Colleen P. Gillis

Elizabeth Gray has practiced law in Virginia since 1996, with a focus on estate planning, elder law, special needs planning, guardianships, and estate administration. A graduate of Virginia’s unique Law Reader Program—an apprenticeship alternative to traditional law school—she brings a practical, approachable perspective to her work and tailors every plan to her clients’ individual needs. A Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) through the National Elder Law Foundation, ...

Gerald Curran has been a dedicated trial lawyer in Virginia since 1991, concentrating his practice on domestic relations litigation. He handles all facets of family law, including equitable distribution, child and spousal support, custody, and visitation, and drafting separation and property settlement agreements. Mr. Curran has extensive experience litigating complex, high-value cases, including those involving the valuation and distribution of business interests, stock options, real estate,...

Bill Christiansen specializes in biotechnology patent matters, with particular emphasis on U.S. and international patent procurement, strategic management of patent portfolios, investment due diligence, early stage company counseling and competitive patent position analysis. He received his B.S. in Biochemistry and Biophysics (with honors) from Oregon State University (1991). After obtaining a Ph.D. in Biochemistry/ Biophysics/Molecular Biology from the University of Notre Dame (1995), for wh...

Patricia Harris is a land use attorney at Lerch, Early & Brewer in Bethesda, Maryland. She assists developers and property owners with securing approvals needed to develop their properties, including site plans, special exceptions, subdivision approvals, historic preservation, local map amendments, zoning text amendments, master plan recommendations and building permits in Montgomery County, Maryland. Pat is knowledgeable about transit-oriented, mixed-use development and other issues rela...

Swathi Bojedla is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs. Swathi, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Swathi is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Andrea K. Mitchell is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law and FinTech Practice. Andrea K., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Andrea K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Practicing in the area of energy law, Elizabeth Whittle counsels clients with respect to natural gas, hydroelectric and electric regulatory and transactional matters. What do you focus on? Federal Regulatory I am an active practitioner before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, representing clients in hearings, settlement conferences and adversary proceedings in the natural gas, electric and hydroelectric areas. I am active in proceedings involving regional transmission organizations an...

Drawing inspiration from General George S. Patton's motto, "Wars are not won by fighting battles; wars are won by choosing battles," I emphasize strategic thinking in my practice. My goal is to identify and steer clear of unnecessary conflicts, aiming to achieve business objectives with minimal confrontation. And if a battle does arise, I will represent you with ferocity and civility in the center of the ring. Learn more about my practice at Pillsbury , where I am committed to providing insig...

David is a principal in the law firm of Blankingship & Keith, P.C. in the City of Fairfax. He is a civil litigator with over 30 years of trial practice, primarily before the various Virginia Circuits Courts in Northern Virginia as well as the Federal Courts for the Eastern District of Virginia. He also has substantial appellate experience arguing before the Supreme Court of Virginia and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. His practice has concentrated on commercial ...

Ronald Machen, a member of the firm's global Management Committee and Chair of the Firm’s Litigation and Controversy Department is one of the nation's leading trial and white-collar defense lawyers. His practice focuses on government enforcement, corporate and congressional investigations, and litigating civil business disputes. An experienced litigator who has tried more than 35 cases to verdict, Mr. Machen specializes in litigating complex criminal and civil actions. He also routinely...