Virginia Business, December 2004

Virginia Business - December 2004

COVER STORY
The 2004 Legal Elite

Introduction
Mediation and arbitration seen as viable alternatives to civil trials

Profiles
A close look at representatives from 12 legal specialties

Business Law
Civil Litigation
Criminal Law
Environmental / Land Use
Family / Domestic Relations
Intellectual Property

Labor / Employment
Legal Services / Public Services
Legislative / Regulatory
Real Estate / Contruction
Taxes / Estates / Trusts
Young Lawyers

REGIONAL REPORT
Stuck in first
Will growth destroy Charkottesville area's top-ranked quality of life?


COMMERCIAL INSURANCE
Virginia joins probe of insurance practices
State's disclosure law is the basis for the State Corporation Commission's investigation.

Hilb, Rogal & Hobbs builds its brand in an industry that's under fire
HRH wants to be the insurance broker of choice to "underserved" small and midsize corporations

Publisher's Roundup
Executives in the commercial insurance market comment on what they foresee for the industry in 2005.

DEPARTMENTS
Editor's Corner
- Events reshape assignments

Virginia Ideas
- Facts, not hype, should prevail in wake of insurance investigation

Around the Old Dominion
- Wachovia settles SEC lawsuit by agreeing to pay fine
- Off to the races
- Giving globally
- Tobacco buyout lets farmers shift to other crops
- Passing the tax test
- Virginia Stat

Technology in Virginia
- Northern Virginia firm aids companies looking for government contracts
- Growing microbes in western Virginia

Commercial Real Estate Quarterly
- Market Leader Profile
- Major Transactions from Around the State
- Market Overview
- The Art of the Deal
- Trends
- Outlook

For the Record
Mergers & acqusitions Cutbacks, closings Stocks, financing
Deals Products, services Legal, regulatory
New plants Divestitures Noteworthy
People Expansions  
Contracts Real estate