Hampton Lawyers

Attorney Richard Serpe is a distinguished Virginia personal injury lawyer with a reputation for meticulous trial preparation and presentation, and has a track record of success in obtaining favorable jury verdicts and settlements for his clients. As a personal injury attorney, Richard Serpe advocates for those who have been injured due to the negligence of another person, dangerous product, or company. A substantial portion of his legal career has been devoted to the representation of injured children. Mr. Serpe is frequently associated with complex litigation, managing cases with difficult scientific and medical issues. He has experience managing large case cohorts, including the...

Brian M. Latuga specializes in Criminal Defense and Civil Litigation across State and Federal courts. As a seasoned trial attorney, his career is marked by relentless advocacy in the courtroom to safeguard the liberty, rights, and family unity of those under serious allegations by the government or individuals. Mr. Latuga's practice spans a comprehensive range of charges, including misdemeanors, felonies, white-collar crimes, sex offenses, drug trafficking, and violent crimes. His prowess is recognized across Federal, General District, Juvenile, Domestic Relations, and Circuit Courts in the Commonwealth, attesting to his reputation and expertise. Mr. Latuga's legal acumen is rooted in real-world experience,...

Caryn was born and raised outside Buffalo, New York. Caryn’s first love and passion is reading and writing, which naturally led to a career in law. She attended the State University of New York at Geneseo, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honors in Philosophy and English. From Geneseo, she moved South for warmer weather and attended Washington and Lee School of Law in Lexington, Virginia, graduating cum laude in 2002. During law school, Caryn was a member of the Editorial Board of the Washington and Lee Law Review.

Having visited her aunt...

Dominic P. Lascara is a native of Portsmouth, Virginia. He graduated in 1986 from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary after receiving his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, in Business Administration in 1981 from Old Dominion University. Dominic P. Lascara joined the law firm of Roy, Forehand, Laine and Dale, P.C. as an associate in the fall of 1986 after being admitted to the Virginia State Bar. He was admitted to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in 1987. He became a partner...

Gilbert Carey is an attorney and certified public accountant with Wolcott Rivers Gates. He practices in the areas of Taxation, Tax Resolution and Controversy and Estate Planning, solving tax, business, and legal challenges for individuals, privately held businesses and their owners. He has an Avvo rating of 10 (Superb) and has been recognized as a Top Lawyer of Coastal Virginia by Coastal Virginia Magazine. Mr. Carey regularly advises clients on tax matters and represents clients in tax disputes with the IRS, state tax agencies and in U.S. Tax Court. He provides income tax planning and compliance advice to individuals, trusts, estates...

John is passionate about entrepreneurship and business development. Like many entrepreneurs, he has launched both successful and failed businesses. A true believer in “failing forward”, John looks for new opportunities in every situation. This mentality allows him to connect with entrepreneurs and business owners in a meaningful way to help them navigate difficulties and grow their success. “I find joy in helping business owners make better decisions to build on their success and protect their business.” Outside of his practice of law, John serves as Chairman of the Board for Roc Solid Foundation, a local non-profit that builds hope for...

James Panagis has spent his legal career in criminal and civil litigation in the state and federal courts of Virginia. With 15 years of trial experience, he has done jury trials in state and federal courts all over Virginia. James is a former Assistant Commonwealth Attorney with Fairfax County and the City of Virginia Beach and has been lead counsel on countless bench and jury trials having litigated Murder, Manslaughter, Robbery, Rape, Malicious Wounding, Embezzlement and a number of other white collar and computer offenses. James has significant appellate experience and has conducted oral argument before the Court of Appeals of...

As a current firm shareholder for Pender and Coward, P.C., the scope of James T. Lang's practice is in environmental law with an emphasis on counseling residential and commercial waterfront property owners. Additionally Mr. Lang has extensive experience representing business clients in a variety of corporate matters that have become long time clients entrusting him with all of their legal needs. Before joining the firm in 2005, Mr Lang enjoyed a 25-year career in the navy starting as an E-1 Fireman Recruit and finishing as an O-5 Commander, including 16 years as a U.S. Navy JAG Attorney.

Attorney Jason Swango is a leader in the law arena, representing MEN ONLY in divorce in family law matters through The Firm For Men. As a former military servicemember, Attorney Swango understands the intricacies of military family law, earning a reputation in Hampton Roads as one of the best attorneys for active duty and former military. In addition, Swango Law P.C. offers many practice areas, from DUI, traffic violations, and criminal cases to personal injury and workers' compensation.

Ray Hogge represents and advised Virginia public and private employers, and Virginia executives and professionals, in all aspects of labor and employment law.

The son of a government official, Andy grew up in various parts of the country, including Ohio, Colorado, and Texas. He attended the College of William and Mary and graduated in 1988 with a B.A. with honors in Government. Andy then went to the University of Richmond Law School, obtaining his J.D. in 1991. While in law school, he won the moot court competition, the trial competition (twice), and the writing competition. After passing the Virginia bar exam in 1991, Andy worked in one of the largest law firms in the country in its Norfolk office, primarily defending large...

Letha Sgritta McDowell is a highly accomplished attorney and shareholder at Hook Law, specializing in various areas of elder law, including estate planning, special needs planning, estate and trust administration, asset protection planning, long-term care planning, personal injury settlement consulting, guardianships & conservatorships, and tax law. Her expertise ranges from assisting clients with complex estate planning for high-net-worth individuals with assets over $75 million to developing simple plans for families with limited assets. Ms. McDowell has a distinguished professional background. She served as the President of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), a notable position within the field. In...

Tatiana Mendez is an attorney in Virginia whose practice focuses primarily on immigration, family, criminal, and traffic cases. Mendez began her legal career as an intern for the Federal Public Defender's Office in Norfolk where she assisted in the defense of a variety of clients and conducted interviews in Spanish. Since then she has practiced law all over Hampton Roads and gained experience in a wide variety of cases. In addition to her legal experience, Ms. Mendez is fluent in Spanish and earned a top score on the International Fluency Exam for Spanish Translators.

Satnam Singh is the principal lawyer in Satnam Singh, PC, and American Immigration Law Office, PLC, practicing law since 1988. Satnam is admitted to the Supreme Court of Virginia; the US Courts of Appeals for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and Federal Circuits; Federal District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia; Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia; US Tax Court; US Court of International Trade; the US Supreme Court; and the Bar Council (Punjab & Haryana) in India. His areas of practice include: Litigation, Appeals, Consular Processing, Waivers, Family...

ANNA ERNEST, the proud owner of Ernest Law Group PLC, is a highly sought-after and recognized advocate. She represents Clients in complex matters in the family law, personal injury, and immigration. She has extensive courtroom experience in federal and state litigation. Ms. Ernest is regarded as a determined, assertive, innovative, and client-dedicated attorney. For her substantial accomplishments, Ms. Ernest has been consistently voted by her peers as a “Super Lawyer,” named “Virginia’s Legal Elite,” recognized as a “Top Lawyer” by Coastal Virginia Magazine, selected to the list of “Top 40 Under 40” by The National Trial Lawyers, received...

Joe Miller has been representing the injured for over 30 years. He is admitted to practice law in both Virginia and North Carolina. If you have been injured at work, in a car accident, or otherwise due to the negligence of another, you need to call Joe Miller Law and experience what Strong Justice is all about. Joe grew up in the Tidewater area of Virginia and attended Western Branch High School in Chesapeake. He received his law degree at William and Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law in 1987. He is admitted to practice law in both Virginia and North...

Chris is a seasoned business attorney and litigator with experience helping businesses in both private practice and as a Corporate Counsel to a large franchisor with over 4,000 franchisees internationally.
Chris has handled commercial disputes for clients in state and federal courts around the country in matters ranging from basic contract disputes to multi-million dollar “bet the company” lawsuits. Prior to becoming an attorney, he was the C.I.O. for an Internet Service Provider in Buffalo, NY.
Chris teaches as a adjunct professor at Regent University.
Chris was named a 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 ‘Rising Star’ by Super Lawyers magazine, a distinction received...

MARY G. COMMANDER has been engaged in the practice of law in Norfolk, Virginia and surrounding areas since 1981. She is well-known and respected in the Hampton Roads area for her proficiency in all matters of Family Law and her diligent and no-nonsense approach in court. Ms. Commander is a certified Norfolk Master Gardener Volunteer and actively involved in the rescue of former racing greyhounds (with two of her own at home).

Mary Commander’s Education & Experience:

She is a magna cum laude graduate of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, where she served for three years as an elected member of...

Randy practiced personal injury law for nearly 30 years and represented thousands of clients who were badly hurt in various types of accidents. Randy is now a retired partner of the firm.

Jack Rephan is a Shareholder and Director of the Virginia Beach, Virginia, firm of Pender & Coward, P.C. He is a member of the bars of Virginia and the District of Columbia. After serving as a law clerk for the U.S. Court of claims, Mr. Rephan was in the private practice of law in Washington D.C. from 1962 through 1993. Since 1993, he has practiced law in the Hampton Roads, Virginia area. Mr. Rephan’s legal career has covered a broad range of areas of the law although his current practice has been for many years primarily devoted...

Mr. Lipskis is an Estate and Elder Law attorney. He is licensed to practice in all Virginia Courts, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. His practice includes all facets of trusts, estate planning, estate administration, and elder law. Whether it be helping a young couple take appropriate steps for their children or protecting family wealth from potential creditors and taxation, Mr. Lipskis enjoys assisting families in understanding their planning needs. He also enjoys working collaboratively with financial advisors to make sure their estate plans match up with each client’s personal financial...

My practice area is focused primarily on criminal defense and traffic defense for the Hampton Roads/Virginia Beach area. I handle primarily DUI, speeding and reckless driving cases.

I live in Yorktown with my husband, a retired Navy veteran, with our two young children. We keep busy with church activities and family!

If you need assistance or have a question, please give me a call at 804-554-4444.

Before practicing as an attorney, I worked in greater Boston, MA and in Washington, DC in certified public accounting firms and currently hold my CPA license. I joined my law firm in 1998 and have been practicing and advising business owners and individuals ever since. In 2015, I graduated from the University of Alabama with my Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Business Transactions. In 2018, I became certified as an exit planning advisor by the Exit Planning Institute to better serve and assist my business clients.

I focus my practice areas in working with business owners and their advisors...

I have an extensive litigation practice with a focus on state and federal court litigation in the practice areas of personal injury, Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA); automobile, motorcycle & trucking accidents; wrongful death; medical malpractice; and employment.

Virginia and Eastern North Carolina trial attorney.

For 22 years I have represented insurance carriers, businesses, and individuals in cases involving liability defense, personal injury, and insurance coverage. I specialize in cases involving premises liability, trucking and auto accidents, product liability, construction claims, employment discrimination, and traumatic brain injury claims.

I handle large exposure claims in state and federal courts throughout Virginia and Eastern North Carolina. I try the cases that need to be tried, including several of the biggest cases in Virginia in recent years, including a defense verdict in a $10 million case following a 7 day jury trial...

With 40 plus years of experience, Reid Ervin has represented numerous individuals across a broad spectrum of industries on all levels of the company hierarchy. He has been recognized for his work as both a Virginia and Hampton Roads Super Lawyer and as a Virginia Legal Elite in the field of labor and employment law. Mr. Ervin is also among the few attorneys in the region who represent children and their parents against public schools in education law matters. As the principal of the firm, Mr. Ervin has provided a caring environment over the years for the firms many...

Bringing nearly 40 years of legal expertise to the Oast & Taylor team, Bill’s practice areas include Elder Law, Estate and Trust Administration, Estate Planning, Guardianships and Conservatorships, and Litigation.

I’ve been helping others find a fresh start through bankruptcy and divorce for almost 20 years. When I was in law school I just happened to be working for a bankruptcy attorney. One of my first cases was a couple whose daughter suffered from a brain tumor, and after a multitude of surgeries and treatments, the family was left with bills in excess of $200,000 after insurance. They had no choice but to file bankruptcy and get some reprieve from the overwhelming amount of bills necessary to save their daughter. Soon after, I met...

Types of cases I handle: Longshore Workers' Compensation Claims, Virginia Workers' Compensation Claims, Social Security Disability Claims, Personal Injury Cases General, Civil Litigation, Drafting of Contracts Contract Based Claims. I am a lawyer and I handle the types of cases I handle because I like to help people. In workers' compensation, Social Security, and personal injury claims, I work on behalf of people who have sustained injuries or disabilities that severely impact their lives and well being. I work with them in an effort to maximize their recovery and help them move on with their lives in a...

After finishing law school, I started a company focused on teaching new fathers (by birth or adoption) skills and abilities they may not have had a chance to learn. Eventually I closed that business in order to work in the area of foreclosure prevention law due to the increasingly common foreclosure (which in Virginia can happen very quickly). I have chosen to continue to help people in need at my own law firm so I can give my clients the attention they deserve.

Barry Rowell is a partner at Klein Rowell & Shall PLLC (KRS Law). Prior to forming this new partnership, Barry was a partner at Valverde & Rowell, PC, from 2006 to 2019. From 1995 to 2006, Barry was employed with a Fortune 50 Company, working in the human resources and legal department. Barry has successfully responded to and mediated hundreds of charges of employment discrimination filed with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Fair Employment Practice Agencies in more than 40 states. Barry has a wide range of experience advising corporate clients on complex employment issues including...

Joshua Jewett advocates for employees’ rights in all types of employment law matters before federal and state courts, as well as in administrative and grievance hearings. Mr. Jewett has represented numerous individuals across a broad spectrum of industries. In addition to representing employees in litigation type settings, Mr. Jewett advises management and decisionmaker employees in both the private and federal sector who are facing disciplinary action, possible termination, or are being forced out. Mr. Jewett has helped clients in these situations either keep their jobs or peacefully exit from their situations by obtaining a negotiated severance package.

I practice in military jurisdictions only, not civilians courts. I am a retired Lieutenant Colonel and I served as both a line officer and a JAG. I began my military career as a platoon leader in the 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne) and 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In 1998, I became a Judge Advocate and since then I have focused on court-martial law. As a result of this experience, I know the military and I know the court-martial process. I have spent well over a decade perfecting the courtroom skills and legal knowledge required to win tough...

Ra Hee Jeon is a Pender & Coward attorney focusing her practice on family law and immigration matters. Born and raised in South Korea, she is bilingual in Korean and English and skillful in Spanish. Ra Hee routinely drafts and reviews prenuptial agreements and property settlement agreements and advises her clients in complex contested divorce, uncontested divorce, and child custody/visitation/support issues. She actively participates in negotiation efforts to zealously represent her clients and to serve the best interests of any children involved. Ra Hee represents foreign-born and U.S. citizen clients in a variety of immigration matters and helps them navigate the...

A former Coast Guard judge advocate, John B. Gately has successfully represented clients in hundreds of courts-martial, medical boards, and administrative proceedings.

John B. Gately focuses his practice on military disability and veterans’ rights issues, concentrating on representing active duty service members, Reservists, and Guardsmen before the Physical Evaluation Boards of the various armed and uniformed services.

This includes representing clients before the various Boards of Correction for Military and Naval Records on both disability and nonmedical issues.

He also represents veterans on levels of claims before the Department of Veterans Affairs nationwide. John B. Gately has been awarded the coveted AV rating...

Dave Ventker is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, an invitation-only trial honorary society composed of less than one half percent of lawyers in the United States. Immediate past member of the Board of Directors of the Maritime Law Association of the United States, past Chairman of the Inland Waters and Towing Committee of the Maritime Law Association and a Proctor in Admiralty, Dave has been practicing law since 1982. He has been concentrating in maritime law and commercial litigation since 1989, when he entered private practice after serving on active duty for more than 7 years with...

Atty. Kima has a passion for Immigration Law. Being a child of immigrants. understandably, I am motivated by the desire to help keep families together; regardless of who they are or where they come from. Highly effective in developing relationship and network with other professionals to secure and boost client satisfaction. Service is my business. I believe in providing the highest level of service for my clients; always ready to go the extra mile to assist and satisfy. During the over 35-years of practice, spent numerous hours working with individuals,...

Hugo’s passion for immigration law stems from his own family’s immigration experience. His father and mother came to the United States from Peru fleeing political persecution, and as he grew up, Hugo spent many summers in Peru. Hugo uses his experience growing up in an immigrant family and time abroad to understand the conditions where his clients or their employees may have come from and the challenges they face when they come to the United States. He uses this understanding to provide better service to his clients.

He has served the immigrant community through the practice of law since 2005. He...

LeeAnne was born and raised in Williamsburg, Virginia. She attended Virginia Tech, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and a minor in Psychology. LeeAnne is also a member of Phi Beta Kappa honor society. After undergrad, LeeAnne returned to her hometown to attend William & Mary Law School. During law school, she was an Articles Editor for the Business Law Review and a member of the Moot Court team. LeeAnne began her legal career as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable T.J. Hauler, Chief Judge of the Chesterfield Circuit Court. Following her clerkship, she...