R. Peyton Mahaffey

Principal

R. Peyton Mahaffey is the Chairman of the Board of McCandlish Lillard, having previously served as its President and Managing Partner from 2007 through 2021. Peyton has actively litigated business, corporate, commercial, and fiduciary matters on a continuing basis since 1980. He has extensive experience as a trial lawyer and lead counsel in state and federal cases, as well as arbitration and mediation. He has tried many jury and non-jury cases, written and argued many appellate briefs to the Virginia Supreme Court and Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and been the principal attorney on many reported state and federal decisions.

Peyton has significant experience representing clients in shareholder, partner, and related business disputes. His clients have included business leaders, builders, contractors, electrical and mechanical engineering firms, architects, property managers and brokers, investments advisors, banks and medical practitioners, technology entrepreneurs, software developers, computer consultants, and real estate developers. Peyton has successfully represented local, regional and national businesses in major corporate and contract litigation; individuals, and other professionals and their practice groups in partnership disputes; and federal and state chartered banking institutions in lender liability, commercial, and other contract litigation. Peyton has litigated numerous substantial guardianship, conservatorship, and related fiduciary and estate cases. Many of Peyton’s cases have involved declaratory, injunctive or other emergency relief.

Peyton has successfully brought and defended fraud, defamation, business conspiracy, will contest, fiduciary duty, limited liability company disputes, partnership dissolutions, and tortious interference with contract claims, minority shareholder oppression actions, trademark, intellectual property and trade secret issues, will and estate litigation, and suits involving non-solicitation/non-competition agreements and employer/employee rights and liabilities.

Peyton’s many professional recognitions include selection in 2019 to The Virginia Lawyers Hall of Fame by Virginia Lawyers Media (publisher of Virginia Lawyers Weekly), honoring attorneys on the basis of their career accomplishments, contributions to the development of law in Virginia, contributions to the bar and the Commonwealth, and efforts to improve the quality of justice in Virginia, and selection in 2016 as a “Leader in the Law” by Virginia Lawyer’s Media. Peyton has been named to Virginia Business magazine’s “Legal Elite” every year since its inception in 2000, and enjoys an AV-Preeminent review rating in Martindale-Hubbell (recognition for earning the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards). Other recognitions include “Top Lawyers” and “Washington’s Best Legal Minds” in Washingtonian magazine; “Super Lawyers” in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Washington, D.C. area and “Top Attorneys in Business Litigation” – Super Lawyers corporate counsel editions; “Top Attorneys” in the Washington, D.C. area, “Best Lawyers in America”, and “America’s Most Honored Professionals – Top 1%” by American Registry; “Top Attorneys” by Richmond magazine; and being a member of the Nation’s Top One Percent (1%) by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel, an organization dedicated to promoting the highest standards of legal excellence. Order of Justitia, 100 or more jury and/or bench trials and/or arbitrations to verdict and/or decision. Peyton has also been named Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation; Senior Fellow (2007-21) of the Litigation Counsel of America, a trial lawyer honorary society comprised of less than one-half of one percent (0.5%) of the lawyers in the United States; Fellow of the Fairfax Bar Foundation; and Fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation, an honor conferred on Virginia lawyers of integrity and character who are outstanding in their profession and in their communities.

In January 2016, Peyton was elected to and served a 3-year term on The Virginia Bar Association’s Board of Governors.

Honors +

“Virginia Lawyers Hall of Fame – Class of 2019,” honoring attorneys on the basis of their career accomplishments, contributions to the development of law in Virginia, contributions to the bar and the Commonwealth, and efforts to improve the quality of justice in Virginia, by Virginia Lawyers Media (Publisher of Virginia Lawyers Weekly).
Selected every year since 2000 to “Legal Elite” by Virginia Business magazine, based on a statewide survey of practicing attorneys, as one of the preeminent attorneys in Virginia.
AV^® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated attorney, the highest rating from Martindale-Hubbell^®(recognition for earning the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards).
“Leader in the Law – Class of 2016,” Virginia Lawyers Media (Publisher of Virginia Lawyers Weekly).
“Top Lawyers” and “Washington’s Best Legal Minds” by Washingtonian Magazine.
“Super Lawyers,” an annual listing of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement, and limited to no more than 5 percent of the licensed, active attorneys in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and in the Washington, D.C. area; “Super Lawyers Top 100 in Virginia,” “Super Lawyers Top 100 in Washington DC,” “Super Lawyers Business Edition,” and “Top Attorneys in Business Litigation – Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel” editions.
“Top Attorneys” in the Washington, D.C., Metro Area, “Best Lawyers in America,” and “America’s Most Honored Professionals – Top 1%” by the American Registry.
“Top Attorneys” in Virginia by Richmond Magazine and D.C. Magazine.
Selected as a Member of the Nation’s Top One Percent by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel, an organization dedicated to promoting this highest standards of legal excellence.
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America^© in the practice areas of Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs and Litigation – Trust and Estates.
Order of Justitia, 100 or more jury and/or bench trials and/or arbitrations to verdict and/or decision.
Senior Fellow (2007-21) of the Litigation Counsel of America (“LCA”), a trial lawyer honorary society comprised of less than one-half of one percent (0.5%) of lawyers in the United States.
Fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation (“VLF”), an honor conferred on Virginia lawyers of integrity and character who are outstanding in their profession and in their communities.
Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
Fellow of the Fairfax Bar Foundation.

Activities +

Service to the Bar includes membership in the Virginia Bar Association (elected to a 3 year term on the Board of Governors in January 2016; past member of its Civil Litigation Council); the Fairfax Bar Association; the Virginia State Bar (Past Member, Board of Governors, Young Lawyers Conference; Fifth District Disciplinary Committee); The Northern Virginia Young Lawyers Association (Past President); The Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, The Litigation Counsel of America.

Peyton is also an avid golfer, member of International Country Club in Fairfax, and resides in Oak Hill, Virginia.

Publications +

Peyton has made presentations to both the Virginia Association of Elder Law Attorneys and to the Fairfax Bar Association Elder Law Section “In Re: Margaret Karageorge: A Case Study” and lectured on “Recovery of Attorney’s Fees in Civil Cases in Virginia: ‘The American Rule’ and Its Exceptions” to the Virginia Bar Association and “Covenants Not to Compete” to the Fairfax Bar Association.

In 2008, Peyton published a book “McCandlish & Lillard 1908-2008: Celebrating 100 Years of Tradition, Innovation, and Results” (by R. Peyton Mahaffey, Signature Book Printing, May 2008)

Peyton has also published multiple articles including:

“Division in Kind” (Point of Beginning magazine, Vol. 26, No. 2, 2000)
“When is Raiding Competitors Employees Illegal?” (Virginia Business Law Journal, 1996)
“Seller Beware – The Impact of Prospect Development Co. v. Bershader on the Sale of Real Estate in Virginia” (The Fee Simple, Virginia State Bar Assn. – Real Property Section, Volume XX, Number 1 (1999)).
“Recovery of Attorney’s Fees in Civil Cases in Virginia: “The American Rule and it’s Exceptions”
Protecting Your Legitimate Business Interests (1998)

Notable Cases +

Chris T. Sarris v. Mireille Curro, et al., Supreme Court of Virginia, Record No. 161481 (2017)
Steven Parasidis, Individually etc. et al. v. Margaret Karageorge; Supreme Court of Virginia, Record No. 160956 (2017)
Christopher Antigone v. Jay C. Taustin, et al.; Supreme Court of Virginia, Record No. 160851 (2017)
William J. Reineck, Curator of the Estate of Frank B. Still, Jr., Deceased v. La Verne Still Lemen, Supreme Court of Virginia, Record No. 151917 (2017)
Chris T. Sarris v. Mireille Curro, et al., Circuit Court of Arlington County, Case No. CL 14-1945-00 (2016)
Jay C. Taustin, et al. v. H. Christopher Antigone, et al., Circuit Court of Fairfax County, Case Nos. 2011-11072 and 2011-11073, (Consolidated) (2016)
Steven Parasidis, Individually and as Trustee for Parasidis Family Trust No. 1, Parasidis Family Trust No. 2, Steve Parasidis Revocable Trust, Parasidis Family I, L.L.C., Parasidis Family II, L.L.C., and Parasidis Family I, L.L.C. v. Margaret Karageorge; Court of Appeals of Virginia, Record No. 0714-15-4 (2015)
William J. Reineck, Curator of the Estate of Frank B. Still, Jr., Deceased v. La Verne Still Lemen and Jeffery Still, Circuit Court of Arlington County, Case No. 14-2602 (2015)
Cynthia Sullivan, et al. v. Danette Mertz, et al., Circuit Court of Fairfax County, Case No. CL 2014-05726 (2015)
Stanley Kyungjin Cho, et al. v. Woon Soo Kim, et al., Circuit Court of Fairfax County, Case No. 2014-02554 (2015)
Steve Parasidis, Individually etc. et al. v. Margaret Karageorge; Supreme Court of Virginia, Record No. 141035 (2014)
Ann C. Thompson v. Mark L. Thompson, et al., Circuit Court of Loudoun County, Case No. 72864 (2014)
Ray E. Jackson v. Intrepid Solutions and Services, Inc., et al., Fairfax County Circuit Court, Case No. 2012-4288 (2013)
Richard Bates, et al. v. Lee’s Crossing Homeowners Association, Inc., Supreme Court of Virginia, Record No. 121159 (2013)
Jay C. Taustin v. H. Christopher Antigone, American Arbitration Association; AAA No. 161150048811 (2012)
International Biometric Group, LLC v. Intrepid Solutions and Services, Inc. and Stephen G. Hood, Case No: 1:2012cv04029, SDNY (5/22/12) (2012)
Re: Margaret Karageorge, Fairfax County Circuit Court, Civil Action No. 2008-6795 (2012)
Parasidis, et al. v. Zissios, et al., Fairfax County Circuit Court, Civil Action No. 2009-18447 (2012)
Penelope Parasidis, et al. v. Margaret Karageorge, Supreme Court of Virginia, Record No. 112032 (2012)
Penelope Parasidis, et al. v. Helen Zissios, et al., Fairfax County Circuit Court, Civil Action No. 2009-18447 (2011)
Penelope Parasidis, et al. v. Margaret Karageorge, Supreme Court of Virginia, Record No. 112032 (2011)
Karl W. Stoermer v. Chenega Technology Services Corp., American Arbitration Association, Case No. 161660049607 (2008)
Human Resources Institute, Inc. v. Federal Training Academy, LLC, Angela Kochuba and Joseph Kochuba, Circuit Court of Fairfax County, Virginia (At Law Number 201421) (2004)
Kevin and Karla Thimjon v. Stanley Martin Companies, Inc., et. al., Circuit Court of Fairfax County, Virginia (Chancery Number 176120) (2003)
Protyle Incorporated v. Seimens International, Circuit Court of Fairfax County, Virginia (Civil Action No. 02-193-A) (2001)
Bryan P. McCoy, as Parent and Natural Guardian of Logan McCoy, a minor, and Bryan P. McCoy, Personally v. Kenneth C. Wright, State Court for Fulton County, Georgia (Case No. 00VS008862B) (2000)
Prospect Development Company, et al. v. Bershader, 258 Va. 75, 515 SE2d 291 (1999)
Steven M. Bershader, et al. v. Prospect Development Company, Inc., et al., Circuit Court of Fairfax County, Virginia (Chancery No. 149483) (1998)
Micro Laboratories, Inc. v. CompUSA, Inc., United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division (Civil Action No. 98-1814-A) (1998)
Roger Parks, et al. v. Cook Inlet Region of Virginia, et al. (“Ford’s Landing Arbitration”) (1997)
Computer Discounters, Inc. v. CompUSA, Inc., et al., Circuit Court of Fairfax County, Virginia (Law No. 138040) (1996)
Computer Discounters, Inc. v. CompUSA, Inc., et al., Circuit Court of Fairfax County, Virginia (Law No. 138040) (1996)
Henry L. Sanger v. SECOR International, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division (Civil Action No. 96-1509) (1996)
Alan Furman, Trustee, et al. v. Ralph D. Kaiser Company, et al., Circuit Court of Fairfax County, Virginia (Law No. 138662) (1995)
Kenneth L. Geoly, M.D., et al. v. Washington Nephrology Associates, et al., Circuit Court for the City of Alexandria, Virginia (In Chancery No. 941558) (1994)
Alan Marcus & Co. Employee Benefit Trust v. Ralph D. Kaiser, Co., Inc., et al., Circuit Court for Fairfax County, Virginia (Law No. 129989) (1994)
Resolution Trust Corporation v. Phillip G. Norton, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division (Civil Action No. 94-445-A) (1994)
American Title Insurance Company v. Burke & Herbert Bank and Trust Company; United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division (Civil Action No. 92-1064-A) and United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (93-1292) (1993)
UBS Securities, Inc. v. Occoquan Limited Partnership, et al., United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Civil Action Nos. 91-0199-A, 93-276-A, 93-881-A, 93-882-A, 93-883-A, 93-884-A, 93-885-A, 93-886-A, 93-887-A, and 93-888-A) and United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (93-1871) (1993)
Resolution Trust Corporation v. Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County, et al., Circuit Court for Fairfax County (Law No. 11493) (1993)
Norton 72 Limited Partnership, et al. v. Resolution Trust Corporation, Circuit Court for Fairfax County (Chancery No. 126095), and appeal to the Supreme Court of Virginia at Richmond, and Norton 72 LLC, et al. v. Richard M. Wexell, Trustee and Resolution Trust Corporation, Circuit Court for Fairfax County (Chancery No. 131423) (1993)
InterOffice Management, Inc. v. CEO of Greenwich, Inc. (Case No. 93-508-A), InterOffice Management, Inc. v. CEO Lexington, Inc. (Case No. 93-509-A), United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (1993)
The PrintHouse Express, Inc. v. James G. Ward, Circuit Court of Loudoun County (Chancery No. 14977) (1993)
Kurt Ostermann v. Monoflo International, et al., Circuit Court for the City of Winchester (Chancery No. 118229) (1992)
J. F. Toner & Son, Inc. v. Farm Credit Bank of Baltimore, et al., United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia (Civil Action No. 92-0086(H)) (1992)
Norton 72 Limited Partnership, et al. v. Resolution Trust Corporation, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Civil Action No. 90-1414-A) (1991)
Defense Technology, Inc. v. Resource Consultants, Inc., Circuit Court of Fairfax County, Virginia (Law No. 96230) (1991)
Stephen Galvin, et al. v. Robert Locke, et al., Circuit Court of Alexandria, Virginia (Chancery No. 900367) (1991)
Kostas Alexakis v. James Kontzamanys, Circuit Court of Alexandria, Virginia (Law No. 910451) (1991)
Resolution Trust Corporation v. GLM Financial Corp., et al., Circuit Court of Fairfax County, Virginia (Law Nos. 094655 and 094654) (1991)
Richmarr Construction Corporation v. Herbert L. Aman, et al., Circuit Court of Fairfax County, Virginia (Chancery No. 107073) (1991)
George Alexakis v. Alexis, Ltd., Circuit Court of Fairfax County, Virginia (Chancery No. 118095) (1990)
Susan R. Mote v. The C.L. Robinson Corp., et al., Circuit Court for City of Winchester, Virginia (Chancery No. 88-CH-213) (1990)
Shannon L. Coffey, et al. v. Washington Financial Trust Mortgage Bankers, Inc., Circuit Court of Fairfax County, Virginia (Law No. 83346) (1990)
Susan R. Mote and Ann R. Whitham v. H. Delmer Robinson, Circuit Court for City of Winchester, Virginia (Chancery No. 89-CH-35) (1989)
Beech Aircraft Corporation, Inc. v. Fullerton Aircraft Sales and Rental, Inc., United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Civil Action No. 88-463) (1989)
Frances L. Cox v. Commonwealth of Virginia, 227 Va. 324, 315 S.E.2d 228 (1984)