Elliott Buckner named Best Lawyers 2027 Lawyer of the Year in Richmond

Cantor Grana Buckner Bucci partner Elliott M. Buckner has been named the 2027 Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” for Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs in Richmond. The honor is limited to one attorney per practice area and region and adds to Buckner’s growing list of peer-recognized awards.

Why it matters: - The Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” designation is reserved for a single attorney in each practice area and region. - Buckner’s selection strengthens his standing in Richmond’s plaintiffs’ bar and highlights the firm’s focus on catastrophic injury and wrongful death work. - Best Lawyers says the honor reflects the highest average peer votes in the category.

What happened: - Cantor Grana Buckner Bucci partner Elliott M. Buckner was named the 2027 Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” for Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs in Richmond, Virginia. - The announcement came from the Richmond-based personal injury firm on Sept. 16, 2026. - Buckner is a partner at Cantor Grana Buckner Bucci, also known as The Virginia Trial Firm.

The details: - Best Lawyers records show Buckner previously received Richmond Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs Lawyer of the Year in 2023. - Best Lawyers records also show Richmond Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs Lawyer of the Year honors in 2021 and 2023. - Buckner has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for personal injury and product liability since 2011. - Buckner earned a J.D. from William & Mary in 2000 and a B.S.B.A. from the University of Richmond in 1993. - Buckner has practiced since 2000 and is admitted in Virginia and New York. - Buckner is AV Preeminent peer-rated by Martindale-Hubbell. - Buckner served as president of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association in 2020-21. - Buckner worked early in his career as an insurance defense lawyer, a background the firm says informs his plaintiffs’ practice. - Buckner has secured more than 80 verdicts and settlements above $1 million during his career. - Notable results include a $16 million recovery in a motorcycle wrongful death case in Hanover County. - Another notable result was a $15 million truck accident settlement, which was the highest settlement in Virginia in 2017. - Cantor Grana Buckner Bucci was founded in 1979 and has five partners. - The firm focuses on catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases.

Between the lines: - The award adds another peer-reviewed credential to Buckner’s profile at a time when legal reputation matters heavily in high-stakes plaintiffs work. - The firm is using the recognition to reinforce its brand around trial experience, verdict history and injury-victim advocacy. - Best Lawyers’ peer-review process is a central part of the marketing value of the honor, since the award is based on lawyer evaluations rather than client or firm submissions alone.

What's next: - Buckner is likely to remain a visible face for CGBB in product liability and personal injury cases in Virginia. - The firm will continue to lean on peer recognition and prior case results as it competes for catastrophic injury and wrongful death matters.

The bottom line: - Buckner’s 2027 “Lawyer of the Year” honor adds a fourth Richmond Best Lawyers top award to an already decorated plaintiffs’ career.