Russell Caleb Chaplain

Caleb Chaplain is a bankruptcy attorney with over a decade of experience in federal bankruptcy law and procedure. For more than a decade, he served as the career law clerk to the Honorable Rebecca B. Connelly, Judge at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Virginia in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Prior to his position as a Career Law Clerk, he served as a term law clerk for the Honorable Paul M. Black, Chief Judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Virginia in Roanoke, Virginia. From these experiences, Caleb brings a unique perspective to bankruptcy practice, having worked extensively on the other side of the bench for judges who cover the entire Western District of Virginia. This federal court experience has provided him with invaluable insight into judicial decision-making and procedural requirements.

As an adjunct professor at Washington and Lee University School of Law in Lexington, Virginia, Caleb teaches Bankruptcy Law and serves as a mentor to students pursuing legal careers. Caleb is a frequent author on issues surrounding bankruptcy law. He serves as Coordinating Editor for the “On The Edge” column in the American Bankruptcy Institute Law Journal. In 2022, he was honored as one of the American Bankruptcy Institute’s “40 Under 40” recipients. He frequently speaks at bankruptcy conferences and seminars throughout the region, sharing his expertise on recent developments in bankruptcy law and procedure.

A Rockingham County resident, Caleb is deeply committed to community service. He serves as President of the Board of Directors of Second Home Learning Center a non-profit which provides out of school care, education, and development opportunities for children in low-income households in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He volunteers with several other local organizations.

Caleb earned his J.D. from Indiana University Maurer School of Law and his B.A. from Dartmouth College.