Fairfax and Leesburg, VA, Dec. 12, 2013—McCandlish Lillard is pleased to announce that, for the second year in a row, sixteen of its 24 attorneys have been recognized by Virginia Business magazine as being among Virginia’s “Legal Elite.” 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, which was just released.
Eric J. Berghold, a principal of the firm, was named among the best in the category of Labor and Employment Law. Mr. Berghold’s practice focuses primarily on workers’ compensation and commercial litigation, and includes tort liability, health care malpractice, mechanic’s liens, and landlord/tenant. He appears before the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission and has taught continuing legal education courses in Workers’ Compensation and Employment Law. Mr. Berghold received his B.A. from the University of Virginia, and attended The Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary, where he received his J.D. degree in 1987.
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, and also handles business disputes in mediation, arbitration, and litigation settings. 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 Loudoun First Responders Foundation in partnering 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 Senior Counsel and past Chairman of the Board of the firm, was named among the best in the category of Alternate Dispute Resolution. A member of the firm’s Litigation Group, 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.
John W. Farrell, a Principal of the firm, was named among the best in the field of Real Estate/Land Use Law. John has over 35 years of experience before governing bodies, planning commissions, boards of zoning appeals and circuit courts, representing landowners, developers, local governments, and environmental organizations in land use and environmental controversies. That representation has included one of the largest rezonings ever filed in Northern Virginia, dozen of plaintiffs in the Fairfax County C & I downzoning, the Loudoun downzoning, and the Loudoun County groundwater litigation. He regularly lectures on land use law for the Virginia Law Foundation and is the co-author of “Planning and Zoning,” the comprehensive monograph on land use law in Virginia. He is the past chairman of the Land Use, Environment and Transportation Committee of the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce and has also served on the State Legislative Committee of the Home Builders Association of Virginia. He is admitted to practice in Virginia and Massachusetts.
Anne Reilly Jones, a Principal and member of the firm’s Executive Committee, 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.
Derek E. Karchner, an Associate in the firm, was named to the firm’s list of Legal Elite this year as an outstanding Young Lawyer (under 40). Derek’s practice includes business, real estate, and civil litigation matters. He has represented clients on a broad range of civil matters, including (among others) business formation and governance, contract drafting and negotiation, employment matters, commercial litigation, FINRA arbitration, trademark registration, real estate transactions and related litigation, commercial leasing, and franchising. Derek is a 2011 graduate of The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law and a 2000 graduate of the University of Richmond. He is active with NAIOP Northern Virginia on its Government Relations Committee, the Dulles Area Transportation Association, and is a member of The Future Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Virginia. Derek is admitted to practice in Virginia and the District of Columbia. Prior to joining the firm, Derek spent nine years in public relations, first on Capitol Hill as a press aide and then with a private public relations firm.
Laura Golden Liff, an Associate attorney in the firm, also was named to the firm’s Legal Elite for the second straight year, in the area of Legal Services/Pro Bono. In addition to being a leader in the firm in that area, Laura’s primary practice area is civil litigation, with substantial experience in the areas of commercial litigation, business litigation, fiduciary litigation and family law, and in alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration. Laura is admitted to practice before all federal and state courts in Virginia and the District of Columbia. She serves as a member of the Executive Council of the Virginia Bar Association Young Lawyer’s Division, and is chair of the Northern Virginia Pro Bono Hotline for the Young Lawyer’s Division of the Virginia Bar Association. Laura earned her J.D. from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, in 2010, where she was an Associate Editor of the Catholic University Law Review. She earned a B. A. from the College of William and Mary in 2006.
Robert H. J. Loftus, who was named among the best in the field of Bankruptcy/Creditors’ Rights, 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 is President and a principal of the firm, and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. This year he was selected for the Legal Elite list in the fields of Civil Litigation, Labor and Employment. He has actively litigated business, corporate and commercial matters on a continuing basis since 1980, with broad experience as a trial lawyer and lead counsel in State, Federal and arbitration cases. He has tried numerous jury and non-jury cases, written and argued appellate briefs to the Virginia Supreme Court and Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and been the principal attorney on a number of reported state and federal decisions. Mr. Mahaffey has been selected to the “Legal Elite” every year from its inception in 2000 in the category of Civil Litigation, and also in the category of Labor and Employment for 2012 and 2013. Mr. Mahaffey has also appeared in “Top Lawyers” by Washingtonian Magazine; “Super Lawyers” in the Commonwealth of Virginia and in the Washington, D.C. area; “Top Attorneys in Business Litigation–Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel”; “Top Attorneys” in Virginia, by Richmond Magazine; “Top Attorneys” in Virginia by D.C. Magazine; and “Best Lawyers in America.” He has been named a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America; a Fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation; and to the Fellows Advisory Board of the Fairfax Law Foundation. Mr. Mahaffey graduated with High Distinction from the University of Virginia in 1977, and from its Law School in 1980. He is admitted to practice before all State and Federal courts in Virginia, as well as the United States Supreme Court.
J. Robert McAllister, III, a Senior Counsel to the firm, was recognized among the best in Health Law. In addition, his practice includes the areas of trusts and estates law and business and tax-exempt organization law. Mr. McAllister has appeared numerous 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 Labor and Employment Law. A member of the firm’s Litigation and Real Estate Groups, Lawrence has been selected to the Legal Elite in several different categories since 2005. 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. 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.
Autumn D. McCullogh, an Associate who joined the firm from her own practice in 2012, and was designated last year as a member of the Legal Elite in the Outstanding Young Lawyer (under 40) category, has been selected again this year in the area of Taxes/Estates/Trusts/Elder Law. Autumn brings a small business background to her trusts and estates practice, which allows her to effectively implement creative wealth preservation, asset protection and succession planning to many area business owners. She also enjoys ensuring that individuals and families optimize tax-planning opportunities, retain wealth and meet their estate planning goals. She is admitted to practice in Virginia and California. Autumn received her J.D. in 2004, graduating cum laude from the University Of San Diego School of Law and earning induction into the Order of the Coif.
Stephen C. Price, a Principal with the firm, was selected in the category of Business Law. Steve’s practice focuses on business litigation and transactions, with an emphasis on real property, condemnation, unfair competition, business tort, contractual and conservation easement matters. He also serves as a Commissioner in Chancery for the Circuit Court of Loudoun County, and as General Counsel to the Land Trust of Virginia & HealthWorks for Northern Virginia (formerly known as Loudoun Community Health Center), and has been a substitute Judge for the General District Courts of Loudoun, Fauquier and Rappahannock Counties, as well as President of the Loudoun County Bar Association and several community organizations. Steve has been recognized several times as an outstanding attorney, including prior recognition in the “Legal Elite.” He earned a B.A. with honors, from Virginia Military Institute, a J.D. from the University of Virginia, and an LL.M. from the University of Cambridge (Queens’ College).
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 has served as pro bono legal counsel to the Arts Council of Fairfax County, Inc. since 1991.
Adam W. Smith, a Principal with the firm, was recognized for the second consecutive year among the best in the area of Appellate Law. Adam has represented insureds and self-insureds in the District of Columbia and Virginia in the defense medical malpractice, products liability, and general liability claims for over 20 years, including the handling of many appeals to the state and federal appellate courts in both jurisdictions. Mr. Smith earned his J.D. from the Ohio Northern University in 1989, cum laude. He is a past President of the District of Columbia Defense Lawyers Association, and also a member of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, and the Litigation Council of America.
Ralph M. Tener, a Principal, Chairman of the Board and member of the Executive Committee of the firm, was recognized among the Legal Elite 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/.
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