Top Attorneys 2011-2012

As with any professional relationship, yours with an attorney should be based on trust, comfort and assured confidentiality. The lawyers listed here have indeed been chosen by their peers for achievement and excellence. But this resource should serve as one of several in finding the best attorney for your needs. Other resources include recommendations from friends and family, Martindale-Hubbell ratings and perhaps above all, your own experience and judgment. The absence from this list of a lawyer you trust should in no way be construed as a discouragement to continuing that successful relationship. Our thanks to the attorneys who voted in our electronic balloting, conducted between July 25 and August 26, 2011. Attorneys listed here represent the votes from among the 700-plus Roanoke-area attorneys contacted by mail in July.

Top Overall

Here’s what voters had to say about the Top Overall winners:

S.D. Roberts Moore

Mr. Moore has been practicing law for over 50 years. He is the epitome of a great person and professional. He leads by example and he has trained most of the top attorneys in the Roanoke Valley. He has achieved justice for many individuals and families who were without a voice before coming to Mr. Moore. His reputation is national and he is held in high esteem by individuals in all levels of the judicial profession, especially judges. We are extremely lucky to have such a great lawyer and person in our midst.

William Poff

He influenced a generation (or more) of lawyers in Roanoke, and not just at his law firm, with his work ethic and analysis of cases.

Still the most tenacious litigator in the valley. He can marshall and lead a legal team of unmatched quality in this region.

John Lichtenstein

Totally dedicated to his clients. Extra personal service. Tenacious. A gentleman. He gets great results for his clients.

But more importantly, he likes and respects his clients, and it shows in the way he treats them. He doesn’t avoid their calls, instead, he calls them to follow up and reassure them. He refers them to other attorneys for other issues that the client may have, insuring that they have answers to all their questions. And from the interaction that I have had with his clients, it appears that they appreciate John and speak highly of him. True praise indeed when it comes from your clients.

Bankruptcy

1. A. Carter Magee: Magee, Goldstein, Lasky & Sayers, PC; 343-9800
2. Roy V. Creasy: Roy V. Creasy, Attorney at Law; 342-0729
3. Malissa Lambert Giles: Giles & Lambert, PC; 981-9000

Business/Commercial

1. James B. Massey, III: Coleman & Massey, PC; 343-5100
2. Harwell M. Darby, Jr.: Glenn, Feldmann, Darby & Goodlatte; 224-8006
3. Nicholas C. Conte: Woods Rogers, PLC; 983-7630

Construction

1. K. Brett Marston: Gentry, Lock, Rakes, & Moore, LLP; 983-9391
2. Robert A. Ziogas: Glenn, Feldmann, Darby & Goodlatte; 904-1634
3. D. Stan Barnhill: Woods Rogers, PLC; 983-7667

Consumer

1. Henry L. Woodward: Legal Aid Society of the Roanoke Valley; 344-2088
2. David D. Beidler: Legal Aid Society of the Roanoke Valley; 344-2088
3. Malissa Lambert Giles: Giles & Lambert, PC; 981-9000

Criminal

1. John E. Lichtenstein: Lichtenstein, Fishwick, & Johnson, PLC; 343-9711
2. Paul G. Beers: Glenn, Feldmann, Darby & Goodlatte; 224-8035
3. Anthony F. Anderson: Anderson & Friedman; 982-1525

Driving/Traffic

1. Raphael E. “Ray” Ferris: Ferris, Eakin & Thomas, PC; 344-3233
2. David D. Lawrence: The Lawrence Law Firm; 982-2606
3. Tie: John Weber III: Weber Pearson; 491-0025; Patrick J. Kenney: Law Office of Patrick J. Kenney, PLC; 982-7721

Elder

1. V. Anne Edenfield: V. Anne Edenfield, Attorney at Law; 342-1527
2. Ann  M. Green: Anderson, Desimone & Green, PC; 776-6434
3. Rhona Levine: Coleman & Massey, PC; 342-9311

Employment & Labor

1. W. David Paxton: Gentry, Lock, Rakes & Moore, LLP; 983-9334
2. Jeremy E. Carroll: Glenn, Feldmann, Darby & Goodlatte; 224-8036
3. Clinton S. Morse: LeClairRyan; 510-3023

Family

1. Leisa K. Ciaffone: Leisa K. Ciaffone, PC; 444-0001
2. Frank W. Rogers III: Mundy Rogers & Associates, LLP; 982-2900
3. David G. Weaver: Weaver Law Firm, PC; 767-7611

Immigration

1. Christine L. Poarch: The Poarch Law Firm; 387-1005
2. Kenneth J. Lasky: Magee, Goldstein, Lasky & Sayers, PC; 343-9800
3. Jeffrey A. Van Doren: The Poarch Law Firm; 387-1005

Juvenile

1. Tie: V. Anne Edenfield: V. Anne Edenfield, Attorney at Law; 342-1527; Ellen S. Weinman: Ellen S. Weinman, PC; 389-3825

Land Use / Environment

1. Maryellen F. Goodlatte: Glenn, Feldmann, Darby & Goodlatte; 224-8018
2. Charles L. Williams: Gentry, Locke, Rakes & Moore; 983-9375
3. Paul R. Thompson, Jr.: Woods Rogers, PLC; 983-7742

Malpractice

1. T. Daniel Frith III: Frith Law Firm; 985-0098
2. S.D. Roberts Moore: Gentry, Locke, Rakes & Moore, LLP; 983-9300
3. Tie: John T. Jessee: LeClairRyan; 510-3018; Elizabeth G. Perrow: Woods Rogers, PLC; 983-7707

Personal Injury

1. P. Brent Brown: Brown & Jennings Law Offices; 444-4010
2. John E. Lichenstein: Lichenstein, Fishwick, & Johnson, PLC; 343-9711

Real Estate

1. Tie: G. Michael Pace, Jr.: Gentry, Locke, Rakes & Moore, LLP; 983-9312; Roy V. Creasy: Roy V. Creasy, Attorney at Law; 342-0729
2. Michael K. Smeltzer: Woods Rogers, PLC; 983-7652

Social Security

1. Susan A. Wadell: Guynn, Memmer & Dillon, PC; 387-2320
2. Anne V. Sprague: Sprague & Hixson LLP; 343-5678
3. Tie: Cooper C. Geraty: Geraty, Holub & MacQueen, PLC; 800-252-1611; Pat Fields: Fields Law Office; 985-4640

Tax

1. Charles E. Troland, Jr.: Glenn, Feldmann, Darby & Goodlatte; 904-1634
2. Alexander I. Saunders: Woods Rogers, PLC; 983-7600
3. James B. Massey, III: Coleman & Massey, PC; 343-5100

Wills / Estates / Trusts

1. Nan L. Coleman: Coleman & Massey, PC; 343-5506
2. James B. Massey, III: Coleman & Massey, PC; 343-5100
3. Tie: Harry S. Rhodes: Rhodes, Butler & Dellinger, PC; 342-0888; Bruce C. Stockburger: Gentry, Locke, Rakes & Moore; 983-9366; Ann M. Green: Anderson, Desimone & Green, PC; 776-6434

Workers Compensation

1. Richard D. Lucas: Lucas & Kite, PLC; 767-2468
2. E. Scott Austin: Gentry, Locke, Rakes & Moore, LLP; 983-9393
3. Linda D. Slough: Law Office of Linda D. Slough; 344-3233