Joanna R. Steele

Associate
Steele Joanna

Joanna Steele advocates for clients of all sizes in commercial, construction, and government contracts litigation, real estate and zoning rights issues, and employee mobility disputes. Joanna has experience in all phases of litigation and has successfully secured judgments for her clients in state and federal courts through motions practice and second-chair trial experience, as well as outside of the courtroom through mediation and arbitration. Her diverse client portfolio and litigation experience provides Joanna with the ability to look beyond the litigation process and craft strategies that balances her client’s legal rights with their day-to-day business needs.

Experience

Representative Matters

  • Successfully defended a real estate developer in construction contract litigation. Secured dismissal with prejudice of a $3 million breach of contract claim and global settlement with co-defendants
  • Second-chaired a trial and argued motions resulting in a complete dismissal of an appeal challenging a town council's zoning decision under Code of Virginia 15.2-2306
  • Helped secure an emergency temporary restraining order for misappropriation of trade secrets for a government contractor client whose employee had corrupted client's Salesforce case management database

Credentials
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Education

  • J.D. magna cum laude University of Richmond School of Law 2020
    • Order of the Barristers
    • Virginia Trial Lawyers Student Advocacy Award
    • Robert A. Slimak Award for Outstanding Oral Advocacy
  • B.A. Philosophy University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 2013

Bar Admissions

  • Virginia
  • District of Columbia

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Community
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Pro Bono

  • Secured withholding of removal for client
  • Provides extensive pro bono work focusing on litigating state and federal fair housing claims
  • Mentors high-school, college, and law students interested in pursuing trial advocacy