Norfolk, VA. (February 11, 2016) The law firm of Vandeventer Black is pleased to announce the election of the firm’s Executive Board slate. The board, which consists of five partners, acts as the governing body and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the firm.

Mark S. Brennan, Sr. has been newly elected to the board, and serves as Chair of the firm’s Richmond Department. Brennan concentrates his practice in health care and medical and professional liability matters. He has over 29 years of trial and litigation experience in state and federal courts.

James R. Harvey has served on the board since 2014, and serves as Chair of the firm’s Practice Management Committee. Harvey has experience handling a broad range of disputes, including construction, surety, government contracts, land use, defective products, professional liability and business. He regularly appears in state and federal courts and before various arbitration panels representing the needs of contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, owners, developers engineers, architects, insurers or sureties and their agents. 

Edward J. Powers has served on the board since 2014. Concentrated in transportation law, maritime and general litigation matters, Powers focuses his practice on the representation of ship owners, charterers and their underwriters, including both domestic and international insurance companies and P & I Clubs. He represents one of the largest Class I Railroads in North America.

Adam S. Rafal has served on the board since 2010. Rafal concentrates his practice in Workers’ Compensation Defense and Labor & Employment Law. He primarily works with insurance carriers and self-insured employers defending workers’ compensation claims filed pursuant to the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act.

Michael L. Sterling, who serves as Managing Partner of the firm, was first elected to the Board in 2013. Sterling became Managing Partner in 2014 and was recently re-elected to serve another two-year term. He has also served on the firm’s Practice Management Committee and is a former Chair of the firm’s Construction and Public Contracts Department. Sterling concentrates his practice on complex projects and business issues for international, national and local private and government clients. Sterling also serves as an arbitrator and mediator.

About Vandeventer Black LLP

Vandeventer Black LLP is a business law firm, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, with attorneys providing legal services to local, national, and international businesses since 1883.  The firm maintains offices in Norfolk and Richmond Virginia; Raleigh and Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and Germany.  For more information, visit VanBlackLaw.com.