NORFOLK, VA.  Vandeventer Black is pleased to announce that Partner, Robert L. O’Donnell has been named the recipient of the Eggleston/ I’Anson Professionalism Award by the Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association.

The Eggleston/I’Anson Professionalism Award honors present and former members of the NPBA who have exemplified the highest standards of professionalism throughout their careers demonstrating respect for the law, the judicial system, legal profession, clients, court personnel and other counsel along with honesty, candor, fairness and competence before the Court and with counsel.  The award is intended to recognize and honor personal and professional qualities, reputation and conduct and leadership activities and service within the bar or the community in general.   Award recipients are role models for other attorneys, particularly younger attorneys.

The award is the Associations’ most prestigious, named for the two former Chief Justices of the Supreme Court of Virginia hailing from Norfolk and Portsmouth, John W. Eggleston and Lawrence W. I’Anson.   Chief Justice Eggleston was a founding partner of Vandeventer Black before taking his place on the Virginia Supreme Court.  Bob O’Donnell is the third member of Vandeventer Black to receive the award having been preceded by John M. Ryan and Charles F. Tucker.

Mr. O’Donnell joined Vandeventer Black in 1975 and has remained with the firm since. His practice is predominantly litigation. He has represented defendants in defense of asbestos personal injury and wrongful death cases since 1980. He has appeared in state and federal courts in Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. During that time, he has been involved in numerous other types of litigation including commercial disputes, eminent domain, toxic torts and products liability.

Vandeventer Black lawyers have provided legal services to businesses nationally and internationally since 1883. The firm has offices in Norfolk and Richmond, Virginia; Kitty Hawk and Raleigh, North Carolina; Pasadena, California; and Hamburg, Germany.