Mr. Poretz, a seasoned trial attorney, holds the prestigious AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating, the highest rating given in both legal ability and ethical standards, by national lawyer rating service Martindale-Hubbell®. Mr. Poretz has been actively engaged in the practice of law for nearly twenty years and has appeared on behalf of his clients in state and federal courts hundreds of times. Mr. Poretz is effective at negotiating pre-trial settlements when needed; however, he excels at advancing his client’s interests in the courtroom.

Mr. Poretz’s trial experience began as a T. Brooke Howard Fellow with the Alexandria, Virginia Public Defender’s Office. Later, Mr. Poretz served as a judicial clerk to the Alexandria Circuit Court judges and continues to serve that Court as appointed counsel in a variety of civil and criminal cases, guardian ad litem, committee, trustee, and commissioner in chancery.

Mr. Poretz has represented numerous individuals and entities in a variety of criminal, civil, and administrative matters. Insurance company clients include Allstate Insurance Company, Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange, and USF Insurance. Institutional clients represented by Mr. Poretz include BB&T Bank, Amazon.com, United Way of the National Capital Area, the State of Maryland, and The Birchmere Music Hall. Mr. Poretz also regularly serves as local counsel in Virginia state courts and the Eastern District of Virginia.

A native of Alexandria and graduate of T.C. Williams High School, Mr. Poretz remains active in the community, regularly participating in a variety of pro bono matters. Mr. Poretz has served as pro bono of counsel to the Alexandria Public Defenders Office, and pro bono counsel for the Legal Aid Justice Center. He has participated in numerous other charitable endeavors. He is the former President of the Alexandria Bar Foundation, the former Chairman of the Beat the Odds scholarship program, is a former member of Alexandria’s Board of Zoning Appeals.

Mr. Poretz is a member of the Virginia State Bar, and the District of Columbia Bar, and the Alexandria Bar Association and lives in Alexandria with his wife and son.

Education

• J.D., George Mason University School of Law
• B.I.S., Business Legal Studies, with High Distinction, George Mason University

Bar Information

• Virginia State Bar
• District of Columbia Bar
• Eastern District of Virginia
• District of Columbia Federal Court