Stephen Cannella

Stephen Cannella founded the firm now known as Cannella & O’Neal and has spent more than 40 years representing personal injury clients. His professional biography emphasizes trial advocacy, direct client contact and preparing each case around its particular challenges. Cannella belongs to the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and has taught Virginia Trial Lawyers Association seminars on client service and coordination with paralegals. His community involvement includes cancer charities, youth organizations and disability-related causes, and he was named a Virginia Law Foundation Fellow in 2026. He earned his law degree from the University of Richmond in 1980. During law school, he served as Student Bar Association president and chief judge of the Honor Court, leadership roles that preceded his career in personal injury litigation.