Virginia Lawyers Weekly

Janie L. Rhodes has joined the Alexandria office of MercerTrigiani, where she will focus her practice on representing common interest communities and real estate developers in transactions and developments. Rhodes was previously an associate with Reed Smith LLP. She earned her undergraduate degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1998 and her law degree from George Mason University in 2002.

* * *

William L. Schmidt, the principal of William L. Schmidt & Associates PC, has been elected to the board of directors of the City of Fairfax Band, one of the premiere community bands in the nation.

* * *

John T. Randall has joined the Suffolk office of Stallings & Bischoff PC. He was previously an assistant commonwealth’s attorney in Southampton County. His practice will focus on criminal law, DUI and traffic offenses, juvenile and children’s law, personal injury and domestic relations. Randall earned his undergraduate degree from Christopher Newport University and his law degree from Regent University.

* * *

Andrew Palmieri, a partner in the Alexandria office of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, has been elected as an officer of the real property, trust and estate law section of the American Bar Association. He will serve as vice chair of the section’s real estate division.

Palmieri is chair of the government relations committee of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce board of directors. He is also pro bono legal counsel to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

* * *

Angela King has been hired as an assistant county attorney for James City County. She earned her undergraduate degree from Florida State University and her law degree from Indiana University.

* * *

Margaret F. Hardy, a shareholder and member of the healthcare practice group of Sands Anderson Marks & Miller, has been elected chair of Women’s Health Virginia, a nonprofit organization committed to enhancing the health and well-being of women and girls in Virginia through community outreach, research and education.

Hardy has served on the board of directors of Women’s Health Virginia since 2007. Prior to attending law school, she worked as a registered nurse. She received her nursing diploma from the Johnston-Willis Hospital School of Nursing, her undergraduate degree from the University of Richmond, an M.B.A. from Old Dominion University and her law degree from the College of William & Mary.

Hardy also serves on the board of directors for the Metropolitan Richmond Women’s Bar Association as chair of the judicial candidate endorsement committee.

Two additional Sands Anderson attorneys serve on the board with Hardy. Jayne A. Pemberton is vice president and an officer and Robin A. McVoy is co-chair of the public service committee. Pemberton is a member of the risk management practice group and handles premises liability and other tort defense. McVoy is a member of the healthcare practice group and defends medical professionals before regulatory bodies and in malpractice litigation.

* * *

P. Christopher Guedri of Allen, Allen, Allen and Allen was inducted as a fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. Membership to the Academy is limited to 500 fellows from the United States.

Guedri, a personal injury attorney, joined the Allen law firm in 1991.

* * *

Hunton & Williams LLP has added seven new attorneys to the Richmond and Washington offices.

Jennifer L. Schooley has joined the tax & ERISA practice group in Richmond. She previously practiced with McGuireWoods LLP.

Michael L. Converse, Thomas C. Goodhue, Sofia Luiña and Rashida L. Queen have joined the litigation & intellectual property group in Washington. All four attorneys previously practiced with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld.

Patrick T. Currier has joined the regulated industries & government relations group in Washington. He previously practiced with Van Ness Feldman.

Andrew J. Turner has joined the resources, regulatory & environmental group in Washington. He previously served with the U.S. Coast Guard.

* * *

William H. Shewmake has joined LeClairRyan as a partner in the firm’s real estate group. Shewmake’s practice focuses on commercial and residential land use issues and projects. He is certified as a civil court mediator, and handles a variety of complex commercial, administrative law, construction, appellate and injury cases. Shewmake previously served as a planning commissioner in Chesterfield County and served as the commission’s chairman in 1998. He received his law and undergraduate degrees from the College of William and Mary.

* * *

The Newport News office of Jones, Bechman, Woltz & Kelly PC has added two associate attorneys to its litigation practice group.

Nicholas R. Hobbs focuses on criminal and civil litigation. He was previously a prosecutor for the City of Newport News. Hobbs received his law degree from Regent University and his undergraduate degree from Old Dominion University.

Christopher Rathlev focuses on employment law and business litigation. He received both his law and undergraduate degrees from the University of Richmond.

© Copyright 2010 Virginia Lawyers Media. All Rights Reserved.