Lenhart Pettit is pleased to announce that nine of its attorneys have been honored by designations from 2016 Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business. Five of Lenhart Pettit ' s attorneys have been recognized for inclusion in the " Virginia Super Lawyers " list and four of its attorneys have been named to the " Virginia Rising Stars " list. The designation process is a multi-phased selection process that includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.
 

Many of Lenhart Pettit ' s attorneys have also received recognition from Best Lawyers in America® (Copyright 2010 by Woodward/White, Inc. of Aiken, SC) and Virginia Business magazine ' s " Legal Elite. "
 

The selected lawyers and the expertise for which they were recognized are:
 

PATRICK C. ASPLIN (BUSINESS/CORPORATE) - Patrick Asplin has a diverse business and commercial litigation practice with a particular emphasis on technology, e-commerce, intellectual property issues, and business disputes. Mr. Asplin both counsels clients on strategic business matters and represents them in litigation before federal and state courts, including the Virginia Supreme Court and dispute resolution proceedings.
 

MICHAEL E. DERDEYN (GENERAL LITIGATION) - Mike Derdeyn ' s practice focuses on the areas of litigation, general business law, and employment law. He also serves as general counsel to a number of local businesses. Mike ' s litigation experience includes litigating claims for individuals and for businesses in state and federal courts in the areas of commercial litigation, real estate, construction, employment, and landlord-tenant law.
 

JEFFREY G. LENHART (BUSINESS/CORPORATE) - Jeffrey Lenhart serves as general counsel to numerous closely held businesses and professional associations (including medical and dental practices, accounting firms and architectural practices). His practice also specializes in estate planning (with particular emphasis in representing family-owned businesses) and employee benefits, including creation of leveraged ESOPs. Mr. Lenhart also holds a master of laws degree in taxation.
 

BILL SHMIDHEISER (BUSINESS LITIGATION) - Bill Shmidheiser is a litigator who specializes in complicated financial messes, including disputes among shareholders and partners in businesses, divorces, real estate disputes, and representation of creditors in foreclosures, difficult collections, bankruptcies and workouts. Mr. Shmidheiser has substantial trial experience as lead counsel in scores of commercial cases, both jury and non-jury trials.
 

CATHLEEN P. WELSH (EMPLOYMENT & LABOR) - Cathy Welsh has concentrated her practice in employment law throughout her legal career. She has assisted businesses of all sizes from small closely held family businesses to clients with thousands of employees. She both counsels clients on best  practices to avoid employment law problems and advocates for them before state and federal administrative agencies and courts. She is a frequent public speaker to business and professional associations on labor and employment law topics.

ANDREW S. BAUGHER (VIRGINIA RISING STARS - BUSINESS LITIGATION) - Andrew Baugher focuses his practice on civil litigation at the trial and appellate levels. He has experience with a variety of matters, including intellectual property, breach of contract, business torts, and employment disputes. Andrew has handled multiple jury and bench trials as first- or second-chair in the circuit courts of Virginia and the district courts of the United States. His prior experience as a law clerk for the Supreme Court of Virginia also gives him a unique perspective on appellate practice. He has participated in appellate litigation before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the Supreme Court of Virginia, and the Court of Appeals of Virginia, and is adept at analyzing complex legal issues both before and after the need for an appeal arises.
 

KELLY B. LAPAR (VIRGINIA RISING STARS - BUSINESS LITIGATION) - Kelly LaPar concentrates her practice in the area of commercial litigation. Kelly ' s practice emphasizes construction law and the representation of developers, contractors, subcontractors and design professionals in construction related transactions and disputes. Kelly serves as general counsel to a local construction trade organization and is active in numerous other construction organizations. In addition to a dynamic construction law practice, Kelly represents clients in general commercial litigation including in the areas of creditor rights and real estate disputes. She also practices equine law and has been a public speaker on Virginia ' s Equine Liability Act.
 

SETH J. RAGOSTA (VIRGINIA RISING STARS - FAMILY LAW) - Seth Ragosta focuses his practice on family law and complex commercial litigation - including general business matters, employment law, real property issues and criminal concerns. Seth's work in family law includes all issues related to separation or divorce matters, in particular those dealing with the division of assets and spousal support. Seth's practice has involved many family law matters under Virginia law, including complex equitable distribution and spousal support cases at both the trial and appellate levels.
 

ANDREW B. STOCKMENT (VIRGINIA RISING STARS - INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY) - Andrew Stockment focuses his practice on business law, intellectual property and technology, cybersecurity and data privacy, and securities and private equity, capitalizing on his background as a software engineer and owner of a web development business. He advises clients regarding the preparation and negotiation of contracts and the formation, operation, purchase, finance, and sale of businesses and non-profit organizations, and the protection and licensing of intellectual property assets. Andrew also counsels clients regarding data security and privacy issues and assists organizations with data breach notification compliance. Andrew regularly publishes and speaks on intellectual property, technology, and cybersecurity issues, and he serves on the Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law Section Council of the Virginia Bar Association as the Young Lawyers Division Representative.