Powhatan Business Lawyers

I am a tenacious Roanoke lawyer who puts my clients' interests first. As a general practice attorney, I have extensive experience in many different areas of the law, including: business formation and corporate governance, general civil litigation, family law (divorce, support and custody), plaintiff's personal injury, GAO protests and federal procurement law, bankruptcy (Chapters 7 and 13), construction litigation, civil rights and s. 1983 cases, protective orders, and alternative dispute resolution. This broad experience allows me to bring a different perspective to bear in my practice. I have won jury and bench trials in Virginia, and have been victorious...

Jason Gallagher graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology in 2006. He continued his education at the Appalachian School of Law graduating with a Juris Doctor degree in 2011. After graduation, Jason was admitted to practice law in Virginia and joined a regional law firm where he maintained a diverse practice representing individuals and businesses in complex civil and criminal litigation in state and federal courts throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. In 2023, he founded the Gallagher Law Firm, PLLC, a client-focused practice dedicated to providing efficient, cost-effective and comprehensive solutions for clients facing...

Wren M. Williams is the President of Schneider & Williams, P.C. He graduated from Patrick County High School and went on to attend Hampden-Sydney College as a Patrick Henry Scholar. There, Williams was active in student government, president of his fraternity, and received the Cohen Citizenship Award from the Lambda Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa. Williams graduated cum laude from Hampden-Sydney College, earning a BA in English with minors in both Rhetoric and Creative Writing. Following graduation, Williams attended Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law for its outstanding trial advocacy program. During his time at Cumberland, Williams served...

Brian T. Mack, a Blacksburg resident, received his undergraduate degree in Management from Georgia Southern (2009, cum laude, Golden Keys International Member) and law degree from Washington & Lee University (2015). Before forming his own law firm, Brian worked at The Shaheen Firm, P.C., in Blacksburg, Virginia where he handled real estate closings. Brian is certified under Virginia law to conduct real estate settlements and is a member of the Montgomery/Radford Bar Association.

I am a Virginia and West Virginia attorney focused exclusively on commercial matters—both litigation and transactional. My practice centers on enforcing contracts, recovering commercial debts, and defending businesses in civil disputes involving breach of contract, detinue, personal guarantees, or business torts. I represent banks, insurers, lessors, manufacturers, service providers, and closely held businesses. From pre-suit collections and settlement negotiations to obtaining judgments and post-judgment enforcement, I help clients pursue and protect their business interests in court. I regularly handle matters in General District and Circuit Courts across Virginia and West Virginia, with experience in both high-value enforcement and contested litigation. In addition...

Seddiq Law Firm (SLF) knows what’s involved with real estate transaction whether you are buying, selling, investing, flipping, financing, or refinancing a residential or commercial property. SLF will advice and counsel you on the best structure and form of a company, and guide you in protecting your assets and securing your and your family's financial future with an estate planning.

Evan joined Bean, Kinney & Korman, P.C. in 2024. Since 2013, Evan has worked as outside corporate counsel for entities ranging from small tech startups to large multinational trade groups and corporations. For his corporate clients, his representation includes: contract preparation, negotiation and review; mergers, acquisitions and sales; governance oversight; regulatory compliance; intellectual property licensing; and non-litigation employment law matters, among others. Evan received his J.D. from the George Washington University Law School (2013). While in law school, he was a legal extern for the Department of Labor's Civil Rights Center, the U.S. Marshals Service's Office of General Counsel, the Maryland...

Ralph P. Albrecht is a US Registered Patent Attorney, an intellectual property (IP) lawyer specializing in patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, and related business transactions, licensing, contracts, and enforcement and litigation. Ralph works in northern Virginia and has offices in Reston, VA, and works with clients from Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, Fauquier, Montgomery counties, as well as throughout the DMV, Washington, DC metropolitan area from Baltimore, MD, to Roanoke, VA, to Washington, DC. A former Am-Law 100 law firm Practice Group Leader, Ralph is experienced in management and leading lawyers and legal practices, as well as practicing in all areas...

I help employees with important career choices. I guide them through employment offers as well as separation agreements and releases, non-competes, non-solicitations, and other restrictive covenants. If you are transitioning employment, I work with you to protect your rights and your future.

I also help entrepreneurs start, grow, and protect their businesses. Forming a company begins long before filing paperwork with a state agency. Owners need to understand their initial operations, and have a plan for growth. I guide business clients through that critical process.

I advise on entity type and draft organic documents, such as operating agreements, shareholder agreements, and bylaws....

The Higgs Law Firm provides legal assistance to businesses and individuals throughout Virginia and nationwide in: Administrative Law; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Banking; Mortgages and Equity Financing; Bankruptcy (Creditors only); Business & Commercial Law; Civil Litigation; Corporations, Partnerships, L.C.C.s and other Entities; Creditors' Rights and Commercial Collections; Foreclosures; Lease Enforcement; Litigation; Real Estate; and Wills, Trusts and Estates. Bankruptcy practice limited to representing creditors. *The American Board of Certification is accredited by the American Bar Association to certify lawyers in the areas of bankruptcy law and creditors' right law. There is no procedure in the Commonwealth of Virginia for approving certifying...

Chris is a seasoned business attorney and litigator with experience helping businesses in both private practice and as a Corporate Counsel to a large franchisor with over 4,000 franchisees internationally.
Chris has handled commercial disputes for clients in state and federal courts around the country in matters ranging from basic contract disputes to multi-million dollar “bet the company” lawsuits. Prior to becoming an attorney, he was the C.I.O. for an Internet Service Provider in Buffalo, NY.
Chris teaches as a adjunct professor at Regent University.
Chris was named a 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 ‘Rising Star’ by Super Lawyers magazine, a distinction received...

My passion is helping individuals, families, and business owners achieve peace of mind by developing and implementing creative, customized, and yet cost effective plans. As part of my goal oriented estate planning process, I first seek to understand your goals and needs. My advice focuses on how your estate planning documents advance your goals. I use plain English and easy to understand visual aids, so you know what you need to do in order ensure that your plan works the way you intend. My personal mission is to make estate planning as accessible, efficient and streamlined as possible...

Ryan M. Schmalzle is a principal and founder of the firm. His practice focuses on family law, civil litigation, and criminal law. Ryan regularly practices in several jurisdictions in Northern Virginia including Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Clarke County, Frederick County and the City of Winchester. He also practices in the Maryland Courts, including Frederick County and Montgomery County. Ryan is an adjunct professor of law at George Mason University School of Law where he teaches appellate writing. Ryan also serves as a Special Justice in Loudoun County and he presides over civil commitment hearings. Although Ryan’s primary love...

Jake is an associate attorney at Gentry Locke, one of Virginia's oldest and largest law firms. His practice focuses on intellectual property, technology law, media/entertainment, mergers & acquisitions, and other commercial transactions. Jake has extensive experience with all aspects of intellectual property, technology-based contracting, IP licensing deals, and other related commercial transactions. He has also litigated intellectual property cases in various federal courts across the country and has registered countless trademarks and copyrights. Jake's scholarship has been published by the peer-reviewed American Intellectual Property Law Association Quarterly Journal, the Trademark Lawyer Magazine, and the Liberty University Law Review, where he...

Matthew Weinberg goes the extra mile for every client to help them achieve their optimal case outcome. He fights hard to maximize the payouts from insurance companies to get clients real money.

Admitted to practice law in Virginia in 1998, Mel brings a wealth of litigation experience to clients that includes practice as a prosecutor and working for insurance companies defending lawsuits, to include defending government officials charged with misconduct and violations of civil rights. Now he represents persons and small businesses in litigation arising out of serious personal injury, employment disputes, and employment and administrative/governmental grievances, such as professional discipline. Mel received his Bachelor of Science degree, magna cum laude, from Bridgewater College of Virginia in 1995, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Philosophy/Religion. In 1998,...

Ms. Fine has practiced law for 35 years, the last 28 in Virginia. Her business law experience started immediately after graduating from Boston College Law School in 1982 when she worked at a 50-attorney Boston law firm. In 1989 she joined the Costello Dickenson firm in Winchester, Virginia, and in 1990 opened her own firm.

Ms. Fine has extensive practice drafting business contracts, including buy-sell agreements, employment agreements and non-competition agreements, and, balancing that experience, she reviews and litigates contracts drafted by other attorneys.

Her Wills, Trusts and Estates practice involves planning, drafting estate documents and probate litigation.

Her equine practice is an...

Brook M. Thibault is a Virginia Beach trial lawyer, former Associate Counsel for CMA CGM (America) LLC the world's third largest container ship company, and Public Defender. As Associate Counsel for CMA CGM, Brook shared in the corporate legal responsibilities associated with the company as subsidiary and agent for CMA CGM S.A. a French Domestic Society Anonym; including complex commercial real estate transactions, transportation and maritime law, and international asset search and collection. As Assistant Public Defender, Brook has represented hundreds of accused individuals in matters ranging from minor traffic infractions to serious violent crimes. Brook is a...

David was born and raised in the Roanoke Valley; the son of a Registered Nurse and a Roanoke City Police Officer, he spent his childhood in Salem and attended Glenvar High School. After graduating, he went on to attend Virginia Tech where he received degrees in both Finance and Accounting. After graduation, David worked as an accountant in both the public and private sectors, but decided the law was his true calling. He went on to attend Washington & Lee University School of Law, where he graduated with honors at the top of his class in 2010. David began his...

Jeffrey Rhodes is an accomplished civil litigator, and a leading business and employment lawyer. In his many years of practice, Mr. Rhodes has litigated in courts around the country. Mr. Rhodes advises companies and executives, representing them in structuring, drafting, and defending their corporate transactions to help accomplish their business goals. Mr. Rhodes has effectively defended multi-million dollar claims and has also has obtained a multi-million dollar verdict on the plaintiff's side. He has litigated matters in all areas of civil, commercial and employment law, including: •contract disputes; •enforcement and defense...

Ryan A. Brown was born in Kansas City and raised in California. His first job in the computer industry began at the age of eleven, building and repairing personal computers for a local store in Santa Barbara, California. In 1993 he began a computer and Internet consulting firm and started the first Internet Service Provider (ISP) in Santa Barbara. Ryan went on to attend Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, where he received a BS in Computer Science with departmental and school honors and a BA in Spanish in 2000. Ryan is a member of Tau Beta Pi, Upsilon Pi Epsilon...

LeeAnne was born and raised in Williamsburg, Virginia. She attended Virginia Tech, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and a minor in Psychology. LeeAnne is also a member of Phi Beta Kappa honor society. After undergrad, LeeAnne returned to her hometown to attend William & Mary Law School. During law school, she was an Articles Editor for the Business Law Review and a member of the Moot Court team. LeeAnne began her legal career as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable T.J. Hauler, Chief Judge of the Chesterfield Circuit Court. Following her clerkship, she...

C. Douglas Welty, a full-time trusts & estates attorney, is certified as an Estate Planning Law Specialist by the Estate Law Specialist Board, an autonomous body accredited by the American Bar Association and affiliated with the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils. He was the first estate planning attorney in Northern Virginia to earn such certification.

Doug Welty also holds the multidisciplinary Accredited Estate Planner (AEP) designation, which is conferred by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils upon both estate planning attorneys and highly experienced non-attorney estate planning professionals (such as certified public accountants, financial planners, insurance specialists,...

James leads the Litigation Division of Croessmann & Westberg. He is a trial and appellate litigator handling a wide variety of civil cases in the state and federal courts of Virginia, D.C., and Maryland, ranging from contract disputes to real property claims, construction matters, and collections. At previous firms he litigated cases involving medical and legal malpractice, personal injury, insurance defense, and other areas of law. He has also successfully arbitrated and mediated numerous civil matters. James is also a longtime member of the Fairfax Bar Association’s Circuit Court and CLE Committees. He has organized and moderated dozens of continuing legal...

Mr. Lipskis is an Estate and Elder Law attorney. He is licensed to practice in all Virginia Courts, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. His practice includes all facets of trusts, estate planning, estate administration, and elder law. Whether it be helping a young couple take appropriate steps for their children or protecting family wealth from potential creditors and taxation, Mr. Lipskis enjoys assisting families in understanding their planning needs. He also enjoys working collaboratively with financial advisors to make sure their estate plans match up with each client’s personal financial...

Attorney

Neil is a member of Croessmann & Westberg's litigation practice, and focuses on business, commercial, and construction litigation. Neil represents construction clients, businesses, business owners, and shareholders in contractual, commercial, and derivative disputes. He has litigated cases in both state and federal courts. In addition, Neil has also represented clients in matters involving lien enforcement, tax defense, secured transactions, negotiable instruments, and business torts. Prior to joining Croessmann & Westberg, Neil started his legal career at the U.S. Department of Justice and subsequently practiced as an associate at a business litigation firm in Alexandria, Virginia.

Nicholas focuses on business, commercial, and construction litigation. Nicholas began his legal career working at a plaintiff's employment litigation firm in Bethesda, Maryland, where he focused on employment discrimination, retaliation, and unpaid commissions related matters.

Since 2007, Paul has represented clients in various roles in the construction industry including owners, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and sureties. His experience involves disputes on both public and private construction projects with amounts in controversy in excess of ten million dollars. He has first-chair experience in both trials and arbitrations including a two-week arbitration resulting in a seven-figure award in favor of his client plus a sizable award of attorneys’ fees. He has experience handling complex change order and claim disputes including substantial delay claims involving critical path analysis. As lead counsel, Paul has also prevailed on appeal and...

Katherin is a member of the Croessmann and Westberg's transactional practice and focuses on estate planning, construction, and business. She assists clients with the creation and integration of their estate plan with their business succession planning, construction contract compliance with mandatory requirements, and various business matters such as buy-outs and employment issues.

Glenn is an experienced trial attorney who has represented clients in a wide variety of civil disputes, with a concentration in real estate, construction and commercial litigation. Since 1991, Glenn has represented individuals, local and international businesses, foreign corporations and local governments in disputes involving breach of contract, construction defect, creditors rights, foreclosure, premises liability, personal injury, commercial landlord-tenant, professional negligence, title defect and fraud. Glenn's experience encompasses all aspects of civil litigation, including first-chairing trials, arbitrations and appeals. His experience includes winning and collecting multi-million dollar judgment (including attorneys' fees award) in a 5-day trial involving allegations of fraud and...

Stephen is a member of the corporate and litigation practice at Croessmann & Westberg, focusing on construction disputes, real estate transactions, and mergers and acquisitions. Stephen has extensive experience defending and representing construction clients in matters before the court in the State of Maryland, District of Columbia, and U.S. District for the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia. In addition, Stephen has experience representing construction clients before the American Arbitration Association and other means of dispute resolution. Stephen also represents construction and real estate clients in business contracts, mergers and acquisitions, formation, and employment matters. Throughout his career, Stephen has...

My practice focuses on advising clients on general corporate and transactional matters, including company formation and governance, mergers and acquisitions, operating and stockholder agreements, buy-sell agreements, private offerings of debt and equity securities (including friends and family, angel, venture capital and private equity investments), corporate divorces and other reorganizations, small business certifications (including 8(a), SDVO, WOSB, HUB Zone and MBE/DBE certifications), executive employment and equity matters, franchise agreements, vendor and customer issues, and other commercial contracts and agreements.

Jeremie is a trial attorney that has over 11 years of experience. He has successfully managed numerous cases at all stages of litigation, including multiple jury trials. His current practice focuses on construction law and contract disputes. Jeremie utilizes clear communication and storytelling to effectively help clients with their goals. Jeremie also has a background in investigations and uses those skills to leverage favorable outcomes for his clients. Having conducted hundreds of interviews and testifying in court many times himself, he understands the anxiety that clients experience with testifying and is able to help them prepare for the challenge. Jeremie has...

Izak is Assistant General Counsel at MITRE (a leading science and technology nonprofit engaging in research and development in the public interest), where he provides strategic guidance on corporate compliance, commercial contracts, international governance, technology transactions, and disputes. He is a licensed Attorney in New York, Washington DC, the US Supreme Court, and registered Corporate Counsel in Virginia (USA), a Barrister & Solicitor in Ontario (Canada), a Lawyer in Victoria (Australia), and a Solicitor in England & Wales (UK). He is also a Certified Information Privacy Professional - EU (CIPP/E). Prior to MITRE, Izak was the global in-house compliance and contracts...

Bringing nearly 40 years of legal expertise to the Oast & Taylor team, Bill’s practice areas include Elder Law, Estate and Trust Administration, Estate Planning, Guardianships and Conservatorships, and Litigation.

John Allen started Waldrop & Colvin to deliver premier legal talent to business client without the friction points of big law. He has a vast and impressive history of decades in world class legal departments across several industries. His experience delivers results in corporate governance, contracts, M&A, dispute resolution, employment and real estate.

I have over 35 years of experience representing Virginia clients in medical malpractice, long-term care litigation, serious personal injury litigation, and complex commercial litigation. In my practice I have represented individuals and businesses throughout Virginia, including in state and federal court.