About Ilya
Ilya Rabkin trained at the University of South Carolina School of Law and built his courtroom skills soon after earning his J.D. He chose a path that took him directly into trial work, joining Christina Pendleton and Associates in 2016. The early move into active litigation shaped much of his practice in the years that followed.
Rabkin's legal education provided a conventional foundation. He completed his law degree at South Carolina’s law school and then entered practice in Virginia, where he is licensed to work. That combination of classroom training and early hands-on trial experience set him up to spend the bulk of his career at one firm rather than moving frequently between offices.
He began at Christina Pendleton and Associates as a trial lawyer in 2016. The title reflected work inside courtrooms as well as preparation outside them. Over time he handled the practical tasks that trial lawyers carry: witness preparation, evidence review, motion practice and courtroom presentations. Those responsibilities defined his day-to-day role and informed how he approaches case strategy.
Rabkin belongs to the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association. The membership connects him with peers across the state and gives him access to continuing education and professional programming. He has maintained that association membership while practicing in Virginia. Public records list his office affiliation as Christina Pendleton & Associates.
Colleagues describe his style in straightforward terms: methodical preparation and a willingness to take contested matters to trial when necessary. He has focused on matters that require sustained litigation effort and the ability to present complex facts to judges and juries. He has spent years refining courtroom procedures rather than building a generalist portfolio of unrelated legal services.
As of 2026 Rabkin continues to work from Christina Pendleton & Associates in Virginia. His practice centers on trial litigation in the state.
