Attorney Picture

Education

J.D., Washington & Lee University, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, Editorial Board, Washington & Lee Law Review, 1987

Professional Recognition

AV Peer Review Rating by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell

Best Lawyers in America, Environmental Law and Commercial Litigation

Virginia's "Legal Elite," Virginia Business magazine

Virginia Super Lawyers, Commercial Litigation and Environmental Law

Benchmark Litigation:  the Guide to America's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys

Memberships

American Bar Association

Virginia State Bar

Virginia Bar Association

Norfolk Portsmouth Bar Association

Chesapeake Bar Association

Leadership

Chairman, Board of Governors, Litigation Section of the Virginia State Bar

President, Norfolk Portsmouth Bar Association

Permanent Member, Boyd-Graves Conference

Gary A. Bryant

Member

Norfolk

(757) 628-5520 gbryant@wilsav.com gbryant@wilsav.com v-Card Print to PDF

Practice Areas

Commercial Litigation and Environmental Law

Profile

Gary is head of the firm's litigation practice. He focuses primarily on complex litigation matters, with an emphasis on commercial litigation and environmental law. Gary has represented clients throughout the country, and has litigated at the trial level in California, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. He has handled mass tort litigation, including class action and MDL matters. Gary routinely monitors high-risk trials as appellate counsel on behalf of catastrophic loss insurers. In addition, he has handled numerous appeals to the Virginia Supreme Court, as well as appeals to the Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeals.

Gary teaches environmental law and Virginia civil procedure at Regent University where he serves as an adjunct professor at law.

Published Decisions

Experience

  • Represents corporate plaintiffs in cost recovery actions, including claims resulting from the accidental releases of hazardous material and contamination arising out of the operation of industrial facilities. Such cost recovery actions involve not only claims arising under CERCLA, but also State law claims, including nuisance and trespass claims as well as claims based on various state statutes.

  • Represents individuals and entities in matters involving the contamination of property, including soil and structures, and the contamination of ground, surface and processed water.

  • Represents transportation companies, including railroads, in matters arising out of the transport of hazardous materials, and has litigated liability for the improper manufacture, packaging, and loading of hazardous materials, liability for failing to maintain or inspect equipment used to transport hazardous materials, responsibility for documentation of hazardous materials and the cause or causes for the release of hazardous materials during transport.

  • Represents transportation companies, including railroads, in matters involving preemption under the Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act, the Federal Rail Safety Act and the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act.

  • Represented a national consumer credit company in recovering the proceeds of assets pledged pursuant to floor plan financing.

  • Represented national bank in litigation to recover collateral securing loans and credit lines totaling over $5 million.

  • Represented national bank in declaratory judgment action involving numerous financial institutions claiming priority to debtor assets pledged to secure payment via blanket liens.

  • Represents various entities in complex commercial disputes, including contract litigation as well as litigation arising out of the acquisition and development of real property.

  • Represents entities and individuals in litigation involving alleged fraud, breach of fiduciary duties, business conspiracies and other commercial torts.

  • Represents municipalities in matters involving municipal liability generally, civil rights, land use and constitutional and environmental law.

Presentations

  • Litigation Experts: How to Pick Them, How to Prep Them, How to Preserve Them and How to Present Them,  VSB Litigation Section Annual Meeting Presentation 2011

  • PRPs:  Still Bad, But Getting Better, August 26, 2010, Presentation to Chartis, High Profile Unit, Pollution Insurance Products Group

  • CERCLA:  The Basics, April 23, 2010, Presentation to Chartis, Pollution Insurance Products Group

  • Appellate Practice in Virginia, February 19, 2010, Presentation to Chartis, Excess Claims Group

  • Faith and the Law:  The Intersection of Religious Life and Legal Practice, 2009 NPBA Bench Bar Conference

  • Business Torts in Virginia, Fall 2007 NPBA CLE Presentation

  • Discovery and Disclosure Obligations for Experts, February 2006 NARTC Presentation

  • Environmental Cost Recovery Litigation in Virginia, Spring 2004 NBI Presentation