What does it take to achieve your business and legal goals? More than the knowledge and skill to make the right decisions, it takes a partner who understands you. A partner with the focus to engineer a creative strategy and solution that takes your business exactly where it needs to be.

At Dunlap, Grubb & Weaver, we focus exclusively on creative strategies for people and the businesses they run. We believe in our clients and their businesses. We provide world-class legal services to the Northern Virginia, Washington D.C. and Maryland markets in the areas of corporate law, litigation, real estate, bankruptcy and intellectual property (patent, trademark and copyright) matters.

Our Firm is conveniently located in downtown Leesburg, Virginia, and we also maintain offices in Washington D.C. to better serve our clients. As skilled Washington DC Business Attorneys, our focus includes:

• Commercial/business litigation
• Antitrust litigation
• Contract litigation
• Shareholder disputes
• Patent, copyright and trademark litigation
• Collections litigation
• Intellectual property prosecution
• Intellectual property litigation
• Intellectual property transactions
• Intellectual property portfolio and monitoring
• Corporate transactions
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Employment law
• Government contracts
• Real estate
• Tax disputes and debt negotiation
• Estate planning
• Insolvency and bankruptcy
• Offshore entities and asset protection

Please note, we do not practice consumer law.

Since its inception, our Firm has steadily grown in size and the number of businesses we service, based upon a client-focused philosophy. This philosophy combines the talent, resources and technology of a large firm with the flexibility, responsiveness and personal attention of a boutique firm. 

Our Firm is comprised of experienced, specialty lawyers who have very focused practice areas. Narrowing the scope of the services we provide enables our attorneys to develop and further their expertise in those fields of law that are uniquely relevant to businesses such as yours.

Most of the partners at Dunlap, Grubb & Weaver are seasoned attorneys who received their training and experience at well-known large firms, representing clients ranging from start-ups to mid-sized businesses, to large, publicly-traded companies. Our Firm was formed in an effort to create a professional, collegial environment where our partners could transfer their commercial, business and intellectual property law practices to a boutique setting to serve the needs of their clients on a more personal level. 

As trusted Washington DC Business Attorneys, we recognize the importance of staying on the forefront of electronic resources and the most innovative technology available to members of our profession. Our ability to adapt in our constantly evolving technological environment have contributed to our continued success. We are modern, aggressive, forward-thinking firm and firmly seated in the 21st century, offering our clients across our region options like Web-based collaboration, remote office meetings with our attorneys, video and teleconference meetings.

Our Firm was founded by Tom Dunlap and Dan Grubb, both U.S. Army Cavalry officers who had worked together as partners at a small commercial litigation firm in Virginia. Law is a second career for both Tom and Dan. Mr. Dunlap worked on Wall Street in institutional custodies for a number of companies including PaineWebber and Bank of New York. Dan Grubb, with a master’s degree in journalism, was the newsroom manager and television anchor for the ABC news network in Anchorage, Alaska, for more than 10 years.

Jeffrey Weaver, a law school classmate of both Mr. Dunlap and Mr. Grubb, was invited to join the Firm in 2004, bringing his MBA and years of corporate law experience from the 100-plus attorney firm he left behind. Mr. Weaver brought with him the business and legal skills to enable the Dunlap, Grubb & Weaver, PLLC to provide legal support in complex and high-dollar-value corporate, securities and real estate transactions.

Our corporate and transactional practice has since flourished, and our Firm has continued to add a tremendous amount of legal talent to its ranks, such as experienced intellectual property litigators Lee Berlik, Mike Whitticar and David Ludwig.

DGW's attorneys have years of experience at lobbying firms and large law firms such as Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo, Hunton & Williams, Troutman Sanders, and Hill Ward & Henderson. Our attorneys made the deliberate choice to leave these “mega-firms” to focus on and enhance our specialty boutique practice, where we have an increased ability to serve each client on a personal basis while providing legal services of the highest caliber.

Today, with multiple offices and a number of affiliated attorneys and clients around the world, Dunlap, Grubb & Weaver, PLLC maintains an aggressive, strong and focused team of more than 20 intellectual property and business lawyers who are available to meet the wide range of our clients’ needs, on their schedules.

Our diverse knowledge base and practice experience allow us to serve the changing goals of our clients. We speak Spanish and French and offer Mandarin language services. Regardless of your business goals, size or industry, we are an effective partner who speaks your language.

• Won multi-million dollar case against all 12 co-conspirators and co-defendants in intellectual property, trade secrets and commercial litigation matter (Florida Federal Court)
• Won antitrust and copyright infringement matter for national sports league (D.C. Federal Court)
• Successfully defended Bulk Sales Act and other related claims representing national energy company against local energy supplier (Virginia State Court)
• Numerous private equity start-up venture capital campaign private offerings, intellectual property license negotiation and contracts

If you or someone you know in Virginia, Maryland or the District of Columbia needs the assistance of an experienced Washington DC Business Attorney, call Dunlap, Grubb & Weaver, PLLC today at 866-698-5144, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your initial consultation.

Practice Areas and Legal Definitions

Business Contracts:
Business contracts are written agreements spanning a broad range of the business relationships that occur in the life of a typical company.  They can include non-compete agreements, non-piracy agreements, non-disclosure agreements, restrictive covenants, employment agreements, producer agreements, sales representative agreements, consulting agreements, management agreements, franchise agreements, licensing agreements, deferred compensation agreements and independent contractor agreements.

Contracts are the very stuff upon which the marketplace is founded, and they provide the basis for a large share of business litigation.  The remedies for breach of contract include money damages and injunctive relief expressly directing one of the parties to perform a contractual obligation.  This remedy involves a form of injunction called a “specific performance” decree.  The remedy of specific performance is often called an “extraordinary” equitable remedy, in that courts will not grant specific performance except in a sharply limited number of circumstances.  Punitive damages are not an available remedy in a contract lawsuit.

Business Formation:
There really isn’t any need for legal counsel in forming a sole proprietorship, but other forms of business organization are a good deal more complicated and are best accomplished with the assistance of a lawyer.  These include the formation of partnerships, limited liability companies and corporations.

Business and Corporate Services:
Business and corporate services involves advising companies and investors in the purchase, sale and mergers of businesses.  The services provided include forming and funding start-up companies, buying and selling practices, assets, divisions and companies, engaging in private stock offerings and re-sales, structuring venture capital financing, forming off-shore sales and sourcing entities, structuring commercial and partnering transactions and syndicating real property acquisitions.

Business Litigation:
Business litigation is the area of law that provides assistance in the preparation and presentation of a lawsuit or other resort to the courts to determine a legal question or matter in business situations.  Business can be any activity or enterprise entered into for profit, usually a company, a corporation, partnership or any such formal organization.  Business lawyers advise and represent businesses and financial institutions in such areas as business torts, class actions, complex contracts, financial forensics, government investigations, international dispute resolution, professional relations, real estate disputes, securities and antitrust, technology and intellectual property, professional malpractice, shareholder and corporate governance and telecommunications.  Business lawyers place an emphasis on achieving or defending against pre-judgment remedies, including pre-judgment orders for writs of possession, attachments, temporary restraining orders, and injunctions, as well as arbitration or mediation settlements and monetary compensation resulting from lawsuits.  Transactional business lawyers represent clients in matters relating to, but not limited to, organizational, operational and contractual documents for corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies, commercial transactions, mergers, real estate acquisitions, leasing and development and commercial financing.

Intellectual Property:
The term "intellectual property" refers to a "creation of the intellect" that has commercial value, such as copyrighted literary or artistic works, and ideational property, such as patents, appellations of origin, business methods, names, images, and designs used in commerce and in industrial processes.

Securities Litigation:
In the course of financing their expansion, businesses commonly turn to one or more activities involving the sale of securities, ranging from the funding and formation of start-up companies to buying and selling professional practices, assets, divisions and companies, and engaging in private stock offerings and re-sales.  Businesses may also get involved with such things as structuring venture capital financing, forming off-shore sales and sourcing entities, structuring commercial and partnering transactions and syndicating real property acquisitions.

Mergers and Acquisitions:
The phrase "Mergers and Acquisitions" refers to corporate finance strategy and management dealing with the merging and acquiring of different companies as well as other assets.  Usually mergers occur in a friendly setting where executives from the respective companies participate in a due diligence process to ensure a successful combination of all parts.  Corporate mergers are often aimed at reducing market competition.  On other occasions, acquisitions can occur through hostile takeover by a "corporate raider" purchasing the majority of outstanding shares of a company in the open market.  In the United States, business laws vary from state to state whereby some companies have limited protection against hostile takeovers.

Technically, what differentiates a merger from an acquisition is how it is financed.  Simply put, a merger is a combination of two companies into one larger company.  A "merger" or "merger of equals" is often financed by an all-stock deal (a stock swap).  An all-stock deal occurs when all of the owners of stocks of either company get the same amount of stock in the new combined company.  The term "demerger" is sometimes used to indicate the effective opposite of a merger, where one company splits into two, the second often being a separately listed stock company if the parent was a stock company.  An acquisition (a larger company buying out a smaller company) can involve a cash and debt combination, or just cash, or a combination of cash and stock of the purchasing entity, or just stock.  In addition, the acquisition can take the form of a purchase of the stock or other equity interests of the target entity, or the acquisition of all or substantially all of its assets.

Succession Planning:
Succession planning is the process of identifying and grooming suitable replacements, through mentoring and training, for such key company employees as a CEO upon the expiration of his or her term of office.

Franchises and Other Types of Business Marketing:
A great many small businesses in the marketplace today are operated not as purely independent businesses, but as franchises, distributorships, or any of various types of licensing arrangements.  All of these businesses are created through written agreements containing express and implied warranties, and it is not uncommon for issues to arise resulting in litigation.

Government Regulation:
Businesses often find themselves at odds with one governmental agency or another, whether it be the local zoning commission, the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Trade Commission, or any one of several hundred other federal, state and local agencies.  Conflicts with governmental agencies are usually covered under state and federal statutes, and also under state and federal regulations and local ordinances.  As a general rule such conflicts are litigated before administrative tribunals under administrative law.  This usually imposes fewer formal requirements on the parties and produces a quicker result, but sometimes it does so at the expense of someone’s rights.  If you feel that your rights have been violated in an administrative hearing that has gone against you, the judicial system will consider an application for relief, based upon allegations that there was an abuse of discretion in the holding against you.

Breach of Fiduciary Duty:
The formation of a "fiduciary relationship" begins when someone places special confidence and trust in another who has substantially superior knowledge and training, and also relies on that person to act in his or her best interest.  If this trust is knowingly and voluntarily accepted, a “fiduciary” relationship is said to exist.  This places a legal duty on the stronger of the two to act diligently in the best interest of the weaker party and never, under any circumstances to secure any advantage at the weaker party’s expense.  There are a limited number of circumstances in business transactions where a fiduciary relationship comes into play.  Courts tend to rigorously enforce fiduciary duties, and in the event of a willful breach often award punitive damages as well as compensatory damages.  Some common examples of fiduciary relationships are a trustee-beneficiary relationship, a doctor-patient relationship, a lawyer-client relationship and a corporate officer-stockholder relationship.

Licensing and Commercial Contracts:
Business services attorneys counsel clients in a wide range of commercial and intellectual property (IP) transactions.  They provide assistance in structuring, drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial and IP agreements related to the development, acquisition and commercialization of technology, IP, goods or services.  The types of agreements involved in these transactions include:

• Software license, maintenance and support, source code escrow, end user license, patent and other technology license agreements
• Development agreements
• Purchase and supply agreements
• Manufacturing agreements
• Distribution, reseller, value-added reseller (VAR) and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreements
• Referral, marketing agreements
• Employment, consulting, technical services and outsourcing agreements
• Joint venture, strategic partner, technology transfer agreements
• E-commerce and Internet-related agreements (including web-based hosting agreements, application service provider (ASP) agreements, web site development, privacy policies and website terms of use)
• Non-disclosure agreements

Sales Commission Disputes:
In avoiding sales commission litigation there is no substitute for an artfully drafted agreement spelling out precisely how and at what rate sales representatives are to receive commissions.  Common usage and custom are also taken into consideration by courts in determining the issues, even where there is a written agreement.

Trade Secrets:
A trade secret is any information that can be used in the operation of a business or other enterprise and that is sufficiently valuable and secret to afford an actual or potential economic advantage over others.  Trade secret difficulties can be eliminated or, at least, minimized by effective legal language in employment and/or severance agreements, but situations will still arise from time to time where litigation presents the only viable solution.

Litigation and Dispute Resolution:
Commercial disputes often become legal disputes, the resolution of which typically proceeds along an escalating scale of confrontation ranging from informal settlement negotiation to hardball litigation.  An effective business litigation attorney must have complete mastery of this complex and challenging field of law, but more than that, he or she must also have the patience and personal skills to operate on an informal level, and the aggressive forensic ability and tenacity to claim victory in the courtroom.

Alternative Dispute Resolution:
Business disputes can be resolved traditionally, by way of litigation.  This involves the filing of a lawsuit in court that is then answered by the defendant.  Over a period of months and sometimes even years, a lawsuit makes its way through the system, ultimately to be decided by a judge sitting alone, or by a jury, presided over by a judge.  It is an expensive, tedious and time-consuming process.  The modern trend in the economic world is away from the courthouse in favor of one or the other of two less formal, less expensive, faster and more efficient methods of conflict resolution, called "mediation" and "arbitration".

Mediation:
Mediation is one form of Alternative Dispute Resolution that is gaining in popularity in business litigation matters.  In this process the parties jointly select a mediator, usually a lawyer known by both sides to be honest and fair and, more importantly, known to have experience with the type of issues involved in the mediation. Each side submits written factual summaries to the mediator, together with any legal citations that seem appropriate.

There is a meeting, usually at the mediator's office. The mediator meets first with both sides, inquiring whether or not there has been any progress toward settlement, and if so, he or she may invite the parties to use his office to discuss the matter further. If they decide to do that the mediator usually leaves the room for a time, to give both sides a chance to communicate freely. Upon returning, if the parties have not reached any agreement, the mediator will meet with one side separately, commenting on that side's factual summary and legal citations, expressing an opinion as to the probable outcome if the issues are litigated, and finally, making a recommendation with regard to settlement. Then the mediator meets with the other side, separately, and repeats the process. The mediator gives both sides an opportunity to meet with their respective attorneys and discuss the mediator's interpretation of the case and settlement recommendations. Then all come together again and the mediator attempts to urge both sides toward a common ground of settlement approximating the recommendation he or she has made. Frequently, the parties will reach a settlement agreement, either on the terms recommended or upon some other and different terms. The mediator has no authority to impose a settlement, so the parties remain free to resolve their dispute in court.

Arbitration:
Arbitration is a method of Alternative Dispute Resolution. In this process, the parties jointly select a lawyer to act as arbitrator. The idea is to choose someone with an outstanding reputation for personal and professional integrity, with heavy litigation experience involving cases similar to the one in which the parties are currently involved. The parties may select either "binding" or "non-binding" arbitration. Some lawyers discourage their clients from participating in "non-binding" arbitration, seeing futility in the expense and inconvenience of a process that may prove a waste of time. Other attorneys discourage their clients from participating in "binding" arbitration, so that their options are preserved in the event of an unreasonable adverse ruling by the arbitrator.

Arbitration is more like a trial than is Mediation. For one thing, in binding arbitration the arbitrator's decision is virtually the same as a judgment. In both types, however, the arbitrator actually renders a decision, as opposed to simply making a recommendation. Each side submits an arbitration brief, containing a summary of relevant facts, a list of the legal issues thought relevant, and reference to the applicable law.  There is a hearing in the nature of a trial, but much less formal. It is usually held at the arbitrator's office. Sworn testimony may be offered, subject to cross-examination. The attorneys usually join in a stipulation agreeing that certain specified facts are not in dispute.

The rules of evidence are less rigorously applied in arbitration hearings than in trials. Sometimes the arbitrator announces a decision at the end of the hearing, but more often, the case is taken under submission by the arbitrator, the decision being communicated by letter to both sides within a week or two. The arbitration process takes a lot of pressure off the court system, and it has proven itself as an effective alternative method for the resolution of disputes.

Employment Law:
Employment law is a growing and ever-changing body of state and federal statutes, rules, regulations, ordinances, judicial precedents and administrative rulings touching on the legal rights and obligations of employers and employees, and of their respective affiliated organizations. One or another aspect of employment law affects virtually every facet of commercial activity in the modern marketplace.

Software:
Computer software issues are among today’s fastest growing areas of business litigation. This burgeoning commercial field is broad-based, spanning many levels, including software licensing, maintenance and support, source code escrow, as well as end user licensing, patent and other technology license agreements. High-tech business litigation also involves software development agreements, purchase and supply agreements, manufacturing agreements and non-disclosure agreements.

Real Estate Financing and Transactional Services:
Typically, as they expand, growing businesses become more and more involved in real estate transactions, ranging from office space to retail store properties to warehouses and shopping mall syndication.  A qualified business lawyer can provide valuable assistance in traditional real estate purchase, sale and leasing transactions, and in dealing with environmental and various other issues arising out of industrial and agricultural redevelopment projects.

Real Estate Negotiations:
In major financial transactions, especially those involving real estate properties, it’s important to have a knowledgeable negotiator working for you, one who knows the law and whose loyalty to you is undivided.  Real estate brokers and agents depend on sales commissions for their livelihood.  If the sale does not occur they receive nothing for their time and energy, and this can create a conflict of interest.  You need someone representing you who is less concerned about a particular sale going through than with making certain your legal rights are protected.

Title Clearance Issues:
In large urban centers title insurance has reduced the need for in-depth title searches by real estate lawyers, but this is not necessarily the case in rural areas of the state.  As with any other insurance policy, title insurance documents are usually packed with disclaimers of one kind or another, all in highly technical real estate jargon and legalese, and all set forth in the tiniest of fine print.  Failure to fully understand the import of a particular clause or disclaimer in the policy can result in financial consequences at some later date, when it may be too late to do anything about it.  If you find things in the title policy you don’t understand, your real estate attorney can explain them to you and can also point to you any items that need to be challenged and resolved.  Given the amount of money involved in modern real estate transactions, it is critical to make certain that title problems are not going to make the deal a disaster.

Quiet Title Matters:
Sometimes a particular piece of real property has title defects of such significance that no sale or other transfer of ownership can occur until they are resolved.  The usual method of clearing title defects is a lawsuit called a “Quiet Title” action.  In the Quiet Title action, the Court would receive and consider evidence on the issue, and if satisfied that the judgment had been discharged, would issue an order dissolving (removing) the judgment lien.

Mechanic’s Liens:
When doing building construction or repairs, building contractors often utilize a legal device called a “mechanics lien” as a means of making certain they will be paid for their labor and materials.  The creation of a mechanic’s lien involves written notice to the owner of the property and other formal requirements, and its enforcement is subject to strict procedural rules. Once a valid mechanic’s lien attaches to the property, however, it operates as a claim against the property which, if it remains unpaid, can ultimately result in foreclosure proceedings.

Real Estate Document Preparation:
Whatever may be said during real estate negotiations, whatever promises may have been made, it is the final written documents that will control what happens.  Many of the closing documents involve the completion of pre-printed forms, but sometimes the details of a particular transaction require modification of a form to provide adequate protection.  Your real estate attorney can either prepare all of the documents, or can review the documents that have been prepared, explaining them to you and suggesting changes, as needed, for your benefit.

Closing Attorney Representation:
The majority of transactions are concluded routinely, with no unanticipated problems and as it may well appear after the fact, no need for legal representation during the closing.  There is no legal requirement for representation by counsel at the closing, but most lenders and prudent investors will do so.  It is at closing that critical disputes often arise concerning the language in a particular clause or some other technical aspect of the transaction.

Sales Breach Issues:
Once a written agreement has been executed by both parties to a real estate transaction its provisions are legally binding.  Which judicial remedies, if any, may be available for the breach of the agreement depends on a variety of factors.  There may, for example, be remedies available to the Buyer if the Seller breaches that are not available to the Seller, if the Buyer is the breaching party.

Land Development Issues:
Land development projects grow more difficult and complex with each passing year.  Your real estate lawyer can guide you through the labyrinth of zoning regulations, environmental agency requirements, building, fire and safety codes and the various other requirements for doing business in this complicated field of real estate.

Foreclosure Issues:
When mortgage payments fall behind, the lender may ultimately take steps to foreclose.  Sometimes the best course is to seek temporary relief in the United States Bankruptcy Court.  Since the mortgage is a “secured” debt, it cannot be discharged in bankruptcy.  The filing of a bankruptcy petition triggers an automatic federal court order temporarily staying (suspending) any pending foreclosure sale.  With the additional time provided by the stay, the defaulting borrower can often make arraignments to sell the real property for a much higher price than would be obtained in a foreclosure sale.

Essentially, a foreclosure sale involves sale of the real estate at public auction.  The proceeds of the sale are then applied against the debt owed on the mortgage.  Any funds remaining after the mortgage (and the foreclosure costs) are paid will be transferred to the defaulting borrower.  What happens when the proceeds of the auction sale are insufficient to pay off the mortgage and/or the foreclosure costs depends on the law where the property is located.

Eminent Domain Proceedings:
Eminent Domain proceedings are used by governmental agencies to acquire real estate (even when the owner doesn’t want to sell it) for use in a project of some kind for the general public benefit.  A recent decision by the United States Supreme Court has greatly expanded the discretion of state and local governments to seize property, even when they do so for the benefit of a private company, if they feel the project contemplated by the private company will benefit the public.  In mounting a defense to an eminent domain action, the landowner can resist the seizure itself, and can also challenge the dollar amount the agency is willing to pay for the land.  The landowner in an eminent domain proceeding is entitled to the fair market value of the land.

1031 Exchanges:
Internal Revenue Service Code §1031 provides a means for deferring the capital gains tax consequences of a real estate transaction when the proceeds of sale from one transaction are to be promptly reinvested in another similar type property.  The key word here is “deferral".  What happens is that the tax basis of the old property is transferred to the new, so that when the new property is ultimately sold, the tax will be due.  Of course, if the second property is also sold under a 1031 exchange, the tax will be deferred yet again.

Zoning & Land Use Issues:
Zoning and land use laws come into play in every real estate development, whether large or small.  Before buying real estate property or making major improvements to property you currently own, it is absolutely essential that you know about and understand the existing zoning and land use restrictions.

As a general rule, specified land uses are compatible.  You cannot, for example, put in a dairy herd, a shopping mall or an office building on land zoned for residential use.  It is sometimes possible to persuade local authorities to change the zoning for a particular area, but it can be very difficult, very expensive and it can take a long time.  In some cases it is possible to secure a zoning variance.  A variance is in the nature of an “exemption” for the particular parcel of real estate, from a particular zoning requirement.  Zoning changes and variances both involve extremely complex and difficult legal and political skills and often require public hearings before governmental agencies.

Condominium Conversions:
The upsurge in land values in recent years has contributed to the growing popularity of condominium living.  More and more people, especially first time home buyers, are turning to condominiums for their first real estate investment.  As the cost of building materials and construction labor has increased, so has the interest in the conversion of mobile home parks and apartment buildings into condominiums or cooperative corporations.  Condominium conversions can be extremely profitable, but they are long-term projects, sharply regulated by state and local legislation.

Condominium Association Matters Including Common Area Fee Recovery:
While Condominium Associations are autonomous, they must comply with state and federal law and with the provisions of their own bylaws.  A qualified real estate lawyer can provide timely and useful advice to Condominium Associations so that they may accomplish this purpose.  Association officers can be held individually responsible if the Association fails to comply with the law.

If you or someone you know in Virginia, Maryland or the District of Columbia needs the assistance of an experienced Washington DC Business Attorney, call Dunlap, Grubb & Weaver, PLLC today at 866-698-5144, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your initial consultation.

If you or someone you know in Virginia, Maryland or the District of Columbia needs the assistance of an experienced Washington DC Business Attorney, call Dunlap, Grubb & Weaver, PLLC today at 866-698-5144, or complete the contact form provided on this site to schedule your initial consultation.

ADDRESS OF THE FIRM:
Dunlap, Grubb & Weaver, PLLC
1200 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
Telephone: 866-698-5144
Fax: 703-777-3656

MEMBERS OF THE FIRM:

Thomas M. Dunlap
Tom is the managing partner of the firm. His practice focuses on complex civil litigation, mediation and arbitration in the areas of patent, copyright, trademark & commercial. Tom has represented local, national and international clients in a variety of complex litigation, including copyright disputes in the United Kingdom and multi-jurisdictional federal patent infringement and invalidity claims. Tom has also appeared before the Supreme Court of Virginia where he successfully argued the application of the intra-corporate immunity doctrine as it relates to conspiracy claims. In addition to numerous seminars, serving as President of the Loudoun Bar Association and writing technical treatises, Tom was selected as one of twelve Top Northern Virginia Lawyers for his litigation experience in the 2006 June/ July edition of Northern Virginia Magazine, and was selected in 2008 as a Virginia Super Lawyer in the area of Commercial Litigation.

Tom grew up in Middleburg and Great Falls, Virginia, attending high school at the International School of Geneva in Switzerland, where he learned to speak French fluently. He graduated from Lafayette College where he was a member of the varsity fencing team and rugby team. Following college Tom spent a time in New York, New York working in both retail and commercial banking for Chase Manhattan and the Bank of New York.

He attended law school at Washington & Lee University where he was a member of Phi Delta Phi Legal Honors Fraternity (Vice Magistrar), and where he continued to play rugby. Tom worked for a Northern Virginia firm, where he eventually became a partner. In 2001 Dan Grubb and Tom formed Dunlap & Grubb.

Tom is a Captain in the Virginia Army National Guard, and a graduate of Army OCS. He has served as Recon Scout Platoon Leader, and XO for A Troop, 1-158th CAV(RECON), and served as the aide de camp to the Commanding General, 29th Infantry Division and is currently the Commander of HHC, 116th BSTB Infantry. Tom is an avid sailor and owns a Cirrus SR-22 high performance airplane, for which he holds a private instrument pilot rating with the complex & high performance endorsements. Tom also enjoys diving (rescue diver & Nitrox certified), and holds a US Army Humvee and M1 Tank drivers licenses, and is a former National Silver Medallist in full contact Burmese kickboxing (2002).


Daniel L. Grubb
Dan's practice focuses on IP, real estate and commercial litigation with an additional concentration in bankruptcy and creditor issues. Dan has represented a wide range of individuals and businesses in all manner of real estate litigation, as well as both debtors and creditors in bankruptcy Chapters 7, 11 and 13. These clients have included a number of physicians and business reorganizations. Dan's commercial litigation experience includes negotiating with large banks and corporations. Dan has worked on multi- jurisdictional patent infringment and complex commercial real estate disputes.

Dan grew up in Washington State in the early 1960s, graduating in 1981 with high honors from Pacific University where he was the Pacific Northwest Intercollegiate Conference champion in the 400m dash and a varsity football player. In 1983 Dan graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a MA in journalism. Dan worked in television for a number of years, eventually becoming an anchor man and television new director for KIMO-TV in Alaska (an ABC affiliate).

Dan attended Washington and Lee University School of Law where he was judged the school's Best Trial Advocate. He then went work for the firm of Gilmer, Sadler, Ingram, Sutherland & Hutton until joining a firm in northern Virginia where he eventually became a partner with Tom Dunlap. In 2001 he joined Tom Dunlap to form Dunlap & Grubb.

Dan is a graduate of Army OCS and has spent five years as an infantry scout. He currently holds the rank of captain and has recently returned from a one year deployment with the US Special Forces as an infantry commander in Afghanistan where he learned to speak Dari and was awarded a bronze star. Dan enjoys news, politics and studying foreign language and culture.


Jeffrey William Weaver
Jeffrey joined Dunlap, Grubb & Weaver as a Partner in 2004 to chair the Transactional Department, which includes both the Real Estate and Corporate, Finance and Acquisitions practice groups. He has worked on venture capital deals, loan agreements, real property acquisitions and divestitures, business purchases and sales (including both asset and stock deals), option agreements, lease transactions and numerous multi-million dollar private placement security offerings. His past clients range in size and scope from small closely-held companies to publicly traded corporations, to large land developers, national banks, and even an NFL franchise.

Jeffrey earned a B.A. from Vanderbilt University and a J.D. from Washington & Lee University School of Law, where he was selected to lead the school's National Moot Court Team. Jeffrey practiced as a trial lawyer for two years in southwest Florida and then obtained an MBA with a concentration in finance from Emory University , where he graduated at the top of his class and was elected to Beta Gamma Sigma. Since obtaining an MBA, he has strictly practiced transactional law in the area of corporate, finance and real estate.

Jeffrey is admitted to practice in Virginia, Florida, New York and New Jersey. In his free time, he enjoys scuba diving, snowboarding, playing drums, and traveling.


Lee Edward Berlik
Lee is an attorney in the firm's Leesburg office. He regularly represents emerging and established technology companies, banks, and other small and large businesses in complex commercial litigation involving contracts, intellectual property, trade secrets, business torts and various statutory violations in both state and federal courts.

Lee joined the firm after leaving Boston-based Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo, where he worked for six years. Prior to working for Mintz Levin, Lee was a litigator in the Tysons Corner office of Troutman Sanders.

Lee is a member of several national, state, and local professional organizations. He served for several years as an editor of the quarterly newsletter published by the Pretrial Practice & Discovery Committee of the American Bar Association's Section of Litigation, and in that capacity received the ABA's Outstanding Newsletter award for 2001-2002. Lee has also served on various committees of the Fairfax Bar Association.

Lee is admitted to practice in Virginia and the District of Columbia. He earned his B.S., with high honors, from Rochester Institute of Technology and his J.D., cum laude, from American University's Washington College of Law, where he was a member of the editorial board of The American University Journal of International Law and Policy.

Lee grew up in The Netherlands and spent some time in upstate New York before settling down in Northern Virginia, where he has stayed since 1993. He now lives with his wife and three children in Leesburg, Virginia. In his spare time, Lee can be found playing tennis, skiing, biking, or dabbling in photography.


Michael C. Whitticar
Mike Whitticar has over fifteen years of intellectual property and commercial litigation experience in state and federal courts around the country. He has litigated intellectual property disputes involving patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade dress, trade secrets, computer chips, and rights of publicity.

He has represented franchisors, suppliers, breweries, wineries, importers, and substantial distributors and franchisees, in litigation and negotiations over termination, nonrenewal and brand transfer issues. Mike has represented employers and employees in employee competition disputes involving unfair competition, covenants not to compete, customer and employee solicitation claims, and copyright, trademark and trade secret claims. He has advised and litigated on behalf of substantial licensees in matters before courts and alcoholic beverage control agencies relating to license applications and to the sale, distribution, advertising and marketing of beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages.

Mike has represented technology companies in negotiating, drafting and litigating over license, development, joint venture and consulting services agreements. He has advised corporate officers and employees on how to lawfully and effectively start their own businesses in competition with their former employers.

Mike was born and raised in Fredericksburg, Virginia where he was President of his high school class and played football and basketball. He graduated from Stanford University and the University of Virginia School of Law. Mike played basketball and rowed crew at the college level.

After working for some of the country's largest law firms, including Hunton & Williams and Mintz-Levin, Mike has moved to small firm practice so he could provide more personalized, efficient and effective service to clients. A father of three who has been married for over twenty years, Mike is an active supporter of many youth sports.


Phillip Chang
Philllip practices in the areas of Unfair Competition, Trade Dress, Trade Secrets and Trademarks. He is admitted to practice in Virginia and the District of Columbia. A Government and History major at the College of William and Mary, he went on to graduate cum laude from George Mason University School of Law in 2007. At George Mason, he contributed to the Federal Circuit Bar Journal.


Sur Novel
Sur Novel is managing director of Novel Group Co., Ltd. and a licensed New York attorney. Sur Novel specializes in Thai ,US and international corporate, tax and immigration consulting and serves as an of counsel attorney to Dunlap, Grubb & Weaver.

Prior to the operation of Novel Group Co., Ltd., Sur Novel worked for Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Jaiyos Co., Ltd.. in Bangkok, Thailand for a period of approximately 4 years. Sur Novel has also worked for several other organizations including a top 100 US law firm and the Ohio State Senate.

Sur Novel is also an adjunct professor teaching corporate law at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Economics.


David Ludwig
David is an associate at the firm. His practice focuses on civil litigation in the areas of copyright, trademark, patent, commercial and First Amendment law, and trademark prosecution. David has represented local and national clients in federal litigation, including copyright disputes and First Amendment claims.

David grew up in California, and graduated from Sonoma State University where he studied philosophy. Following college, David studied Tibetan Buddhism and comparative religion at Naropa University in Colorado, culminating with a month-long meditation retreat at a monastery in Nova Scotia. David spent a few years in Boulder, Colorado managing the finances and daily operations of a locally-owned internet service provider.

David attended law school at The George Washington University Law School where he was a student teacher of legal research and writing and an articles editor for the American Intellectual Property Law Association Quarterly Journal. David also worked for a D.C. firm that specializes in litigation and legislative policy work in the areas of copyright and constitutional law.