2020-11-21 05:25:39
Shannon Peak has joined Shannon Mullins & Wright LLP as an associate where she focuses her practice on civil/commercial Litigation, construction and real estate matters, and business law matters. Peak has experience assisting start-ups and representing small and medium cap businesses at various growth stages, with different ownership structures, and across many industries. Her litigation practice includes advocating on behalf of contractors in a multi-milliondollar government contract dispute, representing homeowners against HOAs, litigating enforcement of noncompete agreements, and resolving partnership and shareholder disputes.
The Appalachian School of Law received unconditional ABA approval as a fully accredited law school in 100% compliance with ABA standards for the first time since 2017. The law school, now headed by former Supreme Court of Virginia Justice Elizabeth A. McClanahan, had its largest class in eight years and was the most diverse law school class in the Commonwealth in 2019.
Andrew L. Hurst has joined Baker Donelson’s Business Litigation Group as a shareholder in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Hurst focuses his practice on representing corporations and individuals in civil fraud investigations and litigation, primarily life sciences companies, health care providers and other government contractors being sued by the government or qui tam relators under the civil False Claims Act. He also regularly represents corporations and individuals in connection with criminal investigations and prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice and other federal and state entities. In addition, Hurst serves as outside general counsel for several small to midsize corporations in the D.C. region, particularly in the federal government contracting space with an emphasis on the intelligence, defense, and information technology sectors.
Gentry Locke has added three new attorneys to its Roanoke team. Jean D. Mumm is a partner in the General Commercial practice group, assisting clients with the acquisition, disposition, leasing, and financing of commercial real estate properties.
Max E. McCrary is an associate in Gentry Locke’s General Commercial practice group. McCrary previously worked in Charlotte, North Carolina, working on mergers and acquisitions and general corporate issues for private equity groups.
Hugh H. Brown is an associate in Gentry Locke’s business and commercial law practice. Brown assists clients with the financing required to power their businesses, including credit facilities, syndicated and bilateral loans, accounts receivable monetization, and collateralized loan obligations. During law school, Brown served as a judicial extern for the Hon. William D. Broadhurst, Roanoke City Circuit Court, and as an intern for the Hon. Rebecca B. Connelly, Chief Judge, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Virginia.
Trav Clark has joined Shannon Mullins & Wright LLP in Alexandria. Clark’s practice areas include civil/ commercial litigation, construction/real estate, design professional, and all aspects of business law. Prior to joining the private practice, Clark served as a law clerk to the Hon. Randy I. Bellows of the Fairfax County Circuit Court and as judicial intern to the Hon. Gerald Bruce Lee of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Four members of the Richmond Bar Association received awards at the RBA’s luncheon in October:
• George K. Martin, a partner at McGuireWoods, received the Hill- Tucker Public Service award. The award recognizes members of the legal profession who render conspicuous public service and distinguish themselves in service to society beyond the practice of law. In 2013, Martin became the first African American to serve as the rector of the University of Virginia. He has served on numerous other boards and commissions, including the American Evolution/2019 Executive Committee; Virginia Board of Bar Examiners; James Madison University Board of Visitors; and the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher Education.
• Lonnie D. Nunley III, a partner at Hunton Andrews Kurth, received the John C. Kenny Pro Bono Award, presented annually to an individual or law firm that demonstrates a dedication to furthering the delivery of pro bono legal services to the poor and under-served in the Richmond Metro area. He is a past chair of the VSB’s Special Committee on Access to Legal Services, chair of the Board of Directors of HomeAgain and a member of the Board of Directors of both Central Virginia Legal Aid and Legal Aid Justice Center.
• Barbara Ann Williams, deputy general counsel at McGuireWoods, received the Hunter W. Martin Professionalism Award which recognizes lawyers who, throughout their lives and careers in the law, have best exemplified the conduct and high ideals embodied in the Bar’s Principles of Professionalism. Williams’ interest in professional conduct, risk management, and wellness issues stems from her service as bar counsel for the VSB. A former president of Virginia Lawyers Helping Lawyers, she frequently speaks on professional responsibility and wellness issues.
• Sean D. Hicks, a Senior Associate at Williams Mullen, received the Young Lawyer of the Year Award, given annually to a member of the Bar’s Young Lawyers Section who has excelled in the practice of law to date and who has shown the potential to become a leader in the legal profession. A former chair of the RBA’s Real Estate Section, Mr. Hicks, in 2017, was appointed by Governor Terry McAuliffe to the Virginia Manufactured Housing Board.
The Virginia Indigent Defense Commission (VIDC) has named Lakishi Stevenson as the new Chief Public Defender for the Chesapeake Office of the Public Defender. Prior to this position, Stevenson served as the Deputy Public Defender in Portsmouth, Virginia. Stevenson was the first in her family to graduate from college when she received a degree in Criminal Justice from North Carolina Central University. She went on to attend Regent University School of Law and graduated with her JD degree. Criminal defense work is at her core and she has dedicated her career to defending the indigent.
Lindsey Kelly has been named Director of Legal Collections/Attorney at Langley Federal Credit Union in Newport News. Kelly, who resides in Isle of Wight County with her husband and four children, has been with LFCU for three years as a manager and collections attorney, and was recently designated a NAFCU Certified Compliance Officer. Prior to her time at LFCU, Lindsey worked at Shapiro & Brown, LLP; she received her undergraduate degree from Sweet Briar College and her law degree at the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill.
Ian J. McElhaney has joined the firm of Blankingship & Keith, PC in Fairfax as an associate in its Civil Litigation and Wills, Trusts, and Estates practice groups. Prior to joining the firm, McElhaney clerked with the Hon. Daniel E. Ortiz at Fairfax County Circuit Court.
Patrick J. Keogh, a former McLean real estate lawyer who now manages his family office from Amelia Island, FL, has written a book, Make Your Family Rich: Why to Replace Retirement Planning with Succession Planning. Keogh questions the standard portfolio value method of measuring success in the market because investors cannot control the performance of the market. He recommends investors measure their performance by income which they can control. Keogh details his family’s plans for succession by the next generations.
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