Philip L. Hatchett
Biography
Philip’s practice emphasizes business formation and financing, as well as estate planning, tax and wealth transfer. Philip was a certified public accountant before attending law school. A native of the Peninsula, Philip has enjoyed many professional long-term relationships.
Representative Matters
- Represented estate fiduciaries before the Internal Revenue Service
- Served as counsel for creation of joint venture between client and Fortune 500
- Represented multiple parties in contested estate administration matters including being the court-appointed attorney to the state’s largest defalcation
- Represented and served as Virginia counsel in private-public military housing projects
- Coordinated and organized multiple family partnerships and limited liability companies to expand management governess and financing opportunities
Recognition & Honors
- Best Lawyers in America, Trust and Estates, 2002-2025
- Fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation, Class of 2024
- Oyster Point Rotary Club, Distinguished Member Award, 2022
- Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, Humanitarian Award, 2018
- Top Lawyers; CoVaBIZ, 2019-2021
- Virginia’s Legal Elite, Taxes and Estates & Trust; Virginia Business Magazine, 2007-2010, 2012-2013, 2016, 2021-2024
- American Red Cross, Hampton Roads Chapter Volunteer of the Year, 1996
- Omicron Delta Kappa, 1983
- The McNeil Law Society, University of Richmond, 1983
- University of Richmond Law Review, 1982-1984
- Virginia Duals Wrestling Tournament Grand Marshal, 2017
Associations
- Peninsula Pastoral Counseling Center, Vice President, 2017-2018; Vice President, 2019-2020; President, 2023-present; Executive Committee, 2020-present
- Hampton Roads Community Action Program, Board of Trustees, 2010-present; Executive Committee, 2014-present; Parliamentarian, 2020-present
- Peninsula Estate Planning Council, 1988-Present; Board of Trustees, 2012-2021; Secretary, 2015; Treasurer, 2016; Vice President, 2017-2018; President, 2019-2020
- City of Newport News Employees’ Retirement Board, Member, 1991-1998, 2001-2009, 2011-2021; Chairman, 1997-1998, 2007-2009, 2011-2012; Vice Chairman, 2013-2021
- City of Newport News Investment Committee, Member, 2007-2016
- Smart Beginnings of the Virginia Peninsula, Board of Directors, 2010-2018; Vice Chairman, 2011-2013; Chairman, 2013-2015; Secretary, 2017-2018
- Virginia Living Museum, Board of Trustees, 2012-2019; Executive Committee, 2015-2019
- Oyster Point Rotary Club, Member, 2005-present; Board of Trustees, 2013-2022
- Newport News Bar Association, Member, 1998-present
- Virginia Bar Association; Trust and Estates Section, Member, 1985-present
- American Red Cross Hampton Roads Chapter, Board Member, 1986-1996; Chairman, 1994-1995; Volunteer of the Year, 1996
- WHRO Board of Directors, Member, 2008-2014
- Hampton Public Library Foundation, Trustee, 2003-2014
- St. Andrews Episcopal Church Foundation, Trustee, 2002-2007, 2010-2015, 2017-2018; Chairman, 2005-2007 and 2017-present
- St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Vestry, 2010-2012
- The Chesapeake Retirement Advisory Board, Member, 2002-2008
- Eastern Virginia Medical School Foundation, Board of Directors, 1999-2008
- Virginia Symphony, Board of Directors, 2000-2007
- RBC Centura Bank Regional Advisory Board, Member 1998-2005; Co-Chairman, 2003-2005
- Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society, General Counsel, 2017-present
- Hampton Roads Civic Leaders Institute, Class of 2016
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Certified 1979
- Marriage Commissioner, since 2004-present
Court Admissions
- Eastern District of Virginia, 1984
- Federal Bar, 1984
Education
- Washington & Lee University; B.S., 1977
- University of Richmond School of Law; J.D, 1984
Past leadership positions
- WHRO Foundation Board Member, 2001-2008
- Regional Advisory Board RBC Centura Bank, 1998-2005; Co-Chairman, 2003-2005
- Virginia Symphony; Board of Directors, 2000-2007
- The Chesapeake Retirement Advisory Board, 2002-2008
- Eastern Virginia Medical School Foundation Board, 1998-2008
- Hampton Roads Chapter of the American Red Cross Board; Member, 1986-1996; Chairman, 1994-1995
- Peninsula-Williamsburg American Heart Association Walk Board; Member, 2000-2003; Chairman, 2002
- Hampton Bar Association; Treasurer, 1988-1989
Reported opinions and published articles
- F. Garcia Enterprises v. Enterprise Ford Tractor, 253 Va. 104, 480 S.E.2d 497 (1997)
- Brown v. Brown, 69 Va. App. 462, 820 S.E.2d 384 (2018)
- Kingsmill Cmty. Servs. Ass’n v. Kings-Mill United, Inc., Record No. 150159, 2015 Va. Unpub. LEXIS 25 (Dec. 10, 2015)
- Simonds v. Yancey, 7 Cir. CL1704240B-04 (2018)
- Sizemore v. Smith, 7 Cir. CL1502689M-05(2016)
- Saunders v. AMG National Trust Bank, 04 Cir. CL13009292 (2014)
- McCall v. Elver, 7 Cir 01638TF, 73 Va. Cir. 328 (2007)
- Davenport Exec. of the Estate of Walters v. Walters, 4 Cir. CH021854, 69 Va. Cir. 334 (2005)
- Michael E. Mares v. Estate of David Murray, U.S. Bankruptcy Ct, Eastern Dist. of Va. (1993)
Press & Publications
- 51 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2024
- 55 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America 2025, 7 Named “Lawyer of the Year,” and 13 Named “Ones to Watch”
- Philip L. Hatchett Inducted as Fellow in the Virginia Law Foundation Class of 2024
- 53 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2023
- 54 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America© 2024, 6 Named “Lawyer of the Year,” and 10 Named “Ones to Watch”
- 53 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2022
- 48 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers In America© 2023, 5 Named “Lawyer of the Year” and 8 Named “Ones to Watch”
- 52 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2021
- 48 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America© 2022, 4 Named “Lawyer of the Year” and 8 Named “Ones to Watch”
- 40 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Top Lawyers 2021 in CoVaBIZ Magazine
- 53 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2020
- 46 Attorneys Named “Best Lawyers in America 2021”, 5 Named “Lawyer of the Year” and 7 Named “Ones to Watch”
- 45 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named CoVaBIZ Magazine’s “Top Lawyers” 2020
- 45 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America 2020 and 3 Named “Lawyer of the Year”
- 40 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named as Top Lawyers 2019 in CoVaBiz Magazine
- 43 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named “Best Lawyers in America 2019” and 8 Named “Lawyers of the Year”
- Private Client Services Update – Estate Planning During Divorce
- 46 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America 2018
- 48 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2016
- 40 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America 2017
- 42 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2016
- Private Client Services Update – All is Not Lost: Copy of Will Lost by Corporate Fiduciary Admitted to Probate
- 42 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2015
- Transfer on Death Deeds: Additional Probate Avoidance Planning
- 54 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2013
- 42 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2014
- 55 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Virginia Business Magazine’s Legal Elite 2012
- 41 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2013
- 40 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2012
- Private Client Services Update – Careful Planning by Corporate Fiduciary Avoids Liability for Breach of Fiduciary Duty
- 36 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2011
- 35 Kaufman & Canoles Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America 2010