Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law Litigation - Bankruptcy
Robert H. Chappell III
Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
Robert Chappell’s practice focuses on commercial bankruptcy, bankruptcy litigation, creditors’ rights insolvency, and business. He represents lenders in all facets of commercial credit transactions from origination to work-out and recovery. Recently, he has represented asset purchasers in complex bankruptcies, represented debtors in Chapter 11 cases selling real properties, helped restructure the finances of a continuing-care-retirement-community and assisted in the resolution of major credit issues involving real estate developments, condominium developments, title litigation, hotels, and golf courses. He also provides counsel to local businesses, with a focus on community banks.
Following law school, Robert served as a law clerk to the Honorable Hal J. Bonney, Jr., a United States Bankruptcy Court Judge in Norfolk, Virginia. He is a Director of Froehling & Robertson, Incorporated and a director of the Shirley Plantation Foundation. Robert has served on the Board of Directors of the Richmond Bar Association and is a past Chair of the Bankruptcy Section of the Richmond Bar Association. He volunteers his time for various local charities, including The Doorways.
He earned a B.A. in English and History from the University of Virginia in 1987 and his J.D. from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary in 1990.
Following law school, Robert served as a law clerk to the Honorable Hal J. Bonney, Jr., a United States Bankruptcy Court Judge in Norfolk, Virginia. He is a Director of Froehling & Robertson, Incorporated and a director of the Shirley Plantation Foundation. Robert has served on the Board of Directors of the Richmond Bar Association and is a past Chair of the Bankruptcy Section of the Richmond Bar Association. He volunteers his time for various local charities, including The Doorways.
He earned a B.A. in English and History from the University of Virginia in 1987 and his J.D. from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary in 1990.
Overview
- William & Mary Law School, J.D., graduated 1990
- College of William & Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law, JD, graduated 1990
- University of Virginia, BA, graduated 1987
- Virginia State Bar - Past Member, Board of Directors
- United States Bankruptcy Court
- Virginia State Bar - Past Member, Board of Directors
- William & Mary Law School, J.D., graduated 1990
- College of William & Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law, JD, graduated 1990
- University of Virginia, BA, graduated 1987
- United States Bankruptcy Court
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus

Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Litigation - Bankruptcy, Richmond (2021)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
- Litigation - Bankruptcy
Awards:
Best Lawyers in America 2011-2026 for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation: Bankruptcy, Richmond, Virginia
Chambers USA 2024, 2025 for Bankruptcy / Restructuring
Virginia Business Magazine's Legal Elite for Bankruptcy: Creditors Rights 2019-2024
Virginia Super Lawyers 2008-2025 for Bankruptcy: Business
News & Media
Case History
Cases
- Counsel to lead lender
of $19,000,000 participated loan secured by hotel property, obtaining out-of-court workout/recovery.
- Counsel to sponsoring entity
whose wholly owned subsidiary, a continuing care retirement community, successfully restructured $133,000,000 of existing debt to $85,725,000 in reissued debt through a 91 day, prepackaged Chapter 11 proceeding.
- Co-counsel to a coal company
purchasing material assets of James River Coal and affiliated entities in $50,000,000.00, section 363 sale transaction in bankruptcy proceeding. See In re James River Coal Co., et al. (Bankr. E.D. Va. 2014), Case # 14-31848-KRH.
- Counsel to affiliated Chapter 11 debtors
selling 29 apartment buildings through section 363 bankruptcy sale process to purchaser for $37.3 million. See In re River City Renaissance, LC, et al. (Bankr. E.D. Va. 2014), Case #14-34080-KLP.
- Co-counsel to a coal company
purchasing material assets of Patriot Coal and affiliated entities in debt refinance transaction through confirmed plan of reorganization in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding. See In re Patriot Coal Corp., et al. (Bankr. E.D. Va. 2015), Case # 15-32450-KLP.
- Co-counsel to Unsecured Creditors Committee
for oil and gas company Penn Virginia Corporation and affiliates in successful restructuring of debt through confirmed plan of reorganization in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding. See In re Penn Virginia Corporation, et al. (Bankr. E.D. Va. 2016), Case # 16-32395-KLP.
Your browser is not fully compatible with our automatic printer friendly formatting.
Please use the print button to print this profile page.