Cullen Seltzer’s practice focuses on litigation matters, including commercial disputes, defense of government officials and agencies in Freedom of Information, civil rights, and other state and local government matters, as well as business torts, such as defamation and tortious interference with business affairs, white collar criminal defense, and estate litigation.
For more than 20 years, Cullen has represented businesses, government entities, and individuals in commercial disputes, white collar criminal defense matters, government investigations, and trust and estate disputes and related claims. He is known for bringing ingenuity, honesty, and in-depth knowledge to each matter, ensuring his clients receive solutions tailored to their unique needs and circumstances. His practice includes helping to design and implement settlements in mass tort and mass claim litigation.
Cullen has represented claims administrators and trustees in drug and medical device litigation, class action settlements, and private settlements involving thousands of claimants and billions of dollars. His work includes designing claims procedures, establishing benefit criteria, negotiating insurance coverage, and managing claims facilities. His significant experience and his love of the law have helped him create original, forward-thinking solutions to address his clients’ specific goals.
Cullen is an adjunct professor at the University of Richmond School of Law where he has taught appellate advocacy and courses on ethics in civil and criminal litigation.
When he’s not in the office, Cullen enjoys running, reading, and traveling with family and friends.
Qualifications
Education
University of Richmond
J.D., T.C. Williams School of Law, 1993
Mary Washington College
B.A., cum laude, International Affairs, Pi Gamma Mu, Pi Sigma Alpha 1990
Admissions
Virginia
U.S. Supreme Court
U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
U. S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia
U. S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
U. S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
U. S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Virginia
U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U. S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Clerkships
Law Clerk to the Hon. James W. Benton, Jr. in the Virginia Court of Appeals Richmond, Virginia, 1993 - 1994
Honors & Recognitions
Super Lawyers® in Civil Litigation: Defense, 2009-2025
Best Lawyers in America® in Mass Tort Litigation, 2011-2026
“Legal Elite”, Virginia Business magazine, Appellate Law, Civil Litigation, 2011-2022, Criminal Law, 2023
Leader in the Law, Virginia Lawyer's Media, 2016
Super Lawyers®, Rising Star, 2008
Affiliations
Community
University of Mary Washington, Employer Advisory Board Member (2025 - Present)
READ RVA, Board Member (2025 - Present)
Congregation Beth Ahabah, Vice President (2023 - Present), Board of Managers (2014 - 2019)
Sports Backers, Member Development Board (2018 - 2020)
Weinstein Jewish Community Center, Board Member (2010 - 2024), President/Chairman (2013 - 2016)
Jewish Community Federation of Richmond, Enterprise Circle Steering Committee Chairman, (2012 - 2017), Board Member (2008 - 2012)
Virginia Capital Trail Foundation, Board of Directors (2009 - 2015), Past-Chairman, General Counsel (2016 - present)
Grove-Crest Colonial Place Neighborhood Association, President (1998 - 2002)
Carrico Center for Pro Bono Service, Volunteer attorney representing indigents on appeal (2009 - present)
Professional
Virginia State Bar Council (2019 - present)
Virginia State Bar, Third District Disciplinary Committee (2003 - 2010)
The Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council (2016 - 2024)
Governor's Executive Branch Ethics Commission (2014 - 2016)
Virginia State Bar, Harry Carrico Professionalism Course Faculty (2008 - 2011)
American Bar Association, Litigation Section, Mass Torts Subcommittee (2000 - 2009)
Richmond Bar Association (1999 - present), Ex oficio Board member (2023 - present)
John Marshall Inn of Court (1997 - 2009), Past President (2005 - 2006)
University of Richmond School of Law, Adjunct Faculty, Appellate Advocacy, Ethics in Criminal Litigation, Ethics in Civil Litigation (2001 - present)
News & Insights
Insights
Report: 22% of Richmond law firms may have AI-generated client reviews
Virginia Lawyers Weekly, June 2025
Lawyers see common sense, pitfalls in new ABA opinion
Virginia Lawyers Weekly, April 2025
First Amendment gives way to national security: Countdown on for TikTok
Virginia Mercury, January 2025
The Fall of Affirmative Action in Higher Education and the Coming Workplace Revolution
Virginia Mercury, June 2023
Why Incorporating By Reference Is Rarely Good Practice - Law360
Law360, April 9, 2024
Google Knows Where You've Been. Should It Tell the Police?
Slate, May 2022
The Emmett Till Antilynching Act doesn’t change the law very much. That’s OK.
Virginia Mercury, April 2022
Citizen’s Arrest in Virginia: Legal but Risky
Westlaw Today powered by Reuters, November 2021
Irony is Dead: Woman Depicting Peace Triumphing Over Tyranny Jailed for Indecent Exposure
ACLU of Virginia, March 2019
You Can’t Buy the “Raspberry Beret” MP3 at the Secondhand Store
Slate, December 2018
The End of the Unpaid Internship
Slate, June 2013
Lessons Learned from Implementing a Class Action Settlement
Mass Torts, Volume 8, Number 3, Spring 2010
- Appellate
- Appellate
- Appellate
- Appellate
- Higher Education
- Appellate
- Appellate
- Litigation
- Appellate
- Litigation
- Litigation
- Litigation
- Legal Ethics
- Appellate
- Legal Ethics
- Litigation
- Litigation
- Litigation
- Appellate
- Appellate
- Appellate
- Appellate
- Supreme Court of Virginia
- Litigation
- Civil Rights
- Supreme Court of Virginia
- Government
- U. S. Supreme Court
- Press Releases
- Supreme Court of Virginia
- Civil Rights
- Intellectual Property
- Litigation
- Litigation
- Constitutional Law
- Civil Rights
- Civil Rights
- Supreme Court
- Election Law
- Constitutional Law
- Constitutional Law
- Virginia State Bar
- Government
- Virginia Supreme Court
- Supreme Court
- U. S. Supreme Court
- Law Enforcement
- Copyright Law
- Litigation
News
- Press Releases
- Press Releases
- Press Releases
- Press Releases
- Press Releases
- Press Releases
- Press Releases
- Press Releases
- Press Releases
- Press Releases
- Press Releases
- Press Releases
- Press Releases
- Press Releases
- Press Releases
- Department of Labor
- Press Releases
- Department of Labor
- Department of Labor
- Department of Labor
- Press Mentions
- Department of Labor
- Department of Labor
- Department of Labor
- Department of Labor
- Department of Labor
- Department of Labor
- Department of Labor
- Department of Labor
- Department of Labor
- Department of Labor
Events & Speaking Engagements
Life After Being a Public Defender – Panel discussion with Dave Johnson, Carlos Hopkins, Ali Amirshahi, and Emilee Hasbrouck (University of Richmond Law School, January 28, 2025)
Recent Developments in Legal Ethics (Sands Anderson, September 28, 2023 and October 4, 2023)
Recent Developments in Legal Ethics (Sands Anderson, September 28, 2022 and October 6, 2022)
Recent Developments in Legal Ethics (Sands Anderson, September 21, 2021)
Recent Developments in Legal Ethics (Sands Anderson, September 16, 2020; Henrico County Bar Association, October 7, 2020)
Recent Developments in Legal Ethics (Sands Anderson, September 17, 2019; Henrico County Bar Association, October 15, 2019)
Recent Developments in Legal Ethics (Sands Anderson, September 11, 2018)
FOIA For Newly Appointed Chiefs And Deputy Chiefs Of Police, Virginia Association Of Chiefs Of Police (Glen Allen, Virginia, March 28, 2018)
FOIA Rules And Procedures, Newly Elected Officials Seminar (Sands Anderson PC, December 8, 2017)
The Three P's Of Criminal Appeals: Procedure, Process And Practice (University Of Richmond Law Over Lunch Presented By Carrico Center For Pro Bono Service November 9, 2017)
Settling Police Liability Claims (Nbi Seminar September 22, 2017)
Recent Develops In Legal Ethics (Sands Anderson)(2016, September 13, 2017)
Exculpatory Evidence And Internal Affairs Police Investigations (Virginia Chiefs Of Police Association, January 26, 2017)
Use Of Force By Police Officers: A Summary Of Important Legal Principles (Richmond Police Academy, December, 9, 2016)
Making An Appellate Record (Richmond Bar Association Bench-Bar Conference – Oct. 20, 2016)
Virginia Conflict of Interests Act (Seminar for Newly Elected Members of Local Government – Sands Anderson – December 4, 2015)
Case Law Developments Affecting Local Governments (LGA Conference – Sept. 20, 2014)
Affirmative Use of Virginia Public Records Act in FOIA Cases (LGA Conference - June 27, 2014)
Creating a Board that Delivers (Virginia League of Social Services Executives - May 9, 2013)
Professionalism in the Practice of Law (Carrico Professionalism Course – 2011)
- EventVirginia Bar Association Healthcare Roundtable
- EventVirginia Association of Defense Attorneys (VADA) Annual Meeting
- EventAI in Society at University of Mary Washington
- EventSands Anderson (Online)
- EventSands Anderson
- EventSands Anderson (Online)
- EventSands Anderson
“I love the creativity in our work. I love helping people when they’re starting a new adventure. I want to help people when they’re in a jam.”
Cullen Seltzer