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Woods Rogers, Vandeventer Black to merge
Two of Virginia’s oldest law firms, Woods Rogers and Vandeventer Black, announced April 21 that they will merge later this year. The new firm — to be known as Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black — will be home to more than 130 attorneys around the commonwealth. When the merger goes into effect July 1, it will […]
Law firm planning: Get ready for 2022
Is your law firm ready for whatever may come now that COVID-19 surges are occurring all around the country, and the omicron variant is a looming threat? With mask mandates once again in effect in many areas, it’s impossible to predict what the future will look like. That’s why business planning for the upcoming year […]
Delegating to others can help grow your practice
“In most organizations, the bottleneck is at the top of the bottle.” — Peter Drucker If someone else can do something 70% as well as you can, delegate it. As lawyers, we tend to try to handle everything ourselves. It gives us a sense of control. The old adage, “If you want something done right, […]
The cost of not paying attention, and payoffs of doing so
When your to-do list runneth over, the idea of giving someone or something more attention may seem like a luxury you cannot afford. After all, as a mentor once told me, “Your work will expand to the time you give it.” Wise words indeed, but I offer that the presence you bring will create a […]
Playing defense: Make sure your firm is prepared to fight back against hackers
Hackers used malicious ransomware last month to shut down the oil pipeline that carries gasoline to the East Coast, causing long lines at gas stations lucky enough to have any gas to sell at all. The attack was unusual it the amount of disruption it caused, but it was just one of the thousands that are carried out each year. While retail establishments, banks and […]
Partners sacrifice to repay clients after embezzlement
Four partners in a Charlottesville law firm went without pay for several months last year as the firm struggled to repay clients affected by a half-million-dollar embezzlement. A long-time bookkeeper took money from accounts at Dygert, Wright, Hobbs & Hernandez for more than seven years, according to a civil lawsuit. The bookkeeper pleaded guilty to […]
Virginia law firms will return to a modified workplace
The COVID-19 pandemic altered the working lives of nearly every worker in the United States. The legal field was no exception. Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons on March 16, 2020, declared a judicial emergency, effectively pausing nearly all matters in Virginia’s court system. Over a year later, the emergency declaration has been […]
PPP a financial lifeline, but largest firms reluctant to discuss loans
For many of the nearly 5 million American companies that have received low-interest loans through the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the financing they obtained has been indispensable in keeping employees on their payrolls during a pandemic. Law firms, many of whom helped their clients navigate the process of securing PPP loans, were therefore well […]
Using data to analyze COVID-19 impact on law firms
On Monday, March 9, most attorneys went to work as usual. No one predicted that by Friday, March 13, they would not be returning to their law firms for months to come. “Basically, in just two weeks we got booted 20 years forward from the traditional practice of law,” said Sharon Nelson, president of Sensei […]
Six keys to increasing loyalty at your law firm
By Beth Sears BridgeTower Media Newswires All too often, attorneys abandon the law practice with which they work to join another or start their own. Usually unresolved conflict, misaligned values or better opportunities head the list of reasons for the separation. Many just think that their firm will be better now and do not use […]
Dress codes: The poll results
Men don’t need to wear a tie to the office much any more. And if you don’t shave for a few days, that’s kind of OK. Women should not wear low-cut tops or short skirts, but high heels are OK. And neither men nor women should sport facial jewelry or have a visible tattoo at […]
Virginia Beach firm announces 2019 leadership
Pender & Coward, based in Virginia Beach, has announced the election of a new executive committee. The 2019 committee is Dave Arnold, the new chief executive officer; Mark Baumgartner, chief financial officer; and Jim Lang, the new chief operating officer. “This management team is committed to staying ahead of rapid changes in the legal industry […]
Verdicts & Settlements
- Worker fell off roof, rendering him a paraplegic — $1.25M settlement
- Driver sustained permanent hearing loss after traffic collision — $240,000 settlement
- Plaintiff suffered concussion in rear-end collision — $81,000 verdict
- Builder misrepresented home status to buyers — $675,000 verdict
- Low potassium led to cardiac arrest, death of patient — $1M settlement
- Excessive propofol caused death in dialysis patient — $850,000 settlement
- Pedestrian struck in crosswalk in hit-and-run incident — $300,000 settlement
- Navy veteran killed in collision with box truck — $1.85M arbitration award
- Motorcyclist ejected from bike in collision with SUV — $1.5M settlement
- Jury rules in plaintiff’s favor in defamation suit with city — $300,000 verdict
- Woman missed step on walkway, rupturing Achilles tendon — $160,000 settlement
- Court dismisses suit in hit-and-run death of 2-year-old
Opinion Digests
- Debtor fails to show that signatures were forged
- Alleged defect in service of process excused
- Sales reps defeat injunction motion by former employer
- Court refuses to strike damages expert’s report
- Company can’t dismiss securities class action
- Defendants sued for not repaying loan
- No claim for ACA retaliation outside employment arena
- Plaintiffs awarded $33K in damages, $324K in fees
- Bank dodges claim for customer’s in-person transfer
- Jury to decide who is on hook for $207K loss
- Woman claims hospital did not offer appropriate exam
- Board members accused of political patronage
