Alexandra M. Gabriel

Ryan is the 2024 President of the Virginia Bar Association. He handles high-stakes litigation with a focus on complex business disputes, construction law, and maritime law. He also serves as local counsel in the Eastern District of Virginia in patent and other cases. He was managing partner from 2012 to 2020. Ryan’s experience includes state and federal jury trials, mediations, panel arbitrations, and appeals. His cases involve business conspiracies, technology disputes, government cont...

Bill O’Mara started his legal career in 2008, moving back to his home town of Chesapeake, VA. He has practiced in the field of plaintiffs’ personal injury his entire career. He has gained extensive court room and trial experience, including contested trials before judges and juries across Hampton Roads. In 2014, Bill joined Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers before becoming a partner in 2017. He dedicates his entire practice to helping injured people. Bill is skilled in handling car , t...

Carlton Bennett is recognized as an expert in traumatic brain damage litigation, nursing home malpractice and wrongful death caes. Mr. bennett was co-counsel in the largest mild-traumatic brain injury jury verdict, $10.2 million, ever awarded in Norfolk Circuit Court. He specializes in mild brain damage cases, but also handles moderate and severe cases. He has obtained numerous multi-million dollar jury verdicts and settlements for traumatic brain injury survivors, and other cases involving s...

Howard P. Smith is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Howard P. practices law in Hampton, Virginia Best Lawyers has recognized Howard P. Smith since 2008. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Howard P. Smith is held by other lawyers.

C. Arthur "Brother" Rutter III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Brother, who practices law in Norfolk, Virginia, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brother is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area. A second-generation lawyer, Brother Rutter made a name fo...

Ashley E. Nimitz is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Trusts and Estates. Ashley E. practices law in Virginia Beach, Virginia Best Lawyers has recognized Ashley E. Nimitz since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Ashley E. Nimitz is held by other lawyers.

Erin E. Jewell is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Erin E. practices law in Yorktown, Virginia Best Lawyers has recognized Erin E. Jewell since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in w...

The Moody Law Firm, Inc. (Moody, Strople, Kloeppel & Higginbotham, Inc. and its predecessor firms) is a national law firm headquartered in Portsmouth, Virginia. It was founded in a one room office space in 1958 by National Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame 2014 Inductee and America’s Top 100 Attorneys Lifetime Achievement Recipient , Willard J. Moody, Sr., who was a renowned and highly respected attorney, trial lawyer, and civic leader in the City of Portsmouth, who served in both the Hous...

Stephanie C. Smith is a Shareholder in the law firm of Midgett Preti Olansen. Her practice areas include estate planning, estate and trust administration, and business matters. Additionally, Ms. Smith serves as a Commissioner of Accounts for Virginia Beach Circuit Court. In her role as Commissioner of Accounts, Ms. Smith supervises fiduciaries and audits accountings and other filings by administrators and executors of estates, trustees of trusts, guardians and conservators for minor children ...

Kristina H. Vaquera is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Employment Law - Management. Kristina H. practices law in Norfolk, Virginia Best Lawyers has recognized Kristina H. Vaquera since 2020. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Kristina H. Vaquera is held by other lawyers.