Philip L. Hatchett < Attorney < Kaufman & Canoles

Biography

Philip currently serves as managing director of the firm’s Newport News office. 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.

Practices

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)

Philip L. Hatchett