Tessa Tilton focuses her practice on employment litigation, representing employers in matters involving discrimination, retaliation, wage and hour disputes and restrictive covenants. Her work includes defending clients before federal and state courts as well as administrative agencies such as the EEOC and state counterparts. Tessa also has experience litigating complex civil matters involving trade secrets and business disputes, as well as qui tam actions under the False Claims Act.

Before joining the firm, Tessa served as a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, where she investigated allegations of fraud, mediated cases and recommended intervention decisions in qui tam actions on behalf of the federal government. Prior to joining the U.S. Department of Justice, Tessa worked as an associate in the commercial litigation practice of an Am Law 100 firm, where she focused on commercial and employment litigation. 

Tessa previously served as a judicial law clerk to The Honorable Theresa Carroll Buchanan of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, and to The Honorable Thomas T. Cullen of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia.

Education

  • William & Mary Law School (J.D., magna cum laude)
    • William & Mary Law Review
  • Drury University (B.A.)

    Bar Admission

    • District of Columbia
    • Virginia

    Court Admissions

    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
    • U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
    • All Virginia Courts