Daniel L. Stephens

John M. Cooper is one of the founding partners at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers and a veteran of Virginia personal injury law practice. A native of Hampton Roads, Virginia, he was raised in Norfolk and Virginia Beach. After graduating from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1988, John returned home to work as a law clerk for a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk Division. John has a passion for justice and has been blessed to have a l...

Vanessa Macias Stillman serves as guardian ad litem for incapacitated adults and has experience litigating in several areas of fiduciary law, including contested guardianship and conservatorship actions, will contests, partitions of property, suits for breach of fiduciary duty, and a variety of complex trust and estate matters. Ms. Stillman graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a B.A. in Political Science and Spanish. She earned her law degree from Syracuse University College of Law...

Naveed Kalantar is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Naveed, who practices law in Virginia Beach, Virginia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Naveed is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jim is Chairman of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. His primary practice areas include admiralty, business, cybersecurity, data privacy, railroad/transit, and unmanned systems. Jim has tried over 100 cases to jury verdicts for clients involving a broad range of legal disputes. Jim advises governing boards and senior leadership regarding risks and resolution strategies in high-profile cases. His service as general counsel to companies, and as a director and officer of several non-pr...

Stewart Gill is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Stewart, who practices law in Hampton, Virginia, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Stewart is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Cynthia Chaing is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Cynthia, who practices law in Virginia Beach, Virginia, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Cynthia is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Don joined the firm in 1993 and is the Managing Partner and Chair of the firm’s Commercial Bankruptcy and Creditor’s Rights Practice Group. He practices in the areas of eminent domain, commercial real estate finance, civil litigation, construction law, and business bankruptcy and creditors’ rights. He has provided advice and counsel to clients in commercial real estate financing, loan workouts, construction matters, collections and foreclosures and has successfully represent...

Adam H. Lotkin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Adam, who practices law in Norfolk, Virginia, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Adam is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area. Throughout high school and college, Adam worked in several different capacities with the United States House o...

Ashley E. Nimitz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Ashley E., who practices law in Virginia Beach, Virginia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ashley E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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 ...