RICHMOND, VA – Williams Mullen announces the addition of 15 attorneys to four Virginia offices. Shane L. Smith and Jeremy N. Snyder have joined the firm's Norfolk office. Lauren A. Dickey, Jenny L. Hobgood, Thomas B. Hodges, Derek W. H. Kung, Lee G. Lester, Brendan D. O'Toole, R. Robert Rivers-Benaicha, Lauren Wheeling and J. Nelson Wilkinson have joined the firm's Richmond office. Gregory D. Fleming, R. Justin Fulton, Mark C. Hardman and Erika Walker-Cash have joined the firm's Virginia Beach office.

Lauren A. Dickey
Lauren Dickey is an associate in the firm's Real Estate Section, where her practice focuses on general real estate matters, including the acquisition, sale, leasing and financing of real property. She received her bachelor of science degree in commerce, with distinction, from the University of Virginia and her juris doctor degree from the University of Richmond School of Law, graduating summa cum laude

Gregory D. Fleming
Greg Fleming is an associate in the firm’s Financial Services Section, where he concentrates his practice on commercial law, secured finance, real estate, banking and bankruptcy. Mr. Fleming represents banks in all types of commercial loan transactions, including commercial real estate and asset-based lending. Prior to joining the firm, he served as assistant vice president and associate attorney for BB&T and as a consultant attorney for Freddie Mac. He received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Virginia and a juris doctor degree from the George Mason University School of Law.

R. Justin Fulton*
Justin Fulton is an associate in the firm's Business and Corporate Finance Securities sections. His practice focuses on general business law matters. including mergers and acquisitions, and other corporate and securities transactions. Prior to joining Williams Mullen, Mr. Fulton was a financial planning consultant with Fidelity Investments. Justin is also a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. He received his bachelor of science degree from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia and received his juris doctor degree, cum laude, from the University of Richmond School of Law.

Mark C. Hardman
Mark Hardman is an associate in the firm's Financial Services and Real Estate sections. His practice focuses on financial services matters, including real estate and transactional lending. Mr. Hardman graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, receiving his bachelor of science degree, cum laude, in finance.  He received his juris doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Jenny L. Hobgood
Jenny Hobgood is an associate in the firm's Business Section, where her practice focuses on general business and corporate matters. Ms. Hobgood earned both a bachelor of science in business administration degree, magna cum laude, and a bachelor of arts degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Richmond. She received a juris doctor degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Richmond School of Law.

Thomas B. Hodges, Jr.
Tom Hodges is an associate in the firm's Environmental and Energy sections, where his practice involves compliance/regulatory counseling, enforcement, permitting, due diligence, litigation and transactional matters. Prior to joining Williams Mullen, Mr. Hodges was an environmental consultant with Earth Tech, Inc., specializing in environmental site assessments and remediation projects. Mr. Hodges received his bachelor of arts degree in environmental science from the University of Virginia and his juris doctor degree from the Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law.

Derek W.H. Kung
Derek Kung is an associate in the firm's Health Care Section. His practice focuses on assisting health care providers with general health care and corporate matters. Mr. Kung received his bachelor of arts degree from Georgetown University and his juris doctor degree from Emory University School of Law.

Lee G. Lester
Lee Lester is an associate in the firm's Corporate Finance and Securities Section.  His practice focuses on securities and general corporate law. Mr. Lester received his bachelor of science degree with special attainments in commerce, cum laude, from Washington and Lee University and his juris doctor degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Richmond School of Law.

Brendan D. O'Toole
Brendan O'Toole is an associate in the firm's Litigation Section, where he focuses his practice on general litigation matters. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. O'Toole served as a law clerk to the Hon. Dennis W. Dohnal of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and as a judicial clerk to the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit of Virginia. Mr. O'Toole received a bachelor of arts degree from Wake Forest University, with honors, and a juris doctor degree from the University of Richmond School of Law.

R. Robert Rivers-Benaicha
Rob Rivers-Benaicha is an associate in the firm's Financial Services and Real Estate sections.  He represents lenders and borrowers in all aspects of commercial real estate financing and asset-based lending, from loan originations to dealing with troubled credits in workout, foreclosure and bankruptcy situations. Mr. Rivers-Benaicha received his atrium baccalaureatus in economics from Hamilton College and his juris doctor degree from Washington and Lee University School of Law.

Shane L. Smith
Shane Smith is an associate in the firm's Litigation Section, focusing his practice on commercial litigation. Prior to joining Williams Mullen, Mr. Smith completed a judicial clerkship with the Honorable D. Arthur Kelsey, Judge of the Court of Appeals of Virginia and held several positions with San Antonio, Texas-based Valero Energy Corporation and its acquired companies. Mr. Smith holds a bachelor of business administration degree in marketing, magna cum laude, from West Texas A&M University, and a juris doctor degree from William and Mary School of Law.

Jeremy N. Snyder
Jeremy Snyder is an associate in the firm's Litigation Section, where his practice focuses on general litigation matters. Mr. Snyder received a bachelor of arts degree in political science, summa cum laude, from Lee University and received a juris doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Erika Walker-Cash
Erika Walker-Cash is an associate in the firm's Litigation Section, where her practice focuses on general commercial and business litigation matters. Prior to joining Williams Mullen, Ms. Walker-Cash was a licensed clinical social worker for a private adoption agency. She received her bachelor of arts degree, cum laude, in psychology from Spelman College and her masters degree in social work, magna cum laude, from Clark Atlanta University. She received her juris doctor degree from Washington and Lee School of Law.

Lauren M. Wheeling
Lauren Wheeling is an associate in the firm’s Litigation Section, where she focuses her practice on general commercial litigation matters. Ms. Wheeling received her bachelor of arts degree from the University of Virginia and her juris doctor degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Richmond School of Law.

J. Nelson Wilkinson
Nelson Wilkinson is an associate in the firm's Labor and Employment Section, focusing his practice on claims arising under the National Labor Relations Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Mr. Wilkinson received his bachelor of arts degree from Trinity College. He received his juris doctor degree, magna cum laude, from George Mason University School of Law.

*Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.

Williams Mullen provides comprehensive legal services to regional, national and international clients. With 325 attorneys and offices throughout North Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and London, we deliver innovative solutions to support our clients' diverse business activities. Close working relationships with clients have been the foundation of Williams Mullen's progressive approach to law practice since the firm was founded nearly a century ago.


For more information, please contact:

Charleen P. McManus
Two James Center
1021 East Cary Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: (804) 783-6521
Fax: (804) 783-6507
cmcmanus@williamsmullen.com