From the start of her career, Janeice Robinson has proven herself to be a powerful trial lawyer. In the courtroom, Robinson advocated for victims of criminal acts, some of whom were the most vulnerable in our community. Janeice wanted to be the voice for the people of her community. She has a compassion and empathy for victims, helping her clients through some of the worst times in their lives.
As a Virginia Beach native, Janeice Robinson has spent her career serving the community she was raised in. A former prosecutor in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Janeice spent 8 years helping victims of violent crimes get the justice they deserved. She left civil court and joined Allstate’s Special Investigation Unit as a Senior Trial Attorney, hoping to help defendants protect themselves following an accident.
It was her time at Allstate that gave her a unique view of how insurance companies fight to protect themselves, rather than their customers. She spent years watching the company develop new systems and processes in order to minimize the payout to accident victims. Robinson watched from across the aisle, an unrepresented or under-represented claimants would be denied the money they needed to recover because of a simple error or comment.
When she finally had enough, Robinson looked for a firm that matched her values and would give her the chance to really help people.
Having worked across the aisle from our team for years, she’d heard about the culture and integrity at our firm. Janeice knew if she wanted to be on a winning team, it had to be Rutter Mills. She has joined us to work in our pre-litigation department, helping clients through the critical, early stages of their cases. Her move to Rutter Mills allows her to work in a firm where “What Matters Most” is serving the community she loves.
Outside the office, Janeice can usually be found in the gym with her two sons and husband. The Robinson family has a passion for basketball. Janeice is never happier than when she’s talking about the athletic and scholastic accomplishments of her boys.
Vanessa Allen Sutherland is Executive Vice President of Government Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Phillips 66. She has over 25 years of legal experience.
Before assuming her current role in January 2022, Sutherland was Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer for Norfolk Southern Corporation, where she held a series of positions.
Sutherland brings considerable knowledge of the public sector, having served as Chairperson and CEO of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board from 2015-2018 and as Chief Counsel at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration from 2011-2015. She also served in senior legal counsel roles for Altria Group and Philip Morris USA.
Sutherland earned a bachelor’s degree from Drew University, as well as a law degree and MBA from American University.
Brandon Brown draws on nearly two decades of experience in private practice, as a federal and state prosecutor and as a presidentially appointed U.S. Attorney to defend employers and businesses in high-stakes labor and employment disputes, government investigations, regulatory actions, and white-collar matters. His government experience gives him a unique vantage point for defending employers and individuals facing sensitive internal and agency investigations, allowing him to anticipate government strategies and deliver practical, business-focused solutions for his clients.
Brandon guides clients through complex regulatory compliance issues and litigation involving claims of discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, and workplace policy violations. He also counsels management teams in both the public and private sectors, delivering strategic, pragmatic advice that protects reputations and keeps business objectives at the forefront—especially when government scrutiny or crisis situations arise.
With extensive first-chair trial experience, Brandon handles matters ranging from single-plaintiff claims and class actions to union disputes and workplace accident litigation. He represents employers in a broad array of industries and is known for resolving sensitive disputes efficiently while minimizing operational disruption. Brandon leads teams through all phases of litigation and provides proactive counsel to help clients strengthen compliance programs and mitigate risk before problems escalate.
Before joining Fisher Phillips, Brandon was a partner in a mid-sized law firm where he led the firm’s Government and Internal Investigations team. He was previously appointed by the President to serve as United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, where he oversaw a wide range of criminal and civil investigations and enforcement actions involving healthcare fraud, government program fraud, and public corruption. While U.S. Attorney, the Attorney General selected Brandon to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC), a select group of U.S. Attorneys that advised the Attorney General on Department of Justice policy issues. Additionally, he served on the AGAC’s White Collar Crime, Civil Rights and Violent Crime subcommittees.
Before his service as U.S. Attorney, Brandon served as an Assistant United States Attorney, where he led and supervised hundreds of investigations and prosecutions with multiple federal and state agencies. Brandon began his career as a state prosecutor in the Ouachita Parish (Louisiana) District Attorney’s Office.
Education
- Southern University Law Center, J.D., 2007
- Louisiana Tech University, M.B.A., 2004
- Louisiana Tech University, B.S., 2002
Bar Admissions
- Louisiana
- Texas (Pending)
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
Jamila Luke, Esq. is the Managing Attorney of Interlink Immigration Group, LLC. Ms. Luke has represented clients throughout the United States to obtain or maintain their green cards, achieve favorable outcomes in deportation court (removal defense), obtain visa approval, successfully appeal their cases with USCIS or the immigration court, and become U.S. citizens.
Prior to practicing immigration law, Ms. Luke served as a Special Prosecutor at a District Attorney’s Office in Metro-Atlanta. She observed first-hand the immigration consequences of criminal acts that many non-citizens encounter, and she developed an interest in assisting immigrants in navigating the complexities of the crimmigration bureaucracy.
After transitioning from prosecution to private practice, Ms. Luke sharpened her skills as a criminal defense and immigration attorney with a high-volume law firm in the Atlanta area. Later, she decided to focus exclusively on immigration and nationality law, working with prominent New York City-based law firms managing complex immigration cases.
An alumna of the historic Florida A&M University College of Law, Attorney Luke has earned multiple awards and recognition for her efforts in immigration advocacy. She has also appeared as a panelist with various organizations and on multiple media platforms.
Today, she puts all of her training, knowledge, and experience to work for her clients.
Michael is a Member in our Health Care practice group.
Michael brings significant in-house, non-profit, and government experience to his health care law practice. He advises clients on a wide range of legal and regulatory matters; including the provision of guidance on institutional responses to legislative and regulatory developments. Michael leverages his experience in government investigations to help leadership assess risk and implement practical mitigation strategies. His work includes drafting and regulatory review of physician employment agreements, assisting with responses to inquiries from oversight and law enforcement agencies, advising on vendor contracting and supply chain procurement, and resolving vendor disputes.
Prior to joining Gordon Feinblatt, Michael worked in-house for an academic medical system advising healthcare providers and executive leadership within its constituent hospitals on a wide range of matters spanning several different specialized practice areas. Michael frequently advised on regulatory compliance including Stark and Anti-Kickback regulations, provided support and advice around responses to government investigations and enforcement actions, and provided guidance on labor and employment matters such as responding to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaints. Michael worked with stakeholders to recommend proactive updates to internal policies, bylaws, and procedures helping them to stay ahead of the evolving regulatory landscape.
Michael previously worked in the U.S. Department of Justice as a trial attorney where he represented the government in vaccine-related litigation. He also served as an Assistant Attorney General where he prosecuted disciplinary actions on behalf of various health occupations licensing boards.
Michael began his legal career as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Baltimore City where he prosecuted crimes ranging from misdemeanors and DUIs to robberies, attempted murders, and homicides.