Melissa J. Howell

Kevin Biniazan is a passionate, driven trial lawyer who seeks to provide the best possible representation to his clients. He strongly believes that a trial by jury is the best way to hold large corporations and insurance companies accountable for their negligent actions. And that is why he prepares every case as if it will go to trial. In that process, Kevin looks to innovative research and strategies in many areas including law, communication, social sciences, and beyond to bring new and inn...

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...

Cynthia Chaing is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Family Law. Cynthia practices law in Virginia Beach, Virginia Best Lawyers has recognized Cynthia Chaing 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 which Cynthia Chaing is held by other lawyers.

K. Barrett Luxhoj is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Admiralty and Maritime Law, Commercial Litigation, Construction Law and Litigation - Construction. K. Barrett practices law in Norfolk, Virginia Best Lawyers has recognized K. Barrett Luxhoj since 2027. 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 K. Barrett Luxhoj is held ...

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 ...

Avery T. Waterman, Jr. is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Avery T. practices law in Williamsburg, Virginia Best Lawyers has recognized Avery T. Waterman, Jr. since 2009. 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 Avery T. Waterman, Jr. is held...

Alexandra Wood is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Family Law. Alexandra practices law in Virginia Beach, Virginia Best Lawyers has recognized Alexandra Wood since 2025. 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 Alexandra Wood is held by other lawyers.

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...

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...

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...