The attorneys of Compton & Duling are proud of our legacy in Prince William. We are also innovative thinkers who aren’t afraid to challenge norms.
Compton & Duling is steeped in the history of Northern Virginia, and we use our institutional memory to form new ways of thinking about clients’ problems. We are solution-seekers; let our history of excellence help bring you to your solution.
In 1968, C. Lacey Compton, Jr. began practicing law in Virginia. His father, C. Lacey Compton, Sr., was a real estate practitioner and a Prince William County judge. Like his father and brother before him, Lacey Jr. established a real estate practice in Manassas, providing representation in all facets of land use law and litigation. Lacey handled hundreds of rezoning requests and represented major developers in land use matters.
Under Lacey’s direction, the firm helped some of Prince William County’s most iconic real estate projects come to be: large Residential Planned Communities like Dale City and Braemar, commercial projects like Innovation @ Prince William, Potomac Mills and Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center, Neabsco Common, and Harbor Station mixed-use developments.
By the late 1970s, the firm had become Compton & Duling, based in Woodbridge, and had solidified as one of Prince William’s most well-regarded law firms. Now located directly across the street from the Prince William County Government Center, Compton & Duling continues to grow and service the needs of clients throughout Northern Virginia.
Since 1973, Thomas D. Duling has devoted his practice to elder law, estate planning, and business planning and transactions. Tom is currently Of Counsel to the Firm. Adding James Noel to the firm’s elder law and estate planning practice has brought depth and new opportunities for estate litigation.
With more than 35 years of real estate experience, Geary H. Rogers continues to represent developers in real estate and land use matters across the state of Virginia, from the Tidewater area to the Upper Shenandoah region of Northwest Virginia. Geary’s roots as a title examiner and his decades of experience in the world of complex title issues and intricate transactional documents have provided and continue to provide clients with alternative solutions for their projects. Geary recently moved to Of Counsel to the Firm.
Jason E. Hickman came to the firm in 2006 bringing vast experience in the areas of litigation, real estate, and business. Jason continues the historical practice of the firm in the area of real estate transactions and development, however, he adds wide ranging experience in his business practice. Jason has more than twenty-five years of experience and is active in the community and advises developers, business owners, and individuals with regard to their real estate and business needs.
Sherman Patrick, Jr., a land-use planner, is Compton & Duling’s Director of Zoning & Entitlements, representing clients in some of the region’s most complex rezoning and land planning projects. Sherman’s role as the former Zoning Administrator for Prince William County, his knowledge of Northern Virginia, where he grew up and has spent his entire life, and his relationships with staff, Planning Commissioners, and Supervisors have assisted in achieving wide-reaching success.
The firm’s litigation practice continues to expand with the addition of William Wides in 2022 and is now a vibrant shop of attorneys with an assertive focus on litigation in courts all over Northern Virginia. Bill focuses his litigation on business and real estate matters, including complex litigation in these areas–both through the administrative process and in the courts of Virginia, including the Supreme Court. In addition, the litigation attorneys represent an array of homeowners and condominium unit owner’s associations, as well as landlords and tenants in unlawful detainers, and various collections matters including post-judgment collections.
Partner Maryse Allen has anchored the family law and domestic relations practice since 2002 as a thriving group of attorneys experienced in the challenging balance of resolving family law issues. The addition of Nick Erickson has added to the practice and the knowledge of this evolving area of practice, which has been further enhanced with the addition of Monroe (Mike) Windsor.
Christopher Chipman has continued the firm’s association practice. Chris has a lengthy history of representing associations in all aspects of association law. From collections to board recommendations, he has assisted both small and large associations with all of their needs.
