Two partners at the Richmond personal injury firm Emroch & Kilduff have been named to The Best Lawyers in America for the first time. Christopher L. Spinelli and Philip S. "Ward" Marstiller Jr. were both recognized in the 2027 edition for Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs in Richmond. Spinelli handles medical malpractice and serious injury cases for the firm. Marstiller focuses on personal injury cases, and Virginia Super Lawyers has recognized him since 2013.
Two of their colleagues were already on the list. William B. Kilduff, a named partner who has been with the firm since 1979, has been listed in Best Lawyers since 2010. He is recognized for Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Edward J. McNelis III was recognized for Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs in both the 2026 and 2027 editions. With these additions, four of the firm's five attorneys now hold Best Lawyers recognition.
Emroch & Kilduff also received a Tier 1 ranking for Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs in the 2026 edition of Best Law Firms. "Chris and Ward have done this work the right way for a long time, and it means something when other lawyers notice," said Howard Bullock, managing partner of Emroch & Kilduff. "Bill and Ed set that standard here years ago. Seeing four of our attorneys on this list tells me we're still holding to it."
Best Lawyers chooses honorees through peer review. For the 33rd edition, released Aug. 20, 2026, more than 32,000 lawyers submitted 3.8 million evaluations. The list covers about the top 5 percent of practicing attorneys in the U.S., and Best Lawyers called this year's edition the most selective in the award's history.
The recognition matters for Long Beach and surrounding area readers because it signals a consistent standard of legal excellence at a firm that has represented injured people for over 50 years. Emroch & Kilduff, founded by Walter H. Emroch in 1970 and using its current name since 1998, represents only injured people and never insurance companies, corporations or hospitals. Its attorneys handle car and truck accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death and other serious injury cases from offices in Richmond and Tappahannock, and they have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for injured Virginians.
For the legal industry, the peer-reviewed nature of the Best Lawyers list underscores the value of reputation built on results, not advertising. For individuals and families in need of counsel, the addition of Spinelli and Marstiller to a list already featuring Kilduff and McNelis offers reassurance that the firm's depth of experience is recognized by other lawyers. As the legal market grows more competitive, such independent validation can guide consumers toward practitioners who have earned the respect of their peers. This development highlights how sustained commitment to client advocacy can elevate a firm's profile and, by extension, raise the bar for personal injury representation across the region.
