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The VBA’s 19 substantive law sections are focused communities sharing information, resources and referrals within their distinct practice area. Always optional, section membership is always recommended as a way to add significant value to any VBA membership. Whether you choose one section or several, sections can help you gain visibility, develop as a leader and expand your influence. Here’s how.
Legislation: Sections are the cornerstone of the VBA’s work in legislative advocacy. With the help of our legislative team at Hunton, sections stay on top emerging law and policy and draft recommendations—in the form of bills for the General Assembly’s consideration—crafted to keep the application of our laws fair and balanced. As a member of your section’s legislative committee, you might be called on to do research, draft a proposal or even defend the proposal before the General Assembly.
Education: Many VBA sections plan presentations at statewide VBA meetings and even host stand-alone conferences and seminars to educate others on timely topics and practice trends. You can suggest a topic that you think is important, work with the VBA professional staff on planning an event or put your network to work in helping to identify qualified speakers and panelists. Most of these programs provide continuing legal education (CLE) credits. The VBA Calendar shows a full list of educational programs and other events our sections and other groups have in the works now.
Leadership: Because the VBA membership comprises only around 10 percent of practicing Virginia lawyers,* our sections are smaller, too. This means that your voice will be heard and your service and leadership will make a difference in the section and in the VBA. We know that the VBA is a great place to develop leadership and gain visibility: though we boast just 10% of Virginia lawyers in our ranks, nearly half of the 2025 Virginia Lawyers Hall of Fame inductees were VBA members.
Join a Section leadership resources
Administrative Law Section | Chair: Kelli Cole
The Administrative Law Section is for lawyers who practice before, or serve as counsel to, Virginia’s administrative agencies and are interested in advocacy, legislation and agency procedures.
Appellate Practice Section | Chair: Robert Loftin
The Appellate Practice Section is for lawyers who focus on appeals and want to stay current on appellate trends, court rules, and effective brief writing and oral argument.
Bankruptcy Section | Chair: Jennifer Wuebker
The Bankruptcy Section is for lawyers who work with insolvency, restructuring and debtor-creditor matters, and seek insights into bankruptcy practice at both state and federal levels.
Business Law Section | Chair: Jeff Mitchell
The Business Law Section is for lawyers who advise businesses and corporations on matters from formations to mergers, governance and regulatory compliance.
Civil Litigation Section | Chair: Henry Willett
The Civil Litigation Section is for lawyers who handle disputes in court and want to strengthen their trial skills, stay current on litigation trends and connect with fellow litigators.
Construction & Public Contracts Law Section | Chair: Juanita Ferguson
The Construction & Public Contracts Law Section is for lawyers who handle matters related to construction projects, government contracts, procurement and dispute resolution in both public and private sectors.
Corporate Counsel Section | Chair: Tammy Finley
The Corporate Counsel Section is for lawyers who serve as in-house counsel and want to share best practices, navigate legal risk and stay informed on corporate governance issues.
Criminal Law Section | Chair: Billy Jackson
The Criminal Law Section is for lawyers who prosecute or defend criminal cases and want to engage in dialogue about legal developments, sentencing and justice reform.
Domestic Relations Section | Chair: Regina Amick
The Domestic Relations Section is for lawyers who focus on family law, including divorce, custody and support, and are committed to staying current on family court procedures and statutes.
Elder Law & Special Needs Section | Co-Chairs: Elizabeth Gray & Rhona Levine
The Elder Law & Special Needs Section is for lawyers who serve aging clients or individuals with disabilities and want to stay informed on guardianship, long-term care planning, benefits and protective legal strategies.
Environmental, Natural Resources & Energy Law Section | Chair: Max Wiegard
The Environmental, Natural Resources & Energy Section is for lawyers who work with environmental compliance, land use and natural resources, and want to track legal changes affecting Virginia’s environment.
Health Law Section | Chair: Hank Creasy
The Health Law Section is for lawyers who represent providers, insurers or regulators in the health care space, and seek to stay updated on laws impacting patient care and compliance.
Intellectual Property & Information Technology Law Section | Chair: Andrew Stockment
The IP & IT Law Section is for lawyers who deal with copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade secrets, data privacy and tech contracts, and want to stay at the forefront of innovation law.
Joint Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee | Chair: William D. Prince IV
The Joint Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee is for lawyers and professionals interested in mediation, arbitration and other collaborative methods of resolving disputes efficiently and effectively outside of traditional litigation.
Judicial Section | Chair: Hon. Daniel Ortiz
The Judicial Section is for active members of the judiciary who seek opportunities for professional engagement, collegial dialogue and collaboration on issues affecting the bench and the broader legal system.
Labor & Employment Law Section | Chair: Betsy Davis
The Labor & Employment Law Section is for lawyers who advise employers or employees and want to stay informed on workplace rights, discrimination, wage issues and agency guidance.
Maritime & Transportation Law Section | Chair: Ben Woody
The Maritime & Transportation Law Section is for lawyers who practice in shipping, logistics admiralty or transportation regulation, and want to stay current on legal developments impacting these industries.
Real Estate Section | Chair: Kay Creasman
The Real Estate Section is for lawyers who handle commercial or residential transactions, zoning and land use, and want to keep up with property law developments across Virginia.
Taxation Section | Chair: Kyle Wingfield
The Taxation Section is for lawyers who practice in tax law or advise clients on tax implications and policy, and want to stay informed on federal, state and local tax developments.
Wills, Trusts & Estates Section | Chair: Lauren Jenkins
The Wills, Trusts & Estates Section is for lawyers who help clients with estate planning, probate and fiduciary matters, and want to stay current on statutes and best practices.
Join a Section leadership resources
*And we think we’re the top 10 percent, of course!
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