Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig

10/22/2026

This past weekend, DBL Senior Associate Hyung-Gyu (Leo) Sun returned to his alma mater, the College of William & Mary, to serve as a judge at the 2026 Colonial Classic Invitational Tournament, hosted by William & Mary Mock Trial on October 17–18. The Colonial Classic is William & Mary’s annual invitational, drawing undergraduate mock trial teams from across the region for a weekend of competitive trial advocacy, with practicing attorneys and judges volunteering to score the rounds and give the students feedback. Thank you, Leo, for dedicating your time to the next generation of advocates and for giving back to the program that helped shape your path. Supporting students and the legal community is part of who we are at DBL.

"Well-prepared, composed, and serious about the work. That’s most of the job, and the students had it." –Hyung-Gyu (Leo) Sun

10/20/2026

Last week, we welcomed our team to the Tysons office for another Connect Day. CEO DeAnna Burke and Partner William Flachsbart led presentations on the responsible use of AI in legal practice, a topic of growing importance to our clients and our profession. The day concluded with the panel "How to Capture Clients & New Business," moderated by CMO Aimee Panichella McKinney and featured Partners Thomas Dunlap, David Ludwig, and Wright Lewis. We are grateful to everyone who participated and look forward to the next one!

10/16/2026

If an insurer denies a medication you need and cannot safely stop taking, you can appeal that decision. However, the ordinary appeal calendar, which runs thirty to sixty days, may take too long. Virginia and D.C. law both build a faster track for exactly this situation. Here is what you need to know.

Read more: https://www.dbllawyers.com/your-options-in-virginia-and-dc-health-insurance-denied-medication/

By: Alex Rowan

10/06/2026

Congratulations to DBL Partner Buckley Warden who recently became the only attorney member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 17A Technical Committee. His legal perspective will be a valuable addition to the committee's work on fire protection standards. We are proud to have him on our team!

10/01/2026

If you own a Washington business, your company is probably your legacy and your largest asset causing a future-potential liquidity problem. If your business is growing, this can push your estate’s net worth past the Washington state ($3 million per person in 2026) or federal estate tax exemptions ($15 million per person for 2026) creating potential tax liability that must be paid by your estate.

Read more: https://www.dbllawyers.com/business-legacy-planning-in-washington/

By: Dubs Herschlip

09/30/2026

There are many new business owners who have some confusion regarding what copyright is and why it is important. For content creators, musicians, authors, graphic designers, photographers, influencers, production companies, designers in the fashion industry, and artists, copyright is even more critical to comprehend.

Read more: https://www.dbllawyers.com/copyright-registration-why-you-should-register-before-infringement-occurs/

By: Chris Arakaky

For entrepreneurs, registering their work with the United States Copyright Office should happen as soon as possible to stop others from undermining their business efforts.

09/30/2026

After another year of cannabis existing in a legal grey area – with some states allowing recreational and medical ma*****na and the federal government barely enforcing the Controlled Substance Act against cannabis companies – 2025 brought an interesting ruling from the United States District Court for the District of Colorado.

Read more: https://www.dbllawyers.com/cannabis-trademarks-in-federal-court-bbk-tobacco-decision-for-2026/

By: Michael Shafer

After another year of cannabis existing in a legal grey area – with some states allowing recreational and medical ma*****na and the federal government barely enforcing...

09/30/2026

From disputes between neighbors to conflicts involving commercial construction, trespass to property is a significant legal issue that can arise in various contexts. In Virginia, the law provides a framework for addressing these matters, particularly regarding the measure of damages that may be recovered by property owners.

Read more: https://www.dbllawyers.com/understanding-trespass-damages-to-real-property-in-virginia/

By: Andy Webb

09/29/2026

You named the brand, poured a marketing budget into it, launched it, and started collecting invoices. Then a routine search, or worse, a letter in the mail, tells you that another business has been using a confusingly similar or even identical mark for the same goods or services. The instinct is to assume the worst; do I have to rebuild the brand? Did I just waste my marketing budget? Or should I anticipate a lawsuit?

Read more: https://www.dbllawyers.com/someone-else-is-already-using-an-identical-mark-to-mine-options/

By: Jane Cho

09/25/2026

Anyone who has chased a federal contract knows the moment. The award goes to a competitor, and the company has a short window to decide whether to protest, where to file, and whether it’s even worth it. The FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (“NDAA”) just made that decision more complicated, and not in the way most of the coverage suggests.

Read more: https://www.dbllawyers.com/what-the-fy2026-ndaa-changes-for-bid-protests/

By: Leo Sun