Sharps Lawyers

David has been in practice nearly 25 years, 20 of which were in Ohio before he relocated to Virginia. In his earlier years of private practice, David’s primary focus was business law, criminal law, and consumer law. In 2021, David moved to Virginia and continued his career as a Public Defender serving as Senior Trial Attorney with the Fredericksburg Public Defender. There, he represented clients charged with felony crimes in Stafford County, Spotsylvania County and Fredericksburg. As lead or co-counsel, he has tried over 25 felony jury trials including 7 murder trials to verdict with 2 death penalty trials to...

I believe in taking a client-centered approach to the practice of law. I want to make sure that you as a client are seen and heard, and that your concerns are fully addressed every time we connect. I also believe in taking a measured and efficient approach to advocacy, one that maximizes your resources and time. It gives me great satisfaction to assist clients with their estate planning matters. I want to make sure that you and your loved ones are kept at ease when planning for the future. In addition to estate planning, I handle probate and estate administration matters,...

William (Bill) Turner is a criminal defense attorney who actually tries cases. A former prosecutor for two Virginia jurisdictions, Mr. Turner has tried thousands of criminal cases to a verdict, including several high-profile jury trials. Having successfully built and prosecuted countless criminal cases as an Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney, Mr. Turner offers clients an insider's view into how to respond to and defend against a government prosecution.

Mr. Turner believes that individuals facing criminal allegations need confident, talented, and experienced attorneys to develop a winning strategy and to argue their case persuasively. He combines extensive knowledge...

John Allen started Waldrop & Colvin to deliver premier legal talent to business client without the friction points of big law. He has a vast and impressive history of decades in world class legal departments across several industries. His experience delivers results in corporate governance, contracts, M&A, dispute resolution, employment and real estate.

Ghaderi Law Firm, PLLC is an immigration and naturalization law firm based in McLean, Virginia. With our extensive legal experience and knowledge, we take pride in our ability to resolve even the most complex immigration issues. Get in touch with us for a consultation.

Philip C. Krone concentrates his practice in employment law, civil litigation, and civil rights litigation.

Mr. Krone is licensed to practice law in Virginia and the District of Columbia. He is a member of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, Virginia Bar Association, and the Fairfax Bar Association. While Mr. Krone’s practice covers the general span of civil litigation issues, he is often litigating business disputes, contract disputes, wage cases, and personal injury cases in the Circuit and General District Courts of Northern Virginia as well as the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Mr. Krone has had success in...

Alexander Francuzenko is a founding partner in the law firm of Cook Craig & Francuzenko, PLLC. Mr. Francuzenko is a graduate of T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond. While in law school, he interned for the United States Magistrate Judge David G. Lowe of the Eastern District of Virginia, and subsequently clerked for the Circuit Court of Queen Anne’s County, Maryland.

Mr. Francuzenko has been engaged in the practice of law for over 23 years, focusing on litigation. He is a member of the Virginia, District of Columbia and Maryland Bars, and actively practices in the state...

Mr. Craig is a partner in the Law Firm of Cook Craig & Francuzenko, PLLC. Previously he was a partner in the firm, Sparks & Craig, LLP after serving 10 years as an associate attorney in the predecessor law firm of Herge, Sparks & Christopher from 1995-2004.

Prior to 1995, he served as a legislative analyst for the government affairs firms of Albers & Co., Inc. and the Center for State Policy Research.

Mr. Craig represents companies, corporations, partnerships and individuals in business, contract law, intellectual property, and a wide range of other practice areas to include estate/trust planning and administration, election...

George Hawkins focuses his practice on business representation, civil litigation, and all matters affecting real estate. He represents buyers, sellers, and developers in all phases of residential and commercial real estate transactions. He also advises and counsels businesses in all aspects ranging from the formation, acquisition, and management of the business entity. George is AV®-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® Peer-Review Ratings, the highest rating available for excellence in legal ethics and practice. George has served on NVAR’s standard forms committee since 2011 and is the 2015 Chair of that committee. He is often asked to speak to members of the real...

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,...

Wayne M. Zell, Esq. is the founder of Zell Law. He has spent his legal, public accounting and business advisory career counseling clients in a broad range of industries, including technology companies of all types and investor groups, as well as non-profit organizations. His clients also include for-profit and non-profit executives, service providers and high-net worth individuals.

Mr. Zell has extensive experience in representing clients in complex estate planning and business planning matters. In estate planning matters, Mr. Zell routinely advises clients in structuring and preparing intricate revocable and irrevocable trusts, basic estate planning (i.w., wills, medical directives and powers...

I have been a practicing trial lawyer since 1985. I founded my firm, Abrams Landau, Ltd., in 1989 in remembrance and honor of my father, Norman J. Landau and grandfather William L Abrams, and their ongoing dedication to serving their clients. Originally located in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, Abrams Landau is now based in the historic district of Herndon, Virginia. Unlike large, sterile and impersonal law firms, we are proud to be housed in a fully accessible, renovated 100-year old home which provides our clients with a comfortable space in which to meet with us. ...

Brandon Sloane is a former prosecutor with over a decade of prosecution experience, and now proudly serving clients charged with criminal offenses throughout the Northern Virginia area including Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Prince William, Loudoun, Fauquier, Stafford, and wherever else you may find yourself. Charges handled include traffic offenses such as speeding and reckless driving by speed, DWI/DUI, and any other misdemeanor and felony offenses such as petit larceny, assault & battery, drug possession, drug distribution, firearms offenses, malicious wounding, robbery and murder. As a former prosecutor who has experience handling the most serious cases including several successful murder jury trials, Brandon...

For over a decade Matthew B. Kaplan, the founder and principal of The Kaplan Law Firm, has litigated cases on behalf of his clients in courts around the country. Prior to establishing The Kaplan Law Firm Mr. Kaplan was an attorney with Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, where he recovered millions of dollars for investors who incurred substantial losses as the result of fraud and other violations of the federal securities laws. Among the cases that Mr. Kaplan successfully litigated are In re Buca Inc. Securities Litigation, In re C.P. Ships Securities Litigation, In re...

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...

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...

In total, I spent 35 years in the insurance industry, handling liability claims. Prior to attending law school, I worked as an insurance adjuster and in claims management at GEICO. My positions allowed me the opportunity to learn a great deal about insurance company claims operations and the difficulties that large insurance companies face as well as the biggest hurdles for people who need to make claims. My work led me to attend law school while continuing my career in insurance. Following my graduation, I moved into the position of attorney with the company. Since that time, I have defended...

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...

Michael Sandler has been practicing bankruptcy law for over 20 years and has successfully represented thousands of clients in his legal career. Mr. Sandler received his Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from The George Washington University in 1989, and his Juris Doctor from George Mason University in 1999. He is admitted to the Virginia Bar and all Virginia state courts, the Eastern and Western Districts or Virginia Bankruptcy Courts, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, and the U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit. He is a member of the Northern Virginia Bank...

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...

Burke Law, P.L.C. provides its clients with effective legal services as they face their most challenging legal issues. Burke Law counsels government contractors and employees on matters ranging from security clearances eligibility denials to the most basic questions about completing the SF-86. The law practice of Burke Law also defends clients against criminal charges, against asset forfeiture proceedings brought by state and federal law enforcement, and maintains a heavy consumer protection and civil litigation case load in both state and federal court. Clients in all practice areas attest to the prompt, courteous, and professional...

I have been practicing law since 2014. My early career was shaped by roles as both a criminal prosecutor and a defense attorney, which provided me with a robust foundation in legal proceedings. I now dedicate my practice solely to civil litigation. I represent both companies and individuals in a wide array of cases, ranging from defamation and breach of contract to consumer protection violations, tortious interference with contract, breach of fiduciary duty, business conspiracy, trade secrets, and other personal and commercial disputes. Additionally, my work extends to employment litigation, where I handle issues such as violations of non-compete or...

S.L. England, PLLC combines government and private sector experience under one umbrella. Our civil and criminal practices are anchored by the experience of a former Assistant United States Attorney, INTERPOL Fellow, and private practitioner. With the experience of numerous federal and international investigations, as well as represented plaintiffs and defendants in a variety civil actions, S.L. England, PLLC is the firm you want. 95% of attorneys are not trial attorneys. Most have never stepped foot in court to make oral argument before a judge. It makes a big difference: good lawyers must have the ability to argue your case in...

Former JAG

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.

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...

Charles W. Hazelwood, Jr., or "Chuck", has accumulated a significant legal skill set over the past four decades. His communication skills and negotiating abilities were honed and perfected over time as he handled thousands cases. He has a thorough understanding of the law and comprehensive experience with handing estates and trusts, real estate issues, personal injury cases, and more. His long-standing legal acumen has been time-tested by the significantnumber of cases he has handled. Born in Richmond, Virginia, Chuck attended West Springfield High School.

Charles W. Hazelwood, Jr. has bar memberships in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of...

Attorney with emphasis in start-up and venture business law, small business law, taxation, wills, trusts and estate planning. Computer Scientist with extensive experience in web based application development, databases, data mining, information retrieval and distributed systems. I enjoy working with small and start-up technology businesses and advising them both on technology and law, where appropriate.

You are your broker-dealer’s or registered investment adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer. You might even be your firm’s entire Compliance Department. It is a tremendous responsibility. The SEC, FINRA and the state regulators have placed significant demands on our industry. You need to help your firm discharge its current obligations and implement the new ones. It makes you feel at times that you are trying to boil away the ocean. Your regulator has just contacted your firm for whatever reason and seeks documents and additional information. You are concerned about what this means and what might happen next. An angry...

Accomplished real estate and business attorney with over twenty years of experience. Martindale-Hubbell "AV" (Preeminent) rated. Northern Virginia Magazine "Top Lawyer". Focus on Commercial Real Estate, Business Law, Land Development, Transactions, and Land Use

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...

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...