Mediation Seminar & Workshop Registration Opens, Executive Committee Changes, Legislative Updates, Save the Date for Spring Sections Seminar and Annual Meeting, and more. |
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VADA Defense Line
January 2025
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March 14-15, 2025
Jepson Alumni Center, University of Richmond
Space is limited, so register today.
Given the prevalence of mediation, the seminar on Friday is designed for all attorneys with the objective of improving your mediation skills. Each session will be led by professional mediators from Juridical Solutions and The McCammon Group along with experienced attorneys. The workshop on Saturday is designed to provide a “hands-on” opportunity to conduct a mediation before a professional mediator, with constructive critiques at the end. |
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May 7-9, 2025
Hotel 24 South, Staunton
Mark your calendar now for our Annual Spring Meeting, where our litigation sections provide 3.0 CLE hours of training specific to your practice area. |
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Mark your calendar now for our 2025 Annual Meeting, when we will be back at the beach. You don't want to miss out on 9.0 CLE hours and multiple social opportunities. |
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Executive Committee Updates With thanks to our departing President-Elect Matthew Kelley for his many years of service and friendship, we are pleased to introduce the following members of VADA’s Executive Committee for 2024-25! Pictured below, L to R, are: President, Lindsay Rollins of The Progressive Group; Immediate Past President, Jim Cales of Furniss, Davis, Rashkind and Saunders, P.C.; President-Elect, Rachel Horvath of Piedmont Liability Trust; Treasurer, Taylor Brewer of Moran Reeves Conn; and Secretary, John Peterson of Hancock, Daniel & Johnson, P.C. Congratulations!
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The Virgina General Assembly Session has a very short 2025
legislative session, from January 8th to February 22nd. VADA members interested in joining the
Legislative Committee can reach out to Legislative Chair, Megan Wagner of KPM
Law, at Megan.Wagner@Kpmlaw.com.
The VADA legislative committee intends to visit the General
Assembly on February 11, 2025.
Anyone interested in attending and meeting our legislators should reach out to
Megan Wagner or any member of the legislative
committee.
2025 GENERAL ASSEMBLY PROGRESS:
There are many relatively new representatives in the 2025 General
Assembly who are learning the ropes and can benefit from relationships with
VADA members who know how these statutes play out in the court room, and how
they impact defense attorneys and our clients.
Senator Scott Surovell is entering his second term as Senate
Majority leader, while Delegate Don Scott is entering his second term as Speaker
of the House.
The Senate Courts of
Justice Committee consists of Senators Scott Surovell (Chair), Mark
Obenshain, Ryan McDougle, Creigh Deeds, Richard Stuart, William Stanley,
Jennifer Boysko, Mark Peake, Lamont Bagby, Emily Jordan, Lashrecse Aird,
Jennifer Carroll Foy, Russet Perry, and Saddam Azlan Salim.
Meanwhile, in the House, membership of the Courts
of Justice Committee includes Delegates Patrick Hope (Chair), Marcus Simon
(Vice Chair), Vivian Watts, Rip Sullivan, Karrie Delaney, Michelle Maldonado,
Phil Hernandez, Rae Cousins, Atoosa Reaser, Josh Thomas, Katrina Callsen, Karen
Keys-Gamarra, Terry Kilgore, James Leftwich, Jason Ballard, Wren Williams,
Amanda Batten, A.C. Cordoza, Jonathan Arnold, Will Davis, Chris Obenshain, and
Mark Early.
The members of the House
Courts of Justice Civil Subcommittee are Delegates Marcus Simon (Chair),
Rip Sullivan, Atoosa Reaser, Josh Thomas, Karen Keys-Gamarra, Terry Kilgore,
Jay Leftwich, Jason Ballard, and Patrick Hope.
The VADA legislative committee has identified key
bills for tracking and collaboration with the General Assembly. Click here to see the full list. |
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Get Moving for Justice: Join the Fairfax Law Foundation's 5K Heroes vs. Villains Race and TEAM VADA April 6, 2025
Fairfax Corner
As 2025 progresses, it's easy for our ambitious New Year's fitness resolutions to fade and become distant memories. If you have lost momentum, don’t despair—there’s still time to achieve and rock out your goals! Commit to a specific target and sign up for a RACE! Putting something on the calendar and working towards a goal requires preparation, dedication and commitment – much like getting ready for trial. One such race is coming up and that is the Fairfax Law Foundation’s 5K Heroes vs. Villains race on April 6, 2025, at Fairfax Corner (Fairfax County). Whether you walk, jog, or run, this event is a fantastic motivator to get moving and step towards better health. It is also an excellent opportunity to support vital community initiatives and to engage in some friendly competition – against other firms and legal organizations!
The race is the primary fundraiser for The Fairfax Law Foundation (FLF), the charitable arm of the Fairfax Bar Association. The FLF is dedicated to promoting equal justice and enhancing community understanding of the legal system through educational and outreach programs. Your involvement aids essential services like student court tours, mock trials, the Friday motions’ day conciliation program, and funding of pro bono programs and the courthouse library.
This race is ideal for kickstarting your fitness goals and making 2025 a standout year for your health and well-being. Rally your colleagues, family, and friends to join Team VADA and compete for awards for the most participants, most spirited, most improved, best costumes, fastest group, or biggest fundraiser or simply sign up on your own and enjoy your own fitness commitment and camaraderie within our legal community.
Time is relentless and moves forward no matter how you spend it. So, why not use it productively and train? By participating, you are not only paving the way for a healthier, stress-reduced year, but you are also supporting a cause that benefits the entire community. The other benefit is to hopefully gain some VADA bragging rights. So, let’s go. Lace up your new 2025 Hokas or On Clouds, mark your calendars, and champion movement, community, justice and Team VADA.
Stay tuned for registration information. For immediate sponsorship opportunities, contact Courtnie Norris at cnorris@fairfaxbar.org. If you are interested in joining Team VADA and/or need some training tips, contact Melissa Katz at mkatz@mbbtklaw.com. |
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Congratulations to VADA members Dawn Boyce, Eden Darrell, Jennifer Lee Parrish, Katherine Taylor, and Johneal White on being named by Virginia Lawyers Weekly to the 2025 Class of Influential Women of Law! Congratulations, too, to VADA Past President Elizabeth Perrow on being named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly’s Circle of Excellence! Dawn, Eden, Jennifer, Katherine, Johneal, and Elizabeth will be celebrated along with this year's other honorees at a reception and awards program at the John Marshall Ballrooms in Richmond on February 20. Congratulations, again, to these exceptional women on an honor well deserved!
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We are renewing VADA membership for 2025! If you have questions about your membership status, please reach out to Executive Director Sherma Mather at smather@vada.org. Don’t miss out! |
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Samuel Armstrong
Flora Pettit
Mason Hebert
McAngus Goudelock
Lauren Jones
Kaufman Canoles
Callista Loveland
Gentry Locke
Kevin McCandlish
Parrish Snead
Austin Obenshain
Frith Anderson + Peake
Philip Raines
McAngus Goudelock Jonathan Thomas
McCandlish Holton
Alisha Wisener
Kaufman Canoles |
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The Journal of Civil Litigation
Winter 2025 Edition
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Do not miss the Winter 2025 edition of The Journal of Civil Litigation! It includes 14 judicial opinions and two feature articles:
- Soroush “Surge” N. Moghaddassi reveals how Chapter 7 bankruptcy can divest a plaintiff of standing in unrelated civil actions.
- Neal H. Lewis and Ashley Fine survey Virginia cases addressing respondeat superior liability and how the courts have approached the concept at different stages of litigation.
Many thanks to Managing Editor, Molly Terry; Editor-in-Chief, Kent Sinclair; the Board of Editors; and Chair of the Board of Editors, John D. Eure for consistently producing such a quality journal. |
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The Women’s Section is
looking at possible locations in Staunton for the Spring Meeting dinner. We
look forward to another great event!
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT This Winston-Salem native’s passion for food rivals her love of the practice of law. Her advice to someone who just passed the bar? Always keep learning! For this, and much more, on this month’s VADA spotlighted member, click here.
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Mindfulness in the New Year
As we enter 2025, January offers a perfect opportunity for lawyers to reset and prioritize well-being. One powerful tool that can help manage stress, improve focus, and enhance emotional resilience is mindfulness. Practicing mindfulness—focusing on the present moment without judgment—can make a profound difference in both your professional and personal life.
The legal profession is often marked by high stress, long hours, and constant decision-making. Mindfulness helps reduce stress by enabling you to approach challenges with calm and clarity. It fosters emotional resilience by allowing you to observe your emotions without reacting impulsively. As a result, you can navigate difficult situations, such as demanding clients or tight deadlines, with a clearer mind and a steadier hand.
Mindfulness also enhances focus and concentration. As a lawyer, being able to focus deeply on tasks—whether drafting documents or preparing for a trial—is crucial. Mindfulness trains your brain to remain present, which helps avoid distractions and improves your ability to complete tasks efficiently and effectively.
In addition to its cognitive benefits, mindfulness promotes better work-life balance. By being fully present in whatever you're doing, whether it’s work or personal time, you can better manage boundaries. This allows you to switch off from work at the end of the day and truly relax without carrying the weight of your caseload into your personal time.
Integrating mindfulness into your routine does not require a significant time commitment. You can start small by practicing mindful breathing for a few minutes each day, or by taking a mindful pause between meetings. Even simple habits, like mindful listening during conversations, can help you stay grounded and present.
As we start a new year, making mindfulness a part of your daily life can improve your well-being, enhance your decision-making, and create a healthier work environment. Embrace mindfulness this January for a more focused, balanced, and successful 2025. |
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Join our social media sites where we post current court updates, relevant legal developments, and much, much more!
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VADA’S Mission
The
mission of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys is to develop and
support Virginia attorneys engaged in a civil defense practice in the
professional and ethical representation of their clients through education,
communication and fellowship. |
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Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys
11533 Busy Street, #327
N. Chesterfield, VA 23236
804-649-1002 | www.vada.org Executive Director: Sherma Mather
Director of Meetings: Amy Gilbody
Journal of Civil Litigation Managing Editor: Molly Terry |
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