Local Counsel
Many of our clients are located in other states and depend on our understanding of the federal and state courts in Virginia. We have served as local counsel to many of the nation’s most respected law firms, particularly in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, assisting in cases ranging from simple business disputes to complex intellectual property cases to class actions. Commonly referred to as the “Rocket Docket,” the Eastern District of Virginia is an attractive forum for litigants seeking swift justice. This Court consistently has one of the shortest time periods from initial filing to trial of any court in the nation. Our knowledge of the Local Rules and procedures enables us to serve as local counsel for litigants who are unfamiliar with the practices of this Court.
Representative Engagements:
-We are serving as local counsel for plaintiffs, and have played a material role, in the state court proceedings of a shareholder derivative case against directors of Altria Group, Inc. arising out of Altria’s purchase of a large stake in vaping giant JUUL.
-We are serving as local counsel for plaintiffs in a shareholder derivative case against the directors of an international distributor of cannabis listed on NASDAQ.
-We served as local counsel for plaintiff, and played a material role, in the litigation and settlement of a shareholder derivative case against the directors of a large REIT. The settlement was the largest settlement of a shareholder derivative case in the Fourth Circuit.
-We have served as local counsel in a number of cases in the EDVA involving allegations of breached fiduciary duties owed under ERISA to 401K plans and plan participants.
-We assisted out-of-state counsel with issuance of Letters Rogatory and in obtaining service of process on a Malaysian company in a business dispute.
-We assisted out-of-state counsel in securing the release of a jet airliner belonging to an African head of state in a multi-million dollar dispute over aircraft upgrades, repairs and lien rights.
-One of our attorneys served as local counsel for the plaintiff in Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. v. Rambus, Inc., Civil Action No. 3:05CV406.
-One of our attorneys litigated patent infringement claims as local counsel for the plaintiff in Personalized Mass Media Corp. v. The Weather Channel, et al., Civil Action No. 3:95cv00859. In the “PMMC” case, our attorney argued multiple motions and was ultimately designated as the plaintiff’s representative in all communications with opposing counsel.
-We assisted out-of-state counsel in defending the estate of the co-pilot against claims arising from the crash of a small airplane into an occupied residence.
-We also handle appeals. In one case, a D.C. law firm sought assistance with an appeal to the Supreme Court of Virginia. The appeal was made more challenging when the D.C. firm’s courier got caught up in traffic and attempted to file the notice of appeal “after hours” on the last day for filing. When the opposing party sought dismissal for late filing, our attorneys sidestepped the issue by arguing that the order appealed from was not “final” after all. The Supreme Court agreed, the matter was remanded to the trial court for further proceedings, and the D.C. firm was able to perfect a timely appeal at a later date.
Representative Engagements:
-We are serving as local counsel for plaintiffs, and have played a material role, in the state court proceedings of a shareholder derivative case against directors of Altria Group, Inc. arising out of Altria’s purchase of a large stake in vaping giant JUUL.
-We are serving as local counsel for plaintiffs in a shareholder derivative case against the directors of an international distributor of cannabis listed on NASDAQ.
-We served as local counsel for plaintiff, and played a material role, in the litigation and settlement of a shareholder derivative case against the directors of a large REIT. The settlement was the largest settlement of a shareholder derivative case in the Fourth Circuit.
-We have served as local counsel in a number of cases in the EDVA involving allegations of breached fiduciary duties owed under ERISA to 401K plans and plan participants.
-We assisted out-of-state counsel with issuance of Letters Rogatory and in obtaining service of process on a Malaysian company in a business dispute.
-We assisted out-of-state counsel in securing the release of a jet airliner belonging to an African head of state in a multi-million dollar dispute over aircraft upgrades, repairs and lien rights.
-One of our attorneys served as local counsel for the plaintiff in Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. v. Rambus, Inc., Civil Action No. 3:05CV406.
-One of our attorneys litigated patent infringement claims as local counsel for the plaintiff in Personalized Mass Media Corp. v. The Weather Channel, et al., Civil Action No. 3:95cv00859. In the “PMMC” case, our attorney argued multiple motions and was ultimately designated as the plaintiff’s representative in all communications with opposing counsel.
-We assisted out-of-state counsel in defending the estate of the co-pilot against claims arising from the crash of a small airplane into an occupied residence.
-We also handle appeals. In one case, a D.C. law firm sought assistance with an appeal to the Supreme Court of Virginia. The appeal was made more challenging when the D.C. firm’s courier got caught up in traffic and attempted to file the notice of appeal “after hours” on the last day for filing. When the opposing party sought dismissal for late filing, our attorneys sidestepped the issue by arguing that the order appealed from was not “final” after all. The Supreme Court agreed, the matter was remanded to the trial court for further proceedings, and the D.C. firm was able to perfect a timely appeal at a later date.