RICHMOND– Troutman Pepper Locke is proud to announce a partnership with Dominion Energy Services, Inc., and LEARN VA, LLC, to provide proactive pro bono representation for heirs’ property issues. The partnership highlights a shared commitment to enhancing access to preventative legal services for underserved populations, particularly in matters related to heirs’ property assistance as a means to advance environmental justice and community resilience.

Troutman Pepper Locke and Dominion Energy attorneys will team up to provide the pro bono legal representation, with a focus on title search analysis and transfer of ownership. LEARN VA will identify eligible individuals. The program seeks to stabilize property ownership and empower families, preventing costly partition disputes.

“This partnership represents a critical need to address systemic challenges in property ownership, while making a meaningful difference in the lives of families and communities,” said Karla Carter, senior counsel at Dominion Energy and founder of LEARN VA. “By combining the strengths of Troutman Pepper Locke, Dominion Energy, and LEARN VA, we are equipping families with the tools and support they need to secure their futures.”

The parties launched their collaboration to provide competent and practical legal assistance while fostering empowerment in communities across Virginia. The collaboration will begin with a pilot program focused on a limited number of matters to meet this legal need for low-income individuals while ensuring the sustainability of the partnership.

“As a firm, we are deeply committed to leveraging our robust pro bono practice to create access to justice in underserved communities,” said Brooks Smith, Richmond office managing partner at Troutman Pepper Locke. “This partnership embodies that commitment by tackling the complex legal challenges that prevent families from achieving stable property ownership, which can be detrimental to so many aspects of life.”

Carlos M. Brown, president, Dominion Energy Services, Inc., and executive vice president, chief legal officer, and corporate secretary at Dominion Energy, emphasized the importance of addressing heirs’ property matters as a component of environmental justice. “Respecting and acknowledging the history of property ownership in a particular community is a critical component to respecting and honoring the residents of a community. In a business like ours where everything that we do involves real estate partnering with the community to help ensure that property rights that were long and hard earned are protected is a great way for our company to demonstrate full engagement in alignment with our customers and stakeholders,” he said.

Each year, Troutman Pepper Locke attorneys dedicate thousands of pro bono hours in support of nonprofits, immigrants, military veterans, children, the wrongfully convicted, civil rights and social justice initiatives, and so many more. Learn more at troutman.com/pro-bono.

Troutman Pepper Locke

Troutman Pepper Locke helps clients solve complex legal challenges and achieve their business goals in an ever-changing global economy. With more than 1,600 attorneys in 30+ offices, the firm serves clients in all major industry sectors, with particular depth in energy, financial services, health care and life sciences, insurance and reinsurance, private equity, and real estate. Learn more at troutman.com.

About Dominion Energy 

Dominion Energy (NYSE: D), headquartered in Richmond, Va., provides regulated electricity service to 3.6 million homes and businesses in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and regulated natural gas service to 500,000 customers in South Carolina. The company is one of the nation’s leading developers and operators of regulated offshore wind and solar power and the largest producer of carbon-free electricity in New England. The company’s mission is to provide the reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean energy that powers its customers every day. Please visit DominionEnergy.com to learn more.