Drew Stifel joined MartinWren in 2022, shortly after moving to the Charlottesville area from Washington, DC. He began his career as an attorney in Maryland in 2013, and he was quickly thrust into courtrooms across the state handling primarily credit liability matters. Today, Drew carries with him over a decade of experience handling all phases of civil litigation for clients ranging from individuals to small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. His caseload has covered a wide range of practice areas including personal injury, premises liability, intentional torts, product liability, construction defects and accidents, mass torts, environmental exposure (asbestos/mold), employment liability, motor vehicle accidents, fire loss, workers compensation, and insurance coverage disputes. He is a member of the bars of Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, and he has extensive courtroom experience in all three jurisdictions.
The majority of cases settle prior to reaching a trial. So it is vital to have an attorney who knows how to negotiate and obtain the best offer possible. This involves identifying, procuring, and amplifying all evidence that is supportive of the client’s claim. These tasks require a variety of skills, all of which Drew has displayed over the past decade. They include the knowledge and legal research capability to pinpoint the important facts upon which the case will rest, the ability to bring them forth utilizing proper discovery tools, and the communication and writing acumen to highlight them in negotiation correspondence or mediations. Drew can proudly say that he has obtained exceptional settlements for both plaintiff and defendant clients over the course of his career.
Drew has argued briefs before appellate court panels and tried cases before juries in the circuit courts. But a signification portion of his work is devoted to representing clients in Virginia’s general district courts, where he has developed a keen familiarity with its unique rules, procedures, as well as judges. Drew has consistently maintained in these courts a caseload in the area of landlord/tenant law. The Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act has undergone numerous and extensive revisions in recent years, and Drew is especially attuned to its latest provisions. His practice includes drafting and reviewing leases for compliance, in addition to representing clients in active disputes.
Drew originally hails from the Washington, DC area and still holds a deep affinity for its professional sports teams. He earned his undergraduate degree at Wake Forest University in 2008, majoring in economics and minoring in environmental studies. Drew obtained his J.D. in 2013 from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law. He is an active member of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association and Virginia Trial Lawyers Association.
Outside of the office, Drew enjoys visiting our area’s exceptional vineyards, dining at its restaurants, attending concerts, cooking, hiking, playing guitar, and golfing. He is married with one young son and one loyal dog named Betty.
Admissions
Maryland, 2013
District of Columbia, 2016
Virginia, 2022