Bean, Kinney & Korman

Bean, Kinney & Korman has provided experienced counsel to Virginia businesses, individuals and families across a diverse range of practice areas for 66 years. The firm’s 50 attorneys deliver comprehensive legal solutions rooted in decades of professional expertise, in areas including real estate, business, mergers and acquisitions, government contracting, and family law.

Led by shareholder and Management Committee member Christian M. Lapham, the firm’s origins trace back to 1959, when David B. Kinney joined three other attorneys near the local courthouse, forming a modest practice focused on building strong professional foundations. The addition of law clerk James W. Korman, who later became an associate attorney, and the 1970s merger with L. Lee Bean, one of Northern Virginia’s premier attorneys and future Virginia Bar Association president, established the firm’s trajectory toward regional prominence.

Throughout its history, Bean, Kinney & Korman has achieved remarkable milestones that reflect its commitment to diversity and professional leadership. In 1968, Thomas R. Monroe joined as the first African American partner in a non-minority legal practice in Virginia, later becoming Arlington County’s first African American judge in 1972. The firm’s leadership extended beyond its walls when L. Lee Bean served as Virginia Bar Association president in 1980, followed by James W. Korman’s presidency of the Arlington Bar Association in 1981.

Adaptability has enabled the firm to navigate changing legal landscapes and economic challenges through strategic technology adoption, practice diversification, remote work capabilities, and flexible business models. The firm maintains agility in responding to evolving federal and Virginia state laws while addressing increasing compliance demands, particularly in cybersecurity.

The workplace culture emphasizes collaboration, mentorship and work-life balance within a family-like environment that celebrates achievements and fosters personal well-being. Community engagement remains integral to the firm’s identity, with attorneys and staff serving as school tutors, pro bono service providers, nonprofit volunteers and board members, and active participants in youth sports programs, faith communities, and alumni organizations.

Client-centered service processes, strategic technology implementation, transparent billing models, sound financial planning and deep community roots continue to reinforce the firm’s local reputation and sustained growth.