About Avery T. Waterman
Avery T. Waterman Jr. built a legal career that began in classrooms and carried him into courtrooms across several states. He completed his undergraduate studies in economics at the College of William and Mary, finishing in 1979, and earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1982. Those early years set a clear direction toward litigation and trial work.
He started his professional life as an associate at McGlinchey Stafford in 1982. That initial position introduced him to the pace and demands of private practice. Five years later he took a step that reshaped his trajectory. In 1987 he became a senior partner at Patten Wornom Hatten & Diamonstein, LC. He remained there for decades, handling complex matters and developing a courtroom practice.
In 2019 he founded Waterman Law Centers, PLLC and serves as a founder-partner. The move returned him to a smaller-practice setting after many years at a larger firm. At Waterman Law Centers he has continued to represent clients in contested proceedings and pursue litigation across state and federal venues.
Waterman’s bar memberships paint a picture of sustained engagement in the legal community. He has belonged to the Louisiana State Bar since 1982 and to the Virginia State Bar since 1987. He joined the District of Columbia Bar in 1995 and maintains membership there today. He also participates in the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, the American Association for Justice, and the local Williamsburg Bar Association. Those affiliations reflect long-term involvement in organizations that center on trial practice and professional standards.
His admitted jurisdictions include Virginia and the D.C. Circuit, and his practice record shows experience in both state and federal proceedings. Colleagues describe him as steady in court and methodical in preparing cases. He has taken part in jury trials, motion practice, and appeals during a multi-decade career.
Outside the courtroom his work has included mentoring younger lawyers and contributing to local bar activities. He has maintained a steady presence in professional associations since the 1980s and has balanced trial work with firm management responsibilities since founding his own practice.
He currently practices at Waterman Law Centers, PLLC, handling litigation matters in Virginia and federal courts.
