The 26th edition of the Virginia Legal Elite

Launched in cooperation with the Virginia Bar Association in 2000, the Legal Elite is jointly produced by Virginia Business and Virginia Lawyers Weekly. Lawyers licensed in Virginia are asked each year to identify the top attorneys across 21 legal specialties. Additionally, up-and-coming attorneys are recognized under the Young Lawyer category.

In compiling the Legal Elite, Virginia Business contacted more than 14,000 attorneys and more than 50 law firms, directing them to a balloting website, which was available only during the annual voting period. Virginia Business contracted with Colorado-based media research and analytics firm DataJoe to conduct balloting.
This year’s Legal Elite list includes a total of 1,605 lawyers, 38.4% of the 4,179 attorneys who were nominated by their peers this year. Attorneys cast 902 ballots, making 17,363 separate votes across all legal specialty categories.

Additionally, the 18 attorneys who have appeared in all 25 editions are recognized on Page 40. Ten are from Central Virginia, while five are based in Hampton Roads and three are in Northern Virginia.
Two firms are well represented in this list of 26-year honorees, with three attorneys each. Willcox & Savage has Allan G. Donn, William M. Furr and Thomas G. Johnson Jr. Williams Mullen also has three long-term honorees: William D. Bayliss and firm president, CEO and Chairman Calvin W. “Woody” Fowler Jr., who are based in Richmond, and Thomas R. Frantz, the firm’s chairman emeritus, in Virginia Beach.

The 26th annual Legal Elite

Hall of Fame: Attorneys recognized as Virginia’s Legal Elite for all 26 years

• • Administrative/Government/Legislative
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Appellate Law
  • Bankruptcy/Creditors’ Rights
  • Business Law
  • Civil Litigation
    
  • Construction Law
  • Corporate Counsel
  • Criminal Law
  • Cybersecurity/ Data Privacy/ Technology
  • Elder Law
  • Entertainment/ Media/Sports Law
  • Environmental Law
  • Family Law/Domestic Relations
  • Health Law
  • Immigration Law
    
  • Intellectual Property
  • Labor/ Employment Law
    
  • Legal Services/Pro Bono
  • Real Estate/Land Use
  • Taxes/Estates/Trusts
  • Young Lawyer