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.
Practices
Civil Litigation
- Commercial, Contract, and Corporate Governance Disputes
- Federal Courts and Local Counsel Practice
- Government, Public Official, and Municipal Liability Defense
- Real Estate and Land Use Disputes
- State and Federal Appellate Practice
Professional Licensure, Administrative, and Regulatory Disputes
Representative Experience
APPELLATE EXPERIENCE
- Provided appellate briefs and oral argument in state and federal courts of appeal on behalf of individuals, businesses, and government entities. See, e.g., Burgess v. SYP Hospitality, No. 0877-23-2 (Ct. App. Va. 2024).
- Petition for appeal granted by Supreme Court of Virginia. See Windset v. Debosky, et al., No. 1216-22-4 (Sup. Ct. Va. Mar. 5, 2024).
- Served as embedded appellate counsel for a five-day jury trial in Virginia Circuit Court.
TRIAL EXPERIENCE
- Orally presented witness testimony, motion to strike, and closing argument as second-chair counsel in two-day bench trial.
- Obtained arbitration award for $500,000 in attorney’s fees in co-counsel dispute.
- Motions to Dismiss granted in federal court on behalf of public servants and government entities. See, e.g., Ass’n of Am. R.R. v. Hudson, et al., 2024 WL 1626105, No. 1:23-cv-815 (E.D. Va. 2024) Hatcher v. Hines, 2024 WL 1158365, No. 3:23-cv-325 (E.D. Va. 2024); Stewart v. Nottoway Cnty., 2023 WL 4849936, No. 3:22-cv-635 (E.D. Va. 2023).
- Successfully defended demurrers and pleas in bar on behalf of aggrieved businesses and individual plaintiffs in Virginia state court. See, e.g., JFGF, LLC v. Rob the Builder, Inc., CL23-1826 (Cir Ct. Williamsburg & James City Cnty. 2024); Rucker v. Common House 2 LLC, No. 23-3533 (Cir. Ct. Cty. Richmond 2023).
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE
- Briefed and orally defended defendant lawyer in three-judge panel trial brought by the Virginia State Bar.
- Prosecuted and defended enforcement actions before administrative agencies, including the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority and Virginia Department of Health Professions.
Recognition
- Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© “Ones to Watch” in the field of Commercial Litigation (2024-2025)
- Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite,” Young Lawyer (Under 40) category (2023)
- Virginia Lawyers Weekly Up & Coming Lawyers List (2024)
- Keynote Speaker, The University of Richmond School of Law Pro Bono & Recognition Ceremony (2024)
Education
- Washington & Lee School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 2018
- Runner-Up, Washington & Lee Mock Trial Competition
- Winner, Robert J. Grey, Jr. Negotiation Competition
- Managing Editor, The German Law Journal for comparative, European, and international law
- Davidson College, B.A., Political Science
- Clerk to Hon. Elizabeth W. Hanes, Eastern District of Virginia
- Clerk to Hon. S. Bernard Goodwyn, Supreme Court of Virginia
Admissions
- All Virginia Courts including the Supreme Court of Virginia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia
Affiliations
- Richmond Bar Association
- Virginia Bar Association
- Administrative Law Council (2024-2027)
- Local Government Attorneys of Virginia
- Adjunct Professor, University of Richmond School of Law, Writing for Law Clerks (Spring 2022, 2023, 2024)
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Chapter of Richmond, VA
- 2023 Honoree
- Jazz4Justice
- Firms in Service, firm representative
- Greater Richmond Bar Foundation Lawyerpalooza
- Co-Chair (2023, 2024)
- Virginia Hispanic Foundation
I Got a Court Deficiency Letter for My Appellate Brief. Now What?