THOMPSON MCMULLAN P.C. - Key Persons
When Adam Nelson started here fresh out of law school in 1995, his office was next to John Thompson, the namesake founder of Thompson McMullan.
"I sat down on one of those first days and he told me one thing: ‘Get the law right. We're too small to get it wrong,'" Adam recalls. "The idea was that we were perfectly capable of going up against larger firms, but only if we got the law right."
"Some lawyers have a hammer and they only know how to use a hammer," Andrea says. "Whether the situation calls for a screw or a nail or a washer, they're going to take a hammer to it the same way every time. But people are never the same and circumstances are never the same, no matter how similar they may seem. You can't treat every client or case the same."
Andrea is determined to consider all of the tools at her disposal and to apply them in the best way possible for each unique case she faces. As one colleague says, "Andrea isn't afraid of getting down in the trenches." A versatile and flexible attorney, Andrea has a knack for thinking creatively to solve the challenges that come her way-and there are a wide variety of them. Andrea represents institutional and individual clients in obtaining adult guardianships, including serving as fiduciary where necessary. She also serves as guardian ad litem for incapacitated adults and for children in infant settlement/personal injury matters. In addition, she is a part of Thompson McMullan's litigation team. Those practice areas contain vast realms of possibilities.
Andrea says she appreciates the unpredictable nature of her practice, which calls on her to be resourceful, inventive and cool-headed as she tackles challenges that test her both emotionally and intellectually. "It's never the same thing two days in a row," she says. She keeps a bedbug suit in the back of her truck and has the phone number of a cat wrangler. She particularly enjoys cases that take her to court, a setting where she thrives.
"Every day I need to figure out how to handle something new," she says.
Andrea considers herself "a doer," laser-focused on finding efficient, practical solutions to sometimes seemingly insurmountable challenges. She is rarely knocked off stride by problems that arise, guided in part by a natural empathy for clients who are stuck in difficult circumstances. Andrea feels especially rewarded working with the elderly, though the issues at play can be heartbreaking.
"I just try to get to work trying to figure out the best and most efficient way to fix whatever problem comes up," she says. "I want to do what I can to help things get better for them."
Stick around our offices long enough, and Bev Crump's is a name you'll hear often. Maybe it's because of his deep and institutional knowledge surrounding transactions and the legal needs of privately owned businesses.
Throughout his legal career, Bev has built a practice - and many, many relationships across Central Virginia - by offering up a practical approach to solving problems and a desire to help his clients accomplish their goals. These days, he works closely with real estate developers, software firms, and manufacturing and distribution companies. Resourceful and efficient, his reputation has led peer attorneys to call on him to serve as expert witness in corporate and business litigation matters in Virginia's state and federal courts.
A retired Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Reserve, Bev joined the firm in early 2018, ceding his role as a founding member of DurretteCrump. As the 1968 graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law told local media when he joined our firm: "I don't plan on retiring any time soon."
Having attended school in Ireland, Catherine could have taken a backwards approach to attaining her law degree. Overseas, a J.D. is the first degree one pursues, followed by two years of an apprenticeship and then undergraduate courses. But because she was only abroad for college, Catherine took the more traditional path. Obtaining both a B.A. and an M.A. in Sociology, Catherine was a law minor, honing her interest in research and writing and her passion for problem-solving and her desire to pursue law. Upon graduation, Catherine returned to her home state of Virginia to attend William and Mary Law School, where she served as Articles Editor for the William and Mary Journal of Race and Social Justice and spoke at the Local Government Attorneys of Virginia Spring Conference, presenting on the relevance of statutory construction in a local government practice.
Civil Litigation and appellate law allow Catherine to pursue her interests in writing while always learning to improve, as they are two practices that require drafted documents and approaches that are straightforward and concise. With internships at both the Supreme Court, under the Honorable Justice Cleo E. Powell, and the Federal Court, under the Honorable Judge Arenda W. Allen, Catherine has both civil and criminal experience, drafting memos, orders, bench briefs, and filing Sections 2255 and 924C motions.
Outside of the office, Catherine spends time painting, drawing, and exploring Richmond with her husband and dog, getting to know the new city they call home.
It was personal curiosity that drew Chris Malone to the field of general civil practice to serve the needs of small and medium-sized companies, contractors, licensed professionals, self-employed individuals, business owners, and people or families in need of legal support. Committing nearly his entire career to Thompson McMullan, Chris served 20 years as president and managing director of the firm, overseeing operations and setting the course for the future.
At the start of his career, fresh off a clerkship at the Supreme Court of Virginia, he was in the process of interviewing at numerous firms until Oct. 31, 1980, when he met founders John Thompson and Grice McMullan. "I called my wife afterwards and said, ‘We can call it off. That's where I want to work.'"
It was an immediate sense of integrity and fairness in the air that drew him to the firm, where Chris today serves clients in general business and real estate matters - contracts, entity formation, and everyday legal counsel - and represents businesses and individuals in litigation across a variety of matters in Virginia and U.S. courts, with a significant emphasis on construction litigation. In addition, Chris maintains an extensive adoption and family law practice. As an adoptive parent of three himself, Chris personally understands the adoption process and assists families in initiating and finalizing adoptions to establish "forever homes" for children. Should contested issues arise, he represents adoptive parents and child-placement agencies in resolving disputes.
Christopher Roberson's career has been built around his desire for personal connection and the drive to make a difference for those in need. A Richmond native, Chris grew up in Chesterfield County and graduated in the inaugural class at the Center for the Humanities at Monacan High School. Chris then attended Princeton University, where he majored in English Literature and was a member of the track team. In 2012, Chris moved to Beijing to teach English literature and American culture to high school students aiming to attend college in the United States.
While Chris found his six-plus years of teaching to be incredibly rewarding, he discovered that his greatest strength, and where he could be the most effective, was in sitting down one-on-one with his students. He could see this impact at the individual level and aspired to find a different audience to help. The legal field does just this, as it fosters direct connection and allows Chris to take complex situations and make them approachable - and solvable - for his clients.
Enrolling in the University of Richmond School of Law, Chris was involved in the Public Interest Law Review, held a position on the Client Negotiation Board, and received a Cali Award for his Diversity in Education and Employment writing seminar. He joined Parker Pollard Wilton & Peaden, P.C. his 3L year as an intern and was hired full-time by the firm upon graduating in 2021. While there, Chris gained experience across all practice areas as the firm's only associate, becoming proficient in civil motions practice, real estate conflicts, estate planning, fiduciary litigation, and more. His most compelling work, though, was the practice of elder law and estate planning as it allows him to truly connect with clients seeking guidance during some of their most difficult times. Chris's elder law practice consists of estate planning for individuals and families, succession planning for family or small businesses, personal, trust, and estate tax returns and planning, handling estate and trust administration, fiduciary litigation, and serving as a registered guardian for incapacitated adults.
Chris spends his personal time traveling across Virginia and the east coast with his wife, Shannon, and their daughter, Rowan.
Today, Cliona is regarded as one of Virginia's leading experts and staunch defenders of the interests of renewable and competitive service providers, as well as municipal, industrial, and commercial customers of electric, natural gas, and water utilities. Always adverse to monopoly utilities, Cliona's work often regards issues surrounding rates and service. She has done a significant amount of work related to transmission line and facilities siting, advocating for customers that would be negatively impacted by utility projects. She also regularly works on renewable energy transactions involving solar power, wind power, and landfill gas, and advises energy lobbyists working in the Virginia General Assembly.
During her research into clean energy, Cliona also learned of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, the most widely used green-building rating system in the world. Becoming certified in LEED requires passing a comprehensive exam. "The last big test I had taken was the Bar exam many years earlier, so I found it rather daunting to sit for another exam," she says. She put off the test three times before passing and earning her accreditation in 2009. A LEED® Accredited Professional (AP) designation is known more for its acquisition among architectural and construction professionals, but it is one denoting the Duke University graduate as an expert in green buildings.
At her previous firm, Cliona established a green energy practice long before anyone (peers included) thought renewables would become such an integral part of the economy. But her proudest career moment? Stopping the construction of electrical transmission lines across the Rappahannock River, towers that would have been adjacent to the iconic Robert O. Norris Bridge. Local residents hired Cliona to stop it from happening. "And we actually won," she says. "We forced our opponent to put the lines underneath the river."
Cliona also has considerable experience representing competitive telecommunications providers, cable companies, and independent power producers. She has served as an adjunct professor at William & Mary Law School, teaching an introductory course on Energy Law.
Awarded a full scholarship, Daniel enrolled in the University of Richmond School of Law where he served on the Moot Court Board, was a finalist in the 2021 Moot Court competition, and won best brief. In addition to serving as class representative in the law school student government his 3L year, Daniel was awarded the Cali award for legislation and regulation in the spring of 2021 and legal history in the fall of 2022, recognizing his achievements of best grade in the class.
Securing a clerkship for a private attorney after his first year of law school, Daniel gained experience in pro se cases and small claims cases in Richmond General District Courts, which honed his interest in litigation and provided invaluable insight into the art of advocacy. Prior to joining Thompson McMullan, Daniel was a summer associate with the firm before his 3L year, where he further developed skills in negotiation and research.
David Ruby maintains a multi-disciplinary practice at Thompson McMullan, one focused on bankruptcy and creditors' rights, business and commercial transactions, and tax disputes. Along with his team, David handles all types of litigation and appeals, including before the bankruptcy and federal district courts and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. For nearly two decades, David has served as a Chapter 7 panel trustee for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia's Newport News Division.
Major corporations, businesses, nationally-recognized law firms, and in-house corporate counsel call on David when they face bankruptcy and creditors' rights problems in Virginia. He has represented creditor and other clients in virtually every large and mega bankruptcy case filed in Richmond, including Heilig-Meyers, Movie Gallery, Circuit City, LandAmerica, Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Alpha Natural Resources, and Toys "R" Us. David regularly receives conflict and local counsel referrals.
Business owners and individuals call on David for restructuring strategies, advice, and implementation and when transactions have gone awry - sometimes many years later.
He points to one word that sums up his restructuring practice.
"Transition," he says. "I serve businesses and individuals in transition - restructurings outside of bankruptcy, companies in bankruptcy, sales of businesses, companies with tax issues…the list goes on. My goal is to assist and guide clients to understand their problems or issues of concern, develop goals and create and implement a plan of action to achieve those goals."
Clients look to David as a problem-solver to address a single specific issue or multi-faceted, multi-dimensional problems. He enjoys getting to work with and know his clients and those on both sides of the aisle who are directly impacted by the representation.
"Litigation is not always the answer to resolve a dispute, controversy, or problem." he says. "In any adversarial situation, my goal is to try to get everyone to a win-win situation."
Over the years, David has kept the pace with the way the practice of bankruptcy law has changed, largely through technology. "It's faster, and there is less opportunity to allow matters and thoughts to simmer, so you have to be flexible and respond almost in real-time," he says. "And we do!"
Nearly three decades of experience as an attorney has given Henry Spalding a firm understanding of what it takes to succeed: preparation and organization.
"I will always be the most prepared lawyer in the room. A busy litigation practice like mine requires strong organizational and time management skills," he says. "I am lucky to have excellent support staff to keep me on track."
Henry represents businesses across a variety of industries and is a proven litigator with both Virginia and federal court experience. He is a particularly trusted go-to for insurance clients and their policyholders, and is regarded as one of Virginia's foremost experts in insurance law. He helps businesses and carriers understand their rights, and, if necessary, defend their rights in insurance coverage litigation. He defends clients in both first- and third-party claims related to, among other things, commercial general liability, professional liability, commercial automobile policies, homeowners and life insurance policies, and umbrella policies.
In his construction litigation practice, Henry represents general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and homeowners in complex and diverse issues. He has successfully litigated many matters and achieved favorable results for clients, including at trial in both state and federal courts throughout Virginia.
Hugh Antrim often works with families on emotionally challenging issues as contested conservatorships and guardianships and the administration of trusts and estates. In the midst of those frequently contentious circumstances, Hugh strives to seek a level-headed way forward for his clients. He finds great satisfaction in achieving a workable resolution - fixing a trust that's not operating correctly, or ensuring a proper power of attorney is in place or mediating a family dispute successfully - when no ready solution would have presented itself without his intercession.
Hugh, a Richmond native, has been with Thompson McMullan since 1976 and has served as a principal since 1981. He leads the firm's Fiduciary and Chancery Litigation practice and its Trusts and Estates practice.
Hugh's decades of experience have helped him build strong professional relationships and rapport with the area's attorneys and judges, and he has developed a reputation for fair-mindedness and a comprehensive understanding of the legal issues within his practice areas. As a sign of the high esteem held for him in the legal community, Hugh has served stints as both the acting Commissioner of Accounts for Henrico County and the Interim Commissioner of Accounts in Chesterfield County, reviewing the conduct of personal representatives required by statute to file inventories and accountings of assets under their control.
Although a self-described introvert, Hugh revels in the opportunity to represent clients on the courtroom stage when a case leads there. "I enjoy taking my client's position and representing them in that setting," he says.
Most clients would call Buckley Warden brutally honest. "That level of honesty may cost me work, but it sets appropriate expectations in our relationship and a precedent of trust," says Buckley. "Some attorneys will promise whatever the client wants to hear in order to get the work. I will never do that."
Such honesty also creates client confidence in Buckley's role as a litigator, where he represents and defends small- and medium-sized businesses, including construction companies, in complex commercial litigation.
Buckley's years of in-the-trenches litigation experience began with a trial by fire. His first boss passed away five months after he began practicing; his second put "enormous faith" in him, to the point where Buckley was handling jury trials solo in his first year. "I was thrown in the deep end very early and nearly sank several times, but I survived," says Buckley, who for six straight years has been named to Super Lawyers' Rising Stars in the area of civil litigation. "What does not kill you makes you an excellent trial attorney."
Buckley's advocacy skills and focus on client goals have won him clients' confidence in bet-the-company litigation. When trial is unavoidable, he is at home in a courtroom, giving clients an upper-hand in a world where trials spark fear into the hearts of individuals and businesses. Buckley has served as first-chair counsel in complex matters in both state and federal courts, in cases with multiple parties on both coasts, and on issues with seven figures or just a few thousand dollars at stake. Yet the challenge of achieving the client's goal efficiently is the same in any size or type of case.
"I love solving problems that need creative solutions and enjoy putting together a novel path to achieving the client's goal," he says. "I am your attorney when you have a novel claim that needs a novel solution-usually with no insurance, scarce resources…and time pressure, just to make it more interesting."
His other love? Taking depositions. "I have a knack for picking up on what a witness is saying, seeing a deception, and asking questions for hours to fully develop what the witness is hiding, why, who else knows, et cetera," he says. "Taking a deposition that settles a case is an extremely satisfying experience, and one I have had the pleasure of achieving, several times."
In peacetime, Buckley advises clients on their business operations by drafting contracts, developing processes, and making deals that balance risk and reward. He has won clients' favor for his skill in breaking down technical aspects of the law into clear, goal-oriented, and actionable advice.
"I am not exaggerating when I say that the work is a joy and I would do it as a hobby if I was independently wealthy," he says. Outside of the office, Buckley loves coaching and cheering on his two sons, Logan and Grayson, as they play baseball and football. Buckley also plays softball and volleyball and runs weekly to keep up with his growing boys. Continuing with the brutal honesty thing: Buckley is a terrible golfer.
The decision to practice law was an easy one for John McInnis, having grown up in a family of attorneys. Drawing inspiration from two uncles, three cousins, and his grandfather, John knew he wanted to be a lawyer from an early age, even noting it in a fifth-grade journal. Even though going to law school was always the plan, he decided to further his education at the University of South Carolina and gain real-world experience before turning his attention to the law.
Immediately after college, John enrolled in graduate school, earning a Master's in Public Administration. Studying the innerworkings of government on a day-to-day basis piqued John's intellectual curiosity and further solidified his already strong desire to one day practice law.
Following grad school, John worked as a claims adjuster, a job he enjoyed because it provided opportunities to converse with many people from all walks of life. In this role, he was tasked with making complex commercial policies digestible to individuals with no background in insurance and then setting realistic expectations. Serving as a claims adjuster taught John how to effectively communicate with clients-and he quickly learned it all starts with being a great listener.
Despite a rewarding career, John enrolled at the University of Richmond School of Law in 2018. where he was involved in the Client Counseling Negotiations Board, served as vice president of the Federalist Society, and participated in the Moot Court competition as a 1L.
Upon graduating, John clerked for Henrico County Circuit Court, which proved to be invaluable in his development as a young lawyer. Clerking allowed John to hone his skills as an attorney, having his writing and research critiqued by judges on a weekly basis, as well as gain familiarity with many different practice areas. However, the real value was in having a front-row seat to observe two skilled attorneys litigate a tough issue-and then returning to the presiding judge's chambers to discuss the merits of the case.
At Thompson McMullan, John serves as outside general counsel to a national corporation and is on-hand to provide guidance in day-to-day matters to both corporate headquarters and individual branches. In assisting the client through legal minutiae, John uses the communication skills he developed as a claims adjuster to break down complicated matters and provide counsel on a wide array of topics. John performs contract reviews, oversees claims and litigation, and assists with a variety of employment-related matters on behalf of the client. As outside counsel, he has been trained to identify legal issues before they arise-and as a litigator, John is skilled in resolving disputes quickly and favorably.
John lives in Richmond with his wife Martha, where he spends his free time enjoying the local food scene and following his South Carolina Gamecocks sports teams.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Appellate Expert in Law360 Journal Article
John concentrates his practice in appellate litigation and motions practice in both federal and state courts.
"I love the craft of legal writing, and the challenge of persuading through effective written and oral advocacy is immensely fun and rewarding", says John, a former Supreme Court of Virginia clerk for Chief Justice Kinser. Driven by that experience and embracing the challenge of effective advocacy, John offers a variety of appellate services to individuals, business, and government clients. His services include consulting and representation related to perfecting or resisting an appeal, briefing and argument, amicus curiae, and rule compliance in the appellate courts.
John has represented businesses, individuals, and government officers and agencies in numerous appeals, tapping into his familiarity with appellate law and procedure and his proven track record of crafting successful appellate arguments. His unique expertise enables him to provide high-quality representation for written or oral advocacy to maximize the chance of success at all stages of an appeal.
John also excels in non-appellate matters and regularly appears in state and federal court in various civil litigation matters, where he similarly focuses on effective written and oral advocacy in dispositive motions. He represents a wide variety of clients, including constitutional officers such as sheriffs and their deputies, clerks of court, commonwealth's attorneys, and businesses both large and small, as well as insurance companies and their insureds in both coverage and liability disputes.
John maintains RichmondAppeals.com, a website dedicated to his appellate practice and the recent and impending changes in the field of appellate law.
John and his wife live in Richmond with their five children where he enjoys his books, his garden, and time with his family. He is also passionate about education and is the founding president of Cardinal Newman Academy, an independent high school in Richmond, where he still serves as a member of the Board of Directors.
Job Titles:
- Founder of Thompson McMullan
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Board Member of the Agecroft Association
It was at Thompson McMullan that Karen first learned the technical aspects of trust and estate law while developing an expertise in public entitlement programs. She is excited to be back in private practice where she can work in closer proximity to individuals, especially the elderly and those with disabilities. Whether providing estate planning and administration, special needs planning and administration, or elder law, Karen is experienced in complex family situations and will help clients navigate those dynamics.
Prior to rejoining the firm, Karen was General Counsel and Director of Client Services for Commonwealth Community Trust, a national pooled special needs trust organization that provides trust administration services for beneficiaries with disabilities. Karen routinely worked with attorneys and families to plan for the receipt of assets and the proper funding of trusts, as well as the allowable use and distribution of beneficiaries' funds. Her team assisted thousands of individuals who had special needs trust accounts maintain their public benefits such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income.
Most recently, Karen was Director of Strategic Operations and Services at True Link Financial, Inc., a mission-driven organization providing financial inclusion to the vulnerable and disabled community. In this role, she continued to advise regarding the importance of receiving public benefits for those with special needs.
Karen has spoken for the Virginia Continuing Legal Education Foundation, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), several NAELA state chapters, The Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, National Academy of Special Needs Planners, National Association of Estate Planning Attorneys, National Business Institute, University of Texas School of Law, Stetson University College of Law, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness. She is an active member of the Virginia State Bar, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and Virginia Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and continues to speak and provide educational presentations and articles to various organizations.
Having previously served on the boards of several non-profit organizations, Karen is currently a board member of The Agecroft Association and is the Executive Director of the Alliance of Pooled Trusts. She is a proud Georgia Bulldog, Richmond Spider, and mother of twin boys.
"Competitive energy is the way the industry and the world is heading," says Mike Quinan, who has built a niche practice and reputation representing Virginia's renewable and competitive service providers. "There have been plenty of law firms doing work for monopoly utilities for 100 years, but there are big opportunities now for growth in competitive and renewable energy - and as attorneys, we are at the forefront of that movement."
Mike began his career working for public utilities, and during deregulation in the 1990s, moved to Richmond to open the local office of Roanoke firm Woods Rogers, which served monopoly power companies. He later moved to Christian & Barton, assisting the firm's industrial energy customers and renewable and competitive energy providers.
At Thompson McMullan, Mike's practice is a mix of general business litigation, administrative law, public utilities work, and representation of other clients in a variety of regulated businesses and industries. He helped start the firm's Competitive and Renewable Energy practice in 2019.
Mike regularly handles cases at the Virginia State Corporation Commission and other state agencies and before state and federal courts throughout the Commonwealth. He advises energy lobbyists working in the Virginia General Assembly, and does a significant level of appeals work, helping clients preserve victories before the Virginia Supreme Court.
"Energy attorneys are a relatively small group of lawyers in Virginia, and we all know each other and practice together whether we're opposing each other or whether we're allies in a case," Mike says. "You tend to work with or against the same lawyers in every case of significance, so the practice is very collegial. I enjoy the people I'm working with, and energy is interesting subject matter, particularly with developments in renewable and competitive energy. It's an exciting time to be an energy lawyer."
Mike is also a lawyer's lawyer, and for three years served as general counsel for the Virginia Bar Association. There, he negotiated contracts and dealt with issues surrounding employment, taxation, insurance, real estate, bylaws, and more. In 2019, he was given the third-ever VBA Special Recognition Award for nearly three decades of service to the VBA.
"Who would know that an association of lawyers would need a general counsel? I can tell you - we do," Virginia Bar Association President C.J. Steuart Thomas III said during the surprise awards ceremony. "It has been very comforting to me to have Mike's analysis and advice at our meetings as new issues were raised and legal questions posed. I would have been lost without Mike's assistance."
Paul Izzo traces his interest in legal issues faced by the elderly to his close relationship with his grandparents when he was a child. In particular, he recalls when his paternal grandmother, who was by then a widow, needed to be placed in a long-term care facility. He says the process was "gut-wrenching," but it ultimately led to her moving to a new home with excellent care where she was very happy.
"I was impressed with the treatment she received and with the great experience that she had," Paul says. "That really stuck with me."
Today, Paul works in the field of elder law, helping older adults and their caregivers as they navigate knotty issues such as estate planning and administration, guardianships and conservatorships for incapacitated adults, public benefits planning, and nursing home residents' rights. He says he appreciates the opportunity to help a population that faces a unique set of challenges-often with a point of view that Paul finds powerful.
"A big reason that I do what I do is that I enjoy working with older adults," Paul says. "I admire them and learn so much more from them than I could ever possibly teach them. My clients are some of the most interesting people that you could ever hope to meet."
Paul began to gravitate toward elder law when he was in private practice and was selected for an internship in long-term care administration at Westminster-Canterbury House, a retirement community in Richmond. There, he learned the intricate operations of continuing care retirement facilities and the issues their residents face, eventually sitting for the licensure exam for nursing home administrators in 1985. He maintained the license for over three decades, and keeps informed of the special concerns of clients with loved ones in long-term care or who are themselves receiving such care.
Paul later came to Thompson McMullan to work with Shawn Majette, one of the country's leading experts in elder law. He credits Shawn with serving as a mentor who helped him gain his footing in the field and providing him with continued guidance on both the intellectual and emotional components of the work. Paul says he aims to approach his clients with empathy, patience, and a keen understanding of how daunting the issues they face can be.
Paulo honed his skills in the courtroom, often being called upon to try the most difficult and complex cases for the Virginia State Bar (VSB). He prides himself on knowing the true value of a case, being a good listener, a good communicator, and a passionate defender of his clients' interests.
For the last 18+ years, Paulo E. Franco Jr. was a prosecutor for the VSB, prosecuting lawyers on its behalf. He has deep knowledge of the regulatory landscape and can serve as an advocate, helping you navigate the system. With experience defending against suspension or license revocation, Paulo is the lawyer tradesmen and certified professionals can turn to should their career be in jeopardy with a licensing authority.
Prior to joining the State Bar, Paulo was in private practice for over 16 years, serving design and construction professionals, lawyers, accountants, real estate agents, and more. Paulo represented the owners of a well-known concert venue in downtown Norfolk, VA in a complex mechanic's lien case. He also routinely represented design professionals such as architects, mechanical and electrical engineers, and geotechnical engineers who were sued for errors and omissions. Paulo has experience representing numerous clients in contract and commercial disputes in courts throughout Virginia. In addition to regulatory work, Paulo's practice encompasses all facets of civil litigation, including the representation of injured persons. After law school, Paulo clerked for the Chief Staff Attorney of the Supreme Court of Virginia.
Paulo grew up in Northern Virginia but has called Richmond home for the last 26 years. He is a first generation American whose family is originally from Medellín, Colombia, and he is fluent in Spanish.
When he is not practicing law, Paulo performs with his band, Shockoe Records recording artists Los Hermanos Alacranes, which features Paulo's original songs in English and Spanish. They have opened for artists such as Los Lobos and performed at the 2023 Richmond Folk Festival. Paulo is also an avid road cyclist.
A Richmond native, Peter Askin knows the city by heart, and its diverse array of courts by hand. Having previously served as a law clerk for various judges, Peter has profound civil litigation insight to better represent clients in all forums - state and federal, trial and appellate.
As an appellate litigator, Peter has successfully prosecuted and resisted appeals at both the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court of Virginia. His prior clerkship with Chief Justice S. Bernard Goodwyn leaves him uniquely prepared to navigate the procedural and doctrinal complexities of civil appeals. "Appellate judges want lawyers to give them more than just a good argument. They expect a comprehensive analysis of the law to support an opinion. To get results, an appellate attorney must do both."
In addition to drafting briefs and providing oral argument for appeals, Peter has also served as first and second chair trial counsel in Virginia state and federal court. His federal clerkship at the trial level in the Eastern District of Virginia for the Honorable Elizabeth W. Hanes taught him both the legal and pragmatic side of litigation. "The vast majority of civil lawsuits don't end with a trial - they end with settlement. Achieving procedural victories, or leveraging the business or political forces at play, are what help litigants dictate the terms of that settlement."
With both appellate and trial experience, Peter also serves as embedded appellate counsel for trial attorneys, assisting them in preserving objections and setting the stage to protect, or reverse, a jury verdict.
While Peter's practice includes government, business, estates and trusts, and personal injury litigation, he also dedicates his time to serving Spanish-speaking clients. Peter became professionally proficient in the language after spending a year in Argentina working for a real estate company. His ability to understand emails, texts, or witnesses in Spanish means he can serve certain clients without the cost or inconvenience of translation services.
Peter is also an avid music fan, trained saxophonist, and outdoor enthusiast, having learned to backpack and white-water kayak on the James River here in Richmond. He is also a proud alumnus of Davidson College, where "the greatest basketball player who's ever lived or who will ever live," Stephen Curry, also attended.
Phillip Sitz's path to becoming an attorney wasn't a straight one. With a background in technology and cybersecurity and time served in the Air Force, he brings a unique perspective and skillset to his work with clients.
After graduating from the University of Kansas, Phil served as an Intelligence Officer in an Air Force special operations unit. During this time as an undergraduate and military officer, he learned to speak Arabic and cultivated a professional interest in cybersecurity. Upon transitioning out of the Air Force, Phil found the skills he learned as an officer were employable in the field of cybersecurity. He and a business partner then started their own firm servicing mid-size and major defense contractors for whom they designed secure networking solutions, implemented recruitment policies for personnel, and trained customer personnel on cybersecurity tactics and best practices. While with the firm, Phil identified a business need for an attorney, as many of their clients were looking for contract review and advice, and as a result, enrolled in law school. Attending night classes at Catholic University's Columbus School of Law while managing his business full-time not only prepared Phil for a full caseload but allows him to relate to his clients from a business perspective. Additionally, his experience in technology and his cybersecurity expertise provides him with a strong background in the ever-evolving tech landscape.
Phil is a recent transplant to Richmond, an avid chess player, and devotes time to studying foreign languages.
Shawn Majette has always savored the moment of profound understanding and relief that his clients experience when he explains to them how the law can come to their aid.
He finds the greatest satisfaction in his work when he can help someone who is struggling and desperate see how the law can be applied to their case to make their lives better.
"When they see that the law can help them, it's a special feeling," Shawn says. "I see people who have been suffering, people whose sons or daughters or spouses have been struggling with their mental health. They often have crushing bills and they're trying to find a solution. Sometimes they're even getting ready to sell their house. But then I show them how they can get some help and that things can get better for them and I watch the scales fall from their eyes. That's just about the best thing that there is."
Shawn began his career at Thompson McMullan in 1997 and practiced at the firm for over 25 years until his retirement in March 2024. While with Thompson McMullan, Shawn spearheaded the firm's elder law practice and was especially active in the voluntary and involuntary management of legal, medical, and financial affairs of incapacitated adults. He often tackled questions of how to protect mentally and physically impaired people from others, how clients can qualify for Medicaid and other entitlements, and how to preserve personal injury proceeds from health care costs and unscrupulous third parties. He and others in the firm's elder law practice employ trusts, powers of attorney, advance medical directives and, when necessary, guardianship proceedings to protect and preserve assets. Hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other corporate clients often consulted Shawn for innovative, efficient solutions to discharge and Medicaid problems.
Shawn took pride in the creative approach to cases that he and his colleagues take.
"We do a lot of very innovative things to come up with solutions," he says. "We're often presented with very complex problems, but we find ways of making things work."
Shawn first started practicing elder law as a favor in 1984 when a city attorney asked him to take on a tough case. The client would not be able to pay. Shawn took the case, teaching himself the fundamentals of the issues at play - "I had to learn it pretty much from the ground up," he says. He would soon discover that elder law was his calling, and eventually he would allow it to push aside his practices in criminal defense and personal injury. When he started in the area, few peers in the state or even across the country focused on elder law.
As the practice grew more popular, Shawn served as a leader both locally and nationally in the field's evolution and intellectual maturation. He was the founding chairperson of the Virginia Bar Association Elder Law Section, serving in that position from 1993 to 1996, and for many years Shawn has served as chair of the section's legislative affairs subcommittee. He assisted in drafting several current Virginia statutes relating to guardianship, conservatorship, and behavioral health, including revisions to the law of civil commitment, emergency medical consent, guardianship, and the prevention of financial abuse of incapacitated adults under durable powers of attorney. He also has published and lectured widely on elder law topics.
"It's been great to be a part of the start of a practice area and then make some mark one way or another on the way that the practice develops throughout the Commonwealth," Shawn says. "That's been rewarding."
Shawn's comprehensive knowledge of the intricacies of the field gave him a reputation as "a lawyer's lawyer" - someone other lawyers could approach with questions about their clients' circumstances. Shawn compared his fondness for his work to his love of a particular math class in high school.
"Geometry was absolutely beautiful and all I had to know were a few fundamental rules. Once I knew those rules everything else fell into place," Shawn says. "And that's what I like about the practice of law. If you know the rules, then you can make the proofs and everything else falls into place. And I just love having things fall into place."
Rachel Adams is a partner in the firm's Civil Litigation Practice Group, representing clients both in and outside the courtroom, experienced in disputes related to business torts, contract issues, and employment matters. Rachel represents a broad spectrum of clients, ranging from publicly traded companies and individual business owners to everyday people with a legal problem who just need a trusted lawyer. Her clients also include constitutional officers, state agencies, and universities.
Rachel has extensive experience litigating in courts and arbitrations across Virginia in state and federal court. She has handled all facets of trial work, including delivering opening statements and closing arguments, conducting direct and cross-examinations of lay and expert witnesses, and drafting and arguing motions. Rachel routinely handles cases in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA), commonly known as the "Rocket Docket". She frequently serves as lead and local counsel in cases across all divisions of the EDVA.
Rachel also regularly acts as outside counsel to clients, advising them on ways to avoid litigation when possible. Clients rely on her to provide measured and thoughtful advice and, when necessary, to fiercely protect their rights.
Prior to joining Thompson McMullan, Rachel was a commercial litigation associate for an AmLaw 100 firm in Washington, D.C. While in law school at the University of Richmond School of Law, she served as the editor-in-chief of the University of Richmond Law Review.
She is an active member of the Virginia Bar Association, serving as CLE Committee Chair of the Young Lawyers Division, and the Richmond Bar Association, serving on the Administration of Justice Committee. Rachel is named among Virginia's "Legal Elite" by Virginia Business Magazine, Super Lawyer's Rising Stars List, and selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© "Ones to Watch" in the fields of commercial litigation and government relations practices.
Rebecca Bowen's legal work is a blend of business and family matters - and sometimes, both at once, particularly in issues of succession and estate planning. She helps clients proactively address their legal needs - before a client's legal needs address them.
Responsive, efficient, and compassionate in her approach, Rebecca is trusted by individuals and families to create estate plans that address uncomfortable but real questions around one's wishes in the event of death or disability. For business owners, Rebecca is there for clients in all stages of a company's lifecycle, helping entrepreneurs and licensed professionals form their entities, transact business, and, years later, create a proper succession plan to successfully exit. She also represents individuals, banks, and trust companies on various estate and trust administration matters.
At Thompson McMullan, "we have a long-standing reputation in the legal community for providing creative, practical and efficient solutions to difficult problems," she says. "As a team, we provide guidance and prefer not to ‘over-lawyer' a situation, we perform our work clearly, and we remain accessible to our clients."
Originally from Northern Virginia, Rebecca has made Richmond home with her husband, two young children, and adopted dogs. When not in the office (or chasing after her kids), and if there's time left over in a day, you'll find her on a yoga mat.
Job Titles:
- Advisory Council / Richmond Bar Association
Job Titles:
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, past Board Member
When the Twin Towers were attacked on September 11, 2001, Sean Breit-Rupe felt a calling to serve his country and made the decision to join the military. After graduating from Virginia Tech in 2005, Sean was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps and ultimately served as a Naval Aviator piloting the CH-46E helicopter. After serving nine years in the Marines, including tours in Iraq and in support of the 11 th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Sean chose to enter the legal profession, attending the University of Florida Levin College of Law. Sean credits the Marine Corps with teaching him what it means to be a professional: not quitting after you get it right, but practicing until you can no longer get it wrong.
Upon returning to his native state of Virginia, Sean served as Assistant Commonwealth Attorney for Henrico County where he gained trial experience handling a variety of cases and sectors in Circuit, General District, and the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. While there, Sean led the office's threat assessment team and oversaw the Substantial Risk Orders, or "red flag", law.
Job Titles:
- Racquets Association, Board Member
Job Titles:
- Trust Disputes and Fiduciary Litigation
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Named Go to Lawyer for Employment Law
Will Prince is a partner in the firm's Civil Litigation and Employment Practice Groups, representing clients in complex litigation and employment matters in state and federal courts across Virginia.
Over the years, Billy Tunner has built a reputation with clients as the one who stays calm in the face of mounting pressure and adversarial forces. General counsel of large national companies, government attorneys, insurance companies, and professionals trust Billy for his counsel and success litigating in Virginia's state and federal courts, and before state agencies.