BLANKINGSHIP & KEITH, PC - Key Persons
A Fairfax native, Aneta earned her B.A. in psychology from James Madison University in 2013 and her J.D. from William & Mary Law School in 2017. Prior to joining the firm, Aneta completed a clerkship with the Honorable Daniel E. Ortiz at Fairfax County Circuit Court.
Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
Amy Bradley is passionate about seeking justice for her clients. She zealously protects their interests while guiding them through the legal process with a compassionate and relatable approach.
She works closely with her clients to strategize and achieve the best possible outcomes. Ms. Bradley's excellent work has been recognized by several organizations including Virginia Business Magazine, Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and Arlington Magazine.
Ms. Bradley's experience includes more than 100 bench and jury trials in civil and criminal cases. In personal injury matters, she represents clients who have sustained life-altering injuries from the negligence or unlawful behavior of others.
Before joining Blankingship & Keith, Ms. Bradley worked as in-house counsel for one of the country's largest insurance companies. From this experience she gained the unique insight needed to maximize recoveries for injured persons. Her ability to see both sides of a case allows her to anticipate defense strategies and prepare accordingly.
Ms. Bradley's route to becoming a lawyer was unusual. She was inspired to attend law school while working as a television investigative reporter and news anchor. She was nominated for an Emmy in recognition of her outstanding coverage of a double murder trial. Her reporting on high-profile court cases sparked her interest in the study of law, and her experience as a television journalist enhances her ability as an effective litigator.
Ms. Bradley is a devoted volunteer in the legal community. She has served on several Fairfax Bar Association committees, including co-chair of the General District Court Committee. She is a barrister of the George Mason Chapter of the American Inns of Court and participates in the Inns' international Pegasus Scholarship Program which hosts barristers from England as they tour the U.S. legal system. She is a member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and the Prince William County Bar. She routinely provides pro bono legal representation to victims of domestic abuse through Legal Services of Northern Virginia's Attorney of the Day Program, and she recruits other volunteer attorneys to the program through her work on Legal Services' Steering Committee. Ms. Bradley also volunteers her time to support Wills for Heroes, the Devonshire Program which supports at-risk high school students, and the Middle School Speaker and Court Tour programs. In addition, she regularly cooks and serves breakfast at Prince William County's community shelter.
Ashley Hamilton's practice focuses primarily on the area of Education Law and Litigation. Prior to joining Blankingship & Keith, Ashley clerked for Judge Stuart A. Raphael on the Virginia Court of Appeals.
Ashley earned her law degree at William & Mary Law School. She earned her B.A. from the College of William & Mary, majoring in Public Policy.
Practice Areas
Education Law and Litigation
Brian R. Sanderson joined the Firm in 2015 after 18 years in practice as a Principal with another local firm. He has tried cases to verdict in all of the local courts, including the Federal courts. He is a member of the Fairfax Bar Association, Defense Research Institute, and the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, Medical Malpractice Section.
Mr. Sanderson's practice is concentrated primarily in the representation of individual and institutional health care providers. He has defended the largest hospitals in the District of Columbia and Virginia, as well as community hospitals, emergency care centers, long-term care facilities, specialty and primary care practice groups, individual physicians and other licensed health care professionals.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Partner
- Blankingship & Keith As an Associate
Attorney Chidi I. James is an AV-rated attorney and a partner with the law firm of Blankingship & Keith, P.C. in Fairfax Virginia. His practice consists mostly of serious personal injury cases including wrongful death, products liability, and inadequate security cases.
Mr. James joined Blankingship & Keith as an associate in 2003, after serving as a Judicial Law Clerk to the judges of the Arlington County Circuit Court and completing the Judge Advocate General School Course at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. In December 2022, Chidi retired from the Air National Guard after 25 years of service.
Cynthia Santoni is a seasoned trial lawyer representing large and small health care institutions and individual physicians who have been accused of having committed medical malpractice. She regularly represents emergency physicians and emergency groups throughout Virginia. She is keenly aware that her clients have undergone a traumatic experience, and spends the time necessary to understand their needs, the facts in the case and the ramifications of any strategy.
Comfortable in a courtroom, she tries cases to verdict on a regular basis. She manages all phases of the litigation from the investigation, expert consultation, pleadings, mediation, arbitration and trial. She is licensed to practice in both the State and Federal Courts of Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. She is a member of the Fairfax Bar Association, Defense Research Institute, and the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, Medical Malpractice Section. Having more than 30 years of experience as a trial lawyer, she has additionally been lead counsel in numerous complex litigation matters outside of the health care realm, including mass torts, general liability, FELA matters and construction.
David Rust Clarke enjoys a reputation as an experienced and highly principled divorce lawyer. He has over 40 years experience in the area of family law. His practice includes representing clients in routine matters as well as divorce cases involving complex marital estates, custody and support. His clients over the years have included owners of closely held businesses, CEO's and other professionals.
Shunning the bombastic and confrontational style of some practitioners, David is best known for bringing a steadying influence to what is very often a highly charged emotional environment. Fully appreciative of the costs and uncertainties of litigation, David believes that before resorting to the courts his clients are well served by first attempting to reach an accord. However, when settlement is not attainable, clients may rely on David's skills as an experienced litigator and his familiarity with state court divorce proceedings.
Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
George Atkisson, et al. v. Wexford Associates, et al and Wexford Associates, et al. v. George Atkisson, et al., 254 Va. 449, 493 S.E.2d 524 (1997)
Job Titles:
- American Inn of Courts, Membership Chair
A Northern Virginia native, Ian earned his B.A. in Government from the University of Virginia in 2016, and his J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law in 2019. While attending Washington and Lee, Ian served as a Lead Articles Editor for the Washington and Lee Law Review. Upon graduation, Ian was made a member of the Washington and Lee University Chapter of the Order of the Coif.
Jeremy Root joined Blankingship & Keith in 2003, and became a partner in 2012. He practices primarily in the areas of foreclosures and creditor's rights, as well as commercial real estate and leasing.
Jeremy represents individuals and businesses in all aspects of commercial real estate. He serves as lender's counsel to private and institutional lenders organizing and drafting complex commercial loan instruments secured by multiple types of real estate collateral, including multi-use, commercial office, apartments, hotels, and churches. He also represents numerous buyers and sellers in the acquisition and financing of commercial real property, including the preparation or review of purchase contracts and conducting due diligence review. In addition, Jeremy represents both landlords and tenants in the preparation and negotiation of commercial leases and lease amendments, including ground leases and reciprocal easement agreements.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Co - Founder of Blankingship & Keith
John Keith is a co-founder of Blankingship & Keith. A native of Fairfax, he has been practicing law in Virginia courts since 1975. John has handled cases involving all sorts of commercial disputes including business torts, fraud, real estate, employment, and partnership and corporate fights of various types. John has also represented fiduciaries and beneficiaries in will contests and all varieties of trust and estate litigation. In addition, he has significant experience in legal malpractice defense cases.
An experienced mediator and arbitrator, John has also represented countless clients in all types of alternate dispute resolution proceedings. John also offers counsel and practical advice to businesses and law firms, particularly when they are restructuring or splitting up.
John Keith has tried numerous jury and non-jury trials in state and federal courts since 1975. Over the years, his cases have involved corporate disputes, contracts, real estate, legal malpractice, fiduciary matters and employment law.