Ms. Watkins’ federal practice focuses on cases before various administrative agencies — including the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) – as well as security clearance cases before the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA), the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency Consolidated Adjudication Services (DCSA CAS), numerous cases before the Intelligence Community and before other federal agencies. In 2022, Ms. Watkins was selected for membership in the Security Clearance Lawyers Association by her peers. Ms. Watkins also advises private sector and municipal employees in the District of Columbia in various types of investigations, grievance procedures, disciplinary actions, whistleblower issues, and equal employment opportunity (EEO) matters. Ms. Watkins also focuses on various administrative matters involving federal law enforcement officers. Ms. Watkins has several years of litigation background and has guided countless clients through depositions and trial proceedings. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Watkins worked as an attorney advisor for the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, the appellate division of the Department of Veterans Affairs, authoring appeals decisions to resolve cases arising from Veterans benefits disputes. During law school, Ms. Watkins worked as a legal intern with the Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Prisons, providing legal support to DOJ attorneys on a variety of cases involving matters such as correctional law and litigation, civil rights disputes, mental health hearings, and FTCA claims. Prior to her legal training, Ms. Watkins obtained her undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University where she double majored in History and Political Science. While attending Wake Forest, Ms. Watkins also participated as a member of the University’s Equestrian Team. Ms. Watkins is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia and before federal agencies nationwide.

Nicole H. Naum is a Partner and founding member of Battlefield Law Group PLLC. Ms. Naum is a trial attorney who has dedicated her career to protecting the rights and interests of her clients in the area of criminal and traffic defense. She knew from a very early age that she wanted to be a lawyer. At that time, she only knew that she wanted to help but now knows that defending client’s rights is rewarding and delightfully challenging Nicole attended the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor where she received a Bachelor’s of Science in Mathematical Sciences. Upon completing this degree in 2004, she worked as a paralegal for one year at Carmel & Carmel, PC, a small real estate law firm in Washington, DC which focused on out-of-state land sales. During this time, she prepared to attend law school. Being raise in Bloomfield Hills, MI, where her grandmother, one of her closest friends lived, she returned to Michigan for law school. December 2008, Ms. Naum graduated in the top 25% of her class from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. While attending school, Nicole excelled in course work relating to criminal law and choose electives in this area: Advanced Sentencing, Death Penalty Law, Criminal Procedure, Criminal Law, Juveniles in the Law, and Evidence. Upon graduating, she moved back to the VA/DC/MD area where she had enjoyed working before. Her career as an attorney began at two small law firms: one in Fairfax, VA and at Mansoor Law Firm in Loudoun, VA where she represented clients in all Northern Virginia jurisdictions in criminal and traffic cases. May 2012, Nicole Naum joined the firm of Price Benowitz, LLP where she was able to focus her practice on matters in Prince William County and Culpeper County. During these years of practice, Nicole successfully litigated hundreds of criminal matters including, misdemeanors and felonies, and traffic cases with favorable results. She has appeared numerous times in City of Alexandria and Counties of Arlington, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince William and also appeared in Counties of Albemarle, Greene, Stafford, and Warren and Cities of Shenandoah and Charlottesville. She prides herself in maintaining client relations through communication and diligent representation.

Concentrating in both personal injury and worker’s compensation law, Joseph Curran is an attorney with more than 30 years of experience, including a proven track record handling injury-related cases. He is a member of the Virginia State Bar, Maryland State Bar, the Prince William County Bar Association, the Winchester Bar Association, the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, and formerly served on the Fifth District Disciplinary Committee. He is also actively involved in the Prince William County and City of Winchester communities where he has lived for more than 50 years. To schedule your free consultation today, give us a call at 540-662-4222 or complete our contact form.

With over 25 years of experience in law, Attorney White has a broad range of expertise. Handling of criminal, DUI and traffic offenses with extensive litigation and jury trial experience. Served as a prosecutor for Marion County, Indiana where he focused on drug-related crimes and fought for drug rehabilitation instead of jail time where it was warranted. Extensive experience in real estate law.

Nicole M. Burns has practiced family law in Northern Virginia for over a decade, handling everything from complex custody disputes and domestic violence cases to amicable divorces and post-judgment matters. She offers both litigation and settlement-focused services, using mediation and collaborative law when appropriate to help clients resolve issues with less conflict. Her background in psychology—combined with real-life parenting experience, including raising a child with special needs—gives her a grounded, empathetic approach to family law. Nicole earned her law degree from George Mason University and graduated with honors from the Catholic University of America. She is a member of the Fairfax and Prince William County Bar Associations and the Virginia State Bar. Ready to move forward with confidence? Call Nicole M. Burns today at 703-373-4761 or complete our contact form to discuss how she can help you protect your family and your future.

Brian Coleman is the Managing Partner of Locklin & Coleman, PLLC and a Virginia personal injury attorney with deep courtroom experience, strategic insight, and a strong record of professional recognition. He began his legal career as a Judicial Law Clerk in the Prince William County Circuit Court and later spent seven years as a trial attorney for a major insurance company defending complex injury and wrongful death claims. Since returning to represent injured individuals in 2017, he has drawn on that background in cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, premises liability, catastrophic injuries, and wrongful death. Mr. Coleman has been recognized by Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers, Northern Virginia Magazine, and Elite Lawyer. He is also a Life Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and is part of a firm that supports students through the Helping Others Heal Scholarship.

Andrew Lindsey is a valued member of the firm’s Northern Virginia legal team, but has litigated criminal cases from border to border of the Commonwealth. He has won the trust, praise, and respect of prosecutors and judges in multiple jurisdictions, as well as the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission. He has experience resolving cases before trial, or reducing a clients' sentence who hired him after their initial trial was lost. Andrew believes that criminal cases are not decided by truth nor fairness, but by evidence. As a result, his approach to criminal cases is heavily centered on controlling and anticipating the evidence that would be presented by both sides at trial. Despite the Virginia Rules of Evidence being both technical and strict, he is known for pursuing creative ways to get preferred facts and arguments translated into admissible evidence for his clients. Andrew views criminal defense litigation as a team-based effort. This includes having valuable relationships with current judges and prosecutors who were prior criminal defense colleagues. Additionally, he consults his clients through each decision and step of their case, empowering them to make decisions by clearly explaining the legal context of any issues that may arise. At the same time, he prepares clients for the large amount of uncertainty involved in the local criminal justice system, and is ready to adapt case strategies based on dynamically-unfolding circumstances. He has a successful track record of resolving cases before trial with legal motions or favorable plea negotiations, and is highly successful in restoring gun rights throughout NoVA. Andrew has been practicing criminal defense law in the Commonwealth of Virginia since he graduated from law school, and prides himself on providing unrelenting and creative legal advocacy for every single client charged with any kind of crime. With almost a decade of experience exclusively in VA criminal defense law, he has handled multiple appeals to the Virginia Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Virginia, and has even overturned sentences imposed by the Virginia Parole Board long after criminal cases have ended. In order to continually provide exceptional service, Andrew also attends well over the 12 hours’ worth of required Virginia Continuing Legal Education (“CLE”) trainings each year. Andrew graduated cum laude from William & Mary Law School, where he focused in civil rights & criminal law. As a law student, he received top grades in relevant coursework, participated in criminal law moot court competitions, and wrote multiple scholarly articles published in William & Mary’s legal internet blogs, as well as its nationally-renowned Bill of Rights Journal, including his article on Virginia capital punishment. He also acquired valuable experience working for defense attorneys, prosecutors, and judges alike at the state and federal levels in Virginia and Washington, D.C: including Virginia’s Central Capital Defender Office, the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice, and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. After law school, Andrew spent four years defending Virginians from criminal prosecutions as an attorney in the Alexandria and Suffolk Public Defender offices, as well as a private criminal defense attorney in Fairfax and Prince William Counties. In that time, he worked on cases ranging from the lowest of misdemeanors to the highest of felonies covered by the news media, and consistently satisfied clients of all different financial and cultural backgrounds. Andrew lives in Fairfax County, Virginia and is happily married with children. Although originally from Texas, he keeps regular company with family and family friends in the DMV area, as well as further south along the East Coast. He primarily enjoys visiting breweries, distilleries, comedy clubs, and state/national parks and is a regular runner.

Scott Nolan is a Partner in the Virginia Criminal Defense practice, representing clients in both state and federal courts. He is known for his direct, rights-focused advocacy and his commitment to providing clear guidance and strong defense strategies at every stage of a case. Scott concentrates his practice on criminal defense, with a focus on DUI, reckless driving, drug offenses, and serious felony cases. He has handled a high volume of matters from pre-arrest representation through trial and appeal and brings a strategic, detail-driven approach to negotiations and litigation alike. He earned his law degree from George Mason University and holds advanced degrees in national security studies and political science. Prior to practicing law, Scott served in the United States Navy and worked in national security-related roles, experiences that shaped his disciplined approach and deep respect for constitutional protections.

Attorney Josue Ruiz is an experienced advocate practicing immigration law across the United States and Puerto Rico and personal injury law in Puerto Rico. He can provide assistance with family preference visas, immediate relative visas, fiancé (K) visas, green cards, professional work visas, green cards through employer, waivers of inadmissability, VAWA & U visas, DACA & special immigrant juvenile law, and asylum. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Puerto Rico School of Law in 2011 and has been a member of the Puerto Rico Bar since 2012. Josue is also an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Fluent in both English and Spanish, he is dedicated to providing personalized legal representation and effective advocacy for a diverse range of clients. Call 571-441-2233 to speak to Mr. Ruiz at Immigration Legal Advisors, PLLC.

Cherita Lewis is a Criminal Defense Attorney serving clients across Northern Virginia with a balanced, informed, and deeply client-centered approach. With experience on both sides of the courtroom and a strong foundation in legal analysis, Cherita brings clarity, strategy, and steady support to individuals facing difficult and often overwhelming circumstances. Cherita believes every client deserves compassion, honesty, and a clear understanding of their options. She is known for her ability to explain complex issues, anticipate how the prosecution may build its case, and guide clients through an often overwhelming process with confidence and support. Cherita’s legal career spans criminal defense, litigation, and federal agency advisory work. She has represented clients in a wide range of matters, including misdemeanors, serious felony charges, protective orders, and traffic-related offenses, maintaining a strong track record across these areas. Her background includes experience as an attorney advisor within a federal agency, where she strengthened her skills in legal analysis and detailed case assessment. She later gained valuable courtroom experience through litigation work, including family law matters handled through a local pro bono center. Her transition into criminal law, supported by experience as a prosecutor, provides her with a comprehensive understanding of case-building and trial preparation. At the University of the District of Columbia, Cherita graduated with honors and contributed to Law Review, Phi Delta Phi, and the Women’s Law Society. Originally from a military and multicultural family, she has lived in various regions of the country, attended high school and college in Texas, and has made the DMV her home for many years. Outside of her legal work, Cherita enjoys exploring new learning opportunities, staying connected to the legal community, and engaging with clients and colleagues in meaningful, supportive ways