Dioscoro Andres “Andy” Blanco

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Dioscoro Andres “Andy” Blanco is an associate attorney at Wharton Aldhizer & Weaver in Harrisonburg. As a member of the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) practice group, Andy provides legal support to businesses navigating federal and state safety regulations. He delivers strategic guidance on OSHA compliance, workplace hazard assessments and employer responsibilities in preventing violations. Andy is known for his big-picture approach, listening carefully to clients’ concerns and offering practical solutions that align with their business goals. Andy has a track record of developing relationships with clients while maintaining a clear focus on outcomes.

Timothy “Tim” C. Carwile

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Timothy “Tim” Carwile joined Wharton Aldhizer & Weaver in 2023, bringing his significant experience and relationships in the Staunton/Waynesboro/Augusta County community to the firm. Tim began his legal career in the 1970s, providing comprehensive legal services to businesses and individuals and serving for 8 years as Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in Waynesboro. In the early 2000s, he narrowed his focus to trial work and criminal defense, becoming a frequent speaker on the subject of the defense of criminal cases throughout Virginia.  In addition, he is the author of definitive publications used by attorneys throughout the Commonwealth. He enjoys the challenging nature of criminal defense and the connections he’s fostered with police, prosecutors and judges. Tim currently serves as Special Commissioner for the Augusta County Circuit Court and previously served as chair of the Eighth District Ethics Committee for the Virginia State Bar. He attended the University of Virginia for his undergraduate degree and the T.C. Williams School of Law of the University of Richmond. He is admitted to practice in the Virginia Supreme Court, the Fourth Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals and the Western and Eastern Districts of Virginia.

Franchesca “Fran” Fede Gomez

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Fran Gomez joined WAW as a partner in 2023 with a focus on providing comprehensive commercial and real estate legal services to individuals and businesses in Waynesboro. She has decades of experience representing clients purchasing property in Virginia, opening a new business, or planning their estate. She also handles adult guardianship cases, interacting with vulnerable and incapacitated adults. Fran is the Commissioner of Accounts for the City of Waynesboro, a quasi-judicial position that oversees the timely and proper filing of documents and fiduciary responsibilities for estates, trusts, guardianships, and foreclosures in the City. Fran attended the University of Virginia for her undergraduate degree and George Mason University School of Law. She is admitted to practice law in Virginia and the District of Columbia.

G. William “Bill” Watkins

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Bill Watkins is a seasoned lawyer with more than fifty years of experience representing individual and business clients in Virginia. He joined Wharton Aldhizer & Weaver in 2023, bringing his significant legal expertise and strong community relationships to his role with the firm. Bill’s diverse practice focuses on commercial real estate transactions and complex estate planning and administration. He also supports local Waynesboro businesses with business planning, contract drafting and litigation services. At his core, Bill is a problem solver who has become a go-to resource for attorneys and clients tasked with challenging casework that encompasses multiple factors. Bill was born and raised in Waynesboro and attended the University of Virginia for his undergraduate degree. After attending the T.C. Williams School of Law of the University of Richmond, Bill returned to Waynesboro to establish his legal career. He served as a Partner at Allen & Dalton, which merged with another firm to become Allen & Carwile in 1987. During his tenure at Allen & Carwile, Bill established himself as a committed community leader, serving as legal advisor to the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge since its inception and on its Board for six years, serving as President for two years. He has also served as outside counsel for many long-standing public and private entities in Waynesboro and Augusta County.

Nicholas W. Dudley

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Nicholas Dudley is a highly educated Staunton attorney who works with our team to develop casework that supports the legal needs of our clients. He joined Wharton Aldhizer & Weaver in 2022 after clerking for the Norfolk Circuit Court for one year. While at the Circuit Court, he drafted and revised orders and opinions, advised judges on dispositive issues and motions, and researched questions of substantive and procedural civil and criminal law. Nicholas graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law in May of 2021, where he was the Digital Executive Editor of the Virginia Journal of Law and Technology and served as President of the Saint Thomas More Society. While studying at UVA, he also worked as a Law Clerk for the Office of the Attorney General of Texas and the Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. Those experiences provided practical application of the legal principles he was studying and hands-on experience working with the legal system.

Mary K. Schratwieser

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Mary Schratwieser is an experienced Harrisonburg attorney who helps our clients find effective solutions to their legal needs. Mary joined Wharton Aldhizer & Weaver as an Associate Attorney in 2022 and currently works with our OSHA team. She brings a unique perspective to her OSHA work after extensive experience overseeing the legal needs of a Texas healthcare provider and several public companies. She has broad knowledge in other regulatory areas, such as healthcare and securities. Before joining WAW, Mary worked in the compliance department at Winston & Strawn LLP Legal Innovation Center, a global firm serving large, national companies and industries. While at Winston & Strawn, she assisted on several complex, large-scale litigation cases in antitrust and product liability. In addition to her litigation experience, Mary worked independently, serving individual clients on real estate, estate planning, and personal injury lawsuits. Her strong research, negotiation and litigation skills make her a valuable addition to the WAW team. Her diverse experiences add value to each case she represents. She is licensed in the states of Texas and Virginia.

Emily M. Gindhart

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Emily Gindhart is a Harrisonburg lawyer working as an associate attorney at Wharton Aldhizer & Weaver. As a member of our Corporate and Business law team, Emily coordinates her detailed and meticulous work with our Partners to satisfy the complex legal needs of our clients. She attended the University of Virginia as an undergraduate, studying Psychology and Political Science. After completing her undergraduate degree, Emily studied at the University of Richmond School of Law, graduating with honors in 2021. While attending law school, she served as a summer law clerk for Legal Services of Northern Virginia and as a Clinical Placement Extern for the Honorable Justice Cleo E. Powell, who serves on the Supreme Court of Virginia. She is an experienced researcher, diving deep into legal precedence to find answers and strategies for tackling all types of cases. Emily became interested in the law while studying at UVA and learning more about the impact public policy can have on individuals and businesses in our country.

P. Marshall Yoder

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Clients describe Marshall Yoder as an exceptional problem solver. Marshall brings nearly thirty years of experience representing individuals, non-profits, small businesses, and Fortune 500 companies. As a member of the Family Law, Business Law, and Estate Planning teams, Marshall empowers clients by assisting them in identifying their underlying long and short-term interests and helping them select from options which meet those interests. Marshall practices extensively in corporate and estate planning matters and also has an active education and elder law practice. Marshall is most well-known as a pioneer in the use of collaborative practice to resolve disputes effectively and efficiently in the Shenandoah Valley. His discretion and tact working with families help them maintain their privacy and pride during challenging times. Marshall has been profiled in both the American Bar Journal and Virginia Business magazines and trains other professionals in the use of collaborative practice throughout the southeast and mid-Atlantic regions. He also regularly mediates disputes of all types.

Briana “Brie” A. Stevens

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Briana “Brie” Stevens is an experienced family law attorney building solid relationships with her clients. She is part of the Family Law team at Wharton Aldhizer and Weaver and is licensed to practice in Virginia and West Virginia and the Western District of Virginia. Brie’s clients value her honest, warm, and competent representation during what is often one of the most challenging times in their lives.

Lucas I. Pangle

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Lucas delivers intelligent, practical solutions to his corporate and business clients. He manages a developing blend of litigation and transactional matters, involving him in Wharton Aldhizer & Weaver’s Commercial, Corporate, and Business Law, OSHA, Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights, Employment Law, and Estate Planning groups. Lucas enjoys a unique practice with a great variety and has a growing reputation for the interest he takes in his cases and the relationships he builds with his clients. His robust research skills and strategic planning provides confidence to his clients throughout the case. Lucas’ clients value him for internalizing their concerns and giving common-sense solutions that benefit their business.

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