Meet Richard
Richard is a seasoned attorney based in the Charlottesville, Virginia office of Allen & Allen. Throughout his career, he has remained committed to standing up for his clients and pursuing fair outcomes on their behalf. He approaches every matter with one guiding belief: the case belongs to the client. Richard handles a wide range of personal injury cases, including wrongful death claims, car and tractor-trailer crashes, and accidents caused by impaired drivers.
After earning his law degree from the University of Virginia, Richard spent 13 years working as a public defender in New York City. In 2000, he returned to Virginia, where he continues to represent clients and handle cases across the Commonwealth.
Richard holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the organization’s highest distinction. He is also a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a recognition given to attorneys who have secured trial verdicts of $1 million or more. The Virginia Trial Lawyers Association has recognized him for his work on friend-of-the-court briefs submitted to the Supreme Court of Virginia. In addition, he has spoken at legal seminars and written articles published in the Journal of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association.
Outside the courtroom, Richard is active in the Charlottesville community. He currently serves as Chair of the Board for the Albemarle County Service Authority. He has also served on the boards of the Jefferson Swim League and Madison House and previously held the role of President for both organizations.
Richard is married and has two children. His wife, Andrea, is an attorney who works at UVA as the Director of Virginia Status. He enjoys traveling and has visited countries such as Vietnam, Bali, Turkey, Nicaragua, and Cuba. In his free time, he likes swimming, biking, exploring new places, and dining out with his wife.
Experience
- Shareholder, Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen (2023-Present )
- Trial Attorney, Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen (2017-Present )
- Attorney, Lenhart Pettit (2008-2017)
- Attorney, Richmond and Fishburne (2004-2008)
- Attorney, Wyatt & Armstrong (2001-2004)
- Supervising Attorney, Criminal Defense Division, New York (1994-2000)
- Staff Attorney, Legal Aid Society Criminal Defense Division, New York (1987-1994)
Bar admissions
- Licensed to practice law in Commonwealth of Virginia, New York
Court admissions
- Supreme Court of Virginia
- U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
Education
- J.D., University of Virginia School of Law (1987)
- B.A., Political and Social Thought, University of Virginia, with distinction (1984)
Honors
- AV Preeminent rated by Martindale Hubbell
- Virginia Trial Lawyers Association amicus curiae honor roll (2006, 2017)
- Virginia Lawyers Weekly, Largest Verdicts of 2006, $4.5 million
- Virginia Lawyers Weekly, Million Dollar Settlements of 2015
Professional affiliations
- Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Member and Past Co-chair of Amicus Curiae Committee
- Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association
- Thomas Jefferson Inn of Court, Past President
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Speaking engagements
- VTLA May Tort Law Seminar: “Reasonableness of Medical Bills: Combatting Defense Strategies to Reduce the Value of Your Case” (2021)
- Virginia CLE Seminar: “Tort-Related Damages” for VACLE (2020)
- Virginia CLE Seminar: “Tort-Related Damages” (2012)
- Thomas Jefferson Inn of Court: The 5th Amendment in Civil Litigation (2011)
- Virginia CLE Seminar: “Evaluating and Settling Personal Injury Claims” (2010)
Published works
- VTLA Journal: “Duties of a Landlord post-Isbell” (2019)
- VTLA Journal: “A Primer on the Fifth Amendment in Civil Litigation” (2010)
- VTLA Journal: “How to Recover When the Treating Physician Won’t Get on the Bus” (2009)
- VTLA Journal: “HIPAA Regulations and Client Privacy” (2007)
- VTLA Journal: “The Myth of the Charitable Physician” (2006)
Notable cases
- Volpe v. City of Lexington, 281 Va. 630 (2011)
- Hollingsworth v. Norfolk S. Ry., 279 Va. 360 (2010)
- UVA Health Serv. Foundation v. Morris, 275 Va. 319 (2008)
- Sanchez v. Medicorp Health Sys., 270 Va. 299 (2005)
- Gray v. Rhoads, 268 Va. 81 (2004)
- Brake v. Payne, 268 Va. 92 (2004)
Community service
- Albemarle County Service Authority Board Chair (2023 – Present)
- Albemarle County Service Authority Board member (2016 – Present)
- Jefferson Swim League, Past Board Member, and Past President
- Madison House, Past Board Member, and Past President
Personal Injury Resources
Is auto insurance required by law in Virginia?
At Allen & Allen, we often help clients recover financial compensation after they’ve been hurt in car accidents. One of the first questions we get is whether the at-fault driver...
Car crash – $1,000,000
Our client was on her way to work as a server in Charlottesville when the defendant T-boned her vehicle at high speed. The damage was so extensive that law enforcement...
Allen & Allen donates $15K to Legal Aid
Justice can only be served when every person has access to competent legal representation, regardless of income or social status. Allen & Allen shares this belief with Legal Aid, an...
Study finds Thanksgiving to be deadliest holiday on the roads
Many people will assume that New Year’s Eve has the most hazardous roads compared to other holidays, but statistics reveal a different story: Thanksgiving has proven to be the most...
Super fog: A road condition that claims lives
In the United States, super fog occurs a few times a year. Often, it can be fatal. Case in point: Three people were killed in a 15-car pileup involving a...
Allen & Allen tops Virginia’s million-dollar settlements in 2023
We are thrilled to announce that The Allen Law Firm secured more million-dollar settlements than any other Virginia law firm in 2023. Virginia Lawyers Weekly compiled last year’s Million-Dollar Settlements,...