John E. Lichtenstein

John E. Lichtenstein is a founding member of Lichtenstein Law Group PLC. With close to 40 years of practice, he has tried to verdict and successfully resolved through negotiation hundreds of cases involving severe, life-altering injury and wrongful death. Among Mr. Lichtenstein’s trials and settlements are multiple individual results exceeding one million dollars. He and the firm, along with co-counsel, have sec ured some of the largest jury verdicts and settlements in Virginia. Mr. Lichtenstein’s injury and wrongful death cases involve defectiv e products, medical malpractice, automobile and tractor-trailer crashes, traumatic brain injury, and other settings. Often, his cases concern complex liability and damages issues.

Throughout his career, Mr. Lichtenstein has also tried to verdict and successfully resolved through negotiation cases involving serious criminal allegations in both federal and state courts. Mr. Lichtenstein’s criminal practice ranges from the defense of companies, corporate owners, and executives accused of financial crimes—including fraud, money laundering, and tax offenses—to the defense of medical corporations and physicians accused of health care fraud, the defense of pain medicine physicians and their practices, allegations of violent crime, and many other high-stakes matters.

In addition to his active practice, Mr. Lichtenstein has served his profession extensively. He was honored to be elected President of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (VTLA) (2015–2016), having served for many years on the Association’s Board of Governors and as its past Legislative Chair. He continues to serve on the Association’s Board of Governors. Additionally, Mr. Lichtenstein was privileged to serve on the Board of Governors of the Virginia State Bar Criminal Law Section, and as Chair of the Criminal Law Section in 2007–2008.

Mr. Lichtenstein is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a strictly invitation-only organization of the most respected trial lawyers in the United States and Canada, based on an extensive vetting process and the opinions of judges and fellow trial practitioners. Membership is limited to no more than one percent of the lawyers in any individual state. He currently serves on the College’s Virginia State Committee.

Additionally, Mr. Lichtenstein is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, also a strictly invitation-only organization of no more than 500 active trial lawyers from the United States, and 150 trial lawyers from over forty other countries. Selection is the result of a rigorous peer and judicial vetting process, assessing career excellence in trial skills, integrity, and professionalism.

Further, Mr. Lichtenstein is a Fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers. Also an invitation-only organization, membership recognizes exceptional trial skills and ethics in criminal practice, as well as major felony trial experience.

John enjoys an AV rating in the national Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. Mr. Lichtenstein has been recognized by his peers in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2006 for his work in Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs, Criminal Defense: General Practice, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, and Bet-the-Company Litigation. He has received 14 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” awards in the Roanoke region across four practice areas. Mr. Lichtenstein has also been selected to Virginia Super Lawyers every year from 2006 through 2026, including multiple selections to the Top 50 and Top 100 lists of Virginia Super Lawyers.

Mr. Lichtenstein is a Fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation. He has been recognized as a Leader in the Law by Virginia Lawyers Weekly. He is a Master in the Ted Dalton American Inn of Court. Mr. Lichtenstein ha s been featured by Virginia Business Magazine and is listed in its Legal Elite editions. He has been named Best Lawyer by Roanok er Magazine and SWOCO.

A frequent lecturer to professional legal groups, Mr. Lichtenstein has taught continuing legal education seminars concerning many aspects of trial practice in the fields of Personal Injury and Criminal Defense. He is on the Faculty of the Virginia College of Trial Advocacy.

Mr. Lichtenstein is a 1983 graduate of the University of Virginia where he was Chair of the Honor Committee and a member of the Raven Society. He graduated from the University of Virginia Law School in 1986.

Mr. Lichtenstein is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (Member, Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference), the United States District Courts for the Western and Eastern Districts of Virginia, and all trial courts of Virginia. He has also been admitted pro hac vice for individual cases in trial courts outside of Virginia.

HONORS

Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers

Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers

Fellow, American Board of Criminal Lawyers

Fellow, Virginia Law Foundation

President, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (2015-2016)

Chair, Criminal Law Section, Virginia State Bar (2007-2008)

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Service on various Boards, non-profit organizations

Past President, Temple Enmanuel, Roanoke, VA

BAR ASSOCIATIONS

Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (VTLA) (President, 2015-2016)

American Association of Justice (AAJ) (Council of Presidents - 2015-2016)

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Roanoke and Richmond Bar Associations

American College of Trial Lawyers; Best Lawyers in America; Virginia Super Lawyers 2006-2011 (Top Fifty Lawyers in Virginia 2009-11); Leaders in the Law - Virginia Lawyers Weekly; Legal Elite - Virginia Business Magazine; Attorney has achieved the highest rating for legal ability in Martindale Hubbell. Lecturer, Catastrophic injury topics including trial practice, product liability, brain injury, medical malpractice, criminal defense trial issues. University of Virginia: Chair, Honor Committee; Raven Society; Omicron Delta Kappa.

(Also at Charlottesville Office)