The latest news and information from your law partner for life

The independent voice of Virginia lawyers             Sept. 15, 2016.
Dear ,
Webcasts. In-person seminars. Half-day, daylong and multiday conferences. VBA Online CLE. The ways you can get CLE credits through the VBA are myriad. But wait, there's more! Young professional networking socials, the 2017 VBA legislative agenda. It's all coming up soon. Plus a recap on the Spotlight on Veterans Legal Issues and the ever-popular Member News. Read on!    
What's new and what's happening? The Top 4 List

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1. The Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law Section is teaming up with the Federal Circuit Bar Association to present an in-person and webcast program on Friday, Sept. 23. Learn about the current state of the law under 35 U.S.C. 101 and the use of fact and expert witnesses at the PTAB. VBA members receive discounted registration.

2. The 46th iteration of the Conference on Labor Relations and Employment Law starts Sept. 29. The room block at the Omni Richmond Hotel closes today, Sept. 15. Call 1-800-THE-OMNI to reserve lodging. Find details and registration information at vba.org/16labor.
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3. The VBA Criminal Law Section and the VBA Law School Council at the University of Richmond are sponsoring a White Collar Criminal Law Forum Oct. 13 in Richmond. See the event flyer. Seating is limited. Registration is open

4. See what's new and different about the Young Lawyers Fall Meeting. Hint: It's not just for officers and project chairs; it's for all young lawyer members. Come for the entire event, Oct. 7-9, or plan to spend just Saturday, Oct. 8, in Charlottesville. Earn CLE credits, meet great people and find out how your talents dovetail with one of the numerous YLD projects and activities. Register at vba.org/16yldfall
Build out your professional network. Mix and Mingle

The VBA has paired up with other professional associations to provide networking opportunities for young lawyers with CPAs, bankers insurance agents. Remember to bring business cards!

The Northern Virginia Mix and Mingle is Sept. 22 at Tysons' Biergarten. RSVP.   
The Southside Mix and Mingle is Oct. 20 at Depot Grille in Lynchburg. RSVP.  
Fall VBA Journal will appear in mailboxes soon
Fall 2016 VBA Journal cover

The latest issue of the official publication of the VBA delves into the sweeping review and update of activities, projects and the organization of the Young Lawyers Division. Other highlights include:
  • Uncovering the true meaning of "best efforts" clauses
  • A look at Rule 1:1, Umana-Barrera and nunc pro tunc orders
  • Important changes with the Uniform Power of Appointment Act

Would you like to write for the VBA Journal? Contact [email protected]

Young Lawyers Division wins national awards
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The ABA Young Lawyers Division honored the VBA YLD with a first place, a second place and a special recognition in its Awards of Achievement. You, too, can get involved. A great place to start is with the Young Lawyers Fall Meeting in Charlottesville in early October. Click the button for details about what makes the VBA YLD stand out as one of the best divisions in the country.   
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Upcoming events

Want to be alerted when registration opens or other details become available regarding VBA fall conferences? Express your interest. Join the email list for one, some or all 2016 conferences.
Play. Learn. Love VBA Online CLE

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Just in time before the 2016 CLE reporting deadline, VBA Online CLE adds six presentations from the Summer Meeting for your learning enjoyment. VBA members always receive discounts for the video and podcast presentations your colleagues organized. Browse the catalog at vba.org/vbaonlinecle for existing sessions and these new titles:
  • 18th Annual Review of Civil Decisions of the Supreme Court of Virginia
  • Human Trafficking: A Dual Response for the Feds and State
  • Confidentiality: Part III (Nonclients' misunderstanding and mistakes)
  • Physicians Heal Thyselves: Lawyers as Employers
  • The Roberts Court at Age 10: The 2015 U.S. Supreme Court Term in Review
  • Mental Health Crises on Virginia College Campuses: Strategies and Recent Legal Reforms since the Virginia Tech Tragedy.
Promoting laws that benefit Virginians

Virginia State Capitol PHOTO Marilyn Shaw 
VBA sections and committees will recommend legislative changes for the VBA to consider championing Sept. 29 at Legislative Day. This event appropriately will be held in the Virginia State Capitol. The 30-day 2017 General Assembly session convenes Jan. 11. Learn more about the VBA's tradition of legislative initiatives on the Advocacy page on vba.org.    
Spotlight on Veterans Legal Issues

Sept 2016 
More than 50 lawyers and veterans' advocates attended an event the VBA co-sponsored this month at Miles & Stockbridge, PC, in Tysons Corner. The program (view photo album) highlighted legal resources for veterans and rallied the legal community to support programs offering legal representation to veterans in need. One of the featured programs was the VBA's Veterans Issues Task Force, which recruits attorneys to provide pro bono or reduced fee legal assistance to service members and veterans. The event also featured the Fairfax County Veterans Treatment Docket and the Legal Services of Northern Virginia. Volunteer now to serve those who served us.     
Save the dates for the 127th Annual Meeting

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Plan now to join your colleagues in Colonial Williamsburg for the biggest event in the VBA calendar: the Annual Meeting.

The Jan. 19-21 event steps off on Thursday with registration and a welcome reception. Friday and Saturday will feature quality CLE programming, ample time to make and renew friendships, the always-glamorous black-tie banquet, and the association's annual breakfast and business meeting.

Bookmark vba.org/vbaannual2017.   
Insurance corner

Virginia Barristers Alliance Inc. logoDid you know that innovative, pay-as-you-go billing plans can combine an employer's payroll processing with its workers' compensation insurance payments? These solutions makes it easier than ever for you to better manage cash flow and eliminate the traditional annual premium estimate in determining installments by basing them on real-time reported payrolls.

Virginia Barristers Alliance Inc. can analyze your firm's exposure and provide insurance solutions. Just contact us and we'll get started. Who better to help you than an agency founded by Virginia lawyers, for Virginia lawyers?  
Did you Turn Orange for hunger awareness?

From Regent University Law School's Facebook page 
Don't forget to send photos of your work team decked out in orange from Turn Orange day to [email protected].  Do so by Sept. 20 and your firm or office will be 100 points ahead of the competition for the 2017 Legal Food Frenzy. Start planning your winning strategy for the 11th annual contest, April 3-14.        
Member news

Joins ThompsonMcMullan
Frances Caruso (right) has joined the ThompsonMcMullan firm as an associate. Previously, she served as a law clerk for the Henrico County Circuit Court, as a law clerk in the legal department of Carmax Inc., in the Office of General Counsel at the University of Richmond, and in the Fredericksburg Public Defender's Office. Her practice focuses on litigation of all types.

Woods Rogers PLC of Roanoke announced that it will combine with the Lynchburg firm Edmunds & Williams PC on Oct. 1. In Lynchburg, the firm will operate as Woods Rogers Edmunds & Williams PLC and remain Woods Rogers PLC in Roanoke, Charlottesville, Richmond, Danville and other markets. The combination will add 15 Lynchburg attorneys to Woods Rogers' roster and will increase the number of Virginia offices to five with 78 attorneys.

Richmond Justice photo
A profile of Karl Doss (left), director of Access to Legal Services at the Virginia State Bar, appears this month on Richmond Justice. He discusses the agency's new website, virginia.freelegalanswers.org.

David P. Bobzien, county attorney for Fairfax for 23 years until his retirement, has joined The McCammon Group. He will serve the mediation, arbitration, judge pro tempore and special master needs of lawyers and litigants.

Elizabeth "Bitsy" Hester has joined Williams Mullen as a business and corporate partner in the Richmond office. She has more than 30 years of experience representing clients in corporate matters.

Derby Camp-Geoff McDonald

Derby Camp-Geoff McDonald
Geoff McDonald, a former lineman with the University of Hawaii and the University of Virginia, volunteers time each summer as coach and camp director at a central Virginia camp. In July, the fourth annual Brian Derby Offensive Lineman Football Camp attracted 62 students in two age groups. McDonald is principal with Geoff McDonald & Associates, a Richmond personal injury law firm.


R. Lee Stephens Jr. of Lee Stephens Law, PLC, in Irvington, is the 12th annual recipient of the John R. Dufour Lifetime Professional Achievement Award. Dufour was a leader in hospitality sales and marketing and was director of sales at The Tides Inn. Stephens is a grandchild of the founders of The Tides Inn. His family ran the inn for 53 seasons until they sold it in 2001. Stephens then was the inn's president and general counsel.

12 VBA members were recognized by Virginia Lawyers Media in its 2016 list of Leaders in the Law and seven VBA members are in the inaugural class of Up & Coming Lawyers. Read more ...

Roger Gregory is the first African-American chief judge on the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. 

In last month's The VBA Voice, we announced James M. Hingeley's plans to retire the first of this month after 18 years at the helm of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Office of the Public Defender. He's since been featured in the fall issue of Virginia, the University of Virginia magazine. "The Defense Rests: Leaving a carreer of standing alongside the indigent" begins on page 54.

VBA Past President George G. Grattan IV, who led the association in 1984, died Sept. 11 at age 82. He worked at Christian, Barton, Parker and Boyd in Richmond and as legal adviser at the University of Virginia for 14 years. Later in his career, he was a mediator. A funeral service is scheduled for tomorrow at 2 p.m. in Charlottesville.   
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