Susan Lawyers

I came to the Mathews/Gloucester area after practicing in Hampton. My focus is state litigation, trusts, deeds, wills, and estate planning and administration.

I am on the Board of Directors of HeadStart, am a current or former officer with the Lions Charity Foundation and Middle Peninsula Bar Association. Also a member of the Mathews Ruritans.

I volunteer time and resources for most community functions.

Prior to practicing law, I spent a considerable amount of time oversea in my former career as a CIA Operations Officer. After law school I practiced bankruptcy law in the Central District of California, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside Divisions. In 2003, I returned to my native state of Virginia and established the Merna Law Group. Since the founding of the firm we have won over 35 awards for customer service, good work, and other accolades. Over my more than 25 years of bankruptcy practice, myself and my attorneys have filed over 10,000 successful cases. PHONE CONSULT AVAILABLE. We...

For 17 consecutive years during 2007-2023, Mr. Waterman has been honored by his legal colleagues in The Best Lawyers of America for 2 separate categories - "Personal Injury" and "Medical Malpractice" - for Southeast Virginia. Indeed, he has been voted its "Lawyer of the Year" for 6 of the last 10 years and for 3 of the past 4 years. For 2021, 2022, and 2023, Waterman Law Centers received the coveted "Metropolitan Tier 1" Best Law Firms ranking by U.S. News & World Report. It has 3 Peninsula law offices: Williamsburg, Newport News, and Hampton. Also, for 16 consecutive years during...

I went to law school because I wanted the opportunity to both help people and to work for myself. After graduating from the College of William and Mary School of Law in 1992, much of my practice was focused on personal injury litigation; however, I noticed I derived the greatest satisfaction from helping my Social Security disability clients through the frustrating and confusing Social Security disability application and appeals process. At the conclusion of a case, my clients would come in person to hug me, to thank me, and to tell me about the difference I had made...

Ken Gibson is passionate about helping clients get through tough times and fighting for them inside and outside the courtroom. An experienced trial attorney, Ken earned a commendation from the director of the FBI for his work in prosecuting violent criminals. He is a former Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in Norfolk and Federal Prosecutor at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. He has the legal experience to get the best possible results for you.

A graduate of the University of Virginia and the University of South Carolina Law School, Ken gives clients outstanding representation every step of the way. Ken...

Originally from Charleston, West Virginia, John Singleton has made Gloucester, Virginia, his home. He served in the U.S. Marines in China and Beirut, Lebanon. John is a graduate of Colby College in Waterville, Maine, and Mercer University Law School in Macon, Georgia.

John learned his trial skills working for a large insurance defense firm. He knows how the insurance side works and uses that knowledge to give his clients outstanding insight and counsel. John enjoys a fight, and he puts his heart into every single case.

John serves his community through organizations including the Middle Peninsula Bar Association, The Fairfield Foundation, Ware...

Mitchell M. Wells is admitted to practice law in all state and federal courts in Virginia, concentrates his practice in the areas of criminal law, DUI and reckless driving traffic violations, and has defended thousands of cases. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Wells served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Health Care Fraud section of the Office of the Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Mr. Wells was responsible for supervising various fraud investigations and litigating Virginia false claim actions in federal court pursuant to the Federal False Claims Act and the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers...

Joseph Dean is a Virginia lawyer who concentrates his law practice primarily in the areas of criminal law, DUI, and traffic defense.  Mr. Dean joined Riley & Wells Attorneys-At-Law in 2013 primarily focusing on drafting legal memorandums, motions & pleadings, and researching and analyzing legal issues for the law firm’s felony and misdemeanor criminal cases in both state and federal courts. Before becoming an attorney, Mr. Dean participated extensively in trial advocacy and was recognized for his proficient skill as an advocate. He also learned early on as an Eagle Scout the importance of always being prepared. Mr. Dean brings...

James H. ("Jamie") Shoemaker, Jr. became an associate in the law firm of Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein ("PWHD") in 1993 after spending two years with a large firm based in Norfolk, Virginia. He became a partner in PWHD in 1996. His practice includes all areas of employment law, False Claims Act (whistleblower) and Fair Labor Standards Act (overtime) litigation matters. He has tried over seventy cases to verdict in state and federal courts of record, before arbitration panels, Administrative Law Judges and other forums. He has successfully resolved several times this number through settlement and mediation. Jamie has...

I am an admitted attorney in both California (currently inactive) and Virginia, with my main physical legal services office located in Newport News, Virginia. I provide services for most of your personal, family and small business legal needs with a focus on planning for a life well lived. As a second career attorney, I have had years of experience in business and in life. This helps me better understand my clients and their situations so that we can work together to get the best result for that client. If you need help with: Virginia Estate Planning and Elder Law ...

Adrienne Sakyi is an Associate Attorney with the law firm of Schempf & Ware, PLLC in Yorktown, Virginia. Her practice focuses on civil litigation, business disputes, and estate litigation. Schempf & Ware, PLLC represents both individuals and businesses in many forms of litigation ranging from business needs to personal injury to criminal matters, and we would be happy to assist you with any needs you may have.

You're never too young or too old to start thinking about the legacy you will leave behind. Estate planning is necessary for the very young and the very old. It's necessary for those with many assets, and those with few. It's necessary for single people and married couples, with kids and without. Too many people think estate planning is for "someone else." But the reality is that estate planning is for everyone. It's not about your death, it's about the lives of those you love. We use a unique life-stage approach to estate planning; we consider your needs...

Whether your spouse served you with a divorce, or you need to serve your spouse with one, it pays to take immediate action. Sometimes it's difficult to make a decision, and things feel uncertain, and that's ok.For many clients, custody of children is the primary concern above all else. We understand prioritizing custody, and can work with you to achieve the result you desire. But it is critical not to wait. As soon as you realize a custody issue is brewing, you must take immediate action to protect your children. A proactive family law attorney will drive your case forward,...

Dan Mazzio has been practicing law in Hampton Roads for more than a decade. He has represented clients in courts all over Virginia and has earned a reputation as a skilled trial attorney. Dan has tried countless jury trials to successful outcomes and is passionate about fighting for his clients to get them the best possible outcome. Dan grew up in Chesapeake and attended Longwood University. He received his law degree from the University of Richmond’s T.C. Williams School of Law in 2007. Dan is married to Lisa, a psychologist and the owner of Watermark Psychological Services in Ghent. They have...

Anna focuses her practice on individual consumer and business bankruptcies, tax compliance and controversy, corporate and business law, and estate planning and administration. Prior to joining Harry Jernigan CPA Attorney, P.C., Mrs. Dunkum was Staff Attorney for the Chapter 13 Trustee for the Middle District of North Carolina- Greensboro Division. Mrs. Dunkum is admitted to practice in the United States Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina and the Eastern District of Virginia as well as all courts in the State of North Carolina and the Commonwealth of Virginia and U.S. Tax Court. ...

Chad S. Roberts is an Associate Attorney who joined Schempf & Ware, PLLC in 2017. His practice focuses on criminal defense, civil litigation, land use litigation, and estate litigation. Chad practices in both general district and circuit court in addition to matters before local government entities. Chad is also admitted to practice in the United States District Bankruptcy Court.

Prior to joining Schempf & Ware, Chad served on active duty with the United States Air Force. He graduated from Regent University School of Law and began private practice and then joined the Newport News Commonwealth's Attorney's Office as...

Duncan received his undergraduate and law degree from The College of William and Mary. He is active in professional associations and has served as President of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association , President of The Piedmont Bar Association and President of The Newport News Bar Association . Duncan represents persons who have suffered serious injuries as a result of the negligence of others . He is aggressive , professional and compassionate . "My job is to quickly and relentlessly pursue the negligent defendant no matter how big or wealthy until my client receives the full measure of justice "

Harry Jernigan - Founder and CEO of Harry Jernigan CPA Attorney, PC., a dual practice of accounting and law with offices located in Virginia Beach, Newport News, and Richmond, Virginia.

Will Harty is partner at Harty Jewell, PLLC, where he represents clients in mesothelioma and asbestos cases, product liability, personal injury, and maritime tort trial litigation, and appellate practice. As a trial attorney, Mr. Harty and his colleagues have won several multi-million dollar product liability verdicts. In his appellate practice, Will has represented clients in complex legal issues before the Virginia Supreme Court, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States. Will is regularly consulted and retained by other firms across the nation on maritime issues. He also...

Samantha Bradshaw, founding attorney of InLine Legal, never embraced the traditional route of life. After graduating into a job market where partners at law firms were still being laid off, she figured she had better chances at finding a ‘real law job’ overseas and certainly did. Five years of helping multinational companies expand and grow showed her that she thrived on helping serial entrepreneurs, business owners, and creatives bring their ideas off the ground. Their passion for their work is simply contagious. Samantha thrives on the contagious passion from fellow business owners. She uses that to help them get InLine,...

I enjoy working with individual inventors as well as businesses. I engage in a broad practice including intellectual property, litigation, whistleblower actions and zoning and land use. I am a Licensed Patent Attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Also, I have been licensed to practice law by the Commonwealth of Virginia since 1996. I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech in 1989 and a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering with a concentration course in environmental engineering from Old Dominion University in 1993. I also graduated magna cum laude from Loyola School...

Litigation in the Virginia and Federal Courts, personal injury and taxation matters.