Richard H. Howard-Smith

Chris graduated from Falls Church High School in 1988, Georgetown University in 1992, and William and Mary law School in 1996. He also attended the George Washington University Master’s Program in Forensic Science from 2001-2003. During law school, Chris concentrated in criminal defense by working as an investigator at the D.C. Public Defender Service. He also clerked at the Public Defender’s Office in Bellingham, Washington in the summer of 1995, where he won his first jury trial...

Ms. Harden has 20 years of civil litigation experience in the Commonwealth of Virginia. She has litigated diverse and varied topics throughout her career including eminent domain, breach of contract, medical malpractice, construction defect, partition, establishment of prescriptive easement, professional liability, covenant enforcement, and actions to quiet title. In recent years, Ms. Harden’s practice has focused on representing condemning authorities in eminent domain matters. Ms. Har...

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

Paul Varela counsels clients in contract planning, administration, and complex dispute resolution matters nationally and internationally in the engineering and construction industry. His broad range of legal experience includes government and private data centers, roads, bridges, tall buildings, nuclear and conventional power facilities, environmental remediation, biomedical centers, energy and chemical projects, airports, professional sports stadiums, pharmaceutical projects, mass transit, a...

A Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Family Lawyers, Mr. Garriott represents clients in divorce, property settlement agreements, child custody and pre-marital agreements. He also handles a variety of civil litigation including personal injury, employment, workers' compensation, and contract matters. Mr. Garriott was selected for the 2009 Class of Leaders in the Law by Virginia Lawyers Weekly and holds Martindale-Hubbell's highest rating of A...

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

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

Tevis Marshall is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Tevis, who practices law in Richmond, Virginia, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Tevis is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Chris Burke has nearly 25 years of experience litigating construction disputes both domestically and internationally. Chris has tried multiple disputes through final award, with amounts in dispute of over US$1 billion. Chris represents clients in state and federal courts and in arbitration proceedings, and has considerable experience with international dispute resolution. Chris represents owners, general contractors, construction managers, and subcontractors through the various stages of disp...

Darius K. Davenport is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Insurance and Real Estate Law. Darius K., who practices law in Norfolk, Virginia, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Darius K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.