Derek is the newest member of our litigation department, working on a variety of cases including civil, business, and insurance issues.  Derek joins the firm following his recent retirement as a Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel.  Derek began his Marine Corps career in 1994 after completing the NROTC program at the University of Rochester.  Derek spent his early years in the Marine Corps as an artillery officer and working with Marine Corps Security Forces.  In 1998, Derek was selected by the Marine Corps to attend William and Mary Law School in order to become a Marine lawyer.  Following his graduation in 2001, Derek served as a Marine lawyer for 13 years.  Derek spent the majority of his time working in the area of criminal law, including trial work, teaching trial advocacy, and strategic policy work.  Derek also served in Afghanistan working with operational law and detention operations.

Derek is moving to the Harrisonburg area with his wife Trish and their two daughters, Lauren and Colleen.

Education:

  • BA, Political Science, (1994) University of Rochester (Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude)
  • JD (2001) William and Mary, (Order of Coif, Law Review, Moot Court)
  • LL.M (2009) The Army JAG School (one of 4 honor graduates)

Admissions:

  • Virginia

Areas of Practice:

  • Civil and Commercial Litigation
  • Insurance Defense and Policy Coverage
  • Trial and Appellate Practice
  • Business Litigation

Memberships & Awards:

  • Member, Virginia State Bar
  • ABA 2004 Younger Federal Lawyer Award for criminal defense work

Books, Publications, and Articles:

  • Prosecuting an HIV-Related Crime in a Military Court-Martial: A Primer, ARMY LAW., Sep.2009 at 29
  • Searching for Reasonableness—The Supreme Court Revisits the Fourth Amendment, ARMY LAW., Feb.2010 at 4
  • Judge Advocates Struggle with Aggravation, ARMY LAW., Mar. 2010 at 5

Representative Experience:

  • Three and one half years of misdemeanor and felony criminal courtroom experience as a Marine judge advocate, both as a prosecutor and defense attorney.
  • Three years teaching criminal law and trial advocacy at the Army JAG School in Charlottesville, VA.  Focus areas were Fourth Amendment, digital/cyber issues in evidence, the law and advocacy of sentencing cases in military courts-martial, motion practice, trial advocacy, and sexual assault.
  • Last two years working at the Pentagon for Headquarters Marine Corps as the Head of the Military Justice Branch.  Derek focused on criminal law policy issues, including working with Congress on legislation and drafting testimony for senior Marine Corps leaders.