- Written by: PLDR
Eight PLDR Law attorneys have been named among Virginia’s “Legal Elite” for 2024 by Virginia Business magazine. Virginia Business annually polls more than 14,000 attorneys and more than 50 law firms in the Commonwealth, asking them to select from their peers the best lawyers in each practice category.
Scott W. Kowalski - Construction Law
Steven P. Gould - Labor and Employment
Chad A. Mooney - Civil Litigation
Jason W. Todd - Criminal Law
Mary B. Chamberlin - Family and Domestic Relations
Sarah W. Houck - Family and Domestic Relations
Frank W. Morrison - Family and Domestic Relations
Mark A. Burgin - Young Lawyer
We congratulate these members of our team and encourage you to reach out to us if you are interested in working with any of them. 434-846-2768
- Written by: PLDR
PLDR Law to Launch January 1 with 16 Attorneys in Lynchburg, Danville Offices
LYNCHBURG and DANVILLE, VA – Petty, Livingston, Dawson & Richards, P.C. (“Petty Livingston”) and Southern Virginia Legal PLLC (“SoVa Legal”) today announced the merger of their firms, effective January 1, 2024, to become PLDR Law.
The combination of Petty Livingston and SoVa Legal will create a 16-lawyer firm operating from offices in Lynchburg and Danville and serving communities across Central and Southern Virginia.
This includes the addition of Holly Trent, an experienced health care attorney who most recently served as senior vice president and chief legal officer for Centra Health, who will join the firm’s employment law group and develop and lead the firm’s health care practice.
Scott Kowalski, President of Petty Livingston, said: “We are thrilled to announce this merger of two accomplished firms. Petty Livingston has experienced significant growth the last two years, and SoVa Legal has developed a tremendous reputation assisting clients who are helping to drive economic revitalization in the Danville area. By combining our resources and talents, we can expand our offerings to clients even further. The addition of Holly Trent is a key component of that expansion.”
Steven Gould, founder and managing attorney of SoVa Legal, said: “We have enjoyed a strong collaboration with the attorneys at Petty Livingston in recent years to supplement the business, employment, and estate planning services we offer to our clients. The opportunity to join forces allows us to ensure that the Danville market continues to be served by a robust, full-service firm that can grow with our community.”
Jim Richards, named partner with Petty Livingston, said: “More and more, the futures of communities across Central and Southern Virginia are linked to one another. Creating a truly regional firm that can meet the diverse needs of not just our cities but the towns and rural areas around us just makes sense.”
Holly Trent said: “I am excited to join the team at PLDR Law in January and to assist businesses and professionals across the region. Health care law is increasingly complex, and I look forward to using my experience across employment, regulatory, and health care matters to help clients navigate this world.”
Kowalski will serve as the president of the combined regional firm, and Gould will chair its transactional practice and manage the Danville office.
For additional information, please contact Megan Gould, PLDR Law's Chief Operating Officer, at mgould (at) pldrlaw.com or 919.428.4589.
- Written by: PLDR
PLDR Law is pleased to announce that Scott W. Kowalski and Paul Feinman have been named to the 2023 Legal Elite in Construction Law and Bankruptcy/Creditors' Rights, respectively, by Virginia Business Magazine.
The 2023 Legal Elite list is Virginia Business magazine's 24th annual report, is determined by peer votes, and is divided into 21 specialties. Virginia Business polled thousands of attorneys in the Commonwealth asking them to select from their peers from the best lawyers in each practice category. PLDR Law is proud to offer legal services of the highest caliber to our region, both in these categories and in all of the practice areas we offer.
To connect with Scott and PLDR's Construction Law team, visit here, and to connect with Paul and our Creditors' Rights + Bankruptcy team, visit here.
- Written by: PLDR
PLDR Law is pleased to announce that Scott W. Kowalski has been selected as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Meals on Wheels of Greater Lynchburg for 2023-2024.
- Written by: PLDR
We're thrilled that our very own Associate Attorney, Jason Todd, is a member of the Central Virginia United Way Board.
At PLDR, we believe in giving back to our community, and we're proud to share that we're taking part in the Central Virginia United Way Food Drive. As the fall season begins, let's come together to support those in need. Stay tuned for updates on how you can contribute to this fantastic cause.
- Written by: PLDR
PLDR attorney Luke Malloy has joined the board of the Free Clinic of Central Virginia. The mission of the Free Clinic is to ensure high-quality, compassionate, and comprehensive healthcare for every member of our community. PLDR attorneys take time to give back to the community.
- Written by: PLDR
PLDR was pleased to continue its support of the Corvias Foundation at an event in Pinehurst this week. The Corvias Foundation was founded in 2006 to provide scholarships and grants to children and spouses of deployed US servicemen and servicewomen. Since inception, the Foundation has awarded more than $15 million in scholarships and grants to military-connected students to support their education, with scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $50,000. PLDR has been a sponsor of the Foundation for many years and we have been awed by the dedication and drive of these scholarship recipients to expand their education and to serve their communities.
- Written by: PLDR
At the Lynchburg Bar Association's annual meeting, the Virginia Legal Aid Society awarded PLDR Law its annual Pro Bono Award in recognition of free legal services donated to citizens in the greater Lynchburg community. VLAS's Executive Director, David Neumeyer, said the value of the services exceeded $14,000. Also, Chad A. Mooney was recognized for his service as the LBA President for 2022-2023.
- Written by: PLDR
PLDR is pleased to announce that Frank Morrison and Scott W. Kowalski have again been selected for inclusion in the Virginia Super Lawyers list for Family Law and Construction Litigation, respectively. This is a recognition that Frank and Scott have been honored to receive for a number of years. Attorneys selected for inclusion are nominated by their peers and recognized for their outstanding professional achievement in their area of practice.
- Written by: PLDR
Scott Kowalski, along with Tom Wolf of Miles & Stockbridge, presented the Recent Developments in Construction and Public Contracts in Virginia to the Virginia State Bar's Annual Conference at the Boar's Head last weekend. Mark Burgin was a co-author on the Written Materials for the presentation.
- Written by: PLDR
PLDR is pleased to announce that Scott Kowalski has been elected to the position of Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of Meals on Wheels of Greater Lynchburg for 2022-2023.
