Roanoke, Va. — The law firm Spilman Thomas & Battle (Spilman) announced that Paul M. Black, member based in its Roanoke, Va. office, has been appointed a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge for the Western District of Virginia by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. His judgeship continues a long tradition of Spilman attorneys entering public service leadership roles.

Black, a Roanoke native, earned his bachelor’s degree from Washington and Lee University, studied at Cambridge University and earned his law degree from the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond. He served as a law clerk for a bankruptcy judge before going into private practice.

Black’s practice at Spilman has focused upon litigation, bankruptcy law and banking and finance law. He also has served as a leader of Spilman’s nationally recognized bankruptcy and creditors’ rights practice group.

“We are thrilled for Paul,” said David P. Ferretti, Spilman’s member in charge of lawyer administration. “He is extremely well-suited for the federal bankruptcy bench with his wealth of experience and his depth of legal knowledge. We will miss his presence and his tremendous contributions here at Spilman, but we wish him well and congratulate him on this honor.”

Black will succeed Judge William Stone, who was appointed to the Roanoke-based judgeship in 1999. He will serve a 14-year term in this position and is expected to take the bench in early 2014. Until such time, he will remain actively involved in his law practice, serving Spilman clients.

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About Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC
Spilman Thomas & Battle is a full-service law firm with more than 140 attorneys. Founded in 1864, Spilman has offices in Roanoke, Va.; Charleston, Morgantown and Wheeling, W.Va.; Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, Pa.; and Winston-Salem, N.C.