Firm News December 2, 2025

Virginia Business’ 2025 Legal Elite Honors 22 Troutman Pepper Locke Attorneys

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Robert A. Angle Pamela S. Belleman Carl H. Bivens Sarah Bennett Bures Dabney J. Carr David E. Constine III Samuel E. "Gene" Fishel Christopher J. Forstner John Owen Gwathmey Erin M. Harrigan William G. Homiller Michael E. Lacy John C. Lynch David C. Mancini David I. Meyers Stephen C. Piepgrass Brooks M. Smith Ashley L. Taylor, Jr. John S. West Erin S. Whaley Gillian Williston Andrea W. Wortzel

Richmond/Virginia Beach – Virginia Business has named 22 Troutman Pepper Locke attorneys to its 2025 Legal Elite list. The annual list recognizes top attorneys in the state across 21 practice areas based on peer nominations.

2025 Legal Elite:

Robert Angle (Intellectual Property)

Pamela Belleman (Real Estate Land Use)

Carl Bivens (Real Estate Land Use)

Sarah Bennett Bures (Legal Services Pro Bono)

Dabney Carr (Civil Litigation)

David Constine (Labor Employment)

Gene Fishel (Cybersecurity Data Privacy Technology)

Christopher Forstner (Intellectual Property)

John Owen Gwathmey (Business Law)

Erin Harrigan (Criminal Law)

William Homiller (Real Estate Land Use)

Michael Lacy (Civil Litigation)

John Lynch (Civil Litigation)

David Mancini (Construction)

David Meyers (Business Law)

Stephen Piepgrass (Administrative Government Legislative)

Brooks Smith (Environmental Law)

Ashley Taylor (Administrative Government Legislative)

John West (Criminal Law)

Erin Whaley (Health Law)

Gillian Williston (Civil Litigation)

Andrea Wortzel (Environmental Law)

For 26 years, Virginia Business has partnered with the Virginia Bar Association to identify the top legal talent in the state. More than 14,000 attorneys from over 50 law firms were asked to nominate the honorees.

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.

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