Young Lawyers Boot Camp - Register Now, CLE Forms, Save the Date for the Deposition Workshop, and more.

VADA Defense Line
November 2025

December 5, 2025
Virginia Museum of History & Culture
Richmond

This is a must-attend event for newer attorneys, who will learn the practical information needed to practice civil defense law.  Sessions are taught by experienced members of the civil defense bar and the judiciary.  

Session topics include:

Virginia General District and Circuit Courts

Working with Expert Witnesses

Ethical Issues in Civil Defense

Advocacy in Mediation

Written Discovery

Automobile Insurance Coverage

Judicial Advice Panel

We are offering a different agenda than 2024, so you should attend again.

CLE FORMS

Did you know that you can access your CLE forms anytime, using the link at the top of the VADA Homepage?  This will take you to the members-only area of the VADA website, where you should login with your personal VADA username and password, go the "Members" tab, then "Library" and chose "Meeting Materials." 

If you have any issues, please email agilbody@vada.org.

Journal of Civil Litigation

Fall 2025 Edition

Do not miss the Fall 2025 edition of The Journal of Civil Litigation!  It includes 15 judicial opinions and two feature articles:

• Lily S. Smith examines multi-plaintiff litigation in Virginia state court through the only two methods available – the Multiple Claimant Litigation Act (MCLA) and consolidation – and assess the impact of Virginia’s ban on class actions on federal cases applying Virginia law.
• Daniel Eggleston surveys the language and application of Virginia’s anti-indemnity statutes, particularly in the context of construction 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. 

VADA members receive the Journal as a benefit of membership and can search current and past journals, including by keyword, on our website.

2025 VADA/VTLA Frank N. Cowan Civility Golf Tournament

The Cup has come home!

Congratulations to Team VADA, winners of the 2025 VADA/VTLA Civility Golf Tournament! A well-deserved tip of the hat to Team VTLA, our title sponsor, The McCammon Group, and everyone involved in the planning of this year’s tournament! Thank you, too, to Independence Golf Club in Midlothian for hosting this year's event!

Benjamin Abel
Harman Claytor Corrigan & Wellman

Spencer Allen
Frith Anderson + Peake

Lara Ballout
University of Richmond School of Law

Michael Drougas
Frith Anderson + Peake

Nell Ford
Hampton City Attorney’s Office

Kiana Gilcrist
Blankingship & Keith

Owen Giordano
McAngus Goudelock & Courie

Timothy Gleason
McAngus Goudelock & Courie

Scott Harris
Moran Reeves Conn

Hannah Heishman
Hancock Daniel

Michael Hundley
Argan Inc.

Tristan Ingersoll
Kalbaugh Pfund Messersmith

Alexis Johnson
Harman Claytor Corrigan & Wellman

Amy Leone
Thompson McMullan

Robert McFadden
Dillman Legal Group

Megan Meissner
Harman Claytor Corrigan & Wellman

Michael McWeeny
Kalbaugh Pfund Messersmith

Maureen Mshar
Hancock Daniel

Brooke Norton
Franklin Prokopic

Stephen Perkins
Babcock & Lambert

Charles Russell
Wharton Aldhizer & Weaver

Manasi Singh
Kalbaugh Pfund Messersmith

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

We are pleased to introduce to you the members of VADA’s Executive Committee for 2025-26! Pictured below, L to R, are: President, Rachel Horvath of Piedmont Liability Trust; Immediate Past President, Lindsay Rollins of The Progressive Group; President-Elect, Taylor Brewer of Moran Reeves Conn; Treasurer, John Peterson of Hancock, Daniel & Johnson; and Secretary, Lauren Darden of Wharton Aldhizer & Weaver.

Congratulations!

This Richmond native and avid runner remembers fondly his first solo jury trial.  If you happen to be at the courthouse and you hear Ramblin’ Man or Kashmir, he’s likely not far away.  For this, and more, on this month’s VADA Spotlighted Member, click here.

Be sure to bookmark VADA Upcoming Events so you don't miss out.

December 5
Young Lawyers Boot Camp
Richmond

January 23
Board Meeting
Williamsburg Lodge

March 6
Deposition Workshop
University of Richmond

April 29
Board Meeting
The Virginian, Lynchburg

April 29-May 1
Spring Sections Seminar
The Virginian, Lynchburg

October 21-23
Annual Meeting
Hotel Roanoke

Bringing Wellness into the Workday

By Amanda Short, Chair, Wellness Committee

It’s easy for the day to get away from us. Between all the calls, emails, and deadlines, we can look up and realize it’s late afternoon and we haven’t moved from our desks. But wellness doesn’t have to be something extra we squeeze in after work. The best kind of wellness is the kind that fits naturally into our day.

Try making activity part of your routine in simple ways. Take a walk with a colleague to talk through case strategy. Use a walking pad during document review or stand while checking emails. Step outside for a few minutes between meetings to reset your focus. Small changes can make a big difference in how we feel and work.

Some of the best-case insights come not when we’re staring at a screen, but when we’re literally walking through a problem together. Movement helps us think more clearly, collaborate better, and stay grounded in this demanding profession.

The Wellness Committee encourages everyone to find simple, realistic ways to build wellness into the workday. Taking care of ourselves isn’t something outside the job, it’s part of what helps us show up and do it well.

Join our social media sites where we post current court updates, relevant legal developments, and much, much more!  

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.

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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