Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Upcoming Event

Best Places to Work in Virginia

Hamburger Menu Hamburger Menu

Tag: criminal law

Legal Elite 2024: Criminal Law

James Abrenio
Abrenio Law
Fairfax

John D. Adams
McGuireWoods
Richmond

Tony F. Anderson
Anderson Legal
Roanoke

Mark Andrews
Wolcott Rivers Gates
Virginia Beach

Ridley Penn Bain
Sevila Saunders, Huddleston & White
Leesburg

David G. Barger
Greenberg Traurig
McLean

Jason A. Barlow
Parks Zeigler
Chesapeake

Peter B. Baruch
Parcell Webb & Baruch
Richmond

Steve Benjamin
Benjamin & Desportes
Richmond

Bruce Michael Blanchard
Odin Feldman & Pittleman
Reston

Thomas J. Bondurant Jr.
Gentry Locke Attorneys
Roanoke

Aaron S. Book
Webster Book
Alexandria

Cary B. Bowen
Bowen Lindemann & Scott
Richmond

James O. Broccoletti
Zoby & Broccoletti
Norfolk

Craig S. Cooley
Craig S. Cooley PLC
Richmond

Graven Craig
CraigWilliams
Louisa

S. W. Dawson
Dawson PLC
Norfolk

Peter Decker III
Decker Law
Norfolk

William J. Dinkin
The Attorneys at Shockoe Slip
Richmond

Anna K. Dvorchik
MDE Law Group
Fairfax

John P. Fishwick
Fishwick & Associates
Roanoke

John R. Fletcher
Tavss Fletcher
Norfolk

Michelle N. Fremen
Parks Zeigler
Chesapeake

David Heath Gates
CowanGates
Richmond

Nina J. Ginsberg
DiMuroGinsberg
Alexandria

David Michael Good
David Michael Good PC
Virginia Beach

Peter D. Greenspun
Greenspun Shapiro
Fairfax

Artisha Todd Gregg
Rice & Gregg
Norfolk

Brendan Harold
Harold Law Firm
Fairfax

Erin Harrigan
Gentry Locke Attorneys
Richmond

Michael N. Herring
McGuireWoods
Richmond

Charles J. Homiller Jr.
The Homiller Law Firm
Midlothian

Aaron B. Houchens
The Law Firm of Aaron B. Houchens
Salem

Elizabeth B. Hurd
Dunton Simmons & Dunton
White Stone

Michael HuYoung
Barnes & Diehl
Richmond

William B. Jackson
Jackson Lewis
Norfolk

Charles E. James Jr.
Williams Mullen
Richmond

Vaughan C. Jones
Vaughan C. Jones Attorney at Law
Richmond

Erik Jurgensen
David Marks Law
Fairfax

Matthew B. Kapuscinski
Odin Feldman & Pittleman
Reston

Trey Kelleter
Kelleter Law
Norfolk

Michael La Fratta
La Fratta Law
Charlottesville

Brian M. Latuga
Wolcott Rivers Gates
Virginia Beach

Jennifer Leffler
LefflerPhillips
Fairfax

Manuel E. Leiva
The Leiva Law Firm
Fairfax

John E. Lichtenstein
Lichtenstein Law Group
Roanoke

G. Manoli Loupassi
Law Office of G. Manoli Loupassi
Richmond

Lana M. Manitta
The Law Office of Lana Manitta
Alexandria

Laura Colombell Marshall
McGuireWoods
Richmond

D. Bradley Marshall
Vanderpool Frostick & Nishanian
Manassas

Mark Matney
Holcomb Law
Newport News

Marina Medvin
Medvin Law
Alexandria

Daniel J. Miller
The Law Offices of Daniel J. Miller
Virginia Beach

Robert Gray Morecock
Ruloff Swain Haddad Morecock Talbert & Woodward
Virginia Beach

Diallo K. Morris
Morris Currin & O’Keefe
Chesapeake

George Neskis
The Decker Law Firm
Norfolk

Thomas K. “Tommy” Norment Jr.
Kaufman & Canoles
Williamsburg

Melissa E. O’Boyle
Gentry Locke Attorneys
Norfolk

William H. O’Brien
Sheppard & O’Brien Law Firm
Virginia Beach

Patrick H. O’Donnell
Kaufman & Canoles
Norfolk

James Spero Panagis
Wolcott Rivers Gates
Virginia Beach

Stephen Patrick Pfeiffer
Wolcott Rivers Gates
Virginia Beach

Jonathan Leo Phillips
LefflerPhillips
Fairfax

Aaron M. Pomeranz
Parks Zeigler
Virginia Beach

Karin Riley Porter
Price Benowitz
Fairfax

W. Davis Powell
Byrne Canaan Law
Richmond

Pierre T. Prialé
Right Path Law Group
Fairfax

Andrew Anthony Protogyrou
Protogyrou Law
Norfolk

Rhonda Quagliana
MichieHamlett
Charlottesville

Douglas Ramseur
The Ram Law Firm
Richmond

W. Edward Riley IV
Riley & Wells Attorneys at Law
Richmond

Michael Anthony Robusto
Slipow & Robusto
Virginia Beach

John Rockecharlie
Rock Stone Law
Richmond

Andrew M. Sacks
Sacks & Sacks
Norfolk

Bruce Christopher Sams
Law Office of Bruce C. Sams
Norfolk

Brandon M. Santos
McGuireWoods
Richmond

Gregory Robert Sheldon
Bain Sheldon
Richmond

David E. Sher
Sher, Cummings & Ellis
Arlington County

Larry B. Slipow
Slipow & Robusto
Virginia Beach

David M. Smith
The Law Office of David M. Smith
Richmond

Mark Bradford Stokes
Stokes Law
Virginia Beach

Scott Anthony Surovell
Surovell Isaacs & Levy
Fairfax

Jeffrey A. Swartz
Swartz Taliaferro Swartz & Goodove
Norfolk

Shannon Taylor
Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Office
Henrico

Ann M. Thayer
The Law Office of Ann Thayer
Fairfax

Jason W. Todd Jr.
PLDR Law
Lynchburg

Diane Toscano
Toscano Law Group
Virginia Beach

John S. West
Troutman Pepper
Richmond

Lawrence H. Woodward Jr.
Ruloff Swain Haddad Morecock Talbert & Woodward
Virginia Beach

Dickson J. Young
Whitestone Young
Fairfax

Read all of the 2024 Virginia Legal Elite here.

Legal Elite 2023: Criminal Law

James Abrenio
Abrenio Law, Fairfax

John D. Adams
McGuireWoods, Richmond

Tony F. Anderson
Anderson Legal, Roanoke

Mark Andrews
Wolcott Rivers Gates, Virginia Beach

R. Penn Bain
Sevila, Saunders, Huddleston & White, Leesburg

David G. Barger
Greenberg Traurig, McLean

Jason A. Barlow
Parks Zeigler, Chesapeake

Peter B. Baruch
Parcell Webb & Baruch, Richmond

Steve Benjamin
Benjamin & DesPortes, Richmond

Patrick M. Blanch
Blanch & Hart, Fairfax

Bruce M. Blanchard
Odin Feldman Pittleman, Reston

Thomas J. Bondurant Jr.
Gentry Locke Attorneys, Roanoke

Aaron S. Book
Webster Book, Alexandria

Cary B. Bowen
Bowen, Lindemann & Scott, Richmond

James O. Broccoletti
Zoby & Broccoletti, Norfolk

Timothy G. Clancy
Clancy & Walter, Hampton

Craig S. Cooley
Craig S. Cooley PLC, Richmond

Graven Craig
Craig Williams PLC, Louisa County

S. W. Dawson
Dawson PLC, Norfolk

William J. Dinkin
William J. Dinkin PLC, Richmond

Anna K. Dvorchik
MDE Law Group, Fairfax

John Fishwick Jr.
Fishwick & Associates, Roanoke

John R. Fletcher
Tavss Fletcher, Norfolk

Humes J. Franklin III
Wharton Aldhizer & Weaver, Staunton

Michelle Fremen
Parks Zeigler, Chesapeake

Nina J. Ginsberg
DiMuroGinsberg, Alexandria

David Michael Good
David Michael Good PC, Virginia Beach

Peter Greenspun
Greenspun Shapiro, Fairfax

Shemeka C. Hankins
Invictus Law, Virginia Beach

Brendan Harold
Harold Law Firm, Fairfax

Erin M. Harrigan
Gentry Locke Attorneys, Richmond

Carly Jehlen Hart
Blanch & Hart, Fairfax

Michael N. Herring
McGuireWoods, Richmond

Aaron B. Houchens
The Law Firm of Aaron B. Houchens, Salem

Michael HuYoung
Barnes & Diehl, Richmond

Charles E. James Jr.
Williams Mullen, Richmond

Vaughan C. Jones
Vaughan C. Jones Attorney at Law, Richmond

Erik Jurgensen
David Marks Law, Fairfax

Matthew B. Kapuscinski
Odin Feldman Pittleman, Reston

Trey Kelleter
Kelleter Law, Norfolk

Michael La Fratta
LaFratta Law, Richmond

Brian M. Latuga
Wolcott Rivers Gates, Virginia Beach

Manuel E. Leiva
The Leiva Law Firm, Fairfax

John E. Lichtenstein
Lichtenstein Law Group, Roanoke

Mikhail N. Lopez
Lee Lopez Law, Arlington County

G. Manoli Loupassi
Law Office of G. Manoli Loupassi, Richmond

Lana Manitta
The Law Office of Lana Manitta, Purcellville

Laura Colombell Marshall
McGuireWoods, Richmond

Bradley Marshall
Vanderpool, Frostick & Nishanian, Manassas

Mark R. Matney
Holcomb Law, Newport News

Marina Medvin
Medvin Law, Alexandria

Shawn Mihill
Virginia Law Office, Virginia Beach

Robert Gray Morecock
Ruloff, Swain, Haddad, Morecock, Talbert & Woodward, Virginia Beach

Diallo K. Morris
Morris, Crawford & Currin, Chesapeake

George Neskis
The Decker Law Firm, Norfolk

Thomas K. Norment Jr.
Kaufman & Canoles, Williamsburg

William H. O’Brien
Sheppard & O’Brien, Virginia Beach

Patrick H. O’Donnell
Kaufman & Canoles, Norfolk

James S. Panagis
Wolcott Rivers Gates, Virginia Beach

Stephen Patrick Pfeiffer
Wolcott Rivers Gates, Virginia Beach

Jonathan L. Phillips
LefflerPhillips, Fairfax

Karin Riley Porter
Price Benowitz, Fairfax

Pierre Prialé
Right Path Law Group, Fairfax

Andrew Anthony Protogyrou
Protogyrou Law, Norfolk

Rhonda Quagliana
MichieHamlett Attorneys at Law, Charlottesville

Doug Ramseur
The Ram Law Firm, Richmond

W. Edward Riley IV
Riley & Wells Attorneys at Law, Richmond

Michael Anthony Robusto
Slipow & Robusto, Virginia Beach

John Rockecharlie
Rock Stone Law, Richmond

Andrew Sacks
Sacks & Sacks, Norfolk

Brandon M. Santos
McGuireWoods, Richmond

Cullen D. Seltzer
Sands Anderson, Richmond

Gregory R. Sheldon
BainSheldon, Henrico County

David E. Sher
Sher, Cummings and Ellis, Arlington County

Larry B. Slipow
Slipow & Robusto, Virginia Beach

David M. Smith
The Law Office of David M. Smith, Richmond

Scott Anthony Surovell
Surovell Isaacs & Levy, Fairfax

Jeffrey A. Swartz
Swartz. Taliaferro, Swartz & Goodove, Norfolk

Franklin Swartz
Swartz, Taliaferro, Swartz & Goodove, Norfolk

Diane Toscano
Toscano Law Group, Virginia Beach

Rebecca Janet Wade
Wade Grimes Friedman Meinken & Leischner, Alexandria

John S. West
Troutman Pepper, Richmond

Roger Whitus
Slipow & Robusto, Virginia Beach

Lawrence H. Woodward Jr.
Ruloff, Swain, Haddad, Morecock, Talbert & Woodward, Virginia Beach

Dickson J. Young
Whitestone Young, Fairfax

Check out the rest of the 2023 Legal Elite. 

Legal Elite 2023: Criminal Law Q&A

Title: Partner

Other legal specialties: Family law

Education: Bachelor’s degree, Longwood University; law degree, University of Richmond School of Law

Family: My wife, Amy, and our daughter, Ridley

Career mentors: Jon D. Huddleston, the Hon. William R. Fitzpatrick, Craig E. White, Robert E. Sevila and Amy E. Totten

Hobbies: I enjoy sports, history, walking and spending time with my family.

First legal job: Assistant commonwealth’s attorney, Henrico County

Bingeworthy TV show: “The Wire”

When did you know you wanted to be an attorney? I have wanted to be an attorney since I was very young. I have family members who are attorneys. I looked up to my grandfather, who was an attorney and a judge.

What do you love most about criminal defense? The best part of practicing law is helping people. In criminal matters, it is particularly meaningful when I can assist clients to make positive changes in their lives.

Why did you decide to stop being a prosecutor? I wanted to learn other areas of the law and expand my legal practice. I was offered a great opportunity to join a fantastic law firm where I could learn from some truly excellent attorneys. I also looked forward to the flexibility and opportunities the private practice of law offered.

Check out the rest of the 2023 Legal Elite. 

2021 CRIMINAL LAW Q&A

James S. Abrenio

Abrenio Law, Fairfax

Title: Owner and trial attorney  

Other legal specialties: Personal injury

Education: Bachelor’s degree, University of Virginia; law degree, Syracuse University College of Law 

Spouse: Linda Choe, who works as an attorney for the Fairfax County Public Schools. She is also president-elect of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Virginia.  

Children: We are expecting our first child, a daughter, in January.  

First job as a lawyer: Worked as a collections attorney and got fired after the first day!   

Fan of: “Ted Lasso” 

Recently read book: “Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike,” by Phil Knight (I re-read it.
It’s really good.)

How has your background aided you in your practice? I’m half-Filipino and went to grade school in Southwest Virginia. My father is an immigrant from the Philippines and my mom is from Kentucky. I’ve lived all over Virginia. Working as both a criminal defense attorney, former public defender, and now on the civil side, I’ve litigated cases from all angles. My life and career have allowed me to develop relationships with people from all types of backgrounds, which has taught me empathy. It’s been truly humbling. 

How did you come to take on the case of the man accused of assaulting “Unite the Right” rally organizer Jason Kessler? Having lived in Charlottesville, witnessing what happened during that rally was truly tragic and horrifying. Through social media, I learned a friend knew someone facing a criminal charge for allegedly assaulting this person, and that he was seeking donations to pay for his defense. Instead, I donated my services pro bono. I was proud that I was able to use my legal training to help him through a jury trial.