Sandra Craine-Gonzalez - Norfolk, VA

Sandra Craine-Gonzalez is as kind to her clients as she is keen in the courtroom. Being detail-oriented, she is committed to seeking justice for every case that hits her desk. Sandra’s vast experience in defense and prosecution, paired with meticulous preparation, makes her a surprise the big insurance companies don’t see coming. When the opposing side underestimates Sandra, her victory is even sweeter.

Sandra has been practicing law for over two decades, and she still loves every minute of it. Her sharp eye for detail and deep sense of empathy help her empower clients to face a judge and jury. Growing up in Charlotte, NC, Sandra’s father planted the seed for success early in her life. Seeing many similar qualities between attorneys in their community and his daughter, he encouraged her to consider law at a young age.

With his encouragement and her mother’s support to further her education, Sandra went on to study law at Florida State University after earning her Bachelor of Arts degree from Wake Forest University in History and a minor English. As a 2001 graduate with a Juris Doctorate, Sandra decided to blaze her own path by opening a firm as a military spouse. For 10 years she worked alongside mentors, practicing many areas including Real Estate Law, Civil Litigation, Criminal Law, Personal Injury, as well as a guardian ad litem. Her meticulous reputation piqued the interest of Allstate Insurance, making her an offer she couldn’t refuse. She spent 12 years at Allstate working her way up to Senior Trial Attorney.

With her meticulous work ethic, Sandra laid the foundation for Allstate to open their first in-house council office in the Tidewater Area. The years she spent in insurance equipped her with thorough knowledge of these companies’ selfish tactics. Having worked across the aisle from our team for years, she’d heard about our award-winning reputation and seen it in action. Sandra joined Rutter Mills LLP to work in our pre-litigation and litigation departments, helping clients through critical points in their cases. She is excited to showcase her talents in an environment where her expertise helps build people up, rather than standing against them.

Sandra is a member of the Bar in Florida, D.C., Virginia, and Federal Court. She has a plethora of legal knowledge and experience. Sandra’s creative mind paints a picture of a case and knows when to ask a client about details that may seem small but often reap big rewards in court. She is proud to be one of only a handful of women of color practicing Personal Injury Law in our area. She continues to trailblaze a path for strong women to follow. With an interest in art, Sandra enjoys many creative avenues such as sketch work, reading, jazz and interior design. Outside of the firm, she regularly attends church, travels, and eagerly cares for her in-laws. For her, family is everything and Rutter Mills LLP is thrilled to have her as a member of ours.