I've been a criminal defense attorney in Virginia Beach for 14 years. I started as a magistrate right out of law school, conducting bond hearings and issuing search warrants. That taught me how the system works from the inside. Then I was a longtime public defender. That's where I learned to try cases — murder, rape, armed robbery, the cases that matter most. You can read my actual closing arguments on our website and see how I work in the courtroom.

 

Here's what I've learned: most lawyers talk like lawyers. They bury juries in legal jargon and lose them in the first five minutes. I pride myself on knowing the law backwards and forwards, but being able to explain it like a normal human being. Trials aren't won by sounding smart. They're won by making complex legal concepts relatable. I also handle appeals in the Court of Appeals of Virginia and Supreme Court of Virginia.

 

Outside the courtroom, I co-host a podcast where I talk to local lawyers and politicians about legal issues in an accessible way. I enjoy breaking down complicated topics so people can actually understand them. I also play guitar and soccer when I'm not working. I live in Virginia Beach with my three kids. University of Hawaii for undergrad, Washington & Lee for law school.