Altria sues Reynolds over e-cigarette patent infringement
Henrico County-based Altria Group Inc.’s e-cigarette and smokeless tobacco divisions filed suit Thursday against competitor R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. for patent infringement on e-cigarettes and associated products. Altria owns a 35% stake in e-cigarette industry leader Juul Labs Inc., a direct competitor of Reynolds’ Vuse [...]
Virginia Trial Lawyers Association names Norfolk attorney as parliamentarian
The Virginia Trial Lawyers Association has confirmed Paul R. Hernandez, a partner at the Norfolk-based law firm Kalfus & Nachman PC, as its parliamentarian, a position on the association’s board of governors and its 2020-21 executive council. A trial attorney and Virginia native who practices in personal injury, worker[...]
Walking out the door
During her 13 years of practicing law, Christy L. Murphy has been called “honey” and “sweetie” by older men when they were adversaries in legal cases. “This is an old boys’ network,” says Murphy, 40, a partner at Bischoff Martingayle in Norfolk. “It’s hard to get people out of the mindset.” Law firms are mode[...]
The Virginia Bar Association names 132nd president
The Virginia Bar Association (VBA) installed Alison M. McKee as its 2020 president, effective Jan. 25, the organization announced Tuesday. McKee is the 132nd president of the VBA. McKee is an attorney at the Virginia Beach branch of the Norfolk-based law firm Kaufman & Canoles P.C. Her practice is focused on banking and fina[...]
Williams Mullen taps new chief admin officer and CFO
Richmond-based Williams Mullen, the state’s third-largest law firm, has promoted Billie Jo Brooks to chief administrative officer and Brett Harn as chief financial officer. “Billie Jo and Brett both bring valuable experience and insight to areas critical to Williams Mullen’s operations,” Williams Mullen COO Craig Rascoe said in a statement released Thursday. “We look forward […][...]
Gentry Locke announces 2020 management committee
Roanoke-based law firm Gentry Locke appointed one managing partner and five partners from its Roanoke and Richmond offices to its 2020 management committee, Gentry Locke announced Tuesday. Managing Partner Monica T. Monday will lead the management committee. Monday has been the firm’s managing partner since 2013 and in her new[...]
Vandeventer Black announces 2020 exec board
Norfolk-based law firm Vandeventer Black LLP elected a new executive board member and reelected three current board members, the firm announced Tuesday. Richard Ottinger, a partner at the firm, was newly elected to the board. He specializes in commercial litigation, transportation and maritime litigation and complex trusts and e[...]
GreeneHurlocker promotes Paul Allen to operations officer
Henrico County-based law firm GreeneHurlocker has promoted Paul Allen to operations officer, Co-Managing Member Brian Greene announced Friday. Allen joined GreeneHurlocker in August 2016 as a paralegal and operations manager, having previously working as a paralegal both locally and nationally. He earned a bachelor’s degree f[...]
Petersburg hotel operator files $28M claim in LeClairRyan bankruptcy case
Virginia hotel operator Petersburg Regency LLC filed a $28 million claim in the LeClairRyan bankruptcy case Thursday in Richmond, according to the federal court filing. Petersburg Regency is seeking relief from an automatic stay in LeClairRyan’s handling of an insurance dispute from 2003’s Hurricane Isabel. An automatic stay ensures equality of distribution by preventing one […]
Virginia Bar Association insurance agency rebrands
The insurance agency unit of the Virginia Bar Association, formed in 2001, has been rebranded as Virginia Bar Association Insurance. Formerly known as Virginia Barristers Alliance Inc., the subsidiary provides insurance services and products to Virginia lawyers and offers employee benefit products. VBAI represents every health insurer providing coverage in Virginia. The VBA is the […]
A history of service
Jim Lang’s motivation for joining Pender & Coward after a 25-year career in the U.S. Navy remains as true today as it did when he interviewed with the law firm 14 years ago. “When I was in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps in the Navy, I could count on and trust another JAG to make things happen, […]