Fairfax and Leesburg, VA, Dec. 7, 2011—McCandlish Lillard is pleased to announce that, for another year, the number of its attorneys who have been recognized by Virginia Business magazine as being among Virginia’s “Legal Elite” has reached double digits, with twelve of the firm’s 24 active lawyers being so honored. Virginia Business determines the “Legal Elite” designation from a survey conducted with the Virginia Bar Association, which polls thousands of Virginia lawyers to determine whom they consider the very best in the Commonwealth in various practice categories. Most of the firm’s attorneys named as a result of this year’s survey have been honored several times previously. This year’s list is published in the magazine’s December edition, just released.
For Immediate Release
Fairfax and Leesburg, VA, Dec. 7, 2011—McCandlish Lillard is pleased to announce that, for another year, the number of its attorneys who have been recognized by Virginia Business magazine as being among Virginia’s “Legal Elite” has reached double digits, with twelve of the firm’s 24 active lawyers being so honored. Virginia Business determines the “Legal Elite” designation from a survey conducted with the Virginia Bar Association, which polls thousands of Virginia lawyers to determine whom they consider the very best in the Commonwealth in various practice categories. Most of the firm’s attorneys named as a result of this year’s survey have been honored several times previously. This year’s list is published in the magazine’s December edition, just released.
Wm. McCauley Arnold, a principal of the firm, was named among the best in the category of Construction Law. He has over twenty years experience in the defense and collection of construction related claims of over one million dollars in both private and governmental building projects, and representing landowners and developers before county supervisors, planning commissions, and Board of Zoning appeals. Mr. Arnold received his B.A. from Duke University and his J.D. from the University of Texas, and is admitted to practice in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia and Texas. He has taught construction law, land use and collection law in numerous seminars and colleges, is the author of several articles and booklets on Construction law and Collection law, and is listed in several Who’s Who publications. He also has been an Arbitrator for the Construction Panel of the American Arbitration Association.
William J. Bethune, a senior counsel of the firm, was named among the best in the category of Business Law. Bill counsels a broad range of business clients in insurance, employment, creditor rights, and other commercial transactions. He served as General Counsel of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce from 2000 through 2006 and is currently a member of the steering committee of CXO Forum, www.cxoforum.com, a group of business owners and executives who meet regularly to discuss business topics and solutions, update management skills, and develop best practices. He led Valor Foundation to partner with state and county bar associations in 2008 to bring the Wills for Heroes program to Loudoun County. Mr. Bethune is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School and of Princeton University.
Gary W. Brown, a principal and past Chairman of the Board of McCandlish & Lillard, was named among the best in the category of Alternate Dispute Resolution. His areas of concentration include medical malpractice, legal malpractice, product liability and employment discrimination. He is an experienced arbitrator and mediator. Mr. Brown is a former adjunct professor at both the Georgetown University Law Center and Medical Center and a past President of the District of Columbia Defense Lawyers Association, which chose him as Lawyer of the Year in 1996. Also, Mr. Brown was named recently as one of the Best Lawyers in America.
Anne Reilly Jones, a Principal of the firm, was named among the best in the category of Legislative/Administrative/Regulatory Law. Anne is experienced in general business matters including business formations, as well as corporate matters involving for-profit and non-profit entities. She has also represented clients in land use matters relating to commercial, residential and industrial rezoning. Anne’s practice also includes commercial real estate transactions as well as specific regulatory issues involving health and/or financial information privacy. Prior to joining the firm, Anne received her B.A. in Economics, graduating Summa Cum Laude from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She later served as a research assistant and economist with the Banking Section of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C. Anne received her J.D. from Georgetown University and has been admitted to the Bar in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Robert H. J. Loftus, who was named among the best in the field of Construction Law, is a principal of the firm and graduated from the University of Virginia Law School in 1973. His practice has focused on business litigation, and he has successfully litigated numerous complex business and liability issues for nationally recognized companies. Recently, he successfully defended a government contracting company from raiding claims, defended a tech company’s general counsel from conspiracy claims, defended a bank from a multimillion dollar mechanics’ lien claim, prevailed in a dispute over founders’ shares in a European telecommunications company, defended a medical practice from fraudulent billing claims, and pierced a series of corporations and obtained a multimillion dollar verdict against its owners. His practice includes all aspects of real estate disputes, including partnership and corporate matters, finance, leasing, and construction, telecommunications, and defense of liability matters.
R. Peyton Mahaffey, a principal and President of the firm, has been named among the best once again in the category of Civil Litigation. A newly appointed Fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation for 2011, he has broad experience as a trial lawyer and lead counsel in state and federal cases involving business, corporate and commercial matters, as well as arbitration and mediation. He has been the principal attorney on a number of reported state and federal decisions. Mr. Mahaffey has been elected to the “Legal Elite” every year since its inception in 2000, as well as being named to Washingtonian Magazine’s list of “Top Attorneys” in the Washington Metropolitan Area in 2004, and more recently to the “Super Lawyers” in Virginia and the Washington, D.C. area for 2006 –2010.
J. Robert McAllister, III, a senior counsel to the firm, was recognized among the best in Health Law. In addition to health care law, his practice includes the areas of business and tax-exempt organization law. Mr. McAllister has appeared twelve times since 1995 in The Best Lawyers in America in Health Care Law and has also appeared in Washingtonian magazine as one of the “Best Lawyers in Washington” in health care law. He is a member of the Governing Council of the Health Law Section of the Virginia Bar Association. He is also a past President of the Arlington County Bar Association. Mr. McAllister received his undergraduate degree from Davidson College, his law degree from the University of Virginia and a masters degree in tax law from Georgetown University.
Lawrence J. McClafferty, a principal and member of the firm’s Executive Committee, has been selected this year in the category of Civil Litigation. Mr. McClafferty previously was selected to the Legal Elite in this category in 2010, and from 2005 through 2008 as a Young Lawyer. He is a trial and appellate lawyer who handles commercial litigation as well as employment law, and is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, in addition to the state and federal district courts in Virginia. Of special note, also, is his extensive experience with disputes involving homeowners associations and condominiums. Mr. McClafferty is a past president of the Loudoun County Bar Association. He received his undergraduate degree from Boston College and his J.D. from Washington and Lee University.
Anne Rocktashel, an associate with the firm, was recognized in the category of Legal Services and Pro Bono. Ms. Rocktashel also practices in the areas of business and construction litigation, and employment law. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Rocktashel had maintained a long-term career in engineering, business and management disciplines at Fortune 500 telecommunications companies that included Cisco Systems and Sprint. Ms. Rocktashel is admitted to practice in all the state courts in Virginia, and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Ms. Rocktashel earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Pennsylvania State University, and her J.D. from the George Washington University Law School.
Brian R. Sanderson, a principal with the firm, was recognized in the category of Health Law. His areas of concentration include medical malpractice, legal malpractice, and general and premises liability claims. He has extensive experience defending hospitals, physicians, and allied health professionals against claims of institutional and professional malpractice. He has experience in medical staff, credentialing, peer review, and disciplinary matters, and has represented health care providers in administrative hearings before licensing boards. Mr. Sanderson has lectured to health care professionals on medico-legal topics. He is a member of the Fairfax Bar Association, Defense Research Institute, and the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, Medical Malpractice Section. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, all the state courts in Virginia, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He received his undergraduate degree from James Madison University, and his Juris Doctor degree from George Mason University School of Law.
Douglas J. Sanderson, a principal with the firm, was recognized among the best in the area of Family Law/Domestic Relations. Mr. Sanderson counsels and represents people who need legal assistance with such matters as pre-nuptial agreements, property and separation agreements, divorces, child custody and visitation, equitable distribution and support, and is trained also in collaborative divorce. He also maintains a substantial practice in business transactions and commercial real estate law. Mr. Sanderson has been recognized among Virginia Business’ Legal Elite in every year since the inception of the list, except 2001. He served as President of Legal Services of Northern Virginia from 1993 to 1996, and currently serves as pro bono legal counsel to the Arts Council of Fairfax County, Inc.
Ralph M. Tener, a principal and Chairman of the Board of McCandlish & Lillard, was also recognized among the best in the area of Intellectual Property. A business lawyer who heads the firm’s Information Technology Group, he works with software and Internet companies from start-up through venture capital investment to sale or merger. Mr. Tener has been elected to the “Legal Elite” each year since its inception in 2000. He founded the Computer Law Section of the Fairfax Bar Association in 1986 and served as its Chairman for eight years. Mr. Tener served on the Board of Directors of the D.C. Computer Law Forum for five years, including one term as President, and is a former adjunct professor in computer law at the University of Virginia Continuing Education Center.
McCandlish Lillard has 24 active attorneys, with offices in Fairfax and Leesburg. The law firm has been meeting the legal needs of businesses and individuals in Northern Virginia and throughout the Commonwealth for more than a century. For more information regarding McCandlish Lillard, call the firm at 703-273-2288 or visit our website at www.mccandlaw.com.
