Marks & Harrison, a personal injury and workers' compensation law firm with offices across Virginia and the DC Metro region, is celebrating 115 years of continuous operation. Since its founding in 1911, the firm has recovered more than $1 billion in compensation for injured individuals and their families, a figure that underscores its long-standing influence in a legal field where access to skilled representation often determines whether victims can recover financially after an accident.
The firm's milestone matters not only for its longevity but also for the stability it represents in a practice area where clients are often at their most vulnerable. Over more than a century, Marks & Harrison has grown into one of Virginia's largest personal injury law firms, with 34 attorneys, more than 130 support staff, in-house investigators, and bilingual personnel across 14 offices. That infrastructure allows the firm to handle complex claims while maintaining what it describes as personalized legal representation, a balance that can be difficult for smaller practices to achieve.
The firm's early history was shaped by three attorneys whose public service and legal careers left a lasting mark on Virginia. David A. Harrison Jr., a University of Virginia School of Law graduate, served in the Virginia House of Delegates and secured the charter for the City of Hopewell, later becoming its mayor and first Commonwealth's Attorney. C. Hardaway Marks was a well-known trial lawyer and longtime Virginia politician who chaired the Courts of Justice and Corporations, Insurance, and Banking committees in the House of Delegates and received the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association's Distinguished Service Award. James A. Harrison was active in the Virginia State Bar's Labor Law Division and Committee on Nominations to the Supreme Court of Virginia, and in 1980 received the Arthur Sydney Bedell Award for his work in water pollution control. Their combined legacies in law and public service set a precedent that the firm continues to cite as part of its identity.
Professional recognition has followed the firm through the decades, with honors from organizations and publications including the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Martindale-Hubbell, Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, U.S. News & World Report, Virginia Lawyers Weekly, The Richmond-Times Dispatch, and The Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star. Such accolades can influence how potential clients choose representation, making them a meaningful part of the firm's reputation as it competes in a crowded legal market.
Beyond the courtroom, Marks & Harrison maintains longstanding community ties through support for organizations such as Ronald McDonald House Charities of Richmond, the Virginia Court Reporters Association, the Yellow Door Foundation, Haven House, Tappahannock RivahFest, Comfort Zone Camp, Toys for Tots, and Central Virginia Legal Aid Society. This year also marks the firm's 15th consecutive year sponsoring the WE CARE Festival, which supports residents of Richmond's Northside community.
"Reaching 115 years is an extraordinary milestone for Marks & Harrison," says personal injury attorney James G. Harrison III. "Though our firm has grown over the years, our commitment to obtaining justice for injured people has never wavered. We're honored to carry that legacy forward for many years to come." The firm's main office is located at 1500 Forest Avenue, Room 100, Richmond, Va., 23229, and it maintains 14 offices throughout Virginia and the DC Metro area.
