Garth represents local and regional businesses and focuses on a wide range of commercial transactions and litigation with an emphasis on guiding developers and contractors through complex real estate and financial matters as well as managing construction law contracts and business tort litigation in Virginia state and federal courts. Garth is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors. Other areas of expertise include structuring mergers and acquisitions, commercial lease drafting and negotiations, and counseling business clients through employment, corporate, and partnership disputes. Garth has served as lead counsel in several complex construction and commercial cases throughout the region. His many years in the courtroom seeing how judges and juries interpret contracts gives Garth a unique advantage when negotiating contracts and resolving disputes with typical transactional attorneys.
Prior to joining the firm in 1999, Garth was both an associate and partner at Hazel and Thomas PC specializing in commercial litigation and business counseling.
Additional Areas of Expertise
Complex Commercial Litigation
Business and Employment Law
Construction Disputes and Lease Litigation
Professional Memberships
Virginia State Bar Association
Prince William County Bar Association
District of Columbia Bar Association
Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
Representative Cases
Lead counsel in defense of a regional builder facing a $45 million homeowner fraud and conspiracy claim resulting in a complete defense jury verdict.
Lead counsel in the prosecution of a $10 million roof collapse and architectural design defect case in state court resulting in a significant settlement for the owner.
Defended lead defendant in a complex five-day business tort trial in federal court resulting in a complete defense jury verdict.
Lead counsel for a number of businesses in several multimillion-dollar real estate and asset-based workouts with regional lenders resulting in savings of millions of dollars for firm clients.
Successfully defended a non-profit board of directors in two separate trials from claims that the directors had breached their fiduciary duties.
Lead counsel for a large regional contractor in bond disputes with Virginia over road and bridge projects.
Professional Recognition
Named Lawyer of the Year 2023 by Best Lawyers®, Washington D.C. Metro Region, for Real Estate Litigation
Named to Best Lawyers® Best Lawyers in America, 2016 -2023, Washington D.C. Metro Region, for Commercial Litigation and Real Estate
AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell (highest rating)
Virginia Bar Fifth District Bar Disciplinary Panel – Current Member and Past Chair
Prince William County Bar Association, Former Director
Community Involvement
Greater Manassas Chamber of Commerce, Former member of the Board of Directors
BB&T Bank, Advisory Board Member
Kiwanis Club of Bull Run, Former President
Several years as a baseball and basketball coach for boys and girls in Prince William County
