Norfolk-based lawyer, others take leadership roles in statewide voluntary bar organization

The Virginia Bar Association installed W. Ryan Snow as its 2024 president Jan. 20 during its Annual Meeting in Williamsburg. Snow chairs the business disputes, construction law and government contracting practice groups at Crenshaw, Ware & Martin, P.L.C., in Norfolk.

He is the VBA’s 136th president. Snow succeeds Benjamin D. Leigh, a principal with Troxell Leigh P.C. who focuses his law practice on real estate matters. Leigh, who is based in Leesburg, now serves the VBA as immediate past president. The VBA is the largest statewide voluntary organization of lawyers and judges in Virginia.

In front of a stage of all past VBA presidents in attendance, Leigh administered the oath of office to Snow.

“I’m a big believer in one overarching feature of this organization: Whatever your practice, whatever your age, whatever your role in the legal system, the VBA will bring out the absolute best in you," Snow told members and guests upon becoming president.

“We’re doing what we’ve always done,” he continued, “bringing out the best in our members and building the next generation of leaders.”

Other 2024 officers

In addition to Snow and Leigh, two other members begin one-year terms as VBA officers. Elected to leadership roles were:

• Kimberlee H. Ramsey, president of FloranceGordonBrown, P.C., in Richmond as president-elect.
• Lonnie D. “Chip” Nunley III, a partner with Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP in Richmond as chair of the Board of Governors.

These officers and the leaders of the Young Lawyers Division, or YLD, make up the voting members of the VBA Executive Committee. The YLD is a group of about 700 attorney members ages 40 or younger or otherwise new to legal practice. The YLD members elected a new chair for a one-year term. She is:

• Ann Petros, vice president of regulatory affairs at America’s Credit Unions. As chair, she succeeds R. Patrick Bolling, a principal with Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black PLC who is based in Lynchburg.

In addition, the chair-elect of the Young Lawyers Division serves on the board. The YLD elected as chair-elect:

• Alexander Boyd, an associate at Hirschler in Richmond.  

For details about these individuals, officers and new Board of Governors members, please see the 2024 VBA Leadership Slate.
 

New Board of Governors members

VBA members also elected four members to three-year terms on the Board of Governors. The 22-member board, with at-large and regional representatives, manages the business of the association. The newly elected members are:

• Steven P. Gould, serving at-large. He is a shareholder and director at PLDR Law and is based in Danville;
• Daniel L. Gray, representing the Potomac Division. He is a founding partner with Cooper Ginsberg Gray, PLLC, in Fairfax;
• Patice L. Holland, representing the Southwest Division. She is a principal/partner at Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black PLC in Roanoke; and
• Douglas R. Kay, serving at-large. He is a principal in the Tysons Corner office of Offit Kurman, P.C.

The Board of Governors also appointed two new representatives to advise it on law school and legislative matters. Starting a one-year term that can be extended for up to three years are:

• Katherine Mims Crocker as law school representative. She is an associate professor of law at William & Mary Law School; and
• Mark J. Peake as legislative representative. He has represented Virginians in the state Senate since 2017 and practices law with Caskie & Frost in Lynchburg.