Lisa O’Donnell is a trial lawyer in our firm with an emphasis in medical negligence, personal injury and criminal defense. She is listed in the Best Lawyers in America in three categories: Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice and Sports Law. She has represented numerous individuals who have been seriously injured in automobile collisions and by medical errors, as well as those harmed by defective products. Of particular interest to Ms. O’Donnell are gynecologic/obstetrical injuries and cases involving nursing home negligence.

Lisa has successfully handled many cases involving injuries to newborns and mothers, including children with cerebral palsy and Erb’s palsy. She recognizes and appreciates the tremendous responsibilities facing parents of these injured children, and strives to obtain justice and financial compensation to ease their burden. Lisa understands that injured children often have special needs for education, therapy and medical treatment to help them reach their potential. She has obtained substantial settlements and verdicts for injured children to help them reach their goals.

Elderly patients also need a lawyer who will strive for justice against negligent nursing homes. Lisa has represented many seniors and their families against careless nursing home facilities. She has obtained compensation for bedsores, broken bones from falls, and for wrongful death. She searches for evidence of poor care due to incompetent personnel and inadequate staffing. A shortage of qualified nurses often leads to severe injury in the nursing home setting.

In addition to representing injured adults and children, Lisa has represented professional athletes in litigation matters as well as in contract negotiations. She is certified as an agent with both the National Football League and the National Basketball Association. Additionally, she has represented track and field Olympic gold medalist Latasha Colander.

Born in Leesburg, Ms. O’Donnell has been a Virginia resident her entire life. She received her bachelor’s degree from James Madison University and her law degree from George Mason University. She began practicing law in 1990 in Virginia Beach and has continued her active trial practice here in Norfolk as well as in all the courts of Hampton Roads and around the state. Lisa is very active in a number of organizations, particularly the Virginia Trial Lawyer’s Association, where she serves on the Executive Council as Treasurer. She is involved each year in legislative issues important to the practice of law and protecting the rights of her clients. Lisa is also one of Virginia's state delegates to the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Lisa is a frequent lecturer around the state and nationally. She speaks regularly to trial lawyers on various aspects of the law. In the last several years, she has become active in training other lawyers to become “trial lawyers” by teaching them courtroom skills. She is a faculty member of the Virginia College of Trial Advocacy. Ms. O’Donnell has served as guest faculty at Marshall-Wythe School of Law, College of William & Mary, and at Regent University. Lisa is past President of the Federal Bar Association, Tidewater Chapter. She is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an organization of lawyers who have obtained verdicts in excess of one million dollars for their clients. Ms. O’Donnell has also been selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® in the practice areas of Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice. In 1999, she was named by the Virginia Business Observer as one of the “10 Hottest Young Lawyers to Watch” in Hampton Roads. She previously served on the Board of the Norfolk Forum. Ms. O’Donnell is very involved at Star of the Sea church in Virginia Beach, where she serves in several ministries.