Peter S. Askin

An attorney with local roots and a litigation practice bolstered by trial and appellate experience

A Richmond native, Peter Askin knows the city by heart, and its diverse array of courts by hand. Having previously served as a law clerk for various judges, Peter has profound civil litigation insight to better represent clients in all forums – state and federal, trial and appellate.

As an appellate litigator, Peter has successfully prosecuted and resisted appeals at both the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court of Virginia. His prior clerkship with Chief Justice S. Bernard Goodwyn leaves him uniquely prepared to navigate the procedural and doctrinal complexities of civil appeals. “Appellate judges want lawyers to give them more than just a good argument. They expect a comprehensive analysis of the law to support an opinion. To get results, an appellate attorney must do both.”

In addition to drafting briefs and providing oral argument for appeals, Peter has also served as first and second chair trial counsel in Virginia state and federal court. His federal clerkship at the trial level in the Eastern District of Virginia for the Honorable Elizabeth W. Hanes taught him both the legal and pragmatic side of litigation. “The vast majority of civil lawsuits don’t end with a trial – they end with settlement. Achieving procedural victories, or leveraging the business or political forces at play, are what help litigants dictate the terms of that settlement.”

With both appellate and trial experience, Peter also serves as embedded appellate counsel for trial attorneys, assisting them in preserving objections and setting the stage to protect, or reverse, a jury verdict.

While Peter’s practice includes government, business, estates and trusts, and personal injury litigation, he also dedicates his time to serving Spanish-speaking clients. Peter became professionally proficient in the language after spending a year in Argentina working for a real estate company. His ability to understand emails, texts, or witnesses in Spanish means he can serve certain clients without the cost or inconvenience of translation services.

Peter is also an avid music fan, trained saxophonist, and outdoor enthusiast, having learned to backpack and white-water kayak on the James River here in Richmond. He is also a proud alumnus of Davidson College, where “the greatest basketball player who’s ever lived or who will ever live,” Stephen Curry, also attended.