Brooke Stephenson BardenPartner

Brooke became a partner of Smith, Barden & Wells, PC in 2017.  She focuses her practice on representing small to medium sized businesses, estate and trust planning and administration, and residential and commercial real estate.

She represents small to mid-size businesses in various industries and is experienced in determining the appropriate entity formation, business planning, corporate governance, contract drafting and negotiation, and tax compliance services.  When her clients make the decision to terminate their involvement with the business, whether it is through a liquidation, bankruptcy reorganization, asset purchase agreement, stock purchase or another work-out alternative, Brooke will work to achieve the best possible outcome for her client’s needs.

Brooke is experienced in estate planning and administration. She works to develop an estate plan that achieves her clients’ unique circumstances whether that is through a Will, Revocable Trust, Irrevocable Trust, Medicaid Planning, or other alternatives.  She has served as the Executor for her clients so she can ensure that their estate plans and final wishes are correctly implemented. She also represents executors and trustees in navigating the estate and trust administration process.

Brooke represents buyers, sellers, developers, and real estate investors with the purchase and sale of residential and commercial real estate. She is involved with the transaction in all stages from the negation, contract drafting, issues in inspection and appraisal, judgment liens, closing through post-closing. Brooke works to achieve a streamlined transaction but is experience when things don’t go as planned.

Brooke is admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court, United States Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia, the United States District Courts for the Eastern District of Virginia, and in all courts in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

She received her Bachelor of Science from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2002.  In 2007, she received her juris doctorate degree from Regent University, School of Law.

Michael Owen WellsKim Michael