Legal Elite 2023: Corporate Counsel Q&A

Title: Shareholder

Other legal specialties: Mergers and acquisitions

Education: Bachelor’s degree, Virginia Tech; law degree, George Mason University 

Family: Just celebrated 25th wedding anniversary with my wife, Kelly. We have five children: Tommy, 24; Logan, 22; Billy, 20;
Brady, 18; and Sawyer, 16.  

Career mentors: My partners, Jimmy Pittleman and David Lawrence

Fan of: Lacrosse and college football. It has been tough lately since I am first and foremost a Hokie fan. 

First legal job: Where I am now. I have been at Odin Feldman Pittleman my entire legal career.  

What led you to pursue a law degree after earning your CPA? I liked but did not love accounting. I wanted to pursue a career where my accounting background would be useful, but not my main focus. As a business lawyer, my accounting and tax background is invaluable and has made me a much better lawyer.   

What is it like helping businesses get off the ground? Nothing has been more rewarding in my career than building longstanding relationships with my clients. There have been numerous instances where I have formed a client’s business, become their trusted adviser over the years, and then helped them successfully sell their business. From my perspective, when this happens as a business lawyer, it is as good as it gets.

Check out the rest of the 2023 Legal Elite.