Biography
Sally is the consummate trial attorney. Whether she is working to resolve shareholder disputes or litigating everything from breach of contract claims to complex construction cases, this much is clear: she regularly and willingly goes to trial in zealous defense of her clients.
Well before those cases see the courtroom, though, Sally takes a collaborative approach to resolving the client's litigation demands, assembling a team of legal professionals to find the most efficient and effective path forward. She is well versed in federal, state and multi‐ jurisdictional disputes and counts public and private entities among her clients.
Sally, who leads the firm's Litigation Practice Group, focuses on trials, appeals, and arbitration, and has served as a court‐appointed arbitrator in federal securities cases. Her commercial litigation experience includes construction disputes, business controversies, and securities claims. She also handles the funding and formation of start‐up companies and litigates minority shareholder disputes, bankruptcy non‐dischargeability matters, contract claims, antitrust claims, partnership issues, trade secret matters, land use and condemnation matters, employment and compensation disputes, as well as numerous cases involving fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and other business tort allegations.
Sally also has represented local governments and is general counsel to a regional utility handling its litigation as well as contracts, construction and land use issues, and regulatory compliance and bonds issues. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and hiking.
Professional Associations
- Fairfax Bar Association
- Virginia Bar Association, Construction Law & Public Contracts Section
- Virginia Bar Association, Litigation Section
- National Association of Clean Water Agencies
Honors And Awards
- AV Preeminent® Peer Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™
- 2024-2025, The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Construction
- 2023, Arlington magazine’s Top Attorneys — Construction
- 2021, Arlington magazine's Top Attorneys -- Appellate Law
- 2008-2016, 2020, 2023, Virginia Business magazine’s “Legal Elite” – Construction
- 2006 and 2007, Virginia Business magazine’s “Legal Elite” – Alternative Dispute Resolution
Pro-Bono Activities
- Fairfax Symphony Orchestra Foundation, Secretary, 2013 to 2022
- Fairfax Symphony Orchestra Foundation, Board Member, 2004 to 2022
- Member – Board of Directors, Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, 1995 to 2002
- President, Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, 1998 to 2000
- Vice President, Nominating and Board Development in Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, 2000 to 2002
- Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce
- Leadership Fairfax, Graduate, 1993
- Leadership Fairfax, Alumni Association, 1993 to Present
- Leadership Fairfax, Board Member, 1995 to 1996
- Project Update, Board Member, 1994 to 1996
Practice Areas
- Civil Litigation
- Business and Commercial Litigation
- Arbitration, Trials & Appeals
- Local Government Law
- Construction Litigation
- Government Contracts
Education
- George Washington University National Law Center, Washington, District of Columbia
- J.D. - 1982
- Honors: Winner, Van Vleck Moot Court Competition, 1981
- Honors: National Moot Court Team
- Anderson University
- B.A. - 1979
- Honors: cum laude
Bar Admissions
- Virginia
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court Western District of Virginia
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. Court of Appeals Fourth Circuit