Richard H. Howard-Smith

Nicholas D. SanFilippo serves as a first chair trial lawyer representing employers in actions involving restrictive covenants, employment contracts, the Uniform Trade Secrets Act, and tort claims, including defamation, conversion, wrongful discharge, conspiracy, and tortious interference. He advises management on employment issues related to termination, hiring, reduction in force, restrictive covenants, employment agreements, discipline, and handbooks. Nick represents closely-held businesses...

A Richmond native, Penn earned his undergraduate degree from East Carolina University and went to work on Capitol Hill as part of the Oversight and Investigations staff for the House Commerce Committee. Eager to pursue a career as a lawyer, Penn enrolled at the University of Richmond’s T. C. Williams School of Law, where he served on the Journal of Law in the Public Interest and was the recipient of the school’s prestigious Williams Scholarship. As a law student, Penn says, he hea...

Scott Oostdyk resolves serious commercial litigation for businesses of all sizes, major corporations, and governments facing their most consequential disputes—ranging from contract battles, insurance recovery actions, and employment conflicts to high-stakes product liability and commercial claims. What distinguishes Scott’s approach to advocacy is his rare combination of courtroom prowess and strategic foresight, honed through prior government leadership experience. Scott understa...

Maria Simon is an award-winning attorney who serves as the firm’s Managing Partner. While Maria’s practice is quite versatile, she specializes in family law, divorce, custody disputes, Collaborative Divorce, business law, and litigation. Frequently appearing in court nationwide on behalf of her clients, Maria has considerable experience in the Federal District Court, U.S. Court of Appeals, Bankruptcy Court, and the State courts of Virginia, District of Columbia, and Maryland. She ...

Sandra has represented corporations in hundreds of courtrooms across the country. The nature of her defense work varies but overwhelmingly involves defending catastrophic exposure products liability matters, often in her role as first chair national trial counsel.

Timothy J. Jessell is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law. Timothy J., who practices law in McLean, Virginia, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Timothy J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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.

Juli M. Porto represents people who have been injured by the carelessness of others, with a focus on cases involving ridehail companies such as Uber and Lyft. She has been quoted in the New York Times based on her expertise in ridehail cases. Juli handles civil and court-appointed criminal appeals to the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court of Virginia. Juli will tirelessly advocate for you so that you receive the compensation that you deserve for the pain and trauma you have suffered through n...

Former Virginia Attorney General and Virginia Secretary of Public Safety Jerry Kilgore is a member of Cozen O’Connor’s State Attorneys General Practice. Jerry’s distinguished political career and experience as a litigator uniquely positions him to advise clients on important government investigations and regulatory matters, and the interplay with Attorneys General and public policy. Jerry’s experience and hands-on perspective on issues ranging from consumer protection ...

“…You can’t get good settlements unless you have good trial results” Working with a Federal Court Judge in New Orleans while he was in college fueled Jeffrey Breit's interest in the law. A native of the Tidewater area, his father, brothers and even his wife have all been attorneys at one time or another. In 1988, he left the firm where his father had practiced and together with Jack Drescher started Breit, Drescher & Imprevento specializing in representing injured...