James M. Nolan

NOLAN, James M., 51, passed away at his home in Richmond, Va., on December 7, 2008, after a lengthy illness. Born in Bethlehem, Pa., Mr. Nolan was the son of the late James J. and Margaret MacNeill Nolan. He is survived by his wife, Mary Beth Phillips Nolan; his daughter, Bridget; and his sisters, Meme Nolan Wiber and Margie Nolan Lloyd and their families. Mr. Nolan was a 1975 graduate of Bethlehem Catholic High School. He received his B.A. from Georgetown University, magna cum laude, in 1979, a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Pi Sigma Alpha. He received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law School in 1982, and was a member of the Editorial Board of the American Criminal Law Review. He began his career at the law firm of Milbank Tweed in New York, and joined the firm of Mays & Valentine, now Troutman Sanders LLP, in Richmond in 1989. He became a partner of the firm in 1990. Mr. Nolan was a member of the bars of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of New York. He was admitted to practice in the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the Bankruptcy and District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Virginia, and the Bankruptcy and District Courts for the Eastern District of Virginia, as well as various other volunteer bar associations in both New York and Virginia. The author of numerous legal publications and a frequent lecturer on issues of bankruptcy and creditors' rights, Mr. Nolan achieved Martindale-Hubbell's highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards, and was recognized in The Best Lawyers in America in Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtors Rights for many years. A longtime volunteer and supporter of ChildSavers (formerly Memorial Child Guidance Clinic), Mr. Nolan also served as a member of the board and was recently named Emeritus Director in recognition of his extraordinary service. The family will receive guests from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, December 10, at Bliley's- Central, 3801 Augusta Ave., Richmond, with a Christian Vigil Service to be held at 7:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at noon on Thursday, December 11, at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 800 S. Cathedral Pl., Richmond, with interment following at Hollywood Cemetery. For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to ChildSavers, 200 N. 22nd St., Richmond, Va. 23223, or www.childsavers.org.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.