The latest news and information from your law partner for life

The independent voice of Virginia lawyers               May 9, 2017 .
Dear ,
Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day, Memorial Day. May days commemorate people and events worthy of remembrance. We've stored away our Kentucky derbies and fascinators, and silks and spurs, to focus on items worth revisiting this spring from the Thoroughbred known as the VBA. We're Always Dreaming.
11th Legal Food Frenzy raises 1.37 million pounds of food

AG Herring, YLD members, and others gather to review Legal Food Frenzy results

11th Annual LFF logo
With assistance from the Young Lawyers Division, this year's Legal Food Frenzy involved more than 100 legal offices across Virginia and raised the equivalent of 1.37 million pounds of food for the Federation of Virginia Food Banks. Last Thursday, Attorney General Mark Herring called the B. Cullen Gibson Law Offices to congratulate the top contributor, who won the Attorney General's Cup for the seventh time.

Health legislative update sells out; Bankruptcy still close-knit

Health Law Legis Update for May17 Voice
Bankr-May17 Voice-Caitlin
Bankr-May17 Voice-Caitlin
A sold-out conference in mid-April marked the 19th Annual Virginia Health Law Legislative Update and Extravaganza. Approved for 4.0 MCLE Credits (2.0 Ethics), the conference in Richmond remains, as one participant put it, an "excellent annual program for Virginia health care lawyers." Presenter Tom Spahn was reviewed as "always cogent, thorough, amazing actually." Nearly 100 attorneys attended the seminar at Williams Mullen offices.

See the Facebook photo album.

The 20th Annual Bankruptcy Law Conference in Williamsburg attracted nearly 40 participants in a close-knit, relaxed setting that allows great discourse between speakers and audience. As one participant evaluated it, this is "not your typical stuffy seminar." At least six attendees enjoyed the beautiful weather and took part in a golf outing after the educational program, which offered 4.0 MCLE Credits (1.0 Ethics).

See the Facebook photo album.
New portrait adorns courtroom walls - that of Justice Millette

David and Justice Millette at portrait ceremony
For the second time in as many months, the Supreme Court of Virginia celebrated the addition of a portrait in the main courtroom. In April, the VBA-commissioned portrait of now-Senior Justice LeRoy F. Millette Jr., joined that of many other paintings of former justices the VBA donated to the commonwealth. The full court honored their colleague and heard from the justice's wife, Beth Millette, and Senior Justice Charles S. Russell. In March, the court celebrated the hanging of the portrait of the Honorable Jane Marum Roush. The VBA's involvement in portraits dates to 1928, when a special committee worked to locate likenesses of former judges of the Supreme Court of Appeals from family members to give to the state. For more than 50 years, the VBA has engaged artists to commemorate the incoming justices.

See the Facebook photo album of the latest portrait ceremony.
Upcoming events

MAY 13 - Thomas C. Brown Jr., who served as VBA president in 1992, and Sally Guy Brown are hosting a VBA Spring Fling Membership Social in Alexandria on May 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. VBA members are encouraged to bring at least one nonmember to introduce to the association. RSVP to Kylie Hinson by close of business today, May 9.

MAY 11 - Thursday, May 11, is the deadline to register to attend an invitation-only May 16 follow-up to the November Veterans Summit, also a by-invitation event.

MAY 23-24 - A Legal Writing Workshop, co-sponsored by the Law Practice Management Division, will be held in Richmond. 10.0 MCLE Credit Hours. Seating is limited.

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JULY 20-22 - Save the dates for the 127th Summer Meeting at the Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs. Look forward to great CLEs, renewal of acquaintances, socializing opportunities, the gubernatorial debate and a banquet surprise.
Meeting suite, VBA member center
VBA on Main, the VBA's new member center

Spring 2017 VBA Journal cover image
You've read about about it here, perhaps watched the lease signing video. Now, with the cover story in the spring issue of the VBA Journal, we bring you a broader look at the vision and hopes for the new VBA headquarters and member center. A move-in date has not yet been specified, but could come this fall. What questions do you have about the new facility? Ask VBA on Main and let us help serve you best.
   
Also, in April the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality leased four floors - 81,553 square feet - in the same building the VBA will move to. This could be a boon to VBA members who are administrative law practitioners and environmental law specialists, among others.

We will keep you informed of the transformation of the space as it occurs.
Young Lawyers Division, Joint ADR Committee issue news

Spring 2017 Opening Statement cover image 
The latest issue of the quarterly YLD newsletter, Opening Statement, came out in advance of the YLD Spring Meeting May 5-7 at The Tides Inn. Articles include a message from Chair Jeremy S. Williams, a work-life balance piece by Ashlee Webster, a tips piece on making technology work for you in your legal writing by Graham K. Bryant, and Seth J. Ragosta uses personal experience and his role as chair of recruiting at his law firm to provide career-planning advice on how to best make lateral moves in Virginia.


Cover-Spring 2017 Virginia ADR newsletter 
The first 2017 issue of the Joint ADR Committee's Virginia ADR newsletter contains a message from the chair, the next installment of Stories from Beyond the Courtroom, Council member profiles, a review of Appellate Mediation: A Guidebook for Attorneys and Mediators and an article about using your client's authenticity in mediation. The Joint ADR Committee generally publishes two newsletters a year and alerts its members, which consist of VBA members and VSB members who have not yet affiliated with the VBA, when they are available for reading.
2017 "In A VBA Minute" biweekly emails have a Section focus

The VBA wants to keep you informed of the important contributions made by each and every section, division and committee of the association. Biweekly "In A VBA Minute" emails put these volunteer leaders in the driver's seat to describe the work of their groups - and possibly entice VBA members to join sections or become more involved in the sections to which they already belong.

We began in April with the Wills, Trusts & Estates and Transportation Law sections. Next up is Appellate Practice. We're also archiving these messages, in case you miss one. Find them on vba.org by navigating to FOR LAWYERS > RESOURCES and scrolling down to VBA Member Communications and In A VBA Minute, or follow the link below.

Judy Woodruff, 2017 VBA debate moderator
Summer Meeting and gubernatorial debate

Plan now to be at the Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs on July 22 to witness the debate between candidates for Virginia's next governor. As she did for VBA-organized debates in 2014 and 2013, Judy Woodruff, co-anchor and managing editor of "PBS NewsHour," will moderate the Summer Meeting event. The candidates will be determined in June.
Bar groups unite to oppose proposed budget cut to legal aid

A proposal to cut federal funding for legal aid services catalyzed the VBA and six other statewide bar groups to issue a statement to oppose the concept.

VSB seeks 60 attorney volunteers to serve on panels

Attorneys interested in serving on Medical Malpractice Review Panels should plan to submit a letter of interest and a resume to the Virginia State Bar no later than June 7.

Learn more 
Supreme Court approves lawyer advertising changes

Amended rules governing lawyer advertising take effect July 1. Are you familiar with the coming changes?
Number of February bar exam candidates drops again

Candidates for the Virginia bar exam this past February fell for the fifth straight year, to 361, according to Virginia Lawyers Weekly. Five years ago, the number of applicants was 564. This February, a total of 192 candidates passed the exam, or nearly 53.2 percent, said the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners. New lawyers will be admitted to practice June 7 in Richmond.
Insurance corner: Did you know?

Virginia Barristers Alliance Inc. logo Several A-rated life insurance companies will consider cigar or pipe smokers, or those who use smokeless tobacco, for nontobacco premiums.

We recently helped a 45-year-old attorney who regularly smokes cigars obtain a $1 million, 20-year term life insurance policy with a highly rated insurance company at nontobacco premiums.

Have you reviewed your life insurance policies recently to determine whether your coverage or premiums can be improved? Virginia Barristers Alliance Inc. (VBAI) offers access to more than 50 A-rated life insurance carriers. Call VBAI today at 1-800-358-7987 for a comprehensive review of your life insurance.

Tax Day is over, but perhaps not forgotten

Maybe you received a refund. Maybe your tax adviser recommended ways to increase your deductions. With Tax Day behind us, would you consider a possible charitable deduction to our 501(c)(3) foundation? Your support of The Virginia Bar Association Foundation makes it possible for the VBA to enhance several activities.
Member news

CJ Steuart Thomas accepts VTLA-VADA award
VBA President-elect C.J. Steuart Thomas III received the Civility & Professionalism Award from the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys. He is the third recipient of the award, which honors contributions to the enhancement of professionalism in the legal community and promotion of the highest levels of competence, integrity and ethical conduct. Thomas is a partner at Timberlake, Smith, Thomas & Moses, P.C., in Staunton.

Life Member Claude D. Carter of Woods Rogers received the Roanoke Bar Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is presented to an outstanding lawyer who embodies the highest tradition of personal and professional excellence in Southwest Virginia, and, in doing so, enhances the image and esteem of attorneys in the region.

Cheshire I'Anson Eveleigh is the 2017 recipient of the Family Law Service Award by the VSB Family Law Section. She is a council member of the VBA Domestic Relations Section and chair of the Virginia Family Law Coalition, a VBA-affiliated group. She is with Wolcott Rivers Gates in Virginia Beach.

May 2017 Voice
Richard E. Garriott Jr. of Pender & Coward in Virginia Beach has been inducted as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, an honorary society of lawyers and jurists that is limited to 1 percent of the lawyers admitted to practice law in the United States. Garriott chairs the Board of Governors of the VBA.


May 2017 Voice
William C. Carr Jr. is now an associate at Geoff McDonald & Associates in Richmond. He has more than 30 years of experience in personal injury law and focuses on representing injured clients in workers' compensation cases.

Casey Lucier, a McGuireWoods associate, served as team captain in this year's Rebuilding Together Richmond project to repair a Bookland Park Boulevard home in Richmond's North Side. McGuireWoods has participated in these efforts for 25 years. Lucier is also a member of the nonprofit group's board of directors.

May 2017 Voice
Drew Kubovcik of Pender & Coward in Chesapeake has been elected to a three-year term on the Virginia State Bar Council. He represents the First Judicial District, covering the city of Chesapeake. The VSB Council and Executive Committee govern the Virginia State Bar. Kubovcik focuses his practice on civil litigation and criminal and traffic law.

May 2017 Voice
George C. Howell III is now chair of Hunton & Williams LLP's executive committee. He has served as head of the firm's tax and employee benefits practice. Howell also is the immediate past chair of the American Bar Association's Section of Taxation. Also at the firm, T. Justin Moore III is now Richmond office managing partner. He succeeds John D. O'Neill Jr., the first person to serve in that position. O'Neill will continue as founding head of the firm's P3 practice group and will co-lead the business practice group. Hunton & Williams also elevated Randall S. Parks as a co-head of the corporate practice, succeeding Moore. Gregory B. Robertson, who led the firm's labor and employment practice for years, has been succeeded by two firm members.

Helivi L. Holland, city attorney in Suffolk, was elected to an initial two-year term as a director of the Local Government Attorneys of Virginia Inc. Mark C. Popovich, Isle of Wight county attorney, was elected to a second two-year term as a director of the LGA.

Rhodes Ritenour is vice president of external and regulatory affairs in the mission services division of Bon Secours Richmond Health System. Formerly, he was deputy attorney general of Virginia for civil litigation and earlier was a partner at LeClairRyan.

Marcia M. Maddox, who served as president of the U.S. chapter of the International Academy of Family Lawyers from 2008-2010, passed away in April. She was a founder partner of Maddox & Gerock, P.C., in Merrifield, and had worked as assistant press secretary to Lady Bird Johnson during the five years of the President Lyndon B. Johnson's administration.
Say hello to the 8 new or reactivating members who joined the VBA in March and the 9 new members who joined in April. Welcome!
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