Ted G. Yoakam, J.D.

Ted is a co-founder and the managing partner of Yoakam & Etheridge, PLC in Virginia Beach, Virginia.  He is a graduate of Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach, Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.  Ted is admitted to practice in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Ted's law practice includes medical malpractice defense, mass toxic torts, environmental damage and contamination, catastrophic injury, brain injury, health care law, hospital risk management and quality assurance, guardianship and medical consent, hospital and physician credentialing and medical board defense, and general litigation.

Ted Yoakam is also developing a ground breaking practice involving the effect certain coal ash sites have upon the air, drinking water, and general health of nearby residents.  When informed that "60 Minutes" would be doing a story on coal ash waste, Ted carefully considered the public's right to know about threats to its safety and measures aimed at assuring its security.  On October 4, 2009, Ted's interview aired on "60 Minutes" as part of a story titled Coal Ash: 130 Million Tons of Waste.

In addition to his practice in circuit courts around the Commonwealth of Virginia, Ted regularly practices before the Supreme Court of Virginia.  Additionally, Ted also maintains an active federal practice in the Eastern District of Virginia and has argued before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

Ted is a member of the Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association, the Virginia Beach Bar Association, the Virginia State Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, the Virginia Society of Hospital Risk Managers, and the Knights of Columbus.

He is a former Chair of the Mentor Program of the Virginia Beach Bar Association.

Ted has also lectured on Trial Practice for Virginia lawyers, sponsored by the Virginia Law Foundation, in 2006 through 2009.  Ted also presents tutorials for healthcare providers on medical-legal topics.

Ted and his family are active members of Holy Family Parish in Virginia Beach.  He enjoys boating the waters in and around Chesapeake Bay with friends and family.  Ted also enjoys diving, racquetball, water and snow skiing, riding all terrain vehicles, and snowmobiling.  Ted and his family also enjoy relaxing at the beach with Buffet, his yellow Labrador Retriever.

Robert N. Etheridge, J.D.

Robert N. ("Rob") Etheridge is a co-founder and a partner in the law firm of Yoakam & Etheridge, PLC located in the City of Virginia Beach, Virginia.  He is a member of the Virginia Bar Association.

Rob Etheridge grew up in Norfolk, Virginia, and attended Maury High School.  Rob earned his B.A. degree from the University of Richmond in 1987.  After working several years for Southern Title Insurance Corporation, he decided to attend the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond from which he graduated in 1996.

While attending the T.C. Williams School of Law, Rob helped to found The Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest, formerly Perspectives on Law and The Public Interest.  He served initially as a Planning Committee Member and then as Editor-at-Large.

Currently, Rob Etheridge focuses much of his practice on toxic torts and environmental law litigation. 

With almost two decades of real estate experience, Rob also dedicates much of his practice to real estate matters, including contract negotiations, commercial transactions, lease reviews, and the resolution of complex title issues.  He also engages in other general practice matters, including corporate law, wills, and trusts.

Rob's family has resided in eastern Virginia for many generations.  Rob is proud of his and his extended family's involvement in many civic activities in Greater Hampton Roads, a geographic region crossing several city borders.  He has participated with a number of local endeavors, including projects sponsored by Habitat for Humanity, the Elizabeth River Project, and Larchmont United Methodist Church.

In his spare time, Rob enjoys spending time with his many nieces and nephews in our area.

Kathleen A. Lowery

Kathleen Lowery is the Administrator of Yoakam & Etheridge, PLC.  She is a graduate of Kempsville High School and Commonwealth College, both in Virginia Beach, Virginia.  She has over 25 years of legal experience as a paralegal.  In addition to acting as the firm's Administrator, she also assists with the firm's medical malpractice defense work and its trial practice.

Kathleen is married, has two children, and spends most of her free time with her family in Chesapeake, Virginia.