Rappahannock Academy Business Lawyers

I focus my practice on five areas: family law, civil litigation, bankruptcy, criminal defense, business law and contract drafting. For family law matters, I can assist clients with divorce, custody, visitation, child support, spousal support, and protective orders. I also have experience in a wide variety of civil litigation, ranging from breach of contract claims to property ownership disputes and beyond. I earned my law degree from Villanova University School of Law where I served as a student attorney in Villanova’s Clinic for Asylum, Refugee, and Emigrant Services. Passionate about pro bono work, I also volunteered as the Chair of the...

Paul J. Dean, Esq. is the founder and sole proprietor of the Law Offices of Paul J. Dean, PLLC. He is a graduate of Harvard University and the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason, and admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Paul has lived and worked in the Mt. Vernon/Alexandria area of Fairfax County for more than 20 years. After a successful government affairs career spanning more than two decades, he founded this firm to more directly meet the legal needs of individuals, small business owners and non-profit organizations in his community.

Paul resides in the...

I help individuals and businesses create and protect their intellectual property. I also work with international law firms to help their clients obtain intellectual property rights in the United States. We are a fixed-fee, value-oriented law firm whose strength is intellectual property law, in particular patents, including international patent applications, trademarks, and copyrights. My firm is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB).

Lori Searcy represents clients in complex commercial litigation, principally in the areas of business and employment law. She is a cum laude graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and has worked at premier law firms on major cases, many of national significance.

Seth has extensive courtroom experience throughout the northern Virginia area, litigating cases in the area district, circuit, and federal courts. When preparing and trying cases, Seth subscribes to the George Washington "organization is the soul of the army" approach, which is complimented by his lifelong love of healthy competition in athletics.

David Deitch leads the White Collar Defense and Corporate Compliance practice at Berenzweig Leonard. David is an experienced white collar trial lawyer who has tried more than 100 jury trials to verdict in federal and state courts around the nation. In serving his clients’ interests in criminal defense, civil, regulatory, and administrative matters, David brings to bear a lengthy tenure as a state and federal prosecutor, as well as years serving as defense counsel for blue chip businesses and individuals.

David’s diverse white collar background includes years of public service in the Justice Department and as a state prosecutor. David served...

Zainab obtained her Juris Doctorate from the Antonin Scalia School of Law in Arlington, Virginia. Zainab has successfully conducted trials and represented corporate clients in the traditional courtroom setting, as well as, in arbitration and mediation proceedings in both New York City and Northern Virginia. After gaining years of litigation experience, Zainab shifted into the transactional side of law, reviewing, drafting, and negotiating contracts for businesses and professionals, structuring deals, and providing corporate governance counseling. Zainab’s experience in litigation has given her a clear sense of how contract language might be used in court — having tried cases for...

Seth Robbins provides extensive experience in construction law, government contracts, civil litigation and energy projects. His practice focus includes counseling a variety of clients, including owners, engineers, developers, design professionals, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and sureties in a wide array of public and private litigation, contract disputes, and construction contracting.

Seth has extensive experience in preparing and litigating complex contract claims, involving issues such as: i) delay; ii) differing site conditions; iii) acceleration; iv) changes; v) extra work; and vi) labor inefficiency. He has successfully represented contractor and design professional clients in trials, appeals, arbitrations and mediations before various...

Robert C. Lehrman is the principal attorney at Lehrman Beverage Law, PLLC. Robert founded the firm in 2001 after 12 years at the Washington, DC office of a larger firm that specializes in federal and state administrative law. From 1998 until 2001 Robert was the partner in charge of the firm's Washington, DC office. Mr. Lehrman concentrates on the federal regulation of alcohol beverages (beer, wine and spirits). He has advised many companies on the production, labeling, advertising, and taxation of a wide variety of consumer products: foreign and domestic, with and without alcohol, fit and unfit for beverage purposes. He has helped...

Mr. Heelen attended the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law while working full-time. He brings considerable professional experience as both a successful corporate manager and former state judicial officer to his practice, which he established in 2012. Mr. Heelen's practice includes the following areas: business formation; business law; corporate law; corporate governance; contracts; trademark registration; regulatory compliance; landlord tenant; wills; and general practice. "Responsiveness and open lines of communication with my clients are hallmarks of my practice, and, in my opinion, critical to the success of any attorney client relationship. My clients don't have to contact me for...

Sam Moore manages the firm’s privacy practice and business representation practice groups. He has counseled and advised hundreds of clients through substantive legal issues involving business representation, data protection and privacy, criminal law, civil litigation, military law, and consumer protection law. He provides his clients with broad and substantial legal experience. He takes a common-sense approach to each case, with a focus on client goals and broader strategic implications. Outside of the courtroom, he participates in numerous charity and fundraising activities in the Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia communities. He is a member of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, the Alexandria, Post...

As a criminal defense attorney, John has fought aggressively for his clients’ rights in cases involving serious felonies, including murder, malicious wounding, drug possession/distribution, white-collar crimes, and sex crimes (e.g. rape, child pornography) as well as all types of misdemeanors, including DUI, assault and battery, and simple driving infractions, such as reckless driving. As a civil litigation lawyer, John has experience in both jury trials and bench trials, and has represented clients in cases worth millions of dollars. Early on in his career, he litigated patent infringement cases all over the country. Over the years, he has continued to excel in...

Ms. Jenkins has been practicing law in Virginia since 2008 when she was admitted to the Virginia State Bar. She is also admitted in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Virginia and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. She is experienced in various practice areas such as family law, construction law, landlord/tenant actions, estate administration, debt collection, and bankruptcy. She has appeared in Virginia juvenile and domestic relations district court, general district court, circuit court, and the Virginia Supreme Court.

Chris DeSimone joined the GRDD Law team in 2007 and manages the firm’s corporate and transactional division. Chris serves as general corporate counsel to numerous small businesses in the Washington metropolitan area and beyond. Chris tackles a wide range of legal projects for his business clients, including:

Establishing new start-up companies and assisting with initial registrations.
Preparing operating/shareholder agreements carefully tailored to meet the needs of business owners.
Providing counsel on business sale transactions, including asset sales, stock sales, mergers, and other acquisitions.
Reviewing, revising, and negotiating commercial...

Douglas J. Sanderson provides legal services in the multiple areas of commercial real estate, family law/domestic relations, and business organizations and transactions. In his family law/domestic relations practice, Doug counsels and represents people who seek legal assistance with, for example, separation agreements, divorces, and issues of child custody and visitation, equitable distribution, and support (spousal and child, as may apply), as well as, on a happier note, pre-nuptial agreements. Doug’s practice includes litigation as well as other methods of problem-solving, and he strives to assist clients in finding resolutions that avoid or minimize litigation, and to further that...

Joe DiPietro is the Founder of DiPietro Law Group, PLLC. He is experienced handling complex cases in state and federal courts involving international custody disputes under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction at the trial and appellate levels, international and domestic divorce, and complex cases involving spousal support, custody and visitation, child support, and enforcement of awards on behalf of clients. Joe’s philosophy and mission is to make family transitions and conflict a time for personal growth and powerful positive change, in addition to advocating for the best possible result for his client in...

Anna focuses her practice on individual consumer and business bankruptcies, tax compliance and controversy, corporate and business law, and estate planning and administration. Prior to joining Harry Jernigan CPA Attorney, P.C., Mrs. Dunkum was Staff Attorney for the Chapter 13 Trustee for the Middle District of North Carolina- Greensboro Division. Mrs. Dunkum is admitted to practice in the United States Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina and the Eastern District of Virginia as well as all courts in the State of North Carolina and the Commonwealth of Virginia and U.S. Tax Court. ...

Jess Johnson is one of the best young lawyers in Georgia. He has been recognized as a “Rising Star” in criminal defense and civil litigation by Super Lawyers Magazine for the past several years. While only 2.5% of lawyers in Georgia under the age of 40 receive such an honor, Jess was first named to this list after only 3 years of practice.

Jess has been instrumental in our firm’s success in both trials and appeals. In his very first trial, Jess was awarded an Acquittal Award from the Federal Defender Program for helping our firm win a “not guilty” verdict...

Mr. Johnson is a co-founder of PCT Law Group and serves as its Managing Member. Mr. Johnson has extensive corporate and employment law experience. His practice includes counseling and advising businesses at all stages of the growth cycle on a broad range of matters including corporate formation and organization, mergers and acquisitions, business contracts, employment agreements, employment policies, joint ventures, and corporate transactions. Mr. Johnson has served as "General Counsel" for several small and mid-sized companies. Mr. Johnson also maintains a litigation practice, which focuses on complex commercial disputes, business torts, and employment issues. Additionally, Mr. Johnson is a Professorial Lecturer in...

Dipo Akin-Deko is the Managing Director of Akin-Deko Professional Services Firm. Mr. Akin-Deko focus is on Business and Employment law, Public and Private Sector Contracts and Business Consulting. Specialties: Mr. Akin-Deko represents businesses as well as individuals in business formation, business and commercial litigation, negotiations, contract dispute and formation, liability assessments, not for profit representation, licensing and labor/employment defense. Mr. Akin-Deko has consulting experience includes corporate strategy, strategic planning, private and government contracting/sub contracting advising.

Alexander was born and raised in the Richmond, VA area. He is an Eagle Scout and Member of the Order of the Arrow. Alexander attended the Virginia Military Institute on a lacrosse scholarship. After his Rat Year, Alexander transferred to Hampden Sydney College, where he graduated in 2002. Alexander worked as a law clerk for 3 years at Ayers & Stolte before attending Appalachian School of Law. He served as a law clerk for the Honorable John Alderman of Hanover Circuit Court in the Summer of 2007. Alexander graduated ASL with 112 hours of training in the theory, ethics and...

I am a creative and vigorous Virginia litigation attorney focusing on civil rights, serious personal injury, and related claims. I stand with my clients when opposing local government bodies, police officers abusing their power, big insurance companies, employers, doctors, or anyone else who have violated my clients' rights or harmed my clients' person, property or reputation. I have handled or assisted in cases involving Constitutional violations, personal injury cases, defamation claims, malicious prosecution cases, FOIA lawsuits, and business litigation. I am the senior associate with Thomas H. Roberts & Associates, PC, in Richmond, VA, which specializes in civil rights and...

Hank is a partner at Troutman Sanders LLP where he concentrates his practice on the representation of venture capital and private debt and equity funds in the acquisition, maintenance and divestiture of their portfolio companies and investments. Hank also provides general representation to public and private companies in emerging growth fields, including the biotech, medical device, internet, media and information technology industries. Additionally, Hank has particular expertise advising on cross border mergers, acquisitions and investments, international trade and soft intellectual property issues.

Jonathan Frieden is a principal in Odin, Feldman & Pittleman, P.C.'s Litigation practice group where he tries a variety of complex commercial disputes and criminal matters. His diverse civil practice encompasses intellectual property litigation, including trademark and copyright enforcement proceedings; the representation of management in employment discrimination claims; the defense of corporations against consumer claims; and a variety of commercial contract disputes. Mr. Frieden counsels e-commerce businesses in a variety of industries and recently led the team of attorneys representing one of these businesses in its acquisition by a publicly traded company. He is also the author of E-Commerce Law (www.ecommercelaw.typepad.com),...

Edward Gross has practiced law since 1980. Early in his career he developed a reputation for handling tough collection cases and criminal trials. Because of his ability to combine legal acumen with hard work, he developed a loyal clientele of large, medium and small businesses. Over the years, he has developed a strong business practice including representation of many local and national commercial landlords. As managing principal of the law firm, he understands that every case is very important and deserves to be handled in a competent, aggressive manner. He has always insisted that the firm be...

Mark Matthews takes great pride in creating solutions for his clients and works closely with his clients to integrate solutions that address more than the bare legal issues. This involves advising his clients of legal and practical issues that are not immediately obvious and exploring how todayâs decisions create tomorrowâs consequences. He has over 10 years of experience practicing law and over 16 years of professional leadership and management experience. Markâs clients have included automobile manufacturers, business owners, and soldiers facing court-martial. Mark is a veteran of 12 years on active duty in the U.S. Army,...

Steve Webster has over twenty-eight years of experience in civil and criminal litigation, appeals, and investigations. He is listed in Best Lawyers in America in multiple areas and has been recognized as one of the top 100 trial lawyers in Virginia by the National Trial Lawyers group. Prior to forming Webster Book LLP, he was a partner at a large international law firm where he spent several years litigating complex civil and criminal cases. He began his career by serving for several years as a public defender in Fairfax, Virginia after receiving his law degree from Georgetown University and his...