2022 Small-Firm Conference and Regional Bench-Bar Forum

Cameron S. Bell, Esq., Officer, PennStuart

An Officer in PennStuart’s Abingdon, Virginia office, Cam serves as leader of the firm’s Insurance Defense and Professional Liability practice group and as a member of the Outside General Counsel, Commercial Litigation and Employment practice groups. Following law school, he served as federal law clerk to Hon. James P. Jones in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia and joined PennStuart in 2002. An avid community advocate for his hometown, Cam and his two children reside in Abingdon.

Cam has extensive experience in complex litigation matters, including tort, contract, employment, and property claims, representing businesses, health care providers, business professionals, attorneys, and individuals. Cam has successfully litigated numerous cases in federal and state courts in Virginia and Tennessee over his eighteen-year career. In addition to being comfortable in the courtroom, Cam serves as outside general counsel to several business entities in the region and regularly advises area banks, utilities, and municipalities on all manner of operational and regulatory matters.

Cam is a founder and co-owner of Wolf Hills Brewing Co., an award-winning craft brewery and live music venue in historic Abingdon. As a small business owner, Cam understands firsthand the many issues that businesses face on a daily basis and is available to advise on issues that affect your business.

Publications

• Reporting Requirements and Other Obligations Associated With the Settlement of a Medical Malpractice Case or Claim, Journal of Civil Litigation, Winter 2008-2009
• Update of Medical Malpractice Certification Statutes, Journal of Civil Litigation, Winter 2007-2008
• The New Medical Malpractice Expert Certification Statute, Journal of Civil Litigation, Fall 2005
• Timber Trespass in Virginia, Energy and Mineral Law Foundation Annual Institute, 2006
• Coal Law Update, Energy and Mineral Law Foundation 32nd Mineral Law Conference, Fall 2007
• Medical Malpractice Expert Certification Statute, Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys Spring Section Meeting, 2007
• Injunctions, Appalachian Association of Professional Landmen Conference, 2004
• Potential Liability for Student Athletics, ODAC Presidents’ Conference, 2004

Thomas R. Scott Jr., Esq., Senior Partner, Street Law Firm, LLP

Tom Scott is a 1974 graduate of Hampden-Sydney College with a B.A. in Government and Political Science. He graduated from the T. C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond with a J.D. in 1976. Mr. Scott is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and former Chairman of the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board.

Mr. Scott is a senior partner at the Street Law Firm in Grundy, Virginia where he has practiced for 42 years. Mr. Scott was selected in 2020 to the Virginia Lawyers Hall of Fame and selected in 2021 to Super Lawyers. In addition to his law practice, Mr. Scott joined the full-time faculty at the Appalachian School of Law in 2005.

James K. Cowan Jr., Esq., Chairman, CowanPerry, PC

Jim is the Chairman of CowanPerry PC. His practice focuses on representing management in the full spectrum of labor & employment related issues confronted by employers in today’s workplace, handling complex business litigation matters and representing property owners and developers on land use issues and commercial real estate projects. He represents a wide range of employers, business owners and developers in the region, ranging from high-tech start-ups to large manufacturers, and from local property owners to national developers.

He has twenty-five years of trial experience representing employers in non-compete litigation, myriad types of business and partnership disputes, and the waterfront of employment-related litigation, including employee benefits and ERISA claims.

Over the course of his career, he has represented companies in federal and state courts across Virginia in commercial litigation and in the defense of wrongful discharge claims, including disability, age, family medical leave, sexual harassment, race, and gender under the Americans with Disabilities Act; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act; the Family Medical Leave Act and Fair Labor Standards Act; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 42 U.S.C. §1981; and before the Virginia Supreme Court on appellate matters. Jim also represents employers before the NLRB, the EEOC and the Virginia Employment Commission. Additionally, he specializes in the preparation of affirmative action plans and responding to OFCCP and other Department of Labor audits.

Jim serves as outside general counsel to a number of prominent companies and non-profits in the region, and as the general counsel to Onward, the New River Valley’s economic development alliance. He is passionate about land conservation in Southwest Virginia, and is an active member of the Board of Directors of the New River Land Trust. Jim is also a sought-after speaker and corporate trainer locally and for national programs, and is an active member of the Virginia State Bar Labor & Employment Section.

Finally, Jim has been recognized for over a decade and listed in “The Best Lawyers in America” [since 2006 to present]; as a Virginia “Super Lawyer” [Rising Star 2007-2009; and since 2010 to present]; and also repeatedly named to Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” for Labor/Employment law.

EDUCATION

• Washington & Lee University School of Law, JD, 1994, Law Review,Notes and Comments Editor, 1993-94, Staff Writer, 1992-93; Omicron Delta Kappa
• Towson University, BS, English, 1991, summa cum laude. Omicron Delta Kappa.

ADMISSIONS

Virginia
U.S. District Courts for the Western and Eastern Districts of Virginia United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Virginia

Eric Chapman, Esq., General Counsel, Community Housing Partnerts

As General Counsel for Community Housing Partners Corporation (CHP), Eric oversees legal matters, and advises CHP operations functions in its departments: Human Capital, Development, Resident Services, Property Management, and Energy Solutions.

In his capacity as of-counsel (formerly partner) with CowanPerry PC, Eric focuses his practice in the areas of business litigation, employment law, and corporate transactions. He helps clients navigate employment law issues, including E.E.O.C., ADA, Title VII, and ADEA claims. He is admitted to practice in Virginia and North Carolina.

Prior to joining CowanPerry, Eric worked as a summer associate with LeClairRyan at their Blacksburg office, and as a paralegal at Charlson Bredehoft Cohen & Brown in Reston, Virginia. During law school, he served as a judicial intern for The Honorable James G. Welsh, United States Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Virginia, and as a yearlong extern for The Honorable Rebecca B. Connelly, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Virginia. Additionally, while at Washington & Lee University School of Law, Eric was selected as a Burks Scholar, and taught legal research and writing skills to first-year law students.

Eric has been recognized by Virginia “Super Lawyers” as a Rising Star for Employment & Labor Law (2017-present) and 2021-present Best Lawyers®: Ones To Watch inaugural edition, recognizing extraordinary lawyers who have been in private practice for less than 10 years for Commercial Litigation and Employment Law and Employment Litigation. He is on the Executive Committee of the Ted Dalton American Inns of Court, serves on the Board of Directors for the Community Foundation of the New River Valley, and is Legislative Chair of the New River Valley Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Brittany M. Haddox, Esq., Attorney, Strelka Employment Law

A local from Salem, Virginia, Brittany Haddox received her undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech in 2010, just two years after graduating from Salem High School. Brittany thereafter received her law degree from Washington and Lee University School of Law in 2013. During law school, she served as a judicial intern for The Honorable Clifford R. Weckstein, former Chief Judge of the 23rd Judicial Circuit of Virginia.

Brittany focuses her practice on employment law, representing employees. Brittany has extensive jury trial experience and has handled numerous employment-related claims originating from age discrimination, race discrimination, disability discrimination, sexual harassment, pregnancy discrimination, First Amendment / free speech, and retaliation. Brittany’s other areas of practice include federal criminal defense and general civil litigation.

Education
Washington & Lee University School of Law, J.D., 2013, cum laude
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, B.S., 2010, summa cum laude

Bar and Court Admissions
Virginia Bar (includes all Virginia state courts) United States Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Virginia

Professional Affiliations Ted Dalton Inn of Court
National Employment Law Association

Awards and Recognition
Brittany had been listed as a “Rising Star” and a Top-Rated Employment Litigation Attorney in Super Lawyers magazine in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Gregory D. Habeeb, Esq., Partner, Gentry Locke Attorneys

Greg Habeeb is a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates, where he represented Virginia’s 8th District and served as Vice-Chair of the Courts of Justice Committee, was a Subcommittee Chair for the Courts of Justice, Commerce & Labor and Transportation committees, and served on the Rules and Privileges & Elections committees. Greg retired from the Virginia House of Delegates in August of 2018 and now chairs Gentry Locke’s Government and Regulatory Affairs team in Richmond, Virginia. Greg is also a litigation partner specializing in complex business and catastrophic injury cases, representing individuals and companies in courts throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and the nation. In 2017 Greg was named a “Leader in the Law” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly.

Patrice L. Lewis, Esq., Government Affairs Manager, Gentry Locke Attorneys

Patrice Lewis serves as our Government Affairs Manager, using data and strategy to help clients achieve their legal, policy, and communications goals. Patrice’s eclectic background fuses law with policy and communications. She recently served as a strategic marketing and communications consultant for senior advisor for SIR, Inc. located in Richmond, VA. Prior to her time at SIR, she worked as an outreach representative for Senator Mark R. Warner, serving Central and South Central Virginia, and as the legislative assistant to former Delegate Onzlee Ware. Patrice is a native of Roanoke, Virginia. She received her undergraduate degree in sociology from the University of Virginia and her law degree from Regent University School of Law. Patrice is also licensed to practice law in Virginia and Maryland.

Sharon D. Nelson, Esq., President, Sensei Enterprises, Inc.

Sharon D. Nelson, Esq., is the President of Sensei Enterprises, Inc., a digital forensics, information security and information technology firm in Fairfax, Virginia.

Ms. Nelson is the author of the noted electronic evidence blog, Ride the Lightning and is a co-host of the Legal Talk Network podcast series called “The Digital Edge: Lawyers and Technology” as well as “Digital Detectives.”

She is a frequent author (fifteen books published by the ABA and hundreds of articles) and speaker on legal technology, information security and electronic evidence topics. She was the President of the Virginia State Bar June 2013 – June 2014 and a past President of the Fairfax Law Foundation.

She may be reached at snelson@senseient.com

John W. Simek, Vice President, sensei Enterprises, Inc.

Mr. Simek is the Vice President of Sensei Enterprises, Inc., an information technology, digital forensics and information security firm located in Fairfax, VA. Mr. Simek has a national reputation as a digital forensics technologist and has testified as an expert witness throughout the United States. He holds a degree in engineering from the United States Merchant Marine Academy and an MBA in finance from Saint Joseph’s University.

Mr. Simek holds the prestigious CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) and EnCE (EnCase Certified Examiner) certifications in addition to multiple other technical certifications. He currently provides information technology support to hundreds of Washington, DC area law firms, legal entities and corporations. He is a co-host of the Legal Talk Network podcast Digital Detectives. He is a frequent author (fifteen books published by the ABA and hundreds of articles) and speaker on legal technology, information security and electronic evidence topics.

He may be reached at jsimek@senseient.com.

Robert M. Galumbeck, Esq., Senior Partner, Galumbeck & Kegley, Attorneys

Robert M. Galumbeck is the senior partner in the law firm of Galumbeck Stiltner & Gillespie, Attorneys, with office in Tazewell, Virginia. Mr. Galumbeck is a 1973 graduate of the University of Virginia and obtained his J.D., in 1976, at the Marshall Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary. He has served as Commonwealth’s Attorney and as County Attorney for Tazewell County, Virginia. He is a general practitioner, with a particular emphasis in the areas of family law and criminal law. He has previously served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Virginia Trial Lawyers and as chair of the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Committee for the Tenth District (Section II). He has previously been recognized in the fields of family law and criminal law as one of Virginia’s “Legal Elite” by Virginia Business magazine and has been recognized as one of Virginia’s “Super Lawyers” by Virginia Super Lawyers magazine for more than a decade, including 2022. He is listed in Martindale-Hubble’s Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers with an AV rating. Mr. Galumbeck has been a contributor and lecturer for continuing legal education courses for lawyers in Charlottesville, Roanoke, Richmond, Abingdon and Williamsburg in the fields of Criminal Defense (emphasis on Driving While Intoxicated), Family Law and Small Law Firm Practice. Since 2017, Mr. Galumbeck has been a regular presenter on numerous subjects at the Annual Southwest Virginia, September CLE’s. He has been involved in a number of high profile criminal cases in Southwest Virginia. He, also, has a large number of published and unpublished opinions from the Virginia Supreme Court and the Virginia Court of Appeals. He is a fellow of the American College of Trial lawyers. In 2012, Mr. Galumbeck was recognized by Virginia Lawyers’ Weekly as a Virginia Leader in the law. In 2022, Mr. Galumbeck was inducted into the Virginia Lawyers Hall of Fame. He has now been practicing law in Tazewell and Southwest Virginia for 46 years. He has been named as one of Virginia’s Top 100 Criminal Law Attorneys by America’s Top 100 (a non-paid award). He, also, has a large number of published and unpublished opinions from the Virginia appellate courts, including the following: Covenant Coal, Corp v. U.M.W.A., 244 Va. 417 (1994) [Business Law, failure to preserve objections], Dotson v. Dotson, 24 Va. App. 40 (1997)[Spousal Support], Hoebelheinrich v. Hoebelheinrich, 43 Va. App. 543 (2004) [Divorce, business valuation], Hess v. Commonwealth, 17 Va. App. 738 (1994) [Criminal, probation violation reversed], Dotson v. Commonwealth, 2000 Va. App. Lexis 493 (2000) [Criminal – felony child abuse reversed], Cantrell v. Commonwealth, 65 Va. App. 53 (2015) [Criminal, search and seizure, reversed in favor of accused], Commonwealth v. Keen, 2015 Va. App. Lexis 69 (2015)[Criminal, upholding speedy trial violation], Hicks v. Commonwealth, 2017 Va. App. Lexis 221 (2017) [Application of Melendez-Diaz to Person who received and opened blood vials], Lambert v. Commonwealth, 298 Va.510 (2020) [Accepting medical treatment may mean self administered