Gate City Lawyers

A tireless advocate, Jason has built a distinguished career representing personal injury victims for more than 20 years. As a founding member of the firm's Medical Malpractice division, Jason has been instrumental in its success both in and out of the courtroom. Jason's keen interest in complex medical and technical issues and his natural instincts as a trial lawyer have enabled him to achieve numerous record-setting jury verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients.

In 2017, Jason was honored with induction to the exclusive International Academy of Trial Lawyers, a fellowship of elite trial lawyers representing both sides of the...

Gilbert Carey is an attorney and certified public accountant with Wolcott Rivers Gates. He practices in the areas of Taxation, Tax Resolution and Controversy and Estate Planning, solving tax, business, and legal challenges for individuals, privately held businesses and their owners. He has an Avvo rating of 10 (Superb) and has been recognized as a Top Lawyer of Coastal Virginia by Coastal Virginia Magazine. Mr. Carey regularly advises clients on tax matters and represents clients in tax disputes with the IRS, state tax agencies and in U.S. Tax Court. He provides income tax planning and compliance advice to individuals, trusts, estates...

Most people who meet attorney Ben Glass come to know him as a father of nine children, four of them adopted from China, a small business advocate, a non-profit and charity supporter, and a soccer referee - in addition to being one of the top-reviewed attorneys in the area (see him on Avvo and Google). Born and raised in Annandale, Ben has spent his career practicing law in the courtrooms throughout Virginia and beyond. A recognized expert among his peers, lawyers travel from around the country to be trained by Ben and his team in the Ben Glass Center for Growth...

Shannon Laymon-Pecoraro is a Certified Elder Law Attorney of Parks Zeigler, PLLC practicing in the areas of elder law, special needs planning, estate and trust administration, estate planning, asset protection planning, financial planning, guardianships and conservatorships. Prior to joining the firm Ms. Laymon-Pecoraro spent 10 years at Hook Law Center, P.C. Ms. Laymon Pecoraro has a passion for special needs planning, which has resulted in her becoming a go-to for personal injury attorneys who need assistance navigating public benefits or otherwise protecting a client’s funds. As a result, Ms. Laymon-Pecoraro has worked on hundreds of personal injury cases, developing settlement trusts,...

Stephen P. Pfeiffer is known locally as the “Go-To-DUI and Criminal Defense Attorney.” Stephen is a partner at Wolcott Rivers Gates, one of the oldest and largest law firms in Virginia Beach. He has been published as a coauthor in the nationally recognized “Inside the Minds” series by Aspatore Books on ­The Legality of Search and Seizure in DUI Cases “A Practitioner’s Everyday Insight Into DWI/DUI Defense in Virginia”. Stephen has an AV® Preeminent Rating – the highest rating available from Martindale-Hubbell, the leading independent attorney rating entity. An AV® Rating signifies that the lawyer has reached the heights of...

Muhammad is an experienced trial attorney who represents clients in criminal, traffic and personal injury cases, as well as criminal and administrative investigations at the state and federal levels throughout Northern Virginia. His experience ranges from simple traffic violations to misdemeanors and serious felony charges, including malicious wounding, robbery, computer crimes, and murder. Muhammad also represents clients under investigation by state or federal law enforcement and witnesses in pending investigations and prosecutions.

A long-time resident of Fairfax County and a native speaker of Arabic, Muhammad Elsayed graduated from George Mason University, summa cum laude, with a Bachelor...

John is listed in "Who's Who in America", and is a regular guest commentator in print, tv , and radio on law and politics including MSNBC, CNN, & FOX.

John is a former federal prosecutor from the Southern District of NY who handled widely publicized criminal investigations and prosecutions that ran the gamut from securities fraud to a mob prison break, the bribery of Congressman Dan Flood by a rabbi, the federally funded summer feeding scandal in the South Bronx, and heroin-trafficking by major organized crime figures including "Matty" Madonna.

In private practice at the mid-town Manhattan law firm of Poletti Friedin...

Originally from Charleston, West Virginia, John Singleton has made Gloucester, Virginia, his home. He served in the U.S. Marines in China and Beirut, Lebanon. John is a graduate of Colby College in Waterville, Maine, and Mercer University Law School in Macon, Georgia.

John learned his trial skills working for a large insurance defense firm. He knows how the insurance side works and uses that knowledge to give his clients outstanding insight and counsel. John enjoys a fight, and he puts his heart into every single case.

John serves his community through organizations including the Middle Peninsula Bar Association, The Fairfield Foundation, Ware...

Elisha N. Hawk became a partner with Jenner Law, P.C. in 2023, focusing her practice on advocating for people and families who have been injured by the abuse and neglect of others. Her practice focuses on cases involving personal injury, mass torts, therapy abuse, clergy abuse, and nursing home abuse and neglect. Elisha started her career as an associate working under Jenner Law, P.C.’s founding partner, Rob Jenner, where she represented people who had been harmed by dangerous drugs and devices. She gained significant experience handling pharmaceutical and defective medical device cases under Rob’s mentorship. Following her...

Lee E. Berlik is the founder and managing member of BerlikLaw, LLC. Based in Northern Virginia, BerlikLaw concentrates its practice in the areas of defamation law (libel and slander), business disputes, and intellectual property litigation. Formerly with Troutman Sanders and Mintz Levin, Lee brings his big-firm background and experience to offer clients top-notch legal services at drastically reduced rates. Lee is listed among Virginia's "Legal Elite" by Virginia Business Magazine and is rated "AV" by Martindale-Hubbell.

Robert T. Hall is one of the founding partners at Hall & Sethi, PLC. He received his Juris Doctorate from Georgetown in 1964. Since that time, he has successfully litigated numerous cases and helped clients recover the compensation they deserve. His efforts have gained him multiple recognitions including the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Distinguished Service Award from the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, inclusion in Super Lawyers®, and many more. For over 40 years, individuals have turned to Attorney Hall to help them seek justice. As an active member in the legal community, he is part of many distinguished organizations...

Jeffrey Weaver is the founder of Prenup Pros, the first law firm in Virginia to only specialize in marital agreements (prenuptial agreements and post-nuptial agreements). Jeff has prepared contracts for clients since 1999 and through Prenup Pros he applies his expertise and experience to prepare prenuptial agreements for clients located in Virginia, Florida, New York and New Jersey. Jeff formed Prenup Pros to provide marrying couples access to affordable, easy-to-understand prenuptial agreements because he believes that all couples should at least consider a prenup. His belief derives from the fact the he personally experienced the benefits that...

Brandon Zeigler is one of the top-rated Family Law and Small Business attorneys in Virginia Beach, VA. Brandon is focused on providing exceptional, quality legal representation to individuals, families and businesses. The backbone of the American economy is small business. As a principal at Parks Zeigler, PLLC, he is extremely passionate about this area of law. As the owner of three small businesses, he knows first-hand the issues that need to be addressed in forming and running a company. He enjoys working with small business owners to ensure they have the correct documents, contracts, leases,...

Sarah Patras is a senior associate attorney at Livesay & Myers, P.C. She practices exclusively family law, representing clients in separation, divorce, custody, visitation and support cases, including a large number of contested cases. Ms. Patras works in the firm’s Fredericksburg-Stafford office, and represents clients in Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania and surrounding areas. Born in Nebraska, Ms. Patras grew up in Iowa and earned double B.A. degrees from Iowa State University. She then relocated to Virginia, and graduated from the University of Richmond School of Law in 2016. After law school, Ms. Patras clerked for one year for a Virginia Circuit Court judge,...

Aaron Pomeranz is a Virginia criminal defense attorney at Parks Zeigler, PLLC who formerly served with the Norfolk Police Department for almost 25 years. He brings unique knowledge and insight into how law enforcement and prosecutors build a case against his clients.

James Garret is the founding member of Garrett Law Group, PLC in Virginia Beach. The firm focuses on criminal defense, including all traffic matters, and divorce and child custody cases.

Mr. Garrett has been in private practice since graduating from the Boyd School of Law at UNLV in 2005.

My philosophy as a lawyer is to establish a strong attorney-client relationship. My goal is to connect with each client and deliver quality work, personalized service, and exceptional value. As your counselor and representative, you can be confident that everything possible will be done to protect your rights.

You will receive individual attention through every part of the legal process in order to achieve your goals quickly and efficiently. Please contact me to discuss your legal issues, strategies, and solutions in a straightforward and collaborative manner.

I am currently located in Fairfax, Virginia and serve the Northern Virginia area....

John was named “Most Inspiring Graduate,” of the Regent University School of Law for his Class. An Honors student, John earned the Ronald L. Fick Book Award for highest academic achievement in:
His outstanding performance in Real Estate Transactions, Property, Contract, and Criminal Law propelled him to finish in the top fifth of the class.
Beyond the books, John established himself as an effective justice-oriented advocate. He represented Virginia on 86 cases, including felony prosecutions, under Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office. John interned for the Supreme Court of Virginia and assisted the Legal Advisor to the Supreme Allied Commander for Transportation...

Armed with a passion for trial work, Paul joined Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen in 1999 bringing with him a broad range of experience in personal injury cases and jury trials. Since that time, Paul has obtained impressive trial results and is willing to go to trial rather than take an offer he does not believe is fair to his client. In 2014, Paul obtained a $22 million settlement on behalf of a boy who suffered paralysis and brain injuries in a crash with a dump truck. This record setting settlement appears to be the largest personal injury settlement...

Ryan Rambudhan is a dual practice attorney who specializes in Family Law and Criminal Litigation. Criminal/Traffic Having previously worked for a prosecutor's office in New York, Mr. Rambudhan brings a unique set of skills to the firm. He understands how police and prosecutors approach cases, and uses that knowledge to build a strategic defense for his clients who face criminal charges. Mr. Rambudhan believes in a three-step approach to accomplishing a solid defense: (1) diligent preparation and research; (2) effective and aggressive negotiations; and (3) desire and confidence to litigate any case if necessary.

Jonathan McHugh is a lead senior associate attorney at Livesay & Myers, P.C., practicing exclusively family law. He is experienced in handling every type of family law matter in Virginia, including high asset divorce cases. Mr. McHugh works in the firm’s offices in Manassas and Arlington, and represents clients all across Northern Virginia. As one of the leading military divorce lawyers in the firm, Mr. McHugh is intimately familiar with issues of military retirement, the Uniformed Services Former Spouses Protection Act, the Survivor Benefit Plan, disability pay, and the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. Mr. McHugh is also experienced in the division...

Mr. Hoen resides in Hampton and has been practicing since 1989 throughout the state and federal courts of Virginia. His practice focuses on representing injury victims. He has recovered millions for his clients and is actively involved in his church and community. His fee is never more than his client receives as a net recovery after all of their bills and liens are paid.

Since 1998, Bridget has proven to be a tireless advocate for her clients, whether in the courtroom or when negotiating with insurance companies. A seasoned litigator and consummate professional, she has devoted her career to fighting for the rights of those injured by the negligence or recklessness of others. Her vast experience in representing clients in both state and federal courts in cases involving car accidents, tractor trailer accidents, drunk driving, premises liability, dog bites, wrongful death and other cases involving catastrophic injuries, has equipped Bridget with the skills and confidence that she brings to bear on behalf of her clients....

I am an intellectual property attorney and business advisor (JD/MBA/MSE) with over 15 years of experience counseling clients on a range of matters, including portfolio development, patent preparation and prosecution, trademark and brand protection, litigation, licensing, and corporate due diligence. I am registered to practice before the United States Patent Office (USPTO) (Reg. No. 56,024) and admitted to practice in the State of Michigan, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. I have prepared, filed and prosecuted thousands of patent applications in fields such as automotive, autonomous...

Accomplished and result-focused with 24 years of experience in Family Law, Bankruptcy and Administrative Law specializing in Security Clearance Defense and Medical License Defense.

Joe Whitcomb, a former United States Army Ranger, is a veteran of both the United States Army and Air Force. After his military career, Joe attended law school at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. From there, he went on to work as staff attorney for the Social Security Administration where he learned the nuances of administrative law generally and Social Security disability law specifically. He has dedicated his legal career helping individuals and businesses with their interactions with federal and state governments.

As a take-charge lawyer, my forceful personality compliments my formidable litigation and negotiating skills. I bring to every case my strong intellect, innate sense of practicality, and my burning desire to win. My legal achievements for clients include many courtroom victories, but I am as able to search creatively for ways to settle cases as I am to prepare and try cases that cannot be settled. I was named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers in America for 2014 and 2015 in the Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs category in Richmond, Va. My ability to master complex...

Matthew Crowley handles serious criminal and traffic matters in the following jurisdictions: Fairfax Loudoun and Leesburg Prince William and Manassas Arlington Alexandria Matthew focuses his practice on defending his clients' constitutional rights and holding the police accountable. In other words, he focuses on results. With 20 years of experience in the legal system in Northern Virginia, Matthew Crowley has dealt with a wide array of case types ranging from serious felonies to traffic violations and misdemeanors, logging thousands of trials before judges and juries. Tough, intelligent, customized representation, and a listening ear to make sure the things most important to you are protected. Mr....

Richard is an experienced and skilled attorney working in the Charlottesville, Virginia office of Allen & Allen. He has dedicated his career to fighting for justice for his clients, guided by a singular philosophy: the case belongs to the client. Richard focuses on a variety of personal injury matters, including wrongful death, automobile and tractor trailer accidents, and accidents involving drunk drivers.

After receiving his law degree from the University of Virginia, Richard worked as a public defender in New York City for 13 years. He returned to Virginia in 2000 and continues to litigate cases in the Commonwealth.
Richard is AV...

Clayton, a seasoned litigator who has successfully handled all types of personal injury cases, has been with the firm for more than 30 years. He manages the firm's Mechanicville office. He is known for the perseverance, tenacity, and attention to detail that only the most persistent of counsel can provide. He is highly respected for his meticulous research and legal analysis. He has expertise in personal injury litigation, including substantial courtroom experience. He has also participated in numerous mediations and arbitrations in a variety of cases. Clayton has spent his entire legal career with Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen, where...

Daniel Renfro is a founding partner of Renfro & Renfro, PLLC, in Midlothian, Virginia. Mr. Renfro represents clients throughout Virginia in workers' compensation and personal injury cases. He has represented the injured in workers compensation and personal injury claims for over a decade, and has co-counseled multi-million dollar settlements for his clients.

Mr. Renfro earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Indiana State University and went on to graduate from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan. He has been admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia since 2007 and is also licensed before the U.S. District...

James Livesay is a founding partner at Livesay & Myers, P.C. He leads the firm's team of family law attorneys across offices in Fairfax, Arlington, Leesburg, Manassas and Fredericksburg, Virginia.

After graduating from Virginia Tech in 1995 and the University of Virginia School of Law in 1998, Mr. Livesay served three years in the U.S. Navy JAG Corps. He entered civilian practice as a family law attorney in 2001, and joined with partner Kevin Myers to found Livesay & Myers, P.C. in 2003.

Drawing on his experience as a Navy JAG officer, Mr. Livesay established the military divorce section of the firm in 2003...

Amanda Stone Swart is a lead senior associate attorney at Livesay & Myers, P.C., practicing exclusively family law. She is experienced in handling every type of family law matter in Virginia, including separation, divorce, custody and support cases. Ms. Stone Swart works in the firm’s Ashburn office, and represents clients in Ashburn, Leesburg, Loudoun County, and all across Northern Virginia. Ms. Stone Swart is originally from Boone, Iowa. She graduated summa cum laude from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska in 2004, with Bachelor’s of Arts degrees in both Political Science and Journalism. Upon graduation, Ms. Stone Swart worked in politics in...

Taite has devoted his entire legal career to the practice of criminal defense. Prior to co-founding Westendorf & Khalaf, Taite worked as a supervising attorney in the largest Public Defender's office in the state (Virginia Beach). His career has been defined by taking on a variety of tough high stakes cases. In a state where a fraction of felony cases go to trial (and less than 1% go to jury trial), Taite has taken over one hundred felony cases to trial and has won not guilty verdicts following jury trials for murder, rape, robbery, abduction, use of a...

Jennifer Huchler is an associate attorney at Livesay & Myers, P.C., practicing exclusively family law. Her practice covers every type of family law matter in Virginia, including separation, divorce, custody, visitation and support cases. Ms. Huchler works in the firm’s offices in Fairfax and Fredericksburg, and represents clients in Fairfax County, Stafford, Fredericksburg and all across Northern Virginia.

Originally from Florida, Ms. Huchler graduated cum laude from Florida State University before graduating cum laude from American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C.

During law school, Ms. Huchler earned a great deal of experience geared toward making her a successful family...

A former Virginia prosecutor who knows the state’s strategies—and how to fight them. Moreover, he’s a second-generation criminal defense lawyer who is dedicated to protecting the rights of people in Virginia.

Born and raised in Fairfax County, Faraji stayed close to home to study at the prestigious Georgetown University Law Center. Then he spent four years prosecuting cases as part of the Fairfax Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, where he gained deep experience in every area of criminal law and, most importantly, learned how prosecutors think.

Faraji began his criminal defense work in 2009, using his prosecuting experience to build strong cases...

Danielle joined Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen in 2015. She practices out of Allen & Allen's Fredericksburg office, and she focuses on personal injury cases, including accidents involving cars, trucks or motorcycles. Danielle has a rich theater background, and she brings this confidence and poise to her role as an advocate for her clients. She has also been a victim of a motor vehicle accident herself. This experience provides her with a high level of empathy for her clients, and a passion to bring about a successful outcome for them, including the compensation they deserve.

A native of New Jersey, Danielle...

As a lawyer, I am passionate about two things: solving problems and delivering results. I take pride in doing both with integrity, tenacity, and an unflagging commitment to my core guiding principles. My principles include always doing what I say I am going to do, upholding high ethical standards, and prioritizing personal communication with my clients so they are always informed. I know first hand what it's like to have your life turned upside-down by an accident. I lived through the same experience as my injury clients when my own wife was in a devastating car accident, resulting in back...