FEDERICO J. ZABLAH

SENIOR ASSOCIATE
Federico Zablah, Associate at Chap Petersen & Associates
Practices
  • Appellate Litigation
  • Business Law/Commercial Litigation
  • Real Estate Litigation
  • Contract Law and Litigation
Education
  • J.D., George Mason University School of Law (2020);
  • B.A., American University (2012)
    • Law and Society
Bar Admissions
  • Virginia
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
  • United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Memberships
  • Virginia State Bar Association
  • Fairfax Bar Association
  • Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
Federico is a senior associate attorney at the firm focusing his practice on civil appeals and litigation matters concerning  business, real estate, property and contractual disputes. Prior to joining the firm as an attorney, Federico worked at the firm as a law clerk during his last year of law school.Since joining the firm, Federico been lead counsel or second chair in multiple trials in Virginia State Court, both at the Circuit Court and General District levels and has been part of teams responsible for the preparation of appeal petitions and appeal briefs in multiple successful appeals to the Virginia Supreme Court and the Virginia Court of Appeals.Federico earned his law degree from George Mason University School of Law and is an active member of the Virginia State Bar.
Major Involvements:

Federico was part of the team responsible for the researching and drafting the successful appellate briefs in a case in which the Virginia Supreme Court overturned a Circuit Courts denial of standing under Va. Code Ann. § 15.2-2314 to neighbors challenging the zoning determination issues to a nearby property. Anders Larsen Tr. v. Bd. of Supervisors, 301 Va. 116, 872 S.E.2d 449 (2022)

Federico was primarily responsible for the researching and drafting the successful appellate brief in a case in which a fine from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles issued to a driving company for “remote learning” during the COVID-19 Pandemic was overturned by the Virginia Court of Appeals. I Drive Smart Too, Inc. v. Commonwealth, No. 0975-21-4, 2022 Va. App. LEXIS 326 (Ct. App. July 26, 2022)

Federico was part of the team responsible for the researching and drafting the successful appellate briefs in appeal from the Circuit Court of Fairfax County to the Virginia Supreme Court that resulted in the reversal of a trial court sanctions award worth ~$55K. CNT Nova v. Commodore Capital Llc, 2022 Va. Unpub. LEXIS 10 (May 26, 2022).

Federico was the second chair in a trial defending Advanced Towing in an enforcement actions brought by the Attorney General of Virginia seeking over one million dollars in fines and civil penalties. Federico was part of the team responsible for preparing the successful defense that resulted in Advanced Towing receiving only significantly reduced civil fines and penalties. Commonwealth of Virginia v. Advanced Towing, LLC. CL20-1995, Arlington County Circuit Court.

​Federico was part of the team responsible for the grant of a writ of certiorari by the Virginia Supreme Court in a case a case seeking to overturn a Circuit Courts denial of standing under Va. Code Ann. § 15.2-2314 to neighbors challenging the zoning determination issues to a nearby property. Historic Alexandria Found. v. City of Alexandria, 299 Va. 694, 858 S.E.2d 199 (2021).

Federico was lead counsel in a Virginia Consumer Protection Act case in which damages and Attorney’s fees were received from the Defendant Towing Company for multiple violations of Va. Code Ann. § 59.1-200. Lurana Foster v. Pete’s Towing, Fairfax County Circuit Court, Case No. 2020-1014.

Case results depend upon a variety of factors unique to each case and do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any future case undertaken by the lawyer.