Stephen T. Harper
Contact Stephen: harper@vacomplaw.com
Bio
Stephen concentrates his practice on workers’ compensation and personal injury cases. After graduating from the University of Richmond School of Law, he quickly developed his skills as a trial attorney, trying approximately 50 personal injury jury trials to a verdict in his first four years of practice! An AV Preeminent-rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell, he lobbies on behalf of injured workers at the Virginia General Assembly.
While his primary focus after law school was in personal injury, Stephen began to lean into workers’ compensation claims. He has fought for injured workers in hundreds of cases, and when necessary, represents them in the highest courts, including the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Virginia. He has been involved in numerous cases that set significant precedents in this area of law, including benefits and settlements in excess of a million dollars. In 2021, he helped a well-deserving client receive an award of $5,300,000 – the second-largest workers’ compensation settlement in the history of Virginia, according to Virginia Lawyers Weekly. In 2021, it was the third largest settlement of any kind in the Commonwealth.
He is an active member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (VTLA), where he serves on the board of governors and is the legislative co-chair of their Workers’ Compensation Section. He’s also active within the Richmond Bar Association, the American Association for Justice (AAJ), and is a Fellow within the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers. Because of his tireless work on behalf of his clients, Stephen has been recognized by Virginia Lawyers Weekly as a 2021 Leader in The Law. Stephen has also been selected as a Virginia Super Lawyer, and a Best Lawyer in America since 2016. The Workers’ Injury Law & Advocacy Group named him one of the Nation’s Top 100 Injured Workers’ Attorneys in 2021, among many other accolades in the legal profession.
Stephen spends much of his free time working on his race car, as he regularly races in the NASA Mid-Atlantic region circuit. He has numerous wins and class championships to his name. Stephen also enjoys supporting the Liverpool F.C. soccer team with his wife Jennifer, and spending time with their three children.
Bar Admissions
- Commonwealth of Virginia
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
Court Admissions
- Virginia Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals – Fourth Circuit
Honors
- AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale Hubbell (2019-Present)
- Best Lawyers in America – Lawyer of the Year, Workers’ Compensation – Claimants (2021, 2026)
- Go-To Lawyers for Workers’ Comp Law, Virginia Lawyers Weekly (2021)
- Leaders in the Law (2021)
- Best Lawyers in America (2016 – present)
- Virginia Super Lawyers (2016 – present)
- Top 50 Attorneys in Richmond (2020-2025)
- Top 100 Attorneys in Virginia (2020-2025)
- Top 100 Injured Workers’ Attorney, Workers’ Injury Law & Advocacy Group
Professional Affiliations
- Richmond Bar Association
- Virginia Trial Lawyers Association – Board of Governors
- College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers – Fellow
- Workers’ Injury Law & Advocacy Group – Board of Governors
- Virginia Workers’ Compensation American Inn of Court
- American Association for Justice
Media
Published Work
- Hidden Tort Gems, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Convention (2015)