of Virginia Richard Cullen
The McCammon Williamsburg and McGuireWoods LLP Monica Taylor Monday
Group James City County Clarence M. Frank O. Brown Jr. Gentry Locke Rakes &
General District Court Dunnaville Jr. Frank O. Brown Jr. PC Kyung N. (Kathryn) Moore
John M. Tran Clarence M. Dickerson
DimuroGinsberg R. Shawn Majette Dunnaville Jr. PC S. Jane Chittom Smolen Plevy Robert F. Redmond Jr.
ThompsonMcMullan Appellate Defender Williams Mullen
Stanley P. Wellman Richard E. Garriott Wyatt B. Durrette Jr.
Harman Claytor Andrew R. McRoberts Clarke Dolph Rapaport Julie M. Cillo DurretteBradshaw PLC Andrew M. Sacks
Corrigan & Wellman Sands Anderson Hull Brunick & Garriott Hall & Hall PLC Sacks & Sacks
PLC Thomas A. Edmonds
David M. Zobel Judge Becky J. Moore Terrence L. Graves Virginia State Bar Susan B. Tarley
Poole Mahoney Alexandria General Michael L. Goodman Sands Anderson Marks Spirn Tarley
District Court Goodman Allen & & Miller Betsy Wells Edwards Robinson & Tarley
Filetti PLLC Virginia Fair Trial
Tony H. Pham Frank Kilgore Project Joseph T. Waldo
Frank Kilgore PC
2010 Richmond City Hon. Karen A.
L. Steven Emmert
Waldo & Lyle
Sheriff’s Office Henenberg
Arlington General Gary D. LeClair Sykes Bowden Ahern Anne Marie
Del. David B. Albo Dale W. Pittman District Court LeClairRyan & Levy Whittemore
Albo & Oblon LLP The Law Office of Dale McGuireWoods LLP
W. Pittman PC Katja H. Hill John E. Lichtenstein Robert L. Harris Sr.
Stephan F. LeClairRyan Lichtenstein Fishwick The McCammon * Denotes Leader of
“Hobie” Andrews William L. Schmidt & Johnson PLC Group the Year recipient
Vandeventer Black LLP William L. Schmidt & James W. Hopper
Associates PC Office of the Attorney Darrel Tillar Mason Robert R. Hatten Patten
James L. Banks General Darrel Tillar Mason PLC Wornom Hatten &
Alexandria City J. Scott Sexton Diamonstein LC
Attorney Gentry Locke Rakes Hon. Gerald Bruce Lee Jennifer L. McClellan
& Moore LLP U.S. District Court Verizon Corporation Corinne J. Magee
Linda Bryant The Magee Law Firm
Norfolk Deputy Larry W. Shelton Alexander N. Levay Steven R. Minor PLLC
Commonwealth’s Federal Public Alex Levay PLLC Elliott Lawson & Minor PC
Attorney Defender Wiley F. Mitchell Jr. Stephen A. Northup
Christopher M. Malone Willcox & Savage Troutman Sanders LLP
Peter C. Burnett Julious P. Smith Jr. ThompsonMcMullan PC David A. Oblon
Burnett & Williams PC Williams Mullen Albo & Oblon LLP William R. Rakes
* Henry W. Gentry Locke Rakes &
Irvin V. Cantor Vanessa L. Allen McLaughlin III W. Taylor Reveley III Moore
Cantor Stoneburner Sutherland Central Virginia Legal College of William &
Ford Grana Buckner Altria Client Services Aid Society Inc. Mary Diane M. Strickland
The McCammon
Michael S. Dingman Ronald R. Tweel G. Andrew Nea Jr. Carol Schrier-Polak Group
Reed Smith LLP Michie Hamlett Lowry Williams Mullen Bean Kinney &
Rasmussen & Korman PC William R. Van Buren III
* U.S. Magistrate Tweel PLLC JoAnne L. Nolte Kaufman & Canoles
Judge Dennis The Nolte Law Firm PC Mark E. Slaughter
W. Dohnal Charles F. “Rick” Troutman Sanders LLP William T. Wilson
U.S. District Court Witthoefft John M. Oakey Jr. Wilson Updike &
Hirschler Fleischer McGuireWoods LLP Stephen M. Smith Nicely
Melinda Douglas Brain Injury Law
Office of the Public Norman F. Oblon Center
Defender Oblon Spivak
2009 McClelland Maier & Rodney A. Smolla 2006
Paul B. Ebert Neustadt LLP Washington & Lee
Prince William County University School
Commonwealth’s W. Coleman Allen Jr. of Law Edward D. Barnes
G. Michael Pace Jr. The Barnes Law Firm
Attorney Allen Allen Allen & Gentry Locke Rakes &
Allen Moore LLP Thomas E. Spahn
Melissa Glassman McGuireWoods LLP Robert L. Bushnell
McGuireWoods LLP Jayne W. Barnard Henry County
Glenn W. Pulley Commonwealth’s
William and Clement & Wheatley Jacob P. Stroman IV
Karen A. Gould Mary Law School Spotsylvania County Attorney
Virginia State Bar Colleen M. Quinn Attorney
Leonard A. Bennett Mary G. Commander
Locke Partin DeBoer & Commander & Carlson
Robert T. Hall Consumer Litigation Quinn John L. Walker III
Hall Sickels Frei & Associates PC Williams Mullen
Mims PC Lucius F. Ellsworth
Robert D. Seabolt Appalachian School
Jack W. Burtch Jr. Troutman Sanders LLP Jay M. Weinberg
George H. Hettrick Macaulay & Burtch PC. Hirschler Fleischer of Law
Hunton & Williams LLP Edward L. Weiner
Beverly A. Burton Robert J. Grey Jr.
Weiner Rohrstaff & Hunton & Williams
Helivi L. Holland Richmond City Spivey PLC
Department of Attorney’s Office
Juvenile Justice David J. Johnson
Brett Coffee Virginia Indigent
Timothy R. Hughes Computer Systems Defense Commission
Bean Kinney & Center Inc.
Korman PC

2016 Leaders in the Law Virginia Lawyers Media |   Page 21  
Brett A. Callahan
Vanderpool, Frostick & Nishanian PC, Manassas
Callahan is president-elect of
the Prince William Chapter of
the Virginia Women Attorneys
Association, a member of the
Leadership Prince William
Class of 2016 and an active
supporter of a chamber
leadership program for
young professionals.
Looking back:
When I was about six, I went to a birthday
party at a farm. A cluster of kids out in the
field called me over. As I ran over, one of the
other mothers told my mom, “You know why
they called her over, don’t you? They found a
bug they are scared of and they know Brett
won’t be.” Sure enough, a few minutes later
my mom sees me pick up something and the
other kids start squealing.
An important mentor:
Kris Spitler is constantly supporting and
encouraging my professional development
and community involvement. I’m lucky to
have a person who can give true constructive
feedback and who is willing to sit and work
out a problem.
First job:
My first “real job” was tutoring high school
students in a summer school class when
I was a rising high school senior. I learned
that being polite but firm goes a long way in
getting people to follow your lead.
Alyssa Carducci Embree
Williams Mullen, Norfolk
Embree signed on with
Williams Mullen in Norfolk in
2013 and made partner in
two years as her finance and
real estate practice steadily
increased. She is on the
board of the Hampton Roads
chapter of Commercial Real
Estate Women.
Looking back:
Stationed in Germany, my family traveled ex-
tensively in Europe on space-available military
cargo planes. The seats required that we be
strapped into the cargo netting. Cabin service
was a trash bag of granola bars passed
around the plane!
An important mentor:
As a law student, I met a brilliant and talented
partner practicing in Atlanta who had also
attended Tulane Law School. Carolyn men-
tored me through law school, into my first
job at a major law firm in Georgia, through
my transition to Virginia in 2008, and now
as a junior partner. She impacted my career
by influencing my thought process on career
goals, adapting your practice and skill set
to economic realities and the challenges of
focusing on your family through different
career stages.
First job:
My first job was working door to door cookie
sales as a Girl Scout! I remained in Girl Scout-
ing for 11 years and earned my Gold Award
as a junior in high school.
2016 Leaders in the Law Virginia Lawyers Media |   Page 23
Biggest career challenge:
Like 99 percent of my peers, it’s work-life
balance. Cases can be fascinating and all
consuming, but not so great for relaxing and
taking care of yourself.
Blue-sky goal:
I would like to win a case for a client that
improves their fortunes in a fundamental
and meaningful way and maybe has some
precedential value.
Talking to my law-student self:
Don’t study at the library. Those people are
way too stressed out and it is contagious.
Also, don’t try to attack the problem the same
way other people do. Your different perspec-
tive is an asset.
Best tip for balance:
Training the dog to do household chores. Fail-
ing at that, making sure to do things outside
of the office that relax me and make me hap-
py, like seeing friends or getting a massage.
I might have been:
In business. I like negotiating.
Guilty pleasure:
Fresh-squeezed, unpasteurized orange juice.
Lots of sugar, no fiber, really not that much in
the way of vitamins and obscenely expensive.
It is delicious, though.
signs for local attractions, and exploring Education:
Favorite get-away:
natural wonders. BS, Cornell University
Any place without a schedule, a nice breeze,
good food, a soft bed, properly working indoor JD, George Mason University
plumbing and no mosquitos. You didn’t know:
My senior year of high school we took a trip
to NASA and they were building the Inter- So I can legitimately say I have been in the
If I had a free month:
Epic cross-country road trip: Great regional national Space Station. We got to stick our International Space Station. Also, I love folk
food, wandering onto the side roads to follow heads into one of the modules to take a peek. tales from around the world.
Biggest career challenge:
Working through a full cycle of commercial
real estate has been challenging but very
educational. I started practicing prior to the
recession when development was booming.
In the recession, I adapted and focused on
workouts, bankruptcy and finance. The past
few years have been busy again with devel-
opment and leasing.
Blue-sky goal:
I would like to improve laws and policy for
veterans. I grew up in a military family, and
my brother also served in the military. After
he was wounded in combat in Afghanistan,
I became acutely aware of the issues facing
veterans and their families, particularly the
process that combat-wounded veterans en-
dure to receive healthcare and benefits.
Talking to my law-student self:
Evacuate from Hurricane Katrina earlier! The
most valuable measure of your life is in your
relationships. Do not sweat the smaller stuff.
Maintain your sense of humor. And keep
smiling.
Best tip for balance:
It is important to me that I am home for dinner
with my son. As a result, I focus on work after
he goes to bed so that I am able to enjoy time
with him in the early evening.
I might have been: Education:
If I had a free month: BS, Boston College
In politics or meteorology.
I would spend time with my family and friends, JD, Tulane Law School
Guilty pleasure: travel, and visit my brother in Australia.
The Nordstorm Anniversary sale.
You didn’t know: luck: I lost most of my apartment in Hurricane
Favorite get-away: I started my education in a one-room school- Katrina and had a tree fall on our house
New Orleans and New Zealand. house in Texas. Also, I have horrible weather during Tropical Storm Irene.
  
Robert F. Friedman
Harman Claytor Corrigan & Wellman PC, Glen Allen, Richmond
Friedman is on a fast track
developing his expertise in
insurance law, returning to
his alma mater to teach a
course on insurance law just
a few years after graduation
and taking over as chair
of the VADA’s insurance
coverage section.
Looking back:
I grew up in Great Neck, a New York City
suburb. My first word was “blueberry,” but I
didn’t begin talking until I was almost three.
An important mentor:
My late father has had an enormous im-
pact on my career. My dad was a practicing
attorney in New York when he passed away
during my first semester of law school. My
dad didn’t see moral choices as choices at all.
To him, the only dilemma was in determining
what “the right thing to do” was. Once you
figured that out, the decision making was
over – you did the right thing. When I have a
problem, I never have to wonder what my dad
would have done.
First job:
I worked for my now-brother-in-law, Danny,
in the commercial HVAC business. I can’t say
I’ve retained a lot of HVAC repair knowledge,
but I learned a lot about responsibility, hard
work, and drive from watching Danny.
Biggest career challenge:
My firm has always stressed the importance
of practicing the “right way.” Always be pre-
Melanie A. Friend
CowanGates, Richmond
A skilled family law
practitioner, Friend has
served MRWBA as president
and board member; she has
served on boards of the
Rotary Club and the Greater
Richmond Bar Foundation and
been named a Richmond Bar
Association Young Lawyer of
the Year.
Looking back:
I grew up on a beef cattle family farm in
Braxton County, W.Va. My family knew early
on that I would make a pretty terrible farmer. I
was forever trying to sneak away with a book
and hated early mornings. When I was about
12 years old, my uncle tried to teach me to
drive a tractor. I popped the clutch, hit the gas
too hard, and probably gave poor Uncle David
whiplash. I managed to stall the tractor just
in time to save an entire line of new fencing.
I was more useful in the kitchen. Thanks to
Grandma, I bake excellent biscuits.
An important mentor:
Frank Cowan, the founder of my firm, taught
me how to practice law. He emphasized
clear and concise persuasive writing, critical
thinking, and polished presentation. He had a
great respect for the litigation process and all
the people involved in it, and was absolutely
adamant about civility in the practice of law.
First job:
Babysitting my younger cousin, I learned that
parents generally disapprove of feeding tod-
Page 24   |   Virginia Lawyers Media 2016 Leaders in the Law
pared, be courteous and always be profes-
sional. In that context, my biggest challenge
has been to try to follow in the footsteps
of our more experienced lawyers who have
earned that reputation over the course of
decades.
A blue-sky goal:
I recently began teaching as an adjunct
professor at William & Mary Law School, my
alma mater. I love it even more than I thought
I would. I’d like to get more involved at the law
school in any capacity I can.
Talking to my law-student self:
I would tell myself to apply to judicial intern-
ships and externships. I have never seen
things from that perspective. I hope that the
arguments I make in court are taken how I in-
tend, but I’m really just guessing. I wish I could
draw from experience working for a judge.
Best tip for balance:
I try to set big-picture expectations for my
professional life and personal life. I am happy
professionally, but I don’t look to my job to
provide me with capital “H” Happiness. For
me, that comes from home. Keeping that in
mind helps me find a balance.
I might have been:
I think I would have gone into teaching.
Guilty pleasure: Education:
Whenever I’m on a car ride back from a distant If I had a free month: BA, Vanderbilt University
courthouse, and only then, I invariably stop at I would take a long trip with my wife – wher- JD, William & Mary Law School
a gas station to buy pork rinds and Mountain ever she wanted to go.
Dew. I don’t even really like Mountain Dew.
You didn’t know: names. I go by “Rob,” but no one in my family
Favorite get-away: I played the bass in my school orchestra and calls me that. My dad called me “Bob.” My
We go up to Cape Cod, where my wife’s fami- got to play at both Carnegie Hall and Lincoln mom and a sister call me “Robert.” My other
ly is from and where we were married. Center. My whole family calls me by different sister just calls me “Ra.”
dlers Cool Whip at breakfast. In my first “real”
job at a shoe store when I was in high school,
the manager was not happy about being
transferred to our small, rural town. When I
told him I planned to go to law school, he said,
“Good luck with that. This place is like a cult –
no one gets in and no one gets out.” I learned
to ignore obnoxious unwanted opinions.
Biggest career challenge:
I deal with people’s family conflicts, children,
homes, and the things in their lives they value
most, so it can be tough to set that aside at
the end of the day.
A blue-sky goal:
Someday, I’d love to serve as a JDR judge.
Talking to my law-student self:
Keep investing your time and effort in mock
trial. Pay attention to the pointers you get. It
may not be the most realistic trial experience,
but you need to practice thinking on your feet
and under pressure.
Best tip for balance:
For me it isn’t so much a balance as knowing
that at times, one aspect of my life will con-
sume more time. It’s a daily evaluation of who
needs what from me the most, and I’m still on
the learning curve.
I might have been:
I would have been an English professor. Education:
If I had a free month: BA, Thiel College
Guilty pleasure: I would turn off my cell phone and leave it JD, William & Mary Law School
I am a champ at taking long naps. that way.
Favorite get-away: You didn’t know: interpretation. I can recite large chunks of any
I love the mountains – anywhere with good As a history buff, I used to volunteer at May- Mel Brooks movie from the ’70s s through
hiking. mont mansion as a docent, and do costumed the ’90s.
Ryan Glasgow
Hunton & Williams LLP, Richmond
Litigator Ryan Glasgow has
served on the boards of the
Legal Information Network
for Cancer and the Federal
Bar Association, and advised
numerous nonprofits groups.
His law firm has honored him
with the E. Randolph Williams
Pro Bono Award.
Looking back:
I grew up in Union City, a small yet wonderful
town in Northwest Tennessee. My dad and
grandfather were quintessential small-town
lawyers. I have fond memories of toting their
briefcases to and from court and depositions.
An important mentor:
Richmond lawyer J.B. Burtch will always be at
the top of my list, in part because he willingly
serves as a mentor even though he had no
financial or other compelling reason to do so.
Whether the topic relates to work or personal
life, he always tells me what I need to hear,
which is not always what I want to hear.
First job:
In college, I umpired high school, Babe Ruth,
and little league baseball games. I was in my late
teens/early twenties, yet charged with enforcing
the rules of a game played by other kids only
few years younger than I was and coached by
adults twice my age. I learned that preparation
(i.e., knowledge of the rules) and a no-nonsense,
take-charge attitude can overcome perceived
youth or inexperience. I also learned that you
cannot please everyone all the time.
Biggest career challenge:
The constant tug-of-war between my desire
to be a great lawyer and my even greater
desire to be a great husband and father. I’m
slowly learning that they are not mutually
exclusive interests and that taking the time
to focus on the latter makes me better at the
former.
Blue-sky goal:
I’ve always thought it would be fun to argue a
case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Talking to my law-student self:
Be yourself. It is important that you practice
in a way that best fits your personality, style,
and skills.
Best tip for balance:
There is no such thing as “work-life balance.”
Sometimes your professional life needs to
trump your personal life. On other occasions,
your personal life must trump your profes-
sional life. The key is to surround yourself
with colleagues and clients who appreciate
this reality and who are understanding and
downright encouraging on those occasions
where you decide that personal life takes
precedent.
Favorite get-away: Education:
I might have been: Tie between Paris and Bald Head Island.
BA, University of Tennessee-Knoxville
In medicine or coaching sports.
JD, Washington & Lee School of Law
If I had a free month:
Guilty pleasure: Play golf in the morning; work in the yard in
I’ve been known to play a round of golf or the afternoon; and cook dinner for my family You didn’t know:
two. in the evening. Repeat 30 days in a row. I play a mean trumpet. I’ve never met a Jeffrey
Toobin book I didn’t like.

CONGRATULATIONS

ROBERT F. FRIEDMAN
2016 UP & COMING LAWYERS RECIPIENT

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2016 Leaders in the Law Virginia Lawyers Media |   Page 25  
Colleen M. Haddow
Colten Watson Vincent Law Group PC, Fairfax
Haddow, who has been active
in five different bar groups
in Northern Virginia, has
twice co-chaired the Color of
Justice program for minority
high school students and
won volunteer awards for
her work conciliating pro se
litigant disputes and for fund-
raising for United Community
Ministries.
Looking back:
I grew up in Fairfax Station. Growing up, we
(my parents and three older sisters) would
play board games as a family. We are very
competitive and Monopoly is our favorite
game. We can still play a game of Monopoly
as a family in about 45 minutes because
most of us have the entire game, including
rents and purchase prices, memorized. If you
can survive a game of Monopoly with us, then
you are an honorary family member.
First job:
I was a page in the United States Senate
over the summer. I learned so much from
the experience, but really took away that it is
important to treat everyone with dignity and
respect.
Biggest career challenge:
Realizing that while I want to win every case,
it is the losses that make me learn and be-
come a better lawyer in the long run.
Lisa J. Hedrick
Hirschler Fleischer PC, Richmond
Hedrick was the Richmond
Bar Association’s “Young
Lawyer of the Year” for
2016. A woman in the male-
dominated field of mergers
and acquisitions, she made
partner a year ahead of the
general schedule.
Looking back:
My dad joined the Navy when I was a kid, so
I lived in Iowa, Maine, North Carolina, Hawaii
and Massachusetts before moving to Virginia
for college.
An important mentor:
Andrew Lohmann was assigned as
my supervisor when I joined Hirschler
Fleischer, but quickly became my mentor,
sponsor and advocate.
First job:
In addition to babysitting and a paper route,
my first official job was working at an on-base
movie theater in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
One important lesson I learned from this
experience was that a good attitude can go
a long way. Working at the theater wasn’t
always easy or fun, but our staff had a good
time. It was hard to be in a bad mood when
surrounded by positive people.
Biggest career challenge:
Being patient with myself. Remembering
to enjoy where I am in my career and not
fixating on what comes next. I often walk
away from interactions with more seasoned
lawyers wondering, “How do I get to be that
Page 26   |   Virginia Lawyers Media 2016 Leaders in the Law
Blue-sky goal:
Being a Juvenile and Domestic Relations
Court Judge would be an amazing way to
give back to my community.
Talking to my law-student self:
Stop stressing; save it for the bar exam. Also,
pay more attention in Evidence!
Best tip for balance:
Being in the moment you are in, without
distraction, is vital. If I am at work, I am at
work and focused. If I am at home, my focus
is on my husband and daughter. My husband
is also an attorney with a busy practice and
we make it a priority to be supportive of each
other and ensure the number one focus is our
daughter. Also, I work out nearly every morn-
ing at Xtend Barre in Old Town Alexandria.
I might have been:
I likely would have pursued a career in human
rights with a focus on helping liberate the
people of North Korea from the treacherous
dictatorship they currently endure.
Guilty pleasure:
I absolutely love football, both college (Go
Cougars and Hokies!) and NFL (Go Steel-
ers!) We try to make it to a few games each
year and in the fall, you can find my husband,
daughter, and me watching football. There
is a lot of pride in our house that our toddler could go with my family and attend as many Education:
also loves football.
different events as possible. BA, Brigham Young University
Favorite get-away: JD, George Mason University
Negril, Jamaica. You didn’t know:
I was a nationally competitive synchronized
at 4:30 a.m. in college. I loved getting up early
If I had a free month: swimmer growing up and my favorite job
I would schedule it during the Olympics so I before becoming a lawyer was being a janitor and seeing direct results from my work.
smart/experienced/insightful?” Being patient
and continuing to work hard, I realize I have
an opportunity to be as skilled as those who
inspire me.
Blue-sky goal:
In addition to being a good lawyer, I strive to
be a good leader. Early in my career, Hirschler
Fleischer challenged me with opportunities
to lead. Continuing to build on those leader-
ship and mentoring skills satisfies my goal
of helping others – and my goal of contrib-
uting to the firm to as a successful business
enterprise.
Talking to my law-student self:
Develop a hobby. In graduate school, I was
hyper-focused on law school activities. When
I graduated, I realized that outside of law
school, I had not maintained or developed any
hobbies or external interests.
Best tip for balance:
I think the term “balance” suggests that one’s
personal and professional lives must always
be equal. In my experience, there are times
when work is a priority and then times when
personal commitments are a priority. Learning
that it is “OK” to leave work during slower
periods has helped me achieve satisfaction in
both arenas.
I might have been:
As an undergrad, I considered a double major
Favorite get-away: Education:
in math. Though I’m not exactly sure what San Francisco, California.
career I would have pursued, it would likely BA, College of William & Mary
have involved numbers. JD, Washington & Lee School of Law
If I had a free month:
I would travel to Europe or South America.
Guilty pleasure:
Bowl Parade. I have rung in the New Year on
Swedish Fish You didn’t know:
three different continents – North America,
I was a member of the Pearl City High School Asia and Europe.
marching band that led off the 1996 Rose
Patice L. Holland
Woods Rogers PLC, Roanoke
Holland, an employment
and intellectual property
litigator, was the Roanoke Bar
Association’s “Young Lawyer
of the Year” for 2016. In late
2015, she became the first
African-American female
partner with Woods Rogers in
Roanoke.
Looking back:
I grew up in Franklin County, Va. My most
memorable childhood recollection was pack-
ing my bags and visiting with my grandmother
and having daily chats over milk (with a taste
of coffee). My grandmother was my best
friend and we always had the best discus-
sions about life, current events and love. She
passed away in February 2014 and a piece
of me died with her. However, I will always
have my special memories of her and our
time together forever in my heart.
An important mentor:
My real property law professor at Stetson Uni-
versity College of Law, Cynthia Hawkins-Leon.
We still keep in touch and she continues to be
one of my biggest cheerleaders.
First job:
My first job was Movie Starz Video. I learned
early on in life that I could find a job which
I was passionate about. I loved movies and
when thinking about my first job, I tried to
think of a job which was fulfilling, fun and
one about which I could be passionate! Now,
my goal – as I practice law – is to always
Macel Hubbard Janoschka
Frith, Anderson & Peake PC, Roanoke
Specializing in areas such
as nursing home litigation,
workers’ compensation
and automobile litigation,
Janoschka has been heavily
involved with the Virginia
State Bar and locally in
Roanoke, particularly with
the VSB Young Lawyers
Conference and the Roanoke
Junior League.
Looking back:
I grew up in Wise. I was fortunate to grow up
within walking distance from my grandma
and we were always at her house. Many of
my childhood memories relate to spending
time with extended family at her house. As a
result of that close relationship, family is very
important to me.
An important mentor:
I’ve worked closely with attorney Katherine
Londos since coming to FA&P five years
ago. Because of her example I’ve learned so
much about professionalism and being a true
advocate for your client.
First job:
My first job was working at McDonald’s the
summer before my junior year of high school.
I learned that I liked earning money and that I
really enjoyed McDonald’s caramel sundaes!
Biggest career challenge:
Realizing that as a civil defense attorney I will
2016 Leaders in the Law Virginia Lawyers Media |   Page 27
love what I do and always be passionate and
represent my clients zealously.
Biggest career challenge:
My biggest career challenge has been
developing a sustainable book of business. It
is difficult to balance marketing/developing
new business with my responsibility to obtain
the required amount of billable hours and
compensation necessary as a new principal
attorney at my firm.
Blue-sky goal:
I would love to work as a legal correspondent
on a national and/or cable television network.
Talking to my law-student self:
I would tell my law school-self to “stop worry-
ing! You know much more than you think you
do! Take time to enjoy the journey.”
Best tip for balance:
My best tip for maintaining a balance be-
tween my professional life and personal life
is staying grounded in my faith life (church)
and having people in my life who force me to
obtain a balance. My family and close friends
challenge me to find a balance and, so far, I
have been able to do so.
I might have been:
If I had not become a lawyer, I would have
pursued a career in the entertainment
industry. Education:
If I had a free month: BA, George Mason University
Guilty pleasure: I would travel the world. I would relax, shop, JD, Stetson University College of Law
Watching Wendy Williams’ talk show and drink and eat what I wanted and experience
reality television. new cultures and adventures.
Pageant and I auditioned for three television
Favorite get-away: You didn’t know: shows (American Idol, Jeopardy! and Wheel
Cancun, Mexico. I was a Top 10 Finalist in the Miss Virginia of Fortune).
not always be representing the most likeable
person in the courtroom or be representing
the popular cause.
Blue-sky goal:
I’d like to be able to look back at my career
and be able to say that what I did was not a
waste of time, but was time well-spent.
Talking to my law-student self:
Blonde highlights don’t work for you!
Best tip for balance:
I don’t know that I can honestly say my pro-
fessional life and personal life is “balanced.”
However, it’s easier to balance your work and
personal life when your firm and family sup-
port your endeavors. I’m fortunate to be part
of a firm that has wholeheartedly supported
my community involvement. I’m also lucky to
have a husband who is willing to split house-
hold/childcare duties with me.
I might have been:
I’d be doing something with children, probably
as a guidance counselor or social worker.
Guilty pleasure:
Cherry Coke and peanut butter M&M’s. This
combination is my after-trial treat to myself!
Favorite get-away:
Hatteras Island, North Carolina
bles tennis partners throughout high school, Education:
If I had a free month:
and we actually held the VHSL record for best BA, University of Virginia
Travel! Despite lots of tempting offers from
win percentage (98 percent) in girls doubles JD, University of Virginia
my sister-in-law who is fluent in Spanish and
Italian, I keep putting off traveling to Europe for a couple of years after graduating.
with her. That needs to change!
This is embarrassing, but my backyard was a contest for a backyard makeover. The winner
You didn’t know: voted the “Ugliest Yard in the Roanoke Valley” was based on online voting and my friends
I have a twin sister, Mary. She and I were dou- several years ago. The local paper sponsored came through for us and my backyard prevailed!
  
Laura Golden Liff
Miles & Stockbridge PC, Tysons Corner
A Fairfax native, Liff has
worked around her backyard
the last six years, joining Miles
& Stockbridge in January.
Liff is a strong advocate for
pro bono work and remains
involved with the Virginia
State Bar Young Lawyers
Conference.
Looking back:
I grew up in Vienna and Oak Hill in Fairfax
County. I have enjoyed being the leader of
the pack dating back to the age of three. At
my first ballet recital, my instructor made me
the line leader and put me center stage so
my fellow ballerinas could find their marks by
following my lead.
An important mentor:
My former boss at the law firm where I
worked for my first five years of practice
offered guidance. Under his tutelage, my
litigation style evolved from intellectual law
review analyst into zealous legal advocate.
First job:
My mother is a psychotherapist and was in
private practice with a psychiatrist and psy-
chologist in Alexandria for several decades.
During summer vacation and school breaks
in high school, I assisted with the billing
and administration for the practice. Patient
appointments began as early as 7 a.m. and
were scheduled as late as 7 p.m. I learned the
importance of hard work and how sometimes
you have to work long hours to run a suc-
cessful practice.
D. Bradley Marshall
Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney,
Prince William County
Marshall has been on the
prosecutorial side of the
courtroom the last nine years
in Prince William County. He’s
actively involved in the local
community, mentoring at-risk
youth and speaking to high
school students. Marshall is
also president-elect of the
Prince William County Bar
Assocaition.
Looking back:
I was born in Norfolk, raised in Chesapeake
until elementary school, then moved to
Nokesville. I am a “mirror image” identical
twin, so we used to switch places in classes
or fool friends into thinking we were the oth-
er. Only one teacher found a way to tell who
was who: Because we were mirror image,
one of us was right-handed and the other
left-handed.
An important mentor:
The most important mentor in my life has
been Paul Ebert. His breadth of experience
and wisdom is legendary. I am one of many
who would call him the most important
influence in our professional careers. He
goes above and beyond the role of a boss to
almost act as a father figure.
First job:
My job between college and law school was
Page 28   |   Virginia Lawyers Media 2016 Leaders in the Law
Biggest career challenge:
Managing work-life balance! It is very difficult
as a litigator to maintain balance, but I have
made some strides over the years.
Blue-sky goal:
I was just admitted to the bar for the Su-
preme Court of the United States. I would
love to make an appellate argument before
the highest court in our country.
Talking to my law-student self:
Focus more on the big picture and don’t
sweat the small stuff. I find myself doing that
more now and wish I had that perspective
dating back to my law school days.
Best tip for balance:
Sometimes late nights in the office are inev-
itable during preparation for complex, multi-
week trials or drafting capacious cross-mo-
tions for summary judgment in federal court.
During those times, set expectations for your
family and friends that you are unavailable,
but when you come up for air, make sure to
schedule plenty of time with your loved ones
and prioritize your personal life. The outcome
may not lead to balance every month, but it
will lead to a balanced year.
I might have been:
Interior designer. I have been obsessed
with design ever since my husband and I
purchased our first home. I love creating Virgin Islands, Jamaica, St. Croix – anywhere Education:
beautiful, unique and functional spaces and in the Caribbean. I love the sun, sand, perfect BA, College of William & Mary
greatly enjoy using the creative side of my turquoise water, relaxed and fun atmosphere, JD, Catholic University of America
personality. and how quick and easy it is to get there from
the East Coast.
Guilty pleasure:
Dark chocolate, a glass of bold red wine, and If I had a free month: You didn’t know:
mindless reality TV shows on Bravo. At most times in my life I would say travel, but I taught hip-hop dance as a group fitness
we are expecting our first child and I would instructor at William & Mary. I showed grand
Favorite get-away: probably want to do everything possible to champion Holland Lop bunnies in 4-H fairs
St. Lucia, St. Thomas, St. John, the British get ready for the baby! as a child.
as a project assistant at a relatively large
law firm. Some lawyers wouldn’t even make
eye contact or speak to project assistants. It
taught me to respect everyone I work with, no
matter their title or job, from janitor to senior
partner, and to never again have a job where I
watch the clock waiting to leave.
Biggest career challenge:
Overcoming personal adversity and eventually
allowing it to make me better at my job.
Blue-sky goal:
Reforming how the criminal justice system
treats the mentally ill.
Talking to my law-student self:
Study areas I may never practice, to maintain
the academic curiosity and philosophical
mindset I had after college, and not to let
the practice of law make me cynical about
people.
Best tip for balance:
It’s cliché, but if your work is your passion,
you never feel like you are working. It’s
also important to get involved in civic and
professional activities that are meaningful
and fulfilling. Also, take at least one three-day
weekend per month!
I might have been:
Architect!
Education:
Guilty pleasure: If I had a free month: BA, University of Virginia
Great cigars and even better bourbon. Drive cross-country and talk to every single JD, Michigan State University
person who will listen to me!
Favorite get-away:
Smith Mountain Lake – the best combination You didn’t know: And I refuse to eat chicken and eggs together!
of lake life and mountain life. I am both the life of the party and a recluse.
Edward A. Mullen
Reed Smith LLP, Richmond

Known as one of the top new is earned by delivering weekly newspapers in

attorneys in administrative
and regulatory law, Mullen
makes himself available
beyond Reed Smith. He’s
devoted pro bono time to
the Pamunkey Indian tribe
along with being an adjunct
professor at the University of
Virginia School of Law.
Looking back:
I grew up in Old Town Alexandria. I recall ne-
gotiating with my parents for the right to ride
my bike by myself anywhere between Jones
Point and King Street so long as I was home
by dark. It was a big moment for freedom.
An important mentor:
Senator Mark Warner, my first real boss, and
Bill Thomas, my partner at Reed Smith, have
both had profound and continuing impacts
on my career. From Senator Warner I learned
post-collegiate discipline, attention to detail,
a sense of urgency, and the importance of
service. From Mr. Thomas, I learned (and con-
tinue to learn) how to balance a successful
law practice with a healthy personal life, cre-
ativity in legal solutions, and the importance
of zealous persistence and perseverance.
First job:
Delivering the Alexandria Port Packet in the
southeast quadrant of Old Town. I learned the
importance of being on time, how little money
a confined neighborhood, and which houses
had dogs.
Biggest career challenge:
Sustaining and expanding an established
law practice and working to pass a reason-
ably-groundbreaking new regulatory frame-
work for transportation network companies
(app based ride-sharing services).
Blue-sky goal:
To maintain a best in market law practice
while engaging in a leadership role in my
community, sustaining a strong and vibrant
marriage, and raising well-adjusted, happy,
and successful children.
Talking to my law-student self:
Relax, it will be fine.
Best tip for balance:
Engage in multiple hobbies, embrace slower
times in the practice when they come, and go
home.
I might have been:
In politics, academia, or recreational fishing.
Guilty pleasure:
Duck hunting and hipster coffee shops.
You didn’t know: Education:
Favorite get-away: I am an avid fan of the Grateful Dead and at-
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. BA, University of Virginia
tended a number of shows before the original JD, University of Virginia
group disbanded in 1995. My “bachelor party”
If I had a free month: prior to marriage involved a small-craft bor-
Sail the Northwest Passage. der-to-border circumnavigation of the Virginia what proved to be fairly elusive tarpon.
portion of the Eastern Shore in search of

Congratulations
to Melanie Friend for
being named one of the
“Up & Coming Lawyers”
The Law Firm of Vanderpool, Frostick &
of 2016.
Nishanian, P.C. Wishes to Congratulate

Kristina Keech Spitler

for being named one of Virginia’s
Since 1977, the lawyers of CowanGates have held
“Leaders In The Law” themselves to the highest of standards: excellence.
by Virginia Lawyers Weekly That’s because our clients deserve representatives who
break away from a “cookie-cutter” approach to law.
and
Melanie Friend, who joined CowanGates as a family law
Brett A. Callahan attorney in 2007, is a shining example of our dedication
for being named one of Virgina’s to excellence. We want to sincerely congratulate
Melanie for this great achievement and say thanks
“Up and Coming Lawyers” for her decade of exemplary service. For cases that
by Virginia Lawyers Weekly require real skill, knowledge and a personal touch, the
attorneys at CowanGates are here to help.

Business & Corporate Law | Civil Litigation | Mediation

& Arbitration |Employment Law |Government Contracts
Intellectual Property | Land Use, Zoning & Development
Municipal Law & Departments of Social Services
Real Estate & Lending | Tax & Estate Planning CowanGates | 1930 Huguenot Road | Richmond, VA 23235
804-320-9100 | 800-948-7160 | CowanGates.com
www.vfnlaw.com | 703-369-4738

2016 Leaders in the Law Virginia Lawyers Media |   Page 29  
Dipti Pidikiti-Smith
Legal Services of Northern Virginia, Washington DC
A community-focused
attorney at Legal Services
of Northern Virginia, Pidikiti-
Smith specializes in working
with low-income, disabled
and elderly Virginians who
wouldn’t otherwise be
able to afford adequate
representation in civil
matters. She chairs the LSNV
Housing/Consumer Practice
Group.
Looking back:
I spent my childhood in India, Nigeria, and
Upper Darby, Pa. I grew up in warm weather
climates until I came to the United States.
When my family was driving back from New
York, I saw my first snowfall. I thought the
snow looked somewhat like salt. When we
arrived home, I jumped out of the car and
enjoyed walking on it. I remember thinking it’s
so soft! I took some snow off a tree and ate it.
It did not taste like salt!
An important mentor:
Judge Russell Canan, District of Columbia
Superior Court. My judicial clerkship with
Judge Canan was an amazing experience
and some of my fondest memories of my
legal career occurred during my clerkship.
Judge Canan was (and still is) an excellent
teacher who shared his knowledge and
expertise. He showed me the importance of
being a good listener, the value of patience,
and the need to maintain a work-life balance.
Jeremy S. Williams
Kutak Rock LLP, Richmond
Recently named a partner
at Kutak Rock, Williams has
embraced his roles within
the Virginia State Bar and
Richmond Bar Association
to make an impact within the
VSB’s Young Lawyers Division
and the Richmond Bar
Association Young Lawyers
Section, which he serves as
chair-elect.
Looking back:
Growing up, I had some friends who would
often invite us over to their house to go sled-
ding, swim in the pool or otherwise engage
in social time. Over time, I learned that these
invitations came with a price, usually in the
form of plowing/planting the field, pulling
weeds in the garden or otherwise performing
some chore.
An important mentor:
Two brothers took turns serving as youth
pastors at my church. They reinforced the
concept of work before play, the importance
of always being social and welcoming, and
to treat everyone like family. Today I try to
employ these same concepts in my client
development, with opposing counsel and all
those with whom I interact.
First job:
Working at Staples at the age of 16, I
learned that you will encounter all types
of employees and all types of customers.
Some employees will work hard, be honest
and strive to be the best employee they
can be. Others will do the bare minimum.
Page 30   |   Virginia Lawyers Media 2016 Leaders in the Law
First job:
I was a volunteer at the Philadelphia Zoo.
I had a number of tasks including assisting
with presentations at the Children’s Zoo and
cleaning the cages for the birds of prey. I
learned about effective communication, team
work, and animal behavior.
Biggest career challenge:
Every day at work, my office assists low-in-
come, elderly, and disabled individuals. Our
clients came to our office during times of cri-
sis in their lives. It is extremely frustrating to
know legal aids do not have enough funding
and resources to assist fully. Often times, we
are providing a temporary band- aid.
Blue-sky goal:
In the pursuit of access to justice, I would like to
implement “Civil Gideon” in Virginia. Civil Gideon
refers to a movement that advocates the right
to counsel in civil cases such as housing and
custody for the indigent. Often times a criminal
conviction can impact civil interests, housing,
employment, and public benefits.
Talking to my law-student self:
I would tell myself to study abroad.
Best tip for balance:
Make it a priority and step away from your
laptop/computer/phone. On most weekdays,
I try not to use email between 7 p.m. and 7
a.m., and I spend time with my family or enjoy
a hobby or participate in community activities. Education:
Favorite get-away: BS, Temple University
I enjoy visiting my childhood home in Hyder- JD, University of the District of Columbia
I might have been: abad, India.
I would have pursued a policy career in global
health. If I had a free month: our planet.
Travel! I enjoy gaining new experiences, learn-
Guilty pleasure: ing about different cultures, listening to new You didn’t know:
I enjoy watching Project Runway. It inspired languages, eating cuisines from around the I’ve been skydiving, and I love Mel Brooks
me to get a sewing machine and for my first world and experiencing nature and wildlife on movies.
project, I made three pairs of curtains.
Biggest career challenge:
Asking for help ... at the right time. As an
associate, you frequently crave autonomy
to run your own cases and make your own
decisions. As a partner, you often believe
that you should always be capable of making
the difficult decisions. The tough part for me
has been figuring out when I should ask for
help and consult with my partners and when
I should buckle down and have confidence in
myself and the strategy I employ.
Blue-sky goal:
I want to be a leader within my firm and a
leader within the community. To achieve both
of these would be the culmination of what I
have worked so hard for and what I continue
to work hard for.
Talking to my law-student self:
Diversify your networking. Often time stu-
dents are driven by the money and lifestyle
they think a big firm offers. Much of my time
was spent seeking only those opportunities.
Many friends, however, have achieved great
things by taking other avenues. Not only that,
these avenues often lead to professional
relationships, clients and friends.
Best tip for balance:
When possible, leave the work at work. I
work long days, but when I leave, I focus on
spending time with my wife, my friends and Guilty pleasure:
my dog. If you are constantly checking your Education:
A hot dog from my favorite spot in Richmond BA, University of Virginia
phone, those in your personal life will always – City Dogs.
be competing for your attention. JD, George Mason University
Favorite get-away:
I might have been: Anywhere foreign. My wife and I love traveling You didn’t know:
In politics. and spending the days roaming the streets of I worked almost full-time in college to pay my
a foreign city. tuition. At the time, I was the youngest person
certified to authenticate Sunbeam Tigers
If I had a free month: (car) in the U.S.
Travel.
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Meet our mediators and arbitrators who are trusted

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 he attorneys and staff
of Barnes and Diehl proudly
congratulate Brian Jones and
Melissa VanZile for being selected
as Leaders in the Law for 2016.

Brian and Melissa join Barnes & Diehl’s previous honorees Ed Barnes, Larry Diehl,
and Michael HuYoung as recipients of the Leaders in the Law award.

Barnes Diehl HuYoung

Barnes & Diehl, p.c.

Richmond/Chesterfield Office: Henrico Office: Hanover Office:
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