Top 10 Sexual Harassment Lawyers in Virginia Beach, VA
If you are being harassed at work and HR has done nothing, or punished you for speaking up, the law is on your side and the clock is already running. A Virginia Beach employment lawyer can tell you whether you have a case and what to do before a deadline closes the door. Here are the firms that represent employees in harassment and discrimination cases across Hampton Roads.
Updated February 07, 202612 min readEditorially independent
Workplace sexual harassment is illegal under federal law (Title VII) and Virginia law (the Virginia Human Rights Act), and both unwanted advances and a hostile work environment can be the basis for a claim. The lawyers below represent employees, not employers, which matters: they spend their days building cases against companies that allowed harassment or retaliated against someone who reported it. A Virginia Beach attorney who does this work knows the EEOC process, the Virginia agencies, and what evidence turns a complaint into a winnable case.
Deadlines are the trap people fall into. To preserve a federal claim you generally must file a charge with the EEOC within a limited window after the harassment, and Virginia has its own filing rules. Miss the window and even a strong case can be lost on a technicality. That is the single biggest reason to talk to a lawyer early rather than after you have left the job.
Most employee-side employment firms offer a free or low-cost consultation and many work on a contingency or hybrid basis, meaning you may not pay hourly out of pocket. Save your emails, texts, and a timeline of what happened and who witnessed it. Here are the Virginia Beach sexual harassment firms worth a call.
How we picked these 7: We cross-referenced peer rankings and directories (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Justia, Expertise.com, FindLaw) and each firm's own published practice pages. Every firm below appeared in at least two independent sources and has a verifiable Virginia Beach-area sexual harassment practice. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
1
Law Office of Jeremiah A. Denton III, P.C.
477 Viking Dr, Virginia BeachFounded 1980Consultation
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, Title VII discrimination, retaliation, employment disputes
A Virginia Beach firm established in 1980 that represents employees in Title VII discrimination, sexual harassment, and related workplace matters, alongside personal injury and defamation work. Located at Pinehurst Centre, 477 Viking Drive, Suite 100. Listed on the firm site, Justia, and local directories.
Why they made the list: Decades of employee-side experience and a long-standing Virginia Beach practice for harassment and discrimination claims.
Virginia Beach, VABoutique, founded 2015Consultation
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, discrimination, equal pay, pregnancy, retaliation
A boutique Virginia Beach employment firm founded in 2015 by attorney Lisa Bertini, litigating exclusively for employees in matters including sexual harassment, discrimination, equal pay, failure to promote, and pregnancy cases. Listed on the firm site, Expertise.com, and Super Lawyers.
Why they made the list: A focused, employee-only boutique for harassment and discrimination cases where you want the named attorney on the file.
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, discrimination, federal-employee EEO, retaliation
A Virginia Beach firm concentrating on employee rights, including sexual harassment and racial, disability, and religious discrimination, with deep experience representing federal employees before the EEOC and MSPB. Founding member Neil C. Bonney has practiced labor and employment law since 1983. Listed on the firm site, Martindale, and Super Lawyers.
Why they made the list: Especially strong for federal and government employees, with decades of combined employment-law experience.
Serves Virginia BeachEmployee-sideFree consultation
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, ADA, FMLA
An employment firm serving Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Portsmouth that represents employees in workplace harassment, discrimination, retaliation, ADA, and FMLA matters, with a free consultation. Listed on the firm site and Justia.
Why they made the list: A broad employee-rights practice that handles harassment alongside related claims like retaliation and leave violations.
Practice focus: Workplace harassment and discrimination, employment litigation
An established full-service Virginia Beach firm whose labor and employment attorneys handle discrimination and harassment matters for individuals, families, and businesses across Hampton Roads. Listed on the firm site, Meritas, and legal directories.
Why they made the list: A larger firm with broad litigation resources, useful for complex cases or where related legal issues are involved.
575 Lynnhaven Pkwy, Virginia BeachEstablished firmConsultation
Practice focus: Employment matters, workplace disputes, harassment and discrimination
A Virginia Beach firm at 575 Lynnhaven Parkway, Suite 200, handling employment and workplace matters among its practice areas. Listed on the firm site and local directories.
Why they made the list: A local general-practice firm with employment capability, convenient if you have other legal needs too.
Practice focus: Employment law, discrimination and harassment, executive and complex disputes
A regional full-service firm with Virginia Beach employment attorneys including David C. Burton and Yiorgos L. Koliopoulos, handling discrimination and harassment matters and executive employment disputes. Listed on the firm site and Super Lawyers.
Why they made the list: A large-firm option for executives or higher-stakes disputes that need significant litigation horsepower.
Tell us what is happening at work and we'll match you with a Virginia Beach employment attorney who represents employees in harassment and discrimination cases. Free, confidential, no obligation.
How to choose between them in Virginia Beach
Pick an employee-side firm. Some firms defend companies; the ones you want for a harassment claim represent workers. Most of the firms above are employee-side, and it is fair to ask directly which side a firm usually takes.
Move before the deadline. You generally have a limited window to file an EEOC charge after harassment. Talk to a lawyer early; waiting until after you quit can cost you the claim.
Ask how they get paid. Many employee-side firms work on contingency or a hybrid fee, so you may pay little or nothing hourly. Confirm the fee arrangement and what happens to costs if the case does not succeed.
What sexual harassment help typically costs in Virginia Beach
Fees in employee-side harassment cases vary more than in some areas of law because firms structure them differently. In the Virginia Beach market:
Initial consultation: Often free or low-cost. Use it to find out whether you have a viable claim before committing.
Contingency fee: Many employee-side firms take a percentage of any settlement or award, commonly in the range of one-third, so you pay nothing hourly.
Hourly or hybrid: Some matters are billed hourly or as a hybrid, often $250-$450/hour in this market; ask which model the firm uses for your case.
Costs: Filing fees, depositions, and experts are separate from the attorney fee. Ask who fronts these and whether you owe them if you lose.
Get the fee arrangement in writing, including the contingency percentage and how case costs are handled. A free consultation is the right moment to compare two or three firms before deciding.
How long it takes
Harassment claims move in stages, and the early deadlines are the ones that bite:
File with the EEOC: You generally must file a charge within a limited window after the harassment. This is the deadline that most often sinks otherwise strong cases.
EEOC investigation: The agency investigates and may attempt mediation. This phase can take several months to a year or more.
Right-to-sue and lawsuit: If the EEOC does not resolve it, you can receive a right-to-sue letter and file in court, which starts its own timeline of discovery and motions.
Settlement vs. trial: Many cases settle before trial. Your lawyer can explain at each stage whether settling or pressing forward serves you better.
Red flags to watch for when hiring a sexual harassment lawyer in Virginia Beach
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a win, a number, or a court ruling, walk away.
The disappearing senior partner. You meet a named partner at intake, then never hear from them again while an unsupervised junior runs the file. Ask in writing who handles your matter day to day.
Pressure to sign on the spot. Reputable firms give you the engagement letter in writing and time to read it. High-pressure intake is a volume-mill signal.
No verifiable track record. Look for named results, peer rankings, board certifications, or bar recognition — not "we have helped thousands of clients."
Vague fees. Every legitimate firm will put the fee structure, what is covered, and what triggers extra charges in a written engagement letter.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Most of the firms on this list offer a free or low-cost initial call. Use it. Bring a written list and write down the answers, then compare across two or three firms before you sign anything.
Who, specifically, will handle my matter day to day? Get a name and a direct email, not just the firm.
How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? You want a number, not a brochure line.
What is your fee, and what does it cover? Get the structure in writing before you sign.
What out-of-pocket costs am I responsible for, and when? Filing fees, records, and experts add up - ask now.
What is the realistic range of outcomes? A good lawyer gives a range; a weak one promises the high end.
How long will this take? An honest estimate, with the assumptions stated.
What is my deadline, and is it at risk? Many sexual harassment matters carry hard filing deadlines.
How often will I hear from you? Set the communication cadence now.
What can I do to help my own case? The best lawyers will give you homework.
What is the worst-case outcome? A lawyer who refuses to discuss downside risk is selling you something.
What to bring to your Virginia Beach consultation
You will get more out of the first call if you arrive organized. For most sexual harassment matters, gather:
A short written timeline. Dates, names, and what happened, in order.
The key documents. Any contracts, letters, agreements, court orders, or filings you have received.
Your correspondence. Relevant emails, texts, or messages - and do not delete anything.
Any deadlines you know about. A court date, a signing deadline, or an agency notice.
Your questions. The 10 above are a good place to start.
If you are not sure whether something is relevant, bring it anyway. It is easier for a lawyer to set aside what does not matter than to chase down what you left at home.
Talk to a vetted Sexual Harassment attorney in Virginia Beach
Tell us about your situation. We'll match you with one of these firms or a similar one. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently asked questions about sexual harassment lawyers in Virginia Beach
How much does a sexual harassment lawyer cost in Virginia Beach?
Many employee-side firms offer a free or low-cost first consultation and work on contingency, taking a percentage (often around one-third) of any settlement or award rather than charging hourly. Others bill hourly, commonly $250-$450/hour in this market. Always confirm the fee and how case costs are handled before you sign.
How long do I have to file a sexual harassment claim?
Not long. To preserve a federal claim you generally must file a charge with the EEOC within a limited window after the harassment, and Virginia has its own deadlines. Because missing the window can end an otherwise strong case, talk to a lawyer as soon as you can.
Do I have to report to HR before I get a lawyer?
Reporting internally can help your case, but you do not need HR's permission to talk to a lawyer, and you can consult one before, during, or after making a complaint. A lawyer can advise you on how and when to report to protect both your job and your claim.
What counts as sexual harassment at work?
It can include unwanted advances, requests for sexual favors tied to your job, or a hostile work environment created by severe or pervasive conduct. A single serious incident or a pattern of smaller ones can qualify. A lawyer can tell you whether what you experienced meets the legal standard.
Can I be fired for reporting harassment?
Retaliation for reporting harassment is itself illegal. If you were demoted, disciplined, or fired after complaining, you may have a separate retaliation claim on top of the harassment claim. Keep records of what changed after you spoke up.
What evidence helps a harassment case?
Save emails, texts, messages, and a written timeline of what happened, when, and who witnessed it. Note any complaints you made and how the company responded. The more concrete the record, the stronger your lawyer's case.
What can I recover in a harassment case?
Depending on the facts, remedies can include back pay, compensation for emotional harm, and in some cases punitive damages, plus changes at the workplace. The amount depends on the severity, your losses, and the specific facts, so outcomes vary.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? The answer tells you a lot. — The LawFirmSquare team
LawFirmSquare is a directory. We do not represent clients or refer cases for a fee.
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