About Charles
Charles Petran built his career on a foundation of political science and law. He earned a B.S. in Political Science and Government from Old Dominion University, followed by an M.A. in Political Science and Government from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 2012. He completed his legal training at the University of Richmond School of Law, receiving his J.D. in 2016.
After law school, Petran entered public service. He worked as an Assistant Public Defender in Portsmouth in 2020, where he handled trial work on behalf of clients facing criminal charges. That period on the courtroom front line gave him steady exposure to trial procedures and client advocacy. It also shaped his approach to case preparation and courtroom presentation.
In 2021 Petran became a partner at two firms: Tingen Law, PLLC and Tingen & Williams, PLLC. Those moves marked a transition from public defense to private practice. As a partner, he took on broader responsibilities that included supervising matters, helping develop case strategy, and representing clients in contested proceedings. His practice since then has spanned state and federal forums.
Petran is admitted to practice in Virginia and is authorized to appear in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. That combination allows him to handle matters at both the trial and appellate levels. Colleagues describe him as thorough in preparation and steady under pressure. Clients have relied on him in complex procedural contexts where appellate posture and trial tactics intersect.
Throughout his career Petran has maintained professional memberships and stayed engaged with peers. He has carried forward lessons from public defense into private practice, including a practical grasp of courtroom dynamics and evidence handling. He has also developed familiarity with appellate filings through appearances and submissions in the Fourth Circuit.
Petran’s work today is anchored in litigation. He represents clients in Virginia courts and files appeals in the Fourth Circuit when cases require it. He keeps his practice grounded in the procedural and substantive demands of both trial work and appellate advocacy.
He is currently a partner at Tingen Law, PLLC, where he represents clients in state litigation and federal appellate matters. His current practice handles litigation in Virginia state courts and federal appellate matters in the Fourth Circuit.
