H. Joel Weintraub
Joel Weintraub has been practicing law for more than fifty years. He was born in Brooklyn, got his B.A.and J.D. degrees at the University of Virginia, and was admitted to the Virginia State Bar in 1973 — followed by the U.S. District Court the same year, the U.S. Tax Court in 1974, the U.S. Court of Claims in 1975 and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1978. He has also served as a Commissioner in Chancery for the Norfolk Circuit Court since 1999. He is a member of the Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association.
His legal practice involves civil litigation between individuals and corporations, corporate disputes, personal injury, business law, will and trust contests, shareholder rights, and estate administration.
Although a lawyer is referred to as “attorney and counselor at law,” Joel considers the second part of that phrase as a very significant part of his practice. Law, and in particular, litigation, can be a very stressful thing for the client, and Joel believes that it is essential that the client be educated and made as comfortable as possible with the process.
When not practicing law, Joel is a tournament duplicate bridge player, a classically trained pianist, and avid reader. His favorite place in Hampton Roads is where he lives: Ghent Square in Norfolk near the Fred Heutte Center. When asked what he would have liked to do if he had not become a lawyer, he replied, “I regret, very much, that I didn’t get the vacancy created by the retirement of Johnny Carson.”
Asked what he considers an important characteristic of the lawyers at the Decker Law Firm, he says,” everyone here is someone that a client could feel comfortable with having a drink at a bar. We’re not all ‘stiff’.”
“The phrase is ‘attorney and counselor at law’ and I think that second part, being a counselor-at-law, is very important. Law can be a very stressful thing especially for the client to whom everything is very, very strange.”
He is a classically trained pianist, and took lessons for years under Carol Noona, Music Director at St. Gregory Church. His favorite place in Hampton Roads is a specific one: the square near the Fred Heutte Center, where Westover crosses Botetourt Gardens. Ask what he would have done instead of law and you get the best line at this firm: “I regret, very much, that I didn’t get the vacancy created by Johnny Carson.”
Ask what he is proudest of here and the answer turns serious in a way that is worth quoting in full: “Everyone here is someone that a client could feel comfortable with having a drink at a bar. We’re not all ‘stiff’.”
JOEL’S HIGHLIGHTS
Civil litigation, contested estates and shareholder disputes. Joel has practiced since 1973 and served as a Commissioner in Chancery for the Norfolk Circuit Court.
AREAS OF PRACTICE
- Personal Injury
- Wills and Estate
- Real Estate
- Litigation
BAR ADMISSIONS
- Commonwealth of Virginia, 1973
- U.S. District Court, Eastern Virginia, 1973
- U.S. Tax Court, 1974
- U.S. Court of Claims, 1975
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, 1978
EDUCATION
- The University of Virginia – B.A., 1968
- The University of Virginia – J.D., 1973
PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS
- Norfolk Bar Association
- Portsmouth Bar Association
- Virginia State Bar
- Commissioner in Chancery, Norfolk Circuit Court
IF YOU NEED HELP, TALK TO JOEL TODAY
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