Congratulation to the McCandlish Lillard’s Lawyers Named to Virginia Business’s “Legal Elite” for 2021
Fairfax and Leesburg, VA –McCandlish Lillard is pleased to announce that 16 of its attorneys have been recognized by Virginia Business magazine as being among Virginia’s “Legal Elite.” Virginia Business magazine awards the “Legal Elite” designation from a survey of thousands of Virginia lawyers conducted in conjunction with the Virginia Bar Association. This year’s list appears in the magazine’s December edition, which was just released.
Congratulations also to McCandlish attorneys R. Peyton Mahaffey (Civil Litigation) and Ralph Tener (Intellectual Property/Information Technology) for having been recognized among Virginia's Legal Elite in all 22 editions since the list was published by Virginia Business magazine starting in 2000.
Here are the names and categories, with hyperlinks to each attorney’s biography at the firm’s web site:
Sarah C. Aviles, an associate attorney resident in the Fairfax office, was named among the best in the category of Taxes/Estates/Trusts. She practices in the areas of wills, trusts & estates; elder law / special needs; and trust, estate and fiduciary litigation.
Eric J. Berghold, a Principal and member of the firm’s Executive Committee, was named among the best in the category of Civil Litigation. 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 law.
Alan B. Croft, a Senior Counsel of the firm, resident in the Leesburg office, was named as one of the best in the category of Civil Litigation. Mr. Croft has actively litigated for over 40 years, having first begun his legal career as a criminal prosecutor for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
John W. Farrell, a Principal of the firm, was named among the best in the field of Real Estate/Land Use Law. Mr. Farrell has over 40 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.
Elizabeth L. Gray, a Principal of the firm, was named among the best in the field of Estates/Trusts/Elder Law. Ms. Gray focuses her practice in the areas of estate planning, elder law, special needs planning, guardianships, and the administration of estates. She is a Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF).
Virginia C. Haizlip, a Principal of the firm, was named among the best in the field of Family Law. Ms. Haizlip focuses her practice in the areas of family law and wills and trusts.
Robert H. J. Loftus, a Principal of the firm, was named among the best in the field of Civil Litigation. His practice has focused on business and construction litigation, and he has successfully litigated numerous complex business and liability issues for nationally recognized companies.
R. Peyton Mahaffey is the President and a Principal of the firm, and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He was selected to the Legal Elite for the field of Civil Litigation for the twenty-second consecutive year, and previously to the Virginia Lawyers Hall of Fame. Mr. Mahaffey has actively litigated business, corporate, commercial, and fiduciary matters on a continuing basis since 1980.
Lawrence J. McClafferty, a Principal and member of the firm’s Executive Committee, was selected in the category of Civil Litigation. He works out of the firm’s Fairfax and Loudoun offices. Mr. McClafferty devotes much of his practice to litigation involving business torts and fiduciary litigation, which includes will contests, breach of fiduciary duty claims, and guardianship/conservatorship matters.
Melinda Merk, a Principal and member of the firm’s Wills, Trusts and Estates and Taxation groups, was selected in the category of Taxes/Estates/Trusts. Ms. Merk provides holistic multi-generational income and wealth transfer tax planning advice and estate and trust services to individuals, families, and business owners.
Stephen C. Price, a Principal with the firm, was selected in the category of Real Estate/Land Use. Primarily from the Leesburg office of the firm, Mr. Price’s practice focuses on business litigation and transactions, with an emphasis on real property, condemnation, unfair competition, business tort, contractual and conservation easement matters.
Douglas J. Sanderson, a Principal with the firm, was recognized among the Legal Elite in the area of Family Law. Mr. Sanderson counsels and represents people who need legal assistance with family law matters, business transactions and commercial real estate.
Kathryn C. Swain, an associate attorney resident in the Fairfax office, was named among the best in the category of Civil Litigation. She practices in the areas of civil litigation, family law, and estate planning.
Ralph M. Tener, a Senior Counsel 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.
Benjamin J. Trichilo, a Senior Counsel of the firm, was recognized among the best in the area of Civil Litigation. Mr. Trichilo has more than 40 years of experience handling personal injury and workers’ compensation cases.
William J. Walsh, a Principal and member of the Executive Committee of the firm, was recognized among the Legal Elite in the area of Corporate Counsel. Mr. Walsh advises clients with regard to business and commercial matters, including corporate law, information technology, and intellectual property, and also dedicates a significant portion of his practice to clients in the hospitality industry.
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McCandlish Lillard has 18 attorneys, with offices in Fairfax and Leesburg. The law firm has been providing creative legal advice and advocacy to meet 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/.
