Practice Areas

From their offices in Norfolk and Smithfield, Virginia, attorneys in the law offices of Riddick Babineau, PC assist clients in an array of transactional and litigation matters. 

In the transactional arena, we advise clients on practical legal issues such as the proper business entity to form, important provisions to include in a contract, or the pros and cons of different estate planning vehicles.  Our civil litigation experience includes appearing in state and federal courts throughout Southeast Virginia at both the trial and appellate levels.  Whether the case involves a real estate contract dispute or a white collar criminal defense matter, we have the experience and expertise to defend your interests.

Criminal Defense

Criminal charges can place a person's property, liberty, or even life at stake.  We zealously guard our clients' constitutional rights to due process and fair trials.  If procedural errors or prosecutorial misconduct was involved in the handling of the case, we will pursue every avenue at the trial and on appeal to make sure our clients' civil liberties are rightly served.  We represent defendants through every stage of the criminal process, including:

• Arrests and Indictments
• Bail Hearings
• Plea Negotiations
• State and Federal Courts
• Direct Appeals
• Habeus Corpus Reviews

Personal Injury

If you have been seriously injured due to the negligence or wrongful acts of another party, you are entitled to be compensated for medical expenses, lost wages due to missed work, pain and suffering, and other damages caused by the incident. 

The attorneys are Riddick, Babineau investigate the cause of the accident to determine the legally responsible party.  Our aggressive personal injury lawyers agree to settle with the insurance companies only when a fair offer is presented, and will never hesitate to fight all the way through trials and appeals to ensure that you are fairly and fully compensated for the damages you have suffered.  We assist clients harmed due to:

• Automobile, Truck, and Motorcycle Accidents
• Medical Malpractice
• Products Liability
• Slips and Falls
• Maritime Personal Injury
• Wrongful Death
• Neck, Back, and Head Injuries

Real Estate

We represent buyers and sellers and plaintiffs and defendants in all manner of real estate transactions and disputes.  Our in-depth working knowledge of real estate law and transactions provides us with a strong background when litigating disputes in the courts or appearing before zoning boards or other government regulatory agencies.  Likewise, our litigation experience helps us in negotiating deals and drafting documents to make sure our clients' interests are protected.  Our attorneys regularly assist clients in connection with the following real estate matters:

• Residential and Commercial
• Transactions
• Litigation
• Contractor Disputes
• Land Development and Zoning
• Environmental and Toxic Concerns
• Partition and Ownership Issues

Trusts and Estates

Our lawyers understand the variety of vehicles that are available to avoid probate and minimize the time and expense it will take to distribute your estate to your intended beneficiaries.  We believe that a comprehensive estate plan does not focus solely on how to distribute the estate after death, but also considers issues of income and management of the estate during one's lifetime.  We advise clients on:

• Wills
• Living Trusts
• Living Wills
• Advance Medical Directives
• Powers of Attorney
• Trust and Estate Litigation
• Conservatorships & Guardianships
• Trust Administration
• Probate Administration

Business Law

The best way to prevent business disputes is to complete transactional work properly from the very start.  We work with your organization to craft legal documents that will minimize time, expense, and litigation headaches down the road.  However, when disputes do arise, our attorneys will do whatever is necessary to resolve the matter quickly and efficiently, so that you can return to business as usual as rapidly as possible.  Our experience in business law encompasses:

• Entity formation
• Contracts
• Employee Matters
• Litigation

Employment

Our attorneys are experienced in representing employees through their unions in negotiating and implementing agreements covering wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment.  When disputes arise regarding the correct interpretation or implementation of a contract or other agreement, we represent the aggrieved employees in negotiated grievance procedures or other avenues as necessary.   We can help with:

• Agreements
• Disputes
• Grievances
• Labor Union Representation

Divorce and Family Law

In a divorce in Virginia, marital property is divided by the court in an "equitable" manner.  Properly valuating each asset and correctly characterizing property as shared or separate are critical to a fair distribution.  How much spousal support is awarded, if any, is decided on a case-by-case basis based on a number of factors.  Whether the parties can come to an agreement on property and support issues, or if these matters must be decided by the judge, effective legal representation is essential to protecting your interests in a dissolution of marriage.  We can help you obtain a favorable result in:

• Support, Custody, and Visitation Arrangements
• Name Changes
• Adoptions

If you have a legal matter that requires the services of an experienced transactional attorney or litigator, contact Riddick Babineau, PC today for effective representation.