Weekly Edition

Lawyers in the News

Matthew R. Foster has become associated with the Portsmouth law firm of Bangel, Bangel & Bangel LLP, where he will specialize in personal injury litigation. Foster earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and his law degree from Widener University.

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Daniel H. Caldwell has joined the Abingdon law firm of McElroy & Hodges, and the firm’s name has been changed to McElroy, Hodges & Caldwell. Caldwell, who previously practiced with the law firm of PennStuart, will continue to concentrate his practice in the areas of civil litigation, products liability and insurance law.

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Sharon Pandak, a partner in the firm Greehan, Taves, Pandak & Stoner, PLLC, was honored twice recently for her work as an advocate for women’s equality and advancement of women in the law. Pandak received a 2007 Human Rights Award from the Prince William County Human Rights Commission. She also received the 2008 Justitia Award from the Prince William Chapter of the Virginia Women Attorneys Association in recognition of her professionalism and ethical standards.

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Thomas J. Ross II has joined the Warrenton law practice of attorneys Blair D. Howard, Paul A. Morrison and Christopher T. Whelan, forming a new firm named Howard, Morrison, Ross and Whelan. The firm offers legal counsel in all areas of litigation, including personal injury, wrongful death, business and real estate, and representation in domestic relations and criminal cases. Ross concentrates in the areas of transactional law including business entities, real estate and zoning.

Additionally, Kathryn A. Teachout has joined the firm as an associate. Robert M. Miller will remain of counsel to the new firm.

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Russell S. Drazin has been elected a director at the Washington, DC law firm of Jackson & Campbell, PC. Drazin’s practice includes business litigation and counseling, with an emphasis on real estate, title insurance, and creditors’ rights. He received his law degree from the George Washington University law school and his undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester.

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Michael J. Sepanik and Mariana D. Bravo have been named members to the Washington, D.C. law firm of Carr Maloney PC.

Sepanik concentrates his practice on product liability, professional mal-practice and complex litigation. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago in 1995 and his law degree from the Emory University law school in 1999.

Bravo concentrates her practice on general and professional liability as well as immigration issues. She received her undergraduate degree from Marymount University in 1990 and her law degree from the University of Baltimore law school in 1999.

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Stephen G. Cochran has joined the Vienna law firm of Haight, Tramonte, Siciliano, Yeonas & Roberts, PC as partner. Cochran’s practice focuses on civil litigation, along with mediation and arbitration. He serves as a court-appointed neutral case evaluator for the Fairfax County Circuit Court and is a faculty member of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy at the Georgetown University law school.

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Jeanne Carroll Montross has joined Jackson Lewis as an associate in the Richmond office. Montross represents employers before the EEOC and in employment-related litigation. She supports employers through counseling, policy review, auditing, and management training relating to areas such as discrimination, harassment, disability, medical leave, immigration, and wage and hour. Montross is also a mediator for employment matters. She is admitted to practice in Virginia and Colorado. Montross is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and the University of Colorado law school.

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Brian R. Moore has joined the law firm of Phillips, Morrison, Johnson & Ferrell in Lynchburg. Moore will practice primarily in the area of family law. He will also work in the firm’s Rustburg office in a variety of areas, including litigation, traffic and criminal defense, residential and commercial real estate, collections, estate planning and business law. Moore was previously an associate with a firm in Dallas, and a trial and appellate attorney for the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission in Lynchburg. He received his undergraduate degree from Baylor University and his law degree from the University of Richmond.

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Lawrence G. Cohen has been elected as secretary and general counsel to INIT Innovations in Transportation, Inc. in Chesapeake. Cohen recently retired as a senior partner of Vandeventer Black LLP where he chaired the international business group and provided legal counsel to INIT. He was previously general counsel for ExxonMobil Corporation in Asia. Cohen is a member of the German American Chamber of Commerce, and a director of the Japan Virginia Society, Inc. and the Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance.

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John B. Curry II, a retired judge and owner of Blue Ridge Mediation Network Inc., has been elected to the Virginia Mediation Network Inc. Board of Directors. Curry mediates cases which focus primarily on property settlements, custody/visitation and civil disputes. He is also an associate with Commonwealth Mediation Group in Richmond.

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