Your bet is his business

WHAT DREW YOU TO YOUR AREA OF LEGAL PRACTICE?
I am not sure I was drawn to a particular area of the law. I am more drawn to helping businesses. In law school, my goal was to take classes that I found interesting while ensuring that my knowledge base was strong enough to pass the bar — which Richmond excelled at.

Regarding gaming law — which is a primary aspect of my practice — I think the knowledge base for that, and enjoyment, came from working in the attorney general’s office. One of my clients was the Virginia Racing Commission, which, at the time, was part of bringing in historical horse racing machines into the commonwealth. I got to learn about the various aspects of gaming and the law surrounding it. Flash forward, I’ve been able to continue representing businesses in the gaming industry and assisting them with legal needs.

HOW DO YOU GIVE BACK TO THE LEGAL COMMUNITY?
I try to be as open as possible with students or young lawyers I meet. If they ever want to grab a coffee, I want to help steer them in the best direction possible for their goals. In practice, I try to be as active as possible with the Richmond Bar Association. I am currently the chairman of the judiciary committee, so I get to meet a lot of people I otherwise wouldn’t.

HOW DID LAW SCHOOL SHAPE YOUR APPROACH TO PRACTICING LAW?
Law school fostered a learning style that is foundational to the practice of law. I was forced to be deliberate in my approach to the material and my time, but also flexible enough to think on my feet, particularly with professors who cold-call. Ultimately though, it was learning how to manage a heavy workload while maintaining time to participate in extracurricular activities and my personal life that shaped how I practice law.

HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN WORK-LIFE BALANCE?
Early in my career, while I had this vision of making sure I had this “balance,” I also recognized that in order to be the best, you have to put in the work. You certainly have to take care of yourself and take time off, but you also want to learn. Each person is different, of course, and there is a place for everyone in the legal profession — but for me, the first few years of private practice were about learning as much as I could.