Heroes

This week we’re proud to announce the honorees in the Class of 2019 of our “Unsung Legal Heroes” awards.

In this program, Virginia Lawyers Weekly honors the people who get it done, who keep the lawyers on track, who go above and beyond, usually behind the scenes. These awards are reserved for the state’s most talented and dedicated legal support professionals.

This year, 34 individuals in five categories are being honored – 11 firm administrators, three IT/operations people, four legal secretaries, 13 paralegals and three receptionists.

They are:

Firm administrator

• Sharon Abernathy, Supreme Court of Virginia, Richmond
• Nancy M. Baker, Phillips & Peters, Norfolk
• Brigitte Chabo Burke, Baskin, Jackson & Lasso, Falls Church
• Jessica Caudill, Roth Jackson, McLean
• Laurie Claywell, Kaufman & Canoles, Norfolk
• Lisa Daniel, Zoby, Broccoletti & Normile, Norfolk
• Cristina Karram Keener, Flax Legal, Richmond
• Jackie Moore, Bean, Kinney & Korman, Arlington
• Tricia Sanders, Durrette, Arkema, Gerson & Gill, Richmond
• Kelly Stimart, Gentry Locke, Roanoke
• Bonnie Theimer, Marie Washington Law, Warrenton

IT/operations

• Joe Jay, Rees Broome, Tysons Corner
• James Puckett III, Lynchburg Commonwealth’s Attorney, Lynchburg
• David L. Sink, Frith, Anderson & Peake, Roanoke

Legal secretary

• Robin Belcher, U.S. District Court, Richmond
• Jennifer Harris, Flora Pettit, Harrisonburg
• Justine Kesel, Rawls Law Group, Richmond
• Carol Stanton, Troutman Sanders, Richmond

Paralegal

• Kendall Clark Almaguer, Geller Law Group, Fairfax
• Delores Burback, Edge Law, Virginia Beach
• Dana Clinevell, Poarch Thompson Law, Roanoke
• Nancy Fisher, Lucas & Kite, Roanoke
• Kristina Hollowell, Lewis Brisbois, Roanoke
• Rochelle Koroma, Manning & Murray, Arlington
• Sandra Luevano, Chap Petersen & Associates, Fairfax
• Florina Lupei, Paley Rothman. Bethesda, Maryland
• Nicole McLean, Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers, Norfolk
• Blanca Mirabile, Pesner, Altmiller, Melnick & DeMers, McLean
• Monica Porter, Norfolk Southern, Norfolk
• Suzy Sauerwald, Johnson Ayers & Matthews, Roanoke
• Verena Weinstein, Kaleo Legal, Richmond

Receptionist

• Christina Hales, Hofheimer Family Law, Virginia Beach
• Debbie Jakubowski, Odin Feldman Pittleman, Reston
• Jean Marretti, Chesterfield Circuit Court, Chesterfield

Congratulations to this year’s Unsung Legal Heroes! They will be featured in a special second section in December.

– Paul Fletcher