Surety Today™

Our Surety Experts are here for you.

Mike Stover – Mike has been practicing law for 30 years in the surety and construction law field. He is AV preeminent™ rated by Martindale-Hubbell®, and has been repeatedly selected as a Maryland Super Lawyer® and Maryland Best Lawyer®. He has authored numerous papers, articles and book chapters on surety law issues and has given presentations at ABA/FSLC Mid-Winter and Spring Meetings, the Surety Claims Institute and the Northeast Surety and Fidelity Claims Conference. Mike is a co-founder, officer and member of the Board of Directors of the Philadelphia Surety Claims Association and is a Vice Chair of the ABA/FSLC.

George Bachrach – George has been representing surety companies for 47 years.  He is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell®, and he has been repeatedly named as a Maryland Super Lawyer® and Maryland Best Lawyer®. He has written and published extensively in the surety field including numerous book chapters, articles and papers. He has presented at every major surety meeting and has been the editor of several ABA/FSLC publications and the Program Chair at numerous ABA/FSLC meetings. George was the Chair of the FSLC in 2001-2002 and has been Chair or Co-Chair of several ABA/FSLC Divisions over the years.  In 2009 George was recognized for his many achievements and years of service to the ABA/FSLC when he received the Martin J. Andrew Award for Lifetime Achievement in Fidelity and Surety Law.

Cynthia Rodgers-Waire – Cindy has been practicing law for 29 years in the surety and construction law field. She is AV preeminent™ rated by Martindale-Hubbell®, and has been repeatedly selected as a Maryland Best Lawyer® in the field of construction and construction litigation, as well as being recognized by Maryland Super Lawyers. Cindy has authored numerous papers, articles and book chapters and has given presentations at ABA/FSLC Mid-Winter and Spring Meetings, the Surety Claims Institute and the Northeast Surety and Fidelity Claims Conference. She has been involved with the leadership of the ABA/FSLC as a Co-Chair of several divisions and as a Vice Chair. She is licensed to practice in Maryland, DC and Virginia.

Richard T. Pledger – Rich has practiced surety and fidelity law for over 34 years. He is licensed in, and has practiced in, all of the state and federal courts of Virginia, including the bankruptcy courts. Rich has been heavily involved in the surety industry participating in leadership roles, writing extensively and giving presentations. For three decades Rich has represented surety and fidelity clients in all types of matters including: performance and payment bonds, financing, tender, takeover, bankruptcy, bid bonds, indemnity and salvage, coverage issues, estate matters, financial transactions, procurement contracts, and miscellaneous and commercial bonds. Rich received his juris doctor degree from the William and Mary Law School and his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia.

Thomas J. Moran – Tom has practiced surety and fidelity law for over 16 years. He is licensed in state and federal Courts of West Virginia, Virginia and the District of Columbia. He has litigated matters in all state and federal courts where he is licensed and he regularly appears in the bankruptcy courts in Virginia and West Virginia. Tom has extensive experience in all aspects of surety law including fidelity bonds, commercial bond matters, performance and payment bond disputes, takeovers, tenders, financing and indemnity actions. He is committed to finding practical solutions when possible and he has a proven track record of positive results in the courtroom. Tom is a graduate of Cornell University and the University of Richmond School of Law.

Connor Bleakley – As an associate with WCS, Connor practices in the construction and surety and fidelity groups. In that capacity, he represents sureties in construction and estate litigation, as well as representing other individual and corporate entities in various litigation contexts. Prior to joining the WCS Richmond office, Connor litigated injury-based disputes such as motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, and workers’ compensation. Connor’s prior litigation experience has included work for both plaintiffs and defendants, giving him a perspective from both sides of the negotiating table.