Two partners at the Richmond personal injury firm Emroch & Kilduff have been named to The Best Lawyers in America for the first time. Christopher L. Spinelli and Philip S. "Ward" Marstiller Jr. were both recognized in the 2027 edition for Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs in Richmond. Spinelli handles medical malpractice and serious injury cases for the firm. Marstiller focuses on personal injury cases and has been recognized by Virginia Super Lawyers since 2013.
The recognition matters beyond the individual honors because it expands the roster of firm attorneys who have received this peer-reviewed distinction. Two of their colleagues were already on the list. William B. Kilduff, a named partner who has been with the firm since 1979, has been listed in Best Lawyers since 2010. He is recognized for Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Edward J. McNelis III was recognized for Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs in both the 2026 and 2027 editions. With these additions, four of the firm's five attorneys now hold Best Lawyers recognition.
The broader significance lies in how Best Lawyers compiles its list. Honorees are chosen through peer review, meaning the recognition reflects the judgment of other attorneys rather than a self-nomination or a pay-for-inclusion arrangement. For the 33rd edition, released Aug. 20, 2026, more than 32,000 lawyers submitted 3.8 million evaluations. The list covers about the top 5 percent of practicing attorneys in the U.S., and Best Lawyers called this year's edition the most selective in the award's history. That context makes the firm's four listings notable: it suggests a concentration of peer regard in a single five-attorney office.
The firm's institutional recognition reinforces the individual honors. Emroch & Kilduff also received a Tier 1 ranking for Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs in the 2026 edition of Best Law Firms. "Chris and Ward have done this work the right way for a long time, and it means something when other lawyers notice," said Howard Bullock, managing partner of Emroch & Kilduff. "Bill and Ed set that standard here years ago. Seeing four of our attorneys on this list tells me we're still holding to it."
For injured clients in Virginia, the practical implication is that the firm's reputation rests on a sustained record rather than a single attorney's profile. Emroch & Kilduff has represented injured people in Virginia for more than 50 years. Walter H. Emroch founded the firm in 1970, and it has used its current name since 1998. The firm represents only injured people and never represents insurance companies, corporations or hospitals. Its attorneys handle car and truck accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death and other serious injury cases from offices in Richmond and Tappahannock, and they have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for injured Virginians. The 2027 Best Lawyers listings add external validation to that longstanding focus.
