Law: VICTOR CARDWELL

It’s been a busy year for Cardwell. In January, the accomplished labor and employment attorney became the first Black president of the Virginia Bar Association. Then in July, his Roanoke-based firm, Woods Rogers, merged with Norfolk-based Vandeventer Black. The new Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black, now the state’s fifth largest firm, employs more than 130 attorneys. Cardwell, who was Woods Rogers’ chair, retains his leadership role in the combined firm while embarking on his new duties at VBA, a voluntary organization for lawyers, judges, law students and faculty that provides advocacy, education and networking.

A graduate of the University of Virginia and the Washington & Lee University School of Law, his practice focuses on matters such as the Fair Labor Standards Act and labor relations.

He is especially passionate about increasing diversity in the legal industry. “Make no mistake, I know how many great lawyers, Black and otherwise, have deserved this honor in the past, and my goal is to make sure that more diverse attorneys become involved in the VBA,” he said earlier this year about his VBA presidency.

Cardwell also serves on the Virginia State Bar’s Diversity Conference board.