Peter C Burnett

Peter Burnett is a graduate of Hobart College and Antioch School of Law. He has practiced law in Leesburg since 1977. Peter limited his practice to personal injury law when he founded Burnett & Williams in 1988. In addition to building the firm into one of Virginia’s oldest and most experienced personal injury law firms, Peter has compiled an impressive array of legal achievements, including obtaining the highest wrongful death verdict in Virginia history, obtaining the highest personal injury verdict in Loudoun County, and other record results.

Peter has guided the firm through a number of noteworthy cases including multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts for wrongful death, medical malpractice and automobile accident cases. He has earned a reputation as a relentless advocate who is always willing to negotiate carefully and creatively on behalf of his in pursuit of a fair outcome. In cases large and small, Peter works closely with clients to uncover every important detail and to convey a full understanding of their claims to the insurance adjustors and attorneys on the other side.

For his dedicated service to his clients and the Virginia legal system, Peter has received numerous accolades and honors. Among them are Lawyer of the Year designated by U.S. News for Plaintiff’s personal injury in 2022 and induction into the Virginia Lawyers Hall of Fame. He has also served in leadership positions in the Virginia State Bar and locally having been President of the Loudoun County Bar Association, a member of the Virginia State Bar Council, Chairman of the VSB Diversity Conference, and Chairman of the VSB Judicial Nominations Committee. Currently, as the Chair of the VSB Senior Lawyers Conference, Peter assembled a team to produce a video on the importance of civility and professionalism for lawyers. It is intended to have multiple uses from presentations to 3rd year law students to continuing legal education seminars for practicing lawyers to law firm education for young associates.

Peter has been committed to charitable activities in Loudoun County for many years. He is a founding director of the Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter, a founding director and Chairman of Loudoun Cares, Co-Chairman of the Downtown Improvement Association, founder and Chairman of the Loudoun Law Foundation, and founding Chairman of the Virginia Diversity Foundation, the parent organization of the Ampersand Pantry Project. Whether salvaging a historic Leesburg structure, building a home for a valued member of the community, or planning for the future of downtown Leesburg, Peter is tirelessly devoted to the common good.

Peter’s most recent projects include working as a pro bono consultant to the Rachel Paxton Trust as they work toward the design and construction of a new customized school building for the Arc of Loudoun as part of an effort to maximize the 16-acre campus as a mosaic of services for needy children, the Trust’s primary mission. Additionally, for the last couple of years, Peter has been leading the charge in convincing the Town of Leesburg to re-develop the Liberty Street parking lot, the former town dump, by removing the dump material, constructing a performing arts and conference center, and supporting construction of approximately 80 affordable housing units for senior citizens.