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Biography

In a profession where some attorneys tell clients what they want to hear, Buckley stands apart-he tells clients what they need to know whether they like it or not. This candor is more than a personal trait; it’s a strategic asset in Buckley’s litigation and general counsel practice. He represents individuals and businesses in complex disputes in many different industries, usually related to construction and fire suppression issues. His clients rely on him not just for litigation, but for contract and
business process improvements as general counsel. Buckley’s career began with a trial by fire. After his first... boss passed away just five months into practice, his second mentor placed “enormous faith” in him, entrusting him with solo jury trials in his first year. “I was thrown in the deep end and nearly sank several times,” Buckley recalls. “But I survived. What doesn’t kill you makes you an excellent trial attorney.”
He’s served as first-chair counsel in complex matters in state and federal courts, handling multi-party cases from coast to coast. Whether the stakes involve seven figures or a few thousand dollars, Buckley approaches each case with the same intensity and focus: achieving the client’s goal efficiently and effectively. When trial is inevitable, Buckley thrives. His courtroom presence gives clients an edge in a world where litigation often inspires fear. He’s especially skilled in bet-the-company cases, where creative strategy and relentless advocacy are paramount. “I love solving problems that need creative solutions,” he says. “I’m your attorney when you have a novel claim that needs a novel path—usually with no insurance, scarce resources, and time pressure, just to make it interesting.”
One of Buckley’s favorite tools? Depositions. “I have a knack for spotting deception and asking questions for hours to uncover what a witness is hiding,” he says. “Taking a deposition that settles a case is deeply satisfying—and I’ve had the pleasure of doing it several times.” Outside the courtroom, Buckley serves as outside general counsel to both local and national businesses. He advises clients from startup through expansion and exit, helping them navigate contracts, refine internal policies, and strike deals that balance risk and reward. His ability to translate complex legal concepts into actionable, goal-oriented advice has earned him lasting client loyalty.

In a unique specialty, Buckley also investigates fire and fire suppression-related incidents nationwide. Working closely with technical experts, he analyzes catastrophic losses and assesses compliance with National Fire Protection Association standards for wet, dry, and foam systems across diverse applications. Buckley has been to dozens of incident scenes over the last ten years to investigate

primarily sprinkler-related claims under NFPA 13 and 25 and pre-engineered system claims under NFPA 17 and 17A.

Buckley Warden brings deep experience, fearless advocacy, and practical insight to every matter he handles. Whether in litigation, counsel, or crisis, he’s the attorney clients trust when the stakes are high, and the path forward isn’t obvious.

Experience

  • Breach of contract matters for all manner of contracts on all topics
  • Business splitting or reorganization resolution
  • Professional disciplinary and licensure disputes
  • Non-compete and non-solicit analysis and enforcement
  • Tort experience for plaintiff and defense claims involving fraud, defamation, and tortious interference
  • Contract negotiations, drafting, and training implementation for sales force and management
  • Drafting and amending corporate documents including operating agreements, by-laws, handbooks,
    and owner agreements
  • Drafting and amending company drug, safety, and travel policies
  • Catlett v. Winchester Medical Center (2016-2018). Won a $5 million defamation claim by a doctor
    against the health system. Buckley represented the hospital and Vice President of Medical Affairs, and
    won the verdict after five-day jury trial.
  • Taylor & Parrish v. Graves (2017-2018). A seven-figure business split dispute involving declaratory
    judgment claims over the interpretation of the operating agreement buy-out provisions.
  • Sennett v. Major Clarity (2017-2018). A seven-figure business split dispute involving interpretation of
    the operating agreement and company intellectual property contracts.
  • Huh v. Allianz (2017). A seven-figure non-compete and tortious interference with a contract dispute
    involving a departing executive insurance employee.
  • Commerce Statler v. Fire & Life Safety America et al. (2018-2019). A seven-figure construction defect
    case in Texas for Richmond-based company. Successfully removed the client from the litigation, while
    maintaining the relationship with the owner and general contractor.

Awards/Honors

  • International Law Office and Lexology 2018 Client Choice Awards, Virginia Litigation Attorney,
    exclusive winner
  • Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Commercial Litigation
    (2021-2026), Litigation – Health Care (2021-2023), and Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law
    (2024); Litigation – Construction (2026)
  • Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite,” Young Lawyer (2014, 2019); Civil Litigation category (2017-
    2018); Construction (2019-2024)
  • Selected to the Super Lawyers List, Civil Litigation: Defense “Rising Stars” category (2013-2021);
    General Litigation “Rising Stars” category (2022); General Litigation category (2025)

Education

  • Furman University, B.A., Political Science and Philosophy, magna cum laude
  • Law clerk to The Honorable G. Edward Welmaker
  • University of Richmond School of Law, J.D. magna cum laude

Admissions

State
  • South Carolina
  • Virginia
Court
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia

Outside of Work

Outside of the office, Buckley loves cheering on his two sons, Logan and Grayson, as they play football and basketball. Buckley also runs weekly to keep up with his growing boys. Continuing with the brutal honesty thing: Buckley is a terrible golfer. Buckley also enjoys teaching introductory Business Law at University of Richmond.

Intern Program

As part of our effort to recruit, develop and retail the best and brightest attorneys, Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig offers a summer intern program for promising law school students who are looking to work as part of an innovative and incredibly successful team. With a global team of lawyers, selected candidates are able to work on high level projects in a collaborative space.

Paralegals and Legal Support Staff

At Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig, our team of paralegals and staff work together collaboratively along side our attorneys toward a common goal. We have created a positive work environment where our paralegals and legal assistants work to successfully reach firm-wide goals and support each other to combine individual strengths to enhance team performance. They regularly assist our attorneys with organizing and maintaining files, conducting legal research, and preparing documents.