Attorney Profiles

John C. Moore was born in El Paso, Texas, but grew up in Richmond, Virginia. John received his B.A. from Washington & Lee University in 1966 and M.A. from Northwestern University in 1967. He also attended Tubingen University in Germany. He received his legal education at Washington & Lee University, where he was a Note and Comment Editor for the Washington & Lee Law Review and where he received his J.D. in 1973. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa and the social fraternities of Delta Tau Delta and Phi Alpha Delta.

Mr. Moore began his practice with the Richmond law firm of Mays, Valentine, Davenport & Moore, which is now known as Troutman Sanders, where his initial areas of concentration were commercial real estate and commercial litigation.

In March of 1976, Mr. Moore joined Coates & Comess, as a partner, which firm was later known as Coates, Comess, Moore, Taylor, Grubbs & McGrath, among other names, and finally Coates & Davenport, PC which is its current name. Mr. Moore's primary areas of practice are business law, bankruptcy, wills, trusts, administration of estates, elder law, Medicaid law and international law.

In the area of business law, he has counseled and represented both small, medium and large corporate clients in all aspects of their business activities including, but not limited to, asset and stock sales and purchases; employment agreements, including covenants not to compete and stock option agreements; and miscellaneous litigation involving various disputes such as disputes between franchisor and franchisee. He has counseled business and written on the

Family Medical Leave Act.  Mr. Moore has been involved with particular reference in the purchase, sale and financing of hotels, shopping centers and office buildings.

With respect to bankruptcy, Mr. Moore has represented numerous creditors in both large and small bankruptcy cases including Cimms, trading as Burger King; WorldCom; Heilig-Meyers; Kanawha Trace Development Partners; Eastern Springs (involuntary chapter 11 initiated by Mr. Moore on behalf of suppliers) Land America; Circuit City; Hollywood Video and he has represented national clients in the recovery of vehicles and equipment.

In the areas of wills and trusts administration and planning, Mr. Moore has worked with Both small and medium-sized clients and has been involved in estate administration and litigation as well, including will contests.  His estate planning practice includes living trusts and elder law issues such as special needs trusts and disability and Medicaid planning, especially for individuals receiving SSI and those with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

With respect to Mr. Moore's work in international law, he is an approved attorney by the German Embassy for German nationals, speaks German, has a Masters in German, attended Tubingen University in Tubingen, Germany (formerly West Germany) and has represented numerous German individuals and entities as well as German political subdivisions.

Mr. Moore has received Martindale-Hubbell's highest rating, AV, for legal ability and ethical standards.