2025 Small-Firm Conference and Regional Bench-Bar Forum

K. Brett Marston
President, Virginia State Bar; Managing Partner, Gentry Locke

K. Brett Marston is managing partner of Gentry Locke Attorneys in Roanoke, Virginia, and is currently serving as 87th President of the Virginia State Bar.

Marston is a current member of the VSB Committee on Legal Ethics and the Committee on Professionalism. He has served on VSB Council, Executive Committee, as chair of the Construction Law Section, as a member of the Committee on Budget and Finance, as a Professionalism Course faculty member, and on the VSB Young Lawyers Conference Board of Governors. He is an active member of the Construction Law Section Board of Governors and the Litigation Section.

In addition to his responsibilities as the firm’s managing partner, Marston is a member of Gentry Locke’s Construction Law practice group and has extensive experience in construction contract negotiations and preparation, payment disputes, mechanic’s liens, bond claims, construction defects, delay claims, insurance, and OSHA matters. He handles significant construction matters in federal and state courts as well as arbitration and mediation for general contractors, subcontractors, owners, design professionals, and suppliers.

He was inducted as a Virginia Law Foundation Fellow in 2019. He has been a member of the Roanoke Bar Association since 1994 and has served in many roles, including as president in 2006. He has received the Roanoke Bar Association President’s Volunteer Service Award, Silver Level, for community service. Additionally, he received the Virginia State Bar R. Edwin Burnette Jr. Young Lawyer of the Year Award in 2004.

Marston is originally from Appomattox. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia and the George Mason University School of Law. He is married to Colleen Myers Marston, and has two sons, Luke, who is a recent admittee to the VSB, and William, a graduate student at George Mason University.

Bruce H. Russell, II
Attorney, Bruce H. Russell, II, P.C.; Member, Virginia State Bar Council

Bruce H. Russell, II has practiced law for more than twenty years in the courts of Southwest Virginia, focusing on criminal defense, domestic relations, personal injury, traffic, and general civil litigation. He began his career at the boutique firm Thompson & Hagy in Richmond, advising high-tech startups, before returning home to serve as a prosecutor in Buchanan County. He later joined Bolling Hearl Russell before establishing his own firm, Bruce H. Russell, II, P.C., in 2009, with offices in Lebanon, Bristol, Abingdon, and Tazewell.

In addition to his trial practice, Bruce has served as a faculty member at the Appalachian School of Law, where he has taught and mentored future lawyers. He is currently in his second term as Chairman of the Virginia State Bar’s Bench-Bar Relations Committee and serves on the Board of Governors of the Conference of Local and Specialty Bars. He also serves as Co-Chair of the VSB’s EGAD VA Subcommittee, which is studying the twin challenges of legal deserts and the declining lawyer population across the Commonwealth.

Bruce is the longest-serving president of the Russell County Bar Association, under whose leadership the Bar has received the Virginia State Bar’s Award of Merit multiple times. He also serves on the Virginia State Bar Council and its Executive Committee, as well as the Board of the Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society, and Boyd-Graves. In 2023, he was recognized as the Virginia State Bar Local Bar Leader of the Year, and he is a Fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation. He holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized as a Leader in the Law by Virginia Lawyers Weekly.

Deeply committed to public service, Bruce mentors young attorneys and has been honored with numerous client satisfaction awards, including the Martindale-Hubbell Platinum Client Champion Award. Beyond the courtroom, he is active in civic life as a Kentucky Colonel, Freemason, and Shriner. A survivor of open-heart surgery, he speaks regularly on attorney wellness and resilience. Bruce lives in Abingdon with his wife Shannon, a special education teacher, and their two sons, Clark and Eamon—and he is kept on his toes at home by three miniature dachshunds: Huckleberry, Tiger Lily, and Finnegan.

Bruce is also an award-winning poet and recently won the top prize for poetry in the Alpha Delta Phi International Literary Contest for his poem cycle about the legacy of Bob Dylan. He and fellow presenters Rob Hagy, Carlos Hubbard, and Barry Waldman are proud Brothers of the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity at the University of Virginia.

Dr. Carlos A. Hubbard, M.D., Ph.D.
Section Head, Regional Cardiology; Cardiologist, Cleveland Clinic

Dr. Carlos A. Hubbard serves as Section Head of Regional Cardiology within the Robert & Suzanne Tomsich Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Cleveland Clinic’s Miller Family Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute. He joined the Clinic’s staff in 2010 after practicing at St. Thomas Heart in Nashville, Tennessee, and prior to that served as a clinical assistant professor at Florida State University College of Medicine during his time with Southern Medical Group in Tallahassee.

Board-certified in cardiovascular disease and nuclear cardiology, Dr. Hubbard specializes in general cardiology, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, peripheral vascular disease, and heart failure management. He earned his M.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine (2001), completed his internal medicine residency at VCU (2004), and finished his cardiology fellowship at Cleveland Clinic in 2007.

Dr. Hubbard is the author of multiple journal articles, abstracts, and textbook chapters. He holds memberships in the American College of Cardiology, American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, American Society of Echocardiography, and the American College of Physicians.

Dr. Bret Rogers, M.D., FACC
Clinical Cardiologist, Cleveland Clinic

Dr. Bret Rogers is a distinguished clinical cardiologist in the Tomsich Family Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic’s Miller Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute. With over 15 years of experience, he specializes in echocardiography—including transesophageal guidance for percutaneous valve interventions—as well as valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and general cardiology. He is board-certified in cardiovascular disease, echocardiography, and nuclear cardiology, and is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology.

Dr. Rogers earned his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering (with Distinction) from Duke University, followed by an M.D. from Jefferson Medical College. He completed his residency and internship at Duke University and then a cardiovascular fellowship at Cleveland Clinic, where he also received graduate teaching certification.

Before joining Cleveland Clinic’s medical staff in 2021, Dr. Rogers served as Director of the Adult Echocardiography Laboratory and Director of the Cardiology Fellowship Program at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, where he received accolades such as the Frank London Award for Excellence in Teaching and multiple “Top Docs” honors for his clinical and educational leadership.

Known for his patient-centered approach, Dr. Rogers views healthcare as a partnership and takes great care to build long-term relationships with patients. Outside of medicine, he enjoys woodworking, golf, and spending time with family.

Jay B. Myerson
Founder, The Myerson Law Group; Past President, Virginia State Bar

Jay Myerson founded The Myerson Law Group in 1986 with the mission of providing personalized, high-quality litigation services to individuals, families, and small businesses. Over nearly four decades, he has built a practice rooted in genuine concern for clients and a strong commitment to the legal community. Jay served as President of the Virginia State Bar from 2021 to 2022, following two terms on Bar Council and service on the VSB Executive Committee, Standing Committees on Budget and Finance and Legal Ethics, and the Harry L. Carrico Professionalism Course faculty.

In addition to statewide leadership, Jay has been deeply active in Fairfax, serving as President of the Fairfax Bar Association in 2012–2013, where he spearheaded successful judicial funding efforts and launched a mentorship program for new attorneys. He has also served in the American Bar Association House of Delegates and as President of the George Mason American Inn of Court.

Jay’s contributions have earned him numerous honors, including five Fairfax Bar Association President’s Awards, the 2018 VSB Local Bar Leader of the Year Award, and recognition as a Virginia Lawyers Weekly “Leader in the Law” (2013). He is a Fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation, an honor reserved for the top 1% of Virginia lawyers and judges.

Crista L. Gantz
Director of Access to Legal Services, Virginia State Bar

Crista L. Gantz serves as Director of Access to Legal Services at the Virginia State Bar, where she develops, promotes, and coordinates the Bar’s statewide pro bono and access-to-justice initiatives. She oversees the VSB’s Standing Committee on Access to Legal Services, a statewide body that encourages pro bono participation and addresses barriers to representation for Virginians who cannot afford counsel or who are otherwise underserved.

Crista also represents the Bar on the Virginia Access to Justice Commission and serves as state administrator for Virginia Free Legal Answers, an online platform that connects volunteer attorneys with individuals in need. Her leadership has helped expand legal access across the Commonwealth by building innovative partnerships among courts, lawyers, and community organizations.

She earned her law degree from the University of Richmond School of Law and her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Kathryn Emily Mooney-Gallagher
Visiting Assistant Professor of Law; Director of Career Services and Externships, Appalachian School of Law

Kathryn “Katie” Mooney-Gallagher is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Law and Director of Career Services and Externships at the Appalachian School of Law. A 2012 graduate of ASL, she has spent more than a decade serving as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in Tazewell County, Virginia, where she prosecuted a wide range of cases including sexual assault, child abuse, drug distribution, homicide, and embezzlement.

Katie is a longtime advocate for drug courts, serving on the Tazewell County Drug Court team and championing their value nationwide. She has also held leadership positions in community safety and outreach efforts, including Vice President of Tazewell County TRIAD (a coalition focused on protecting senior citizens), board member of the Southwest Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP), and founder of Operation R.O.V.E.R., a multidisciplinary coalition dedicated to ending animal neglect and cruelty.

At ASL, Katie draws on her extensive courtroom and public service experience to mentor students and prepare them for practice. As a law student, she was a Court Appointed Special Advocate, a Student Bar Association Senator, and Chair of the ABA Law Student Division. She began her prosecutorial career as a student, interning at the Broward County State Attorney’s Office in Florida.

Katie holds a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Florida Atlantic University and a J.D. from Appalachian School of Law. Born in Hollywood, Florida and raised in Vero Beach, she has proudly called Buchanan County home since 2009, where she lives with her family and continues to serve as a passionate advocate for victims and vulnerable communities.

David B. Neumeyer
Executive Director, Virginia Legal Aid Society; Chair, VSB EGAD VA Study Committee

David B. Neumeyer has devoted nearly fifty years to advancing justice for underserved communities. Since 1990, he has served as Executive Director of the Virginia Legal Aid Society (VLAS), where his leadership has earned the organization a national reputation as a “well- managed, high-quality legal services program” (Legal Services Corporation, 2008).

In 2024, David received the Virginia Legal Aid Award, the Virginia State Bar’s highest honor for excellence in legal aid work. The award recognized his lifetime of innovation and creativity in advocacy, his impact beyond VLAS’s service area, and his commitment to improving the lives of Virginia’s most vulnerable citizens.

Beyond his executive role, David has consistently contributed to statewide justice initiatives. He chairs the VSB’s Entry, Growth & Distribution of Virginia Attorneys (EGAD VA) Study Committee, leading its efforts to confront Virginia’s “legal deserts” and declining lawyer population. He also serves as chair of the Virginia Access to Justice Commission’s Self- Represented Litigants Committee, where he works to identify and implement innovative approaches from across the nation.

Peers describe him as a lawyer who “didn’t become a lawyer to get rich—he became a lawyer to do good.” His decades of leadership, innovation, and tireless service embody integrity, character, and an unwavering commitment to expanding access to justice.

Jonathan “Jed” E. Arnold, Esq.
Delegate, Virginia House of Delegates (46th District); Attorney, General Practice

Jed Arnold is a Southwest Virginia native from Saltville, born in Abingdon. He earned his B.S. in Philosophy and Religious Studies from Radford University in 2003 and a J.D. from the Appalachian School of Law in 2015—graduating second in his class after commuting daily to Grundy for three years.

Before his election, Jed maintained a general practice law firm and served as legislative assistant to Delegate Jeff Campbell from 2015 to 2023, drafting legislation, handling constituent services, and engaging in stakeholder outreach.

In August 2023, Jed won a special election with about 81% of the vote to represent Virginia’s 6th District, following Campbell’s judicial appointment. He was sworn in on September 5, 2023, and subsequently elected to the new 46th District in November 2023, where he began his current term on January 10, 2024. His term runs through early 2026.

Aaron M. Gillespie
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, Smyth County; Partner, Galumbeck, Stiltner & Gillespie

Aaron M. Gillespie serves as a part-time Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in Smyth County, where he focuses on prosecuting criminal cases and advancing public safety initiatives. He is also a partner in the law firm of Galumbeck, Stiltner & Gillespie in Tazewell, where he has built a diverse practice representing clients in both criminal and civil matters.

Aaron brings years of experience as both a prosecutor and defense attorney, giving him a broad perspective on the justice system. In addition to his legal practice, he serves as Chairman of the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors, to which he was elected in 2021 representing the Southern District.

A graduate of Emory & Henry College and the Appalachian School of Law (with honors), Aaron is recognized for his dedication to justice and public service. His dual roles in private practice and prosecution reflect his deep commitment to strengthening communities across Southwest Virginia.

Karen L. Cohen
Partner, Gentry Locke

Karen L. Cohen is a Partner in Gentry Locke’s Richmond office and a member of the firm’s Real Estate, Land Use & Zoning, and Solar & Renewable Energy practice groups. She represents developers and energy companies in securing approvals for solar and energy storage projects, and she advises clients on real estate transactions, the entitlement process, environmental issues, and general corporate matters.

Karen is an active leader in the Virginia State Bar, where she co-chairs the Land Use and Environmental Committee of the Real Property Section and previously served as Chair of the Section. A sought-after speaker, she frequently presents at continuing legal education programs across the Commonwealth. At the 2025 Southwest Virginia Regional Bench-Bar Conference, she will deliver the keynote address on Loving v. Virginia and its enduring legacy for civil rights, racial equality, and marriage equality in America.

She holds a B.S. in Architecture from the University of Virginia, an M.S. in Real Estate Development from George Mason University, and a J.D., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center.

B. Laken Shuler
Attorney, Bruce H. Russell, II, P.C.

Laken Shuler is a Southwest Virginia native and attorney with Bruce H. Russell, II, P.C., where she maintains a broad practice that includes criminal defense, estate planning and administration, domestic relations, business law, and civil litigation. She is deeply committed to serving the people of her community and is known for her practical, client-focused approach.

Laken earned her J.D. from the Appalachian School of Law and her B.S. in Political Science from East Tennessee State University. During law school, she distinguished herself through leadership roles, advocacy competitions, and service projects, while also gaining hands-on experience through internships with the Office of the Federal Public Defender and the Virginia Attorney General’s Office.

Since joining the firm, Laken has built a reputation for her thorough preparation, effective advocacy, and compassion for clients. She is dedicated to helping individuals and families across Southwest Virginia navigate complex legal matters with skill and care.

Thomas R. Scott, Jr., Esq.
Senior Partner, Street Law Firm, LLP; Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law, Appalachian School of Law
Thomas R. Scott, Jr. is senior partner at the Street Law Firm, LLP in Grundy, Virginia, where he has practiced as a civil and criminal litigator for more than 46 years. He also serves as a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law and General Counsel at the Appalachian School of Law, where his students have honored him multiple times as Professor of the Year.

Mr. Scott has served as lead counsel and co-counsel in numerous high-profile cases across far Southwest Virginia, including Commonwealth v. Roger Keith Coleman, a capital murder prosecution that drew national and international attention and was later chronicled in John Tucker’s book, May God Have Mercy. His career has been marked by both courtroom excellence and dedication to legal education, mentoring generations of young lawyers.

A 2020 inductee into the Virginia Lawyers Hall of Fame, Mr. Scott is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a two-time Chairman and long-serving member of the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board, and a recipient of the Bill Geimer Award for his work as a dedicated capital defender. He is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, has been recognized by Virginia Business Magazine as a member of the Legal Elite, by Richmond Magazine as a Super Lawyer (2006–present), and by Virginia Lawyers Weekly as a Leader in the Law (Class of 2013). He is also a Fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation (Class of 2014).

In addition to his legal practice and teaching, Mr. Scott serves as faculty advisor to student organizations at ASL, including the Black Law Students Association, the Republican Law Society, and the Criminal Law Society.

Barry Waldman, Esq.
General Counsel, Virginia State Bar

Barry Waldman is General Counsel of the Virginia State Bar, where he provides legal advice to Bar leadership, staff, and committees on issues of governance, ethics, and professional regulation. He oversees litigation and represents the Bar in state and federal courts, and he has played a central role in shaping policy affecting Virginia’s legal profession.

Barry also serves as a liaison to the VSB’s disciplinary system and has authored numerous opinions and guidance documents on attorney ethics and regulation. Before joining the Bar, he practiced in Richmond, focusing on complex civil litigation and professional responsibility matters.

He holds a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.