As a new attorney, Les Brock made the conscious decision to work for a defense firm.
That decision would shape the rest of his career, just not in the way he thought it would.
There is a general opinion in society that there is too much litigation, particularly tort litigation, and Les bought into that. He thought that by working for a defense firm, he was taking the high road and could help defeat frivolous claims. And corporations get sued a lot, so working at a defense firm would provide him with the opportunity to gain extensive trial experience early in his career.
This last part proved true — even as a young lawyer, Les was defending multinational insurers and corporate clients in front of juries in state and federal courts across Virginia. However, after defending large corporations for several years, Les came to the realization that the problem is not too much tort litigation, the problem is that there are too many torts being committed.
There are a lot of honest, well-meaning companies. There are also a lot dishonest companies and companies that view harming people or damaging other businesses as simply a cost of doing business. “When you represent large corporations, particularly insurance companies, they expect you to handle every case — both good and bad. But I grew tired of representing faceless corporations whose only concern was saving money, even when they were at fault,” he says.
After more than a decade and a breadth of trial experience, Les had a desire to start his own firm. Les decided to turn his law practice to helping members of his community — both individuals and businesses — that have been injured or taken advantage of by others. Les now focuses his career on holding people and businesses accountable in personal injury, tort litigation, and commercial disputes. “Having a community-based practice is very important to me,” he says. “I really enjoy helping the people and businesses in my community faced with significant legal challenges.”
Les received his undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Georgia and his law degree from Washington and Lee University School of Law. After graduating from law school, Les served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable A. Christian Compton, Senior Justice on the Supreme Court of Virginia.
University of Georgia, A.B., cum laude, 2000
- Phi Kappa Phi
- Presidential Scholar
Washington & Lee University School of Law, J.D., 2004
- Environmental Law Digest
Legal Elite – 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020
Super Lawyers – 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Virginia State Bar
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
Virginia State Bar
- Circuit Co-Representative – 14th Circuit, 2011-2015
- Construction Law & Public Contracts Section
- Young Lawyers Conference
- Chair, Committee on Admission and Orientation, 2011-2012
- Sponsors Coordinator & Ad Hoc Admissions, 2010-2011
Richmond Bar Association
- Executive Committee Member, Young Lawyers Section, 2011-2015
- Co-Chair, Social Committee, Young Lawyers Section, 2011-2015
VADA, 2006-2019
- Board of Directors, 2011-2014
DRI, 2006-2019
- Products Liability Committee
- Construction Law Committee
Gauthreaux v. U.S., 694 F.Supp.2d 460 (E.D. Va. 2009)
Supchak v. Fuller Const. Corp., et al, 86 Va. Cir. 517 (Chesapeake 2013)
Maggard v. Essar Global Ltd., et al, 2015 WL 1498965 (W.D. Va. 2015)
Maggard v. Essar Global Ltd., et al, 2015 WL 1780838 (W.D. Va. 2015)
Allstate Ins. Co., a/s/o Hillel at Virginia Tech, Inc. v. Structures Design/Build, LLC, 2016 WL 1071040 (W.D. Va. 2016)
Hensel Phelps Const. Co. v. Thompson Masonry Contractor, Inc., et al, 791 S.E.2d 734 (Va. S. Ct. 2016)
$900,000 verdict in a case involving a rear-end accident causing cervical disc herniation.
$400,000 settlement in a claim by a painting subcontractor for non-payment and breach of contract.
$150,000 settlement in a case involving a rear-end accident causing a hand injury.
$175,000 settlement in a case involving a drunk driver who ran a red light.
$350,000 settlement in a case involving a trucking accident.
$450,000 settlement in a claim by a hvac contractor for non-payment and breach of contract.
$300,000 settlement in a case involving a slip-and-fall inside a store.
$75,000 settlement in a case involving street racing that resulted in a collision.
$150,000 settlement in a claim by a snow removal subcontractor for non-payment and breach of contract.
$100,000 settlement in a case involving a pedestrian struck while crossing the street.
Trial win in multiple lawsuits brought on behalf of children injured in a bus accident.
Trial win in a lawsuit against an apartment complex for injuries sustained as a result of a dangerous condition on the premises.
Trial win in a lawsuit for personal injuries sustained in an auto accident.
Trial win in a lawsuit against an amusement park for injuries sustained on a roller coaster.
Trial win in a lawsuit against a grocery store for injuries sustained in a slip-and-fall accident.
Trial win in a lawsuit against an apartment building owner and property manager in a premises liability action involving a slip-and-fall accident.
Trial win in a lawsuit against a car dealership for false advertising.
Arbitration win in an action against a construction contractor for breach of contract in a design-build project.
Trial win in a lawsuit against a general contractor for breach of contract and unjust enrichment.
The cases referenced above do not represent the lawyer’s entire record. Each case must be evaluated on its own facts. The outcome of a particular case cannot be based on past results.
