Michael Tillotson & I started our firm with one simple goal: to be the best DWI/DUI attorneys in Virginia. Striving to reach our goal keeps us very busy in the courtroom and classroom. I co-authored and update Virginia DUI Law: Understanding the Scientific, Medical, Technological, and Legal Aspects of a DUI Case (Westlaw, Virginia Practice Series Volume 16). This is the commentary on DUI law used by attorneys and judges in Virginia. Virginia DUI Law explains and exposes the scientific and legal vulnerabilities of breath tests, blood tests, field sobriety tests and so much more. We host the only EC/IR II Breath Test Seminar in Virginia to educate judges and attorneys about the limitations of breath testing on the Intox EC/IR II. I am trained on the EC/IR II and we own a couple Intox EC/IRs. Recently, our firm has discovered that Virginia’s EC/IR II has not been operating properly since 2015. I was the first of two attorneys in Virginia with an American Chemical Society (ACS) Forensic Lawyer-Scientist Designation as recognized by the Chemistry and the Law Division of ACS. This training and designation means that I understand the science of blood testing for DUI and DUI-drug cases. I recently became one of the few defense attorneys to attend the Borkenstein Drug Course – “the most advanced course available anywhere for toxicologists” and Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) in law enforcement. “The course is taught by internationally acknowledged experts who discuss the pharmacology, toxicology and human performance effects of major drug classes associated with driving impairment.” In addition, I attended the DRE Overview & Trial Techniques Training Course. I’m certified as a field sobriety test operator. We bring the NHTSA field sobriety test and EC/IR II breath test manuals with us to every case. Amazingly, I still have not seen any other attorney use them in court! I teach judges and attorneys in two classed for continuing legal education: “Blood Testing in Virginia” and “The Science of Breath, Blood and Field Sobriety Testing.” Our firm trains other attorneys and consults with attorneys on difficult DWI cases. When we need advice, we are just a few mouse clicks away from the best DWI attorneys and scientific experts in the United States through the National College of DUI Defense (NCDD), DUI Defense Lawyers Association (DUIDLA), and Forensic Chromatography Lawyers (ChromLawyers) listserves. I graduated with honors from the William & Mary School of Law with the Gambrell Professional Award for written and oral advocacy and was one of only eleven students recognized for excellence in research, writing, analysis, and trial practice. My Bachelor of Sciences degree in Biology from Towson University helps me in my work with the scientific and medical aspects of DUI. I graduated Summa Cum Laude with extensive course work in physiology and chemistry, and with a host of awards and scholarships. I participated in original research and worked at the University’s anatomy & physiology lab. I was also a trauma tech at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma (MIEMSS) in the Critical Care and Intensive Care Units. In the years between undergrad and law school, I sharpened my speaking and advocacy skills by leading two successful churches in Appalachia and Wisconsin. When not practicing the law throughout Virginia, I live with my wonderful wife, daughter, and dog in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Doug practices exclusively in the area of DWI and criminal defense. He represents clients throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and is also licensed in Minnesota and Wisconsin. For more than 30 years, Doug has successfully handled hundreds of DWI and criminal cases, including assault, theft, sex crimes and drug offenses. Over the past three decades, Doug has dedicated himself to providing excellent representation to criminal defendants. After graduating from Antioch College in Ohio, Doug went on to receive his law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He has attended the National College of DUI Defense conducted at Harvard Law School and was named a member to the college in 1997. In 2006, he became Minnesota's State Delegate to the College, serving in that post until 2022. Doug also enjoys the unique distinction of being one of only two criminal defense attorneys to complete the 2016 Borkenstein Course conducted at Indiana University which teaches the forensics of alcohol testing. He is a certified Intoxilyzer and DataMaster operator and fully trained in conducting NHTSA Standardized Field Sobriety Testing. In addition to his extensive courtroom experience, Doug frequently delivers lectures on DUI/DWI-related topics throughout the United States. His articles have appeared in Criminal Defense Techniques, Criminal Constitutional Law and the Hennepin Lawyer. In 2008 he wrote the Minnesota DWI Law Handbook, Volume 31 of Thomson Reuters Minnesota Practice Series, which is currently in its sixteenth printing. Doug is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National College for DUI Defense, DUI Defense Lawyers Association, and the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Paul Thomas is an experienced lawyer proudly serving Virginia Beach, Virginia and the neighboring communities. He practices law in the following areas: Personal Injury, Traffic law including DUI, Domestic Law and Condo Association Law.

Vincent Castellano is the founder of Castellano Law Firm PLLC and a lifelong Hampton Roads resident who focuses his practice on criminal defense and traffic violations throughout Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, and the surrounding communities. He represents clients facing charges involving DUI, drug crimes, sex crimes, violent crimes, white collar crimes, and other serious criminal allegations. Before founding his firm, Vincent served as a public defender in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, where he represented clients facing a broad range of misdemeanor and felony charges and gained substantial courtroom experience. His background also includes negotiating multimillion-dollar contracts at LightGrid LLC in support of the United States Armed Forces, giving him experience with high-stakes negotiations, detailed legal analysis, and complex agreements. As a solo attorney, Vincent works directly with each client and takes a practical, straightforward approach to legal representation. He earned his Juris Doctor from Regent University School of Law after receiving the Dean's Academic Merit Scholarship, holds a Master of Science in Education from Old Dominion University, and graduated cum laude from James Madison University with degrees in Philosophy and English. Vincent is a member of the Virginia State Bar and the National College for DUI Defense, and he was recognized as an Elite Lawyer in 2026. He brings his experience as an advocate, educator, and negotiator to each case, helping clients understand their options while preparing a focused defense tailored to the circumstances they face. If you are facing criminal or traffic charges in Hampton Roads, call Castellano Law Firm PLLC at 757-724-0073 or contact the firm online to schedule a free consultation with Vincent.