Nathan C. Mortier

Debbie has over 37 years experience handling all aspects of family law. Her practice areas include Contested and Uncontested Divorces, Spousal Support, Child Custody, Visitation and Support, Separation Agreements, Equitable Distribution of Property, Division of Retirement, Pensions and Profit Sharing Plans, Business Valuation and Division, Post-Divorce Issues, Pre-marital Agreements and Marital Agreements. She practices in the Circuit Courts and the J & DR courts throughout Hampton Roads....

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...

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...

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.

Steven L. Brinker is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) and Commercial Finance Law. Steven L. practices law in Norfolk, Virginia Best Lawyers has recognized Steven L. Brinker 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 Steven L. Brinker is held by other lawyers.

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.

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 ...

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...

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...