Thomas F. Coates III - Richmond, VA
Attorney at Coates, Battle & Tyree
Litigation Lawyers in Richmond, VA
5206 Markel Road Suite 200 Richmond, VA 23230
Richmond Litigation Lawyer
Updated: 03/02/2026
Areas of Practice
- Litigation
- Family Law
- Child Custody & Visitation
- Child Support
- Spousal Support
- Divorce
- Corporate Law
- Commercial/Business Transactions
- Real Estate Law
- Estates
- Wills
- Trusts
- Powers of Attorney
- Advance Medical Directives
- Probate
Litigation: 50%
Attorney Information
Overview
Thomas F. Coates, III ("Tom") is co-founder, as well as an officer, director, shareholder and executive committee member of the Firm. Tom began his practice as a U.S. Army lawyer and later focused his practice on civil rights, criminal defense and civil litigation. In the early- to mid-1970s, he also served as Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney for the City of Richmond, where he prosecuted thousands of criminal cases, including more than 50 felony jury trials.
After founding the Firm in 1974 (originally as Coates & Comess, thereafter as Coates & Davenport, and now as Coates, Battle & Tyree), Tom's primary areas of practice included litigation (both civil and criminal), commercial transactions, corporate, divorce and family law. He has an extensive background in real estate and business transactions from residential and commercial real estate purchases and sales to major corporate mergers and acquisitions.
Tom has provided general business and corporate legal advice to businesses, professional practices and their managements on matters pertaining to organizational structure and restructuring, debt and equity capital formation, strategic planning and marketing, contract negotiation, risk management, executive compensation and severance, restrictive covenants, intellectual property protection, and prevention and/or resolution of shareholder/partnership/limited liability company membership-management disputes.
He has life-long and extensive involvement in the Richmond and Commonwealth business and non-profit communities, serving as a board member for various corporations. He was chairman of the organizing committee and an initial director in the formation and start-up of First Capital Bank in Richmond, and has served on the boards of and as counsel for numerous non-profit educational and charitable organizations and institutions in Virginia and beyond.
Education
-
Legal Education
-
Washington and Lee University School of Law,
Lexington,
Virginia, 1969
J.D.
-
Washington and Lee University School of Law,
Lexington,
Virginia, 1969
-
Non Legal Education
-
Washington and Lee University,
Lexington,
VA, 1966
B.A.
-
Washington and Lee University,
Lexington,
VA, 1966
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Co-founder
Past Positions
- City of Richmond, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney
- First Capital Bank in Richmond
Representative Cases
-
Swander v. Swander
- Citation: Va. App. LEXIS 419
- Court: Court of Appeals of Virginia
- Year: 2001
- Serial Number: 2001602488
-
Hendrick v. Brown & Root, Inc.
- Citation: 50 F.Supp. 2d 527
- Court: U.S. Dist. Court E.D. Va
- Year: 1999
- Serial Number: 1999135070
-
Parks v. Parks
- Citation: Va. App. LEXIS 85
- Court: Court of Appeals of Virginia
- Year: 1998
-
IAC International v. James
- Citation: U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21859
- Court: U.S. Dist. Ct. E.D. Va.
- Year: 1996
- Serial Number: 1997026723
-
Gelletly v. Gelletly
- Citation: Va. App. LEXIS 39
- Court: Court of Appeals of Virginia
- Year: 1996
-
Griswold v. Commonwealth
- Citation: 21 Va. App. 22; 461 S.E.2d 411
- Court: Court of Appeals of Virginia
- Year: 1995
- Serial Number: 1995179697
-
Hughes v. Gentry
- Citation: 18 Va. App. 318; 443 S.E.2d 448
- Court: Court of Appeals of Virginia
- Year: 1994
- Serial Number: 1994099366
-
Everett v. I-Net, Inc.
- Citation: 900 F2d 251
- Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- Year: 1990
- Serial Number: 1990063183
-
Wiecking v. Allied Medical Supply Corp.
- Citation: 239 Va. 548; 391 S.E.2d 258
- Court: Supreme Court of Virginia
- Year: 1990
- Serial Number: 1990066941
-
Morris v. United Virginia Bank
- Citation: 237 Va. 331; 377 S.E.2d 611
- Court: Supreme Court of Virginia
- Year: 1989
- Serial Number: 1989033585
-
Miles v. Richmond
- Citation: 236 Va. 341; 373 S.E.2d 715
- Court: Supreme Court of Virginia
- Year: 1988
- Serial Number: 1988150036
-
Vt. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Ctr., Inc., CL96-156, CIRCUIT COURT OF NELSON COUNTY, VIRGINIA, 66 Va. Cir. 455, January 29, 2001, Decided
- Citation: Va. Cir. LEXIS 534
-
Goode v. Commonwealth, Record No. 760506, Supreme Court of Virginia, 217 Va. 863, April 22, 1977
- Citation: 234 S.E.2d 239; 1977 Va. LEXIS 250
-
Nero v. Commonwealth, Record No. 7932, Supreme Court of Virginia, 213 Va. 154; 191 S.E.2d 226, September 1, 1972
- Citation: Va. LEXIS 324
-
Holt v. Richmond, Civ. A. No. 151-71-R, UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA, RICHMOND DIVISION, 334 F. Supp. 228, November 20, 1971
- Citation: U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10686
-
Holt v. Richmond, Nos. 71-2185, 71-2186, UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT, 459 F.2d 1093, February 10, 1972
- Citation: U.S. App. LEXIS 9768,
-
Holt v. Richmond, Nos. 71-2185, 71-2186, UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT, Argued, May 3, 1972, Decided, Certiorari Denied June 26, 1972
- Citation: Reported at 408 U.S. 931
-
Holt v. Richmond, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
- Citation: 406 U.S. 903
-
Holt v. Richmond, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, 92 S. Ct. 1602
-
Holt v. Richmond, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, 31 L. Ed. 2d 814
-
Holt v. Richmond, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, Apr. 24, 1972
- Citation: U.S. LEXIS 2813
-
Holt v. Richmond, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, 408 U.S. 931
-
Holt v. Richmond, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, 92 S. Ct. 2510
-
Holt v. Richmond, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, 33 L. Ed. 2d 343
-
Holt v. Richmond, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, Jun. 26, 1972
- Citation: U.S. LEXIS 2113
-
Holt v. Richmond, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, 429 U.S. 914
-
Holt v. Richmond, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, 97 S. Ct. 304
-
Holt v. Richmond, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, 50 L. Ed. 2d 280
-
Holt v. Richmond, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, November 1, 1976
- Citation: U.S. LEXIS 3253
- Year: 1976
Published Works
Articles
-
Dunbar Group, LLC v. Tignor, 267 Va. 361, 593 S.E. 2d 216, Va. LEXIS 49 (2004)
-
Swander v. Swander, Va. App. LEXIS 419 (Court of Appeals of Virginia 2001)
-
Hendrick v. Brown & Root, Inc., 50 F.Supp. 2d 527 (U.S. Dist. Court E.D. Va 1999)
-
Parks v. Parks, Va. App. LEXIS 85 (Court of Appeals of Virginia 1998)
-
IAC International v. James, U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21859 (U.S. Dist. Ct. E.D. Va. 1996)
- Gelletly v. Gelletly, Va. App. LEXIS 39 (Court of Appeals of Virginia 1996)
- Griswold v. Commonwealth, 21 Va. App. 22; 461 S.E.2d 411 (Court of Appeals of Virginia 1995)
- Hughes v. Gentry, 18 Va. App. 318; 443 S.E.2d 448 (Court of Appeals of Virginia 1994)
- Everett v. I-Net, Inc., 900 F2d 251 (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit 1990)
- Wiecking v. Allied Medical Supply Corp., 239 Va. 548; 391 S.E.2d 258 (Supreme Court of Virginia 1990)
- Morris v. United Virginia Bank, 237 Va. 331; 377 S.E.2d 611 (Supreme Court of Virginia 1989)
- Miles v. Richmond, 236 Va. 341; 373 S.E.2d 715 (Supreme Court of Virginia 1988)
- Vt. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Ctr., Inc., CL96-156, CIRCUIT COURT OF NELSON COUNTY, VIRGINIA, 66
- Goode v. Commonwealth, Record No. 760506, Supreme Court of Virginia, 217 Va. 863, April 22, 1977, 234 S.E.2d 239; Va. LEXIS 250
- Nero v. Commonwealth, Record No. 7932, Supreme Court of Virginia, 213 Va. 154; 191 S.E.2d 226, September 1, 1972, Va. LEXIS 324
- Holt v. Richmond, Civ. A. No. 151-71-R, UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA, RICHMOND DIVISION, 334 F. Supp. 228, November 20, 1971
- Holt v. Richmond, Nos. 71-2185, 71-2186, UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT, 459 F.2d 1093, February 10, 1972, U.S. App. LEXIS 9768
- Holt v. Richmond, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, 406 U.S. 903
- Holt v. Richmond, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, 92 S. Ct. 1602
- Holt v. Richmond, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, 31 L. Ed. 2d 814
- Holt v. Richmond, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, Apr. 24, 1972
- Holt v. Richmond, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, 408 U.S. 931
- Holt v. Richmond, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, 92 S. Ct. 2510
- Holt v. Richmond, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, 33 L. Ed. 2d 343
- Holt v. Richmond, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, Jun. 26, 1972
- Holt v. Richmond, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, 429 U.S. 914
- Holt v. Richmond, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, 97 S. Ct. 304
- Holt v. Richmond, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, 50 L. Ed. 2d 280
- Holt v. Richmond, SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, November 1, 1976
Bar Admissions
- Virginia Supreme Court
- Virginia, 1969
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Virginia, 1971
- U.S. District Court Western District of Virginia, 1972
- U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1972
- U.S. Tax Court, 1987
Other Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- American Association for Justice
- Virginia State Bar (Member, Business Law Section and Family Law Section)
- Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
- Bar Association of the City of Richmond
- Henrico County Bar Association
- Chesterfield County Bar Association
Contact
5206 Markel Road
Suite 200
Richmond, VA 23230
Phone: 804-729-5537
Fax: 804-285-2849
Email: Send a message
Website: https://www.coateslaw.com
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