Virginia Lawyers Weekly

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

Paul E. Fletcher

Paul has been publisher and editor-in-chief of Virginia Lawyers Weekly since 1989. He is a 1985 graduate of the Washington & Lee University School of Law. He earned his A.B. from the College of William and Mary in 1979 and an M.A. in English from Emory University in 1980. Prior to joining the newspaper in 1988 as news editor, he was an associate with White, Elliott & Bundy, a law firm with offices in Abingdon and Bristol, Va. His practice concentrated on commercial litigation and employment law. Paul can be reached by e-mail at paul.fletcher@valawyersmedia.com.

Executive Editor

Deborah Elkins

Deborah has been executive editor of Virginia Lawyers Weekly since 1993, and opinion editor for the paper since 1986. She received her J.D. degree in 1984 from the University of Toledo College of Law, where she was student articles editor for the law review. She was admitted to the Ohio bar the same year. She earned a B.A. from Kansas State University in 1975 and an M.L.S. from Indiana University in 1978. She was admitted to the Virginia bar in 1986. She was a staff attorney at the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond from 1984 to 1986. Deborah can be reached by e-mail at deborah.elkins@valawyersmedia.com.

News Editor

Alan Cooper

Alan joined Virginia Lawyers Weekly as news editor in July 2005. Previously he was a reporter for the Richmond Times-Dispatch and The Richmond News Leader for 33 years. Cooper covered the Richmond and Chesterfield County circuit Courts, the two state appellate courts and the legal establishment for the papers for the past 20 years. He grew up near Saltville in Smyth County and is a graduate of Washington & Lee University and the University of Virginia School of Law. Alan can be reached by e-mail at alan.cooper@valawyersmedia.com.

Legal Editor

Peter Vieth

Peter joined Virginia Lawyers Media as Legal Editor in March 2008.  A 1992 graduate of the University of Richmond law school, he practiced in Roanoke with WootenHart from 1992 to 2005, handling insurance defense work, including medical malpractice, products liability and personal injury cases.  He was with Crandall & Katt from 2005 until 2007; there, he had a plaintiff’s personal injury practice. Peter graduated in 1976 from the University of Maryland, where he studied broadcasting and journalism. He is based in Roanoke. Peter can be reached by e-mail at peter.vieth@valawyersmedia.com or pvieth@gmail.com.

Web Editor

Sarah Rodriguez

Sarah has been web editor since 2007. A Richmond native, she joined Virginia Lawyers Weekly in August of 2004 as office administrator. Her work includes maintaining and updating the Virginia Lawyers Weekly Web site and the Daily Alert, writing articles and organizing special publications. She currently is seeking a degree in journalism at Virginia Commonwealth University. Sarah can be reached by e-mail at sarah.rodriguez@valawyersmedia.com.