Skip to Content

Rebecca C. Bowen

Vice President and Partner

A creative and practical attorney — in business and in life

Rebecca Bowen’s legal work is a blend of business and family matters – and sometimes, both at once, particularly in issues of succession and estate planning. She helps clients proactively address their legal needs — before a client’s legal needs address them.

Responsive, efficient, and compassionate in her approach, Rebecca is trusted by individuals and families to create estate plans that address uncomfortable but real questions around one’s wishes in the event of death or disability. For business owners, Rebecca is there for clients in all stages of a company’s lifecycle, helping entrepreneurs and licensed professionals form their entities, transact business, and, years later, create a proper succession plan to successfully exit. She also represents individuals, banks, and trust companies on various estate and trust administration matters.

At ThompsonMcMullan, “we have a long-standing reputation in the legal community for providing creative, practical and efficient solutions to difficult problems,” she says. “As a team, we provide guidance and prefer not to ‘over-lawyer’ a situation, we perform our work clearly, and we remain accessible to our clients.”

Originally from Northern Virginia, Rebecca has made Richmond home with her husband, two young children, and adopted dogs. When not in the office (or chasing after her kids), and if there’s time left over in a day, you’ll find her on a yoga mat.

Representative Experience

  • Preparing estate planning documents (wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance medical directives)
  • Representing closely held companies in business formation, sales, mergers and acquisitions, and succession planning
  • Representing fiduciaries and beneficiaries in the administration of estates and trusts
  • Assisting with lifetime and charitable gifting planning, business succession planning for closely held businesses, and probate avoidance planning
  • Counseling clients on wealth transfer planning and preservation, including more complex situations involving life insurance trusts, retirement assets, and family limited liability companies

Recognition

  • Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite,” Business Law category (2014-2019, 2021-2023); Young Lawyer (Under 40) category (2013); Taxes/Estates/Trusts category (2020)
  • Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the fields of Corporate Law (2021-2024), Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law, Trusts and Estates (2024)
  • Selected to the Super Lawyers Virginia List, Estate Planning and Probate category (2018-2023); “Rising Stars” Virginia List, Estate and Probate category (2013-2015)

Education

  • University of Richmond, School of Law, J.D., 2005
    • Member and Articles Editor of the University of Richmond Law Review
  • University of Virginia, B.A., English and American Government, 2001

Affiliations

  • Virginia State Bar
  • Virginia Bar Association
  • Richmond Bar Association
    • Executive Committee, Business Law Section (2019-2024)
    • Finance Committee (2022-2024)
  • Trust Administrators Council of Richmond, Member
  • Richmond Estate Planning Council
  • Previous Adjunct Professor in Estate and Gift Taxation, Master of Accountancy Program at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business
  • Former Board Member, Richmond Animal League
CONNECT

Find Your Attorney

Meet our people. And receive individual attention with the backing of a powerhouse legal team.

Learn More
COMMENTARY

Insights From Us

We share what we see. Learn about relevant local, national, and global legal issues from our team.

Learn More