Russell W. Updike - a Covington, Virginia (VA) Personal Injury Lawyer

Covington Personal Injury Lawyer

Updated: 02/16/2026

Areas of Practice

Personal Injury 40%
Medical Malpractice 40%
Workers Compensation 10%
Social Security 10%

Litigation: 100%

Attorney Information

Overview

Russell W. "Russ" Updike came to Covington, Virginia from Richmond in 1990. He received his B.S. degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1986 and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Richmond T. C. Williams School of Law in 1990. Mr. Updike joined the firm of William T. Wilson and Associates in 1990 and engaged in the general practice of law until becoming a partner in the firm of Wilson & Updike in 1994. For the past 25 years Mr. Updike has practiced almost exclusively injury law representing individuals in personal injury, medical malpractice and workers' compensation claims. During the past 25 years, Mr. Updike has had the pleasure of being lead counsel in several jury trials resulting in verdicts of $1,000,000 or more for his clients, including a verdict in 2012 in the amount of $2,644,373 (inclusive of interest), which is the largest verdict returned by a jury in the history of Alleghany County.

Mr. Updike is a member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (VTLA). He has served as a representative of the VTLA Board of Governors from 1998 until 2008. He has also been active with the Virginia State Bar, serving as a member of the Eighth District Committee from 1998 to 2004 before being appointed to the Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Board on July 1, 2004, where he served until July 2010. Mr. Updike also served as a representative of the Young Lawyers Conference of the Virginia State Bar from 1994 to 1996. He also served multiple terms as President of the Alleghany-Bath-Highland Bar Association. Currently, Mr. Updike has been listed in the Virginia Super Lawyer Magazine for approximately 10 years. Mr. Updike is also a member of the Virginia Law Foundation Fellows, Class of 2009.

Mr. Updike has been involved in the community by serving on the boards of the Salvation Army, Jackson River Enterprises and the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Updike has been chairman of the Board of Directors for Jackson River Enterprises since 2010.

Mr. Updike is married to the former Jennifer Lilly of Lewisburg, West Virginia and they have twin boys, Eli Jackson and Trent Justice, who were born in March of 2004 as well as Ava Grace who was born in July of 2010.

Awards and Honors

Super Lawyers® Selectees

Russell W. Updike included in a Super Lawyers® list

Honors

Named a "Super Lawyer" by the Richmond
Virginia "Richmond Magazine", 2008
Member, Virginia Law Foundation Fellows, 2009

Other Sources of Feedback About Russell W. Updike

Included on the 2026 Virginia Super Lawyers list

Past Lists

2025 Virginia Super Lawyers list
2024 Virginia Super Lawyers list
2023 Virginia Super Lawyers list
2022 Virginia Super Lawyers list
2021 Virginia Super Lawyers list
2020 Virginia Super Lawyers list
2019 Virginia Super Lawyers list
2018 Virginia Super Lawyers list
2017 Virginia Super Lawyers list
2016 Virginia Super Lawyers list
2015 Virginia Super Lawyers list
2013 Virginia Super Lawyers list
2012 Virginia Super Lawyers list
2011 Virginia Super Lawyers list
2010 Virginia Super Lawyers list
2009 Virginia Super Lawyers list
2008 Virginia Super Lawyers list

Education

Legal Education
- University of Richmond, School of Law, Richmond, Virginia, 1990
  J.D.
Non Legal Education
- Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, 1986
  B.S.

Current Employment Position(s)

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Managing Partner
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Past Positions

William T. Wilson & Associates, Associate, 1990 - 1994

Bar Admissions

Virginia, 1990
U.S. District Court Western District of Virginia, 1993

Other Affiliations

Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (VTLA) (Member)
Virginia Law Foundation, 1993 - Present (Fellow)
Alleghany-Bath-Highland Bar Association (President)

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Contact

Covington, VA

251 West Riverside Street
Post Office Box 510
Covington, VA 24426

Directions

Phone: 800-639-9038

Fax: 540-962-8423

Email: Send a message

Website: https://www.injuryvalaw.com

Free Consultations

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Russell W. Updike - Covington, VA