Bowman and Broke LLP
Landscape
Firm OverviewPractice AreasOur AttorneysVerdicts & DecisionsWhat's NewHome

Robert L. Wise 
Richmond, Virginia
Partner
phone 804.819.1134
fax 804.649.1762
email rob.wise@ric.bowmanandbrooke.com

Rob Wise focuses his practice on appeals and advanced trial motions support, intellectual property litigation and products liability defense.  His work also includes commercial, dealer and franchise, and employment litigation.

Rob's focus on appellate work began when he interned for Justice Elizabeth B. Lacy of the Supreme Court of Virginia.  He went on to win a national moot court competition, also taking home the award for the Best Petitioner's Brief.  In practice, he has handled a number of appeals before all levels of appellate courts in Virginia in both civil and administrative proceedings.  Rob also works closely with businesses to develop global strategies on difficult issues that can raise broader, company-wide concerns.

Rob's intellectual property practice involves mainly patent and trademark infringement litigation, which takes him all over the United States and beyond.  His products liability practice focuses primarily on representing manufacturers and businesses in catastrophic personal injury matters nationwide.

Rob is very active in several legal and professional organizations, including the Defense Research Institute ("DRI") and the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys ("VADA").  As the Webconference Chair for DRI's Appellate Advocacy Committee, Rob organizes and moderates panel discussions on legal developments and strategies important to a wide array of practice areas.  As that committee's Diversity Chair and liaison to DRI's Diversity Committee, he has an active role in implementing DRI's diversity initiatives.  He also served on VADA's Long-Range Planning Committee and its organizing committee for its 2008 Annual Meeting, and he now serves on VADA's Board of Directors.   In addition to speaking before VADA numerous times, Rob has also contributed articles to its publication, The Journal of Civil Litigation, as well as to DRI's Certworthy publication. 

When Rob is not practicing law, he can be found at University of Virginia sporting events, hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains with his family, or playing golf . . . badly.

Areas of Practice:
Appellate and Trial Support Practice
Automotive
Benzene Litigation
Business, Commercial and Financial Litigation
Dealer and Franchise Litigation
Employment Litigation
Intellectual Property Litigation
Product Liability
Litigation Percentage:
90% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions:
U.S. District Court Western District of Virginia, 2001
U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1999
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Virginia, 1998
Virginia, 1997
Education:
University of Richmond, The T.C. Williams School of Law, Richmond, Virginia, 1997
J.D.
Honors: Cum Laude
Honors: Champion, 1997 Judge John R. Brown National Admiralty Moot Court
Honors: Best Petitioner's Brief, 1997 Judge John R. Brown National Admiralty
Honors: Moot Court Board


University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, 1993
B.S.
Honors: Dean's List
Major:  Architecture


Published Works:
"Fed. R. Evid. 612 - Use It or Lose It", (with David E. Gluckman), In-House Defense Quarterly, Spring, 2009


"To Object or Not to Object?: An Exception to the Contemporaneous-Objection Rule", (with David E. Gluckman), Certworthy, Defense Research Institute's Appellate Advocacy Committee, Summer, 2008


"Setoff in Tort Cases under Virginia Code Section 8.01-35.1 - For What, When, and for How Much?", The Journal of Civil Litigation, Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, Spring, 2008


"Manufacturers Win Another Battle in the Preemption War", Common Law Journal Digest, February, 2008


"Life After Benitez: Same As It Ever Was or A Brand New Day?", Virginia State Bar Litigation News, Summer, 2007


"Spoliation After Silvestri: The Good, The Bad and The Sometimes Ugly", The Journal of Civil Litigation, Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, Fall, 2004


Representative Cases:
Tunnell v. Ford Motor Co., WL 2197067 (4th Cir. (Va.) 2007)
Adalis Corp. v. Forbo Adhesives, LLC, WL 673764 (M.D.N.C. 2007)
Smith v. General Motors Corp., 376 F. Supp. 2d 664 (W.D. Va. 2005)
Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Inc. v. Com ex rel. Virginia State Water Control Board, 616 S.E.2d 39, 46 Va. App. 104 (Va. 2005)
Linear Products, Inc. v. Marotech, Inc., 189 F. Supp. 2d 461 (W.D. Va 2002)
Fulcher v. Virginia Electric and Power Co., 60 Va. Cir. 199 (Norfolk 2002)
Classes/Seminars Taught:
"The Art of Persuasion: Effective Written Advocacy", Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys Annual Meeting, Moderator, October 2008


"What General Counsel Wants in Outside Counsel", Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys Annual Meeting, Moderator, October 2008


"Sometimes the Best Defense is a Good Offense: Use of Bell Atlantic, Inc. v. Twombly", Defense Research Institute Webconference, Moderator, August 2008


"Virginia Products Liability Law: Good News, Bad News", Virginia Manufacturers Association, Presenter, August 2008


"Effective Uses of Affirmative Defenses", Richmond Bar Association, Panelist, April 2007


"Failure to Warn in Virginia: Where We are and a Path to Consider Taking Together", Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, Presenter, October 2006


"Virginia State Bar Course on Professionalism", General Workshop and Intellectual Property Workshop Sessions, Virginia State Bar Association, Faculty, July 2006-July 2008


"Yes, Virginia, There is Accident Reconstruction Expert Testimony in this State", Bowman and Brooke In- House, Presenter, June 2006


"The Impact on Non-Settling Defendants of Stipulations in Releases Between Plaintiff and Co-Defendant", Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, Presenter, May 2006


"Spoliation Since Silvestri", Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, Presenter, May 2004


"Are Your Contracts Working As Hard For You As They Should?", Remodelers Council of Home Builders Association of Virginia, Presenter, October 2001


Professional Associations and Memberships:
American Bar Association


Defense Research Institute, 2003-Present - Appellate Advocacy Committee; Webconference Subcommittee Chair; Diversity Subcommittee Chair; Diversity Liaison


Richmond Bar Association, 1997 - Present
Environmental Law Section, Board Member 2005 - 2006


Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, 2002-Present - Board of Directors, Member, 2008-2011; Annual Meeting Planning Committee, Member, 2007-2008; Long Range Planning Committee, Member, 2006


Virginia Bar Association, 1997 - Present


Virginia Manufacturers Association


Virginia State Bar, 1997 - Present
Litigation Section, Appellate Practice Subcommittee


Past Employment Positions:
Meyer, Goergen & Marrs, P.C., Associate, 1997 - 2001


Pro Bono Activities:
Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Outside Counsel, February 1, 2003 - Present
Birth Information:
1970, New Haven, Connecticut

From boardroom to courtroom