Brownsburg Lawyers

Following the attacks on September 11, 2001, Chris entered the United States Navy as an Intelligence Specialist Petty Officer. While serving, he studied at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law.

Chris is admitted to practice law in all Virginia General District and Circuit Courts, the Virginia Court of Appeals, the Virginia Supreme Court, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern and Western District of Virginia, and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. In 2008, he was a contributing author on the Virginia Continuing Legal Education publication, “Defense of Serious Traffic Cases in Virginia.” Chris is a...

The Higgs Law Firm provides legal assistance to businesses and individuals throughout Virginia and nationwide in: Administrative Law; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Banking; Mortgages and Equity Financing; Bankruptcy (Creditors only); Business & Commercial Law; Civil Litigation; Corporations, Partnerships, L.C.C.s and other Entities; Creditors' Rights and Commercial Collections; Foreclosures; Lease Enforcement; Litigation; Real Estate; and Wills, Trusts and Estates. Bankruptcy practice limited to representing creditors. *The American Board of Certification is accredited by the American Bar Association to certify lawyers in the areas of bankruptcy law and creditors' right law. There is no procedure in the Commonwealth of Virginia for approving certifying...

I've been a partner at Dulaney, Lauer & Thomas since 1999. I work with and exclusively represent clients fighting for their rights against insurance companies and other corporate entities. Throughout the course of my career, I have litigated hundreds of injury cases in Virginia and in the Federal Courts. When I'm not in the office or courtroom, I'm an active community member and proud husband and father.

David was born and raised in the Roanoke Valley; the son of a Registered Nurse and a Roanoke City Police Officer, he spent his childhood in Salem and attended Glenvar High School. After graduating, he went on to attend Virginia Tech where he received degrees in both Finance and Accounting. After graduation, David worked as an accountant in both the public and private sectors, but decided the law was his true calling. He went on to attend Washington & Lee University School of Law, where he graduated with honors at the top of his class in 2010. David began his...

Chris is very competitive and loves jury trials. As a former teacher and prosecutor, he is very comfortable speaking with judges and jurors in the courtroom. During law school, he won several awards competing in moot court and negotiations competitions, placing 2nd at the national ABA Negotiation Tournament in San Diego and 3rd at the National Moot Court Championship Tournament in Houston - the highest results his law school has ever achieved in either event. No lawyer can guarantee victory, but you always get Chris's best effort, and his proven record of success demonstrates that.

Admitted to practice law in Virginia in 1998, Mel brings a wealth of litigation experience to clients that includes practice as a prosecutor and working for insurance companies defending lawsuits, to include defending government officials charged with misconduct and violations of civil rights. Now he represents persons and small businesses in litigation arising out of serious personal injury, employment disputes, and employment and administrative/governmental grievances, such as professional discipline. Mel received his Bachelor of Science degree, magna cum laude, from Bridgewater College of Virginia in 1995, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Philosophy/Religion. In 1998,...

Jake is an associate attorney at Gentry Locke, one of Virginia's oldest and largest law firms. His practice focuses on intellectual property, technology law, media/entertainment, mergers & acquisitions, and other commercial transactions. Jake has extensive experience with all aspects of intellectual property, technology-based contracting, IP licensing deals, and other related commercial transactions. He has also litigated intellectual property cases in various federal courts across the country and has registered countless trademarks and copyrights. Jake's scholarship has been published by the peer-reviewed American Intellectual Property Law Association Quarterly Journal, the Trademark Lawyer Magazine, and the Liberty University Law Review, where he...

Mr. Frankl is a litigator whose practice concentrates on general insurance defense litigation with a specialty on defending individuals and commercial motor carriers in catastrophic injury claims. He has handled complex litigation on behalf of primary and excess insurers in the areas of products liability, wrongful death, premises liability andpersonal injury. Mr. Frankl has tried numerous cases in both state and federal courts throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Prior to forming Frankl Miller & Webb in 2004, Mr. Frankl was the head of both the insurance defense and trucking andtransportation practice groups as a partner in the...

Jaime is one of the managing partners at Amaryllis Law Firm, located in Salem, VA. Her passion for immigration and adoption law was ignited by her experiences serving in an orphanage in Uganda and participating in a project in Thailand aimed at combating human trafficking. Her legal practice encompasses a variety of areas including providing immigration solutions for businesses and their employees, defense against removal, advocacy for victims, support for juveniles who have been neglected, abandoned, or abused, and handling both domestic and international adoptions. Since 2019, peers have consistently nominated Jaime as a Rising Star for Super Lawyers, and since...

Ali Aziz is a dedicated immigration attorney who specializes in guiding clients through complex U.S. immigration processes, including family-based visas, employment visas, citizenship matters and much more. With a strong focus on providing personalized legal solutions, Ali has successfully represented clients from diverse backgrounds, helping them navigate the challenges of immigration law with clarity and confidence. Drawing on years of experience, Ali’s practice combines legal acumen with a commitment to client service. Whether assisting individuals seeking asylum, filing petitions for family reunification, or advising on visa options for skilled professionals, Ali approaches each case with a deep understanding of immigration regulations...

Justin Criner received his undergraduate degree in Political Science at Virginia Commonwealth University where he met his wife and fell in love with Richmond and the surrounding areas. Mr. Criner received his juris doctor from the Appalachian School of Law in 2013 where he was a senior editor of the law journal and the president of the local Lions’ Club. He remains active in the community and can regularly be found at Lions’ Club or VCU athletic events. Before joining our firm, Mr. Criner worked as a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney in Charleston, WV and opened his own practice...

Richard Talbot knows firsthand the impact of a workplace injury. When he was young, he saw his father, a police officer, severely injured while on the job.

He channeled that experience into a passion for law, helping individuals fight for their rights after being injured at work. As a worker’s compensation attorney, Richard advocates on behalf of individuals to protect their interests when fighting against an insurance company with far more resources than themselves.

“If it were not for social safety nets, like workers’ compensation, my family would have been left without income,” Richard says. “It was this life experience...

Joshua Voelkel graduated from the University of Richmond in May 2019 and began working at GMA in late August. Although a recent graduate, Joshua comes from a long lineage of lawyers, and has obtained an impressive array of experience, settling multiple cases in the past using his third-year practice certification whilst still in school.

“I’ve always wanted to enter a profession that afforded me the opportunity to help others,” Joshua says. He recently started in the pre-litigation group where he’s able to interact with clients daily and assist them in getting the treatment they need to be back where they...

Experience is the lifeblood of a lawyer's success. Jay Levit's experience in law is both educational and professional. Mr. Jevit graduated with a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree from Harvard Law School. An early paper of his received special "honors" and was deposited into the Harvard Law Library. Shortly after graduating, Mr. Levit joined the faculty at the University of Michigan Law School as an instructor. The next four years were spent as a trial and appellate attorney for the US Department of Justice. About 1% of lawyers experience arguing before the full United States Supreme Court, as Jay Levit...

I represent clients in a variety of legal areas. I regularly represent clients all over the Richmond area and I often travel as far east as Virginia Beach, as far north as Spotsylvania, as far west as Charlottesville and as far South as Dinwiddie. I assist clients with obtaining and defending protective orders, uncontested and contested divorce, spousal support, child custody, visitation and support, pre-nuptial agreements, property settlement agreements, Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy, criminal defense, business formation and dissolution and general civil litigation.

William D. Ashwell is a career litigator and advocate who has built a regional and statewide reputation for assisting clients in the most serious of situations and in high profile matters. A native of Warrenton, Mr. Ashwell has solidified himself as a leader in the field of civil and criminal litigation and beyond. A steadfast believer in giving back to the community, Mr. Ashwell balances his time between his family and giving back to the community that he calls home. A graduate of Hampden-Sydney College and the University of Dayton School of Law, Mr. Ashwell serves Northern Virginia, Piedmont region,...

Andrew P. Hill is a founding partner and attorney with Mata & Hill PLC, a full-service civil law firm serving the beautiful northern Shenandoah Valley. Mr. Hill concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate, estate planning and administration, litigation, and business.

Mr. Hill received his undergraduate degrees from Northwestern University and his law degree from the College of William and Mary. Prior to forming Mata & Hill PLC, he worked with small but highly-respected law firms in Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley.

Mr. Hill is licensed to practice law in the state courts of Virginia,...

Vincent J. Mata attended the University of Notre Dame and the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum for undergraduate studies in the classical humanities. He obtained a Master's degree at The Catholic University of America in philosophy, and earned his Juris Doctor at George Mason University School of Law, now Antonin Scalia Law School. Vincent is a founding partner and attorney at Mata & Hill PLC. He focuses his practice primarily on estate and elder law issues. Mata & Hill PLC additionally offers real estate, business, and civil litigation services, and serves clients throughout the Northern Shenandoah Valley.

I have over 35 years of experience representing Virginia clients in medical malpractice, long-term care litigation, serious personal injury litigation, and complex commercial litigation. In my practice I have represented individuals and businesses throughout Virginia, including in state and federal court.

Jennifer devotes herself to the practice of U.S. immigration and nationality law. As an immigration lawyer, she represents clients in a variety of immigration matters - including providing guidance on applying for work authorization, permanent residency, and U.S. citizenship. She also defends individuals in deportation and removal proceedings before the federal immigration courts. As the daughter of an immigrant, her family’s diverse, multicultural heritage inspired her to pursue a profession where she could help others pursue their livelihood in the United States. Jennifer's law firm is based in Roanoke, Virginia where she lives with her husband Rob and...

Cheryl Watson Smith JD, has been in the private practice of law in Roanoke, Virginia since 1988 and practices in the area of family law, including complex property matters. Through the Collaborative Divorce Process, mediation, and negotiated settlements, she assists families in resolving disputes without going to court.

Ms. Smith is passionate about the Collaborative Divorce Process as an alternative to court battles for families in conflict. She is committed to expanding the use of the Collaborative Divorce Process by developing her own Collaborative Practice skills and training other professionals in the Collaborative Process. Ms. Smith is on the faculty...

Herbert Maxey has been represented individuals injured by others for over 40 years. Let Mr. Maxey's experience work for you if you or a family member have been injured by the negligence of a reckless driver of a car, truck or other vehicle. Mr. Maxey has also represented many families after the loss of a loved one by the careless actions of other drivers.Mr. Maxey has represented clients in: Albemarle County Altavista Amelia County Amherst County Appomattox County Buckingham County Campbell County Charlotte County Charlottesville Cumberland County Farmville Fluvanna County Halifax County Lunenburg County Lynchburg Mecklenburg County...

Frank Hupfl has been practicing law since 2011. Frank spent the first few years of his practice defending employers and businesses in employment litigation. In that role, he was a trial team member with both regional and international law firms based out of Virginia, Atlanta, Georgia, and Washington D.C. After discovering that his interests and passions were better served helping injured persons, Frank decided a career change was in order, and in 2015, Frank moved back to Richmond and worked for a prominent personal injury firm for 8 years, dedicating his practice solely to the representation of injured persons and their...

Born in the Midwest, Russell Kruse has more than six years of civil litigation experience. He is licensed to practice law in Virginia, Maryland, California and the District of Columbia. Russell has practiced civil litigation based in both Central and Northern Virginia. He brings a balanced perspective based on his past experience to provide the best possible representation of his clients. He particularly enjoys advising small business owners on the myriad of issues that all businesses face.

Matt recently returned to the Roanoke Valley after spending 9 years in New Mexico, where he served as an officer in the Air Force and obtained his two graduate degrees.

Paul is a former senior claims adjuster for a major insurance company. Since 1995 Paul exclusively represents injured persons and the families of injured persons in cases involving automobile, truck and motorcycle crashes; defective products; premises liability; medical malpractice and wrongful death. Paul accepts cases throughout Virginia and West Virginia, including Roanoke; Salem; Botetourt; Franklin County; Blacksburg; Lexington; Richmond; Abingdon; Wytheville; Wise; Bristol; Christiansburg; Martinsville; Lynchburg and Charleston, West Virginia; and Mingo and McDowell Counties in West Virginia.

Jason is licensed to practice in West Virginia and Virginia. He resides in Pearisburg, Virginia with his wife, Catherine, and they have four children, Sydney, William, James, and John Thomas. Jason is a member of the Pearisburg First United Methodist Church and serves on the Pearisburg Town Council.

Mr. Heelen attended the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law while working full-time. He brings considerable professional experience as both a successful corporate manager and former state judicial officer to his practice, which he established in 2012. Mr. Heelen's practice includes the following areas: business formation; business law; corporate law; corporate governance; contracts; trademark registration; regulatory compliance; landlord tenant; wills; and general practice. "Responsiveness and open lines of communication with my clients are hallmarks of my practice, and, in my opinion, critical to the success of any attorney client relationship. My clients don't have to contact me for...

Kyle graduated from Radford University in 2006 where he double majored in History and Political Science. He made the decision to continue expanding his education and went on to graduate cum laude from the University of Richmond, TC Williams School of Law in 2011.

While in law school Kyle served as Symposium Editor on the Journal of Law in the Public Interest, today known as the Public Interest Law Review. It was during this time that Kyle participated in several activities that continued to build upon his wealth of experiences’. He served as an active member of the Trial Advocacy Board...

As a criminal defense attorney, John has fought aggressively for his clients’ rights in cases involving serious felonies, including murder, malicious wounding, drug possession/distribution, white-collar crimes, and sex crimes (e.g. rape, child pornography) as well as all types of misdemeanors, including DUI, assault and battery, and simple driving infractions, such as reckless driving. As a civil litigation lawyer, John has experience in both jury trials and bench trials, and has represented clients in cases worth millions of dollars. Early on in his career, he litigated patent infringement cases all over the country. Over the years, he has continued to excel in...