Derrick L. Walker

Meet Derrick

Derrick Walker is a nationally recognized trial lawyer with a reputation as a courtroom powerhouse. Over the span of his 20-year career Derrick has achieved outstanding results for his clients in a wide array of personal injury matters, including multi-million dollar awards in cases involving wrongful death, tractor-trailer collisions, traumatic brain injuries, nursing homes, and medical malpractice.

Driven by an unwavering commitment to leveling the legal playing field for the injured, Derrick passionately advocates for his clients, often navigating ‘David vs. Goliath’ battles against insurance and corporate giants. Since the start of his career he has been known for securing important outcomes both at the negotiation table and in the courtroom. Some of Derrick’s career highlights include a $6.5 million award in a tractor-trailer collision case, a $5.5 million medical malpractice wrongful death verdict, $4.5 million award for a bicyclist struck by a commercial vehicle, a $3.25 million award in a head on tractor trailer collision case, and a $2 million verdict in a medical malpractice case involving a surgical error.

Recognized for his sterling reputation, Derrick holds an esteemed ‘AV’ peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell a distinction reserved for attorneys who consistently demonstrate the highest ethical standards. He has also been honored as one of Virginia’s Super Lawyers, representing the top 5% of legal practitioners in the state. Additionally, Derrick has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® from 2017 through the present.

Beyond his legal practice, Derrick remains deeply involved in moving the plaintiff’s trial bar forward. He is President Elect of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and serves on the American Association for Justice’s (formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America) Executive Committee. A sought-after speaker, Derrick presents regularly on trial advocacy skills and techniques, and legal ethics to trial lawyers all over the country.

Outside the courtroom, Derrick finds joy in spending quality time with his family – his wife, Melody, and their two daughters. Derrick also has a passion for food, wine, traveling and golf.

Experience

• Shareholder, Allen, Allen, Allen, & Allen (2019 – Present)
• Trial Attorney, Allen, Allen, Allen, & Allen (2015 – Present)
• Partner, Breit, Drescher, Imprevento & Walker (2010 – 2014)
• Litigation Associate, Breit, Drescher & Imprevento (2004 – 2010)
• Litigation Associate, Durrette Bradshaw PLC (2000 – 2004)

Bar Admissions

• Licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia

Court Admissions

• U.S. District Courts – Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court – Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia

Education

• J.D., University of Richmond School of Law (2000)
• B.A., Government, College of William and Mary (1994)

Honors

• American Association for Justice (AAJ) – Parliamentarian (2024)
• Minority Caucus for the American Association for Justice – Executive Committee (2023)
• Minority Caucus Stalwart Award – American Associaton for Justice (2023)
• Go To Lawyer for Medical Malpractice – Virginia Lawyers Weekly (2023)
• AAJ David S. Shrager President’s Award (2022)
• LawDragon – Top 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyer (2022)
• Best Lawyers in America – Litigation Edition (2020)
• Best Lawyers in America (2017 – Present)
• Virginia Super Lawyers (2013 – 2024)
• Listed as “Rising Star” in Virginia Super Lawyers (2007 – 2012)
• AV Peer Review Rated by Martindale Hubbell (highest possible rating)
• International Academy of Trial Lawyers Student Advocate Award
• AAJ Minority Caucus Leadership Award (2018)
• AAJ Distinguished Service Award Recipient (2020 and 2021)
• AAJ Wiedemann & Wysocki Award Recipient (2020)
• AAJ Above and Beyond Award Recipient (2021)

Professional Affiliations

• President-Elect, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (2024)
• Williamsburg Society Member – Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
• Adjunct Professor, University of Virginia (2019 – Present)
• Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
  • Past Chair – Federal Liaison
  • Past Chair – Diversity Committee
  • Past Chair – Fundraising Committee
  • Past Chair – Membership Committee
  • Past Chair – Insurance Legislative Subcommittee
  • Past Chair – Annual Convention Planning Committee
  • Strategic Planning Committee
  • VTLA PAC Trustee
• American Association for Justice
  • Member  – Executive Committee (2019)
  • Board Member, National College of Advocacy
  • Member – Budget Committee
  • Chair – Minority Caucus (2018)
  • Trustee – PAC Board of Trustees
  • Virginia Governor to the Board of Governors
  • Minority Caucus Delegate to the Board of Governors (2013)
  • Member – Organizational Review Committee
  • Member – Membership Oversight Committee
• Boyd Graves Conference Steering Committee (2008 – present)
• Virginia Model Jury Instruction Committee (Former)
• The Etheridge Society
• The Melvin Belli Society

Speaking Engagements

• “What Evidence you Need to Find, Investigate, and Analyze”, at the American Association for Justice’s Trial Advocacy College: Litigating Truck Collision Cases (June, 2024 Houston)
• “Decision Science: Understanding How Jurors Decide” at the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Annual Convention (April 2024)
• “Organizing Your Opening Statement”, Houston Trial Lawyers Association (February, 2024)
• “The Ethics of Virtual Consultations”, AAJ Annual Convention Philadelphia (2023)
• “Police Body Worn Camera: A New Source of Proof in Personal Injury Cases”, Melvin Belli Society Philadelphia (2023)
• “Waiting on the World to Change: Moderator Judicial Panel on Effective Practice in the Circuit Court in a Changing Landscape”, Virginia Trial Lawyers Annual Convention (2022)
• “Fighting Courtroom Secrecy”, AAJ Winter Convention (2022)
• “Helping Jurors Identify with Your Client”, AAJ Winter with the Stars (2021)
• “Ethical Considerations at Trial”, AAJ Winter Convention New Orleans (2021)
• “Litigating in a Post -Truth Era”, AAJ Winter Convention Maui (2021)
• Virginia CLE Seminar: “Tort-Related Damages” for VACLE (2020)
• “Using Breakeven Analysis to Establish the Financial Bias of an Expert Witness”, The Melvin Belli Society Boston, MA (2017)
• “Civility, Courtesy and Professionalism”, AAJ Winter Convention, Austin, TX (2017)
• “Social Media: Mining for Gold While Avoiding Danger”, South Carolina Association for Justice Advanced Trial Lawyer College Auto Torts XXXIX (2016)
• “Bread and Butter of Every Legal Practice – Rethinking Your Approach to Discovery and Motions CLE Program: Drafting Persuasive Motions in Limine”, AAJ Winter Convention, Palm Springs, CA (2015)
• “Sources of Coverage Seminar: The Family Automobile Policy”, Roanoke, VA (2014)
• “Use of Analogies in Closing Argument”, VTLA Masters of Advocacy Seminar, Norfolk, VA (2013)
• “Ethical Considerations in Cloud Computing”, AAJ Jazz Fest Seminar (New Orleans 2012)
• “Ethical Considerations in Cloud Computing”, AAJ Winter Convention (Miami February 2012)
• “Habit and Character Evidence”, VTLA Evidence CLE, Norfolk, VA (2011)
• “Ethical Use of Social Networking for Trial Lawyers”, AAJ Nursing Home Litigation Section Seminar, Las Vegas, NV (2011)
• “Effective Use of Medical Illustrations”, VTLA May Tort Seminar, Norfolk, VA (2011)
• “Defense Medical Exam Orders”, AAJ Jazz Fest Auto Seminar, New Orleans, LA (2011)
• “The Real Low Down on High/Lows, Mary Carter Agreements, and Other Skullduggery”, VTLA Journal (Presented VTLA Annual Convention)(2009)
• “Jury Trials 101 Virginia Poverty Law Center”, Annual Statewide Legal Aid Conference, Norfolk, VA (2008)

Notable Case Results

• Tractor-trailer collision resulting in traumatic brain injury. $6,500,000
• Medical malpractice case involving the failure to diagnose pulmonary embolism. $5,500,000
• Tractor-trailer collision involving a pedestrian. $4,500,000
• Tractor-trailer collision resulting in a traumatic brain injury. $3,250,000
• Medical malpractice case involving a retained foreign object resulting in a major infection. $2,000,000
• Medical malpractice case involving general surgeon’s failure to timely operate on a patient with a complete small bowel obstruction resulting in sepsis and death. $1,600,000
• Medical malpractice case involving radiologist’s failure to diagnose a renal cell carcinoma clearly visible on CT-scan. $1,500,000
• Wrongful death medical malpractice case involving an anesthesiologist’s failure to properly intubate an obstetrical patient during an emergency C-section. $1,350,000
• Medical malpractice case involving an anesthesia error during a dental procedure. $1,150,00
• Nursing home negligence involving a choking death caused by a lack of meal supervision. $1,149,56

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