The three Jewish attorneys profiled on the following pages have several common characteristics. First of all, Steve Brown, Bill Nossen, and Neil Rose all hail from the northeast, landing in Tidewater for various reasons.
These men demonstrate their commitment to Jewish values in their daily legal practice, and in their spare time, they are all active in the Jewish community – as synagogue volunteers and leaders and in leadership roles with Jewish agencies – United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, Tidewater Jewish Foundation, and Jewish Family Service, among others.
And, finally, all three men share another preference: their favorite Jewish holiday is Passover.
Firm
Tiffany & Brown
Specialty
Creditors’ Rights
Education
Lehigh University
JD Marshall Wythe School of Law, College of William and Mary
Jewish organizations and involvement
Jewish Family Service vice president and Temple Emanuel first vice president, past co-president, board life member
Family
Wife: Beryl Brown
Children: Hunter, an attorney in Florida practicing mergers and acquisitions; Shelby, a third-year law student at Washington & Lee and president of the Student Bar Association; and Blake, who is working on a startup company and applying to medical school.
Favorite Jewish holiday
Passover. I remember growing up in New York and Connecticut and coming down to my grandmother’s house in Richmond and celebrating with 20 family members.
Most memorable Jewish milestone/life cycle
The b’nai mitzvah of our children.
Most admired Jewish lawmaker
Golda Meir, the former Prime Minister of Israel and it’s only female leader. In the U.S., it would be Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. He is a strong supporter of Israel and has not changed his position even after someone tried to burn down the governor’s residence.
Personal legal milestone
Voted by my peers as Legal Elite, a Super Lawyer and a Top Lawyer by Coastal Virginia Magazine.
Most memorable case
Early, after going out on my own, I had a case with my former mentor, Alex Smith, representing the other side, concerning the burden of proof on the issue of good faith in a bankruptcy case. He even appealed the case. The parties created new law, and I still cite that case today.
How has an understanding and/or commitment to Jewish values entered into your decisions or actions as an attorney?
I am guided by several principles including Derch Eretz, in which I try to treat everyone with respect and act ethically as well as Tzedek, or doing the right thing.
Firm
Kalfus & Nachman
Specialty
Pre-litigation associate, handling plaintiff’s personal injury cases.
Education
Seton Hall University School of Law
S.U.N.Y. Binghamton
Jewish organizations and involvement
A member of Congregation Beth El in Norfolk, teaching sixth and seventh graders in the synagogue’s Sunday school. Frequently lead portions of the Shabbat, Festival and High Holiday davening, and a member of the Shul and its Men’s Club’s board of directors.
Family
Wife: Leslie Jo Nossen, aka “Morah Jo,” married 25 years
Children: Lily Ann, who attends VCU and Sam, who attends William & Mary.
Favorite Jewish holiday
Passover. I love the family seders and the traditions that come with them.
Most memorable Jewish milestone/
life cycle
Completing the 11-month mourning period for my mom, Anne, of blessed memory. She passed from cancer on February 14, 2001.
Most admired Jewish lawmaker
Yitzhak Rabin
Personal legal milestone
27 years of practicing law, and 27 years of ethically seeking justice for the clients and communities I represented.
Most memorable case
I successfully represented a client on appeal who had been convicted of armed robbery. I then convinced the Prosecutor’s Office that he was innocent of the crimes charged against him and that all charges should be dismissed accordingly.
How has an understanding and/or commitment to Jewish values entered into your decisions or actions as an attorney?
As an attorney, and in accordance with long-held Jewish values, I continually strive to seek justice and practice my craft with the utmost professionalism. I am most proud of the ethical and professional reputation that I earned in every legal community I have practiced in.
Firm
Willcox Savage, P.C.
Specialty
Tax/Estate Planning and Administration
Education
UVA McIntire School of Business
JD UVA Law School
Master of Laws in Taxation Georgetown University Law Center
Jewish organizations and involvement
Beth El board member and past president, Beth El Foundation board member/secretary, Tidewater Jewish Foundation-treasurer and board member, Virginia Festival of Jewish Film screening committee.
Family
Bride: Gina (formerly Regina Handel)
Sons: Fred, Ryan (engaged to Jessica) and Jon (married to Maggie)
Grandchild: Avery
Dog: Whitney the Whoodle
Favorite Jewish holiday
Being the youngest of six, I love large family gatherings such as seder and Rosh Hashanah with Gina’s brisket, a mountain of mashed potatoes, and the family. Our family tradition of reading from the old Haggadahs brings back memories of parents and aunts and uncles.
Most memorable Jewish milestone/life cycle
Hard to forget our wedding on the bima at Beth El; as I watched my bride approach, she stopped, unintentionally, her train caught on the steps. Aunt Sarah from Pikesville, Md. got up and freed her, and our wedding continued. Rabbi Elkins and Rabbi Golinkin made for a longer service than some desired.
Most admired Jewish lawmaker
Golda Meir vs Louis Brandeis?
Personal legal milestone
I was recognized by my peers to be admitted to the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.
Most memorable case
As a young attorney, helping a retired nurse plan her estate to leave it all to Children’s Hospital of The King‘s Daughters, because those children needed it more than her relatives.
How has an understanding and/or commitment to Jewish values entered into your decisions or actions as an attorney?
Our legal system is based on the five books of Moses, a system of justice and judges. I was raised to always try to do the right thing.
As a lawyer helping my clients, I strive to find out what they want to accomplish. Then I show them options to accomplish their goals and remind them to look at both sides of every issue to try and achieve a win/win and family harmony wherever possible.