What Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig PLLC does

Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig PLLC is a veteran-owned, private law firm headquartered in Vienna, Virginia (Tysons Corner), founded in 2001. The firm delivers comprehensive legal services across eleven practice areas: Artificial Intelligence, Corporate Transactions & Finance, Data Security and Compliance, Employment, Government & Regulatory, Immigration, Intellectual Property, Litigation & Disputes, Private Wealth & Trust Services, and Real Estate & Construction. Notable client work includes representation of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as outside intellectual property counsel (2019–2028), the Commonwealth of Virginia, and advisory work on Element 84's acquisition of Azavea. Founding partner Thomas Dunlap is a former Army officer and special prosecutor with a $31 million patent jury verdict on his record, alongside an MBA and MS in Biotechnology, signaling deep technical litigation capability.

The firm operates through direct attorney-client relationships managed across 11 office locations spanning 10 U.S. cities (Chicago, Florence KY, Leesburg VA, New York, Richmond VA, San Juan PR, Seattle WA, Vienna VA, Washington DC, Wilmington DE) and London, UK. Revenue is generated through professional legal fees billed across practice areas. Business development is relationship-led and content-led, anchored by the Blackletter Podcast (12+ seasons) targeting CEOs, Corporate Counsel, and Entrepreneurs, the Monday Minutes short-form video series, and a Small Business & Inventor Hub resource center. The firm has received third-party validation including Chambers & Partners 2026 recognition for IP excellence and WTR 1000 designation among the world's leading trademark professionals.

Customer segments span mid-market and enterprise businesses, government contractors, technology and IP clients, veteran entrepreneurs, and individuals/families. The firm holds no disclosed parent company, no venture or private equity investment, and operates as an independently owned PLLC. Distribution is exclusively direct — no resellers or marketplaces — with intake via phone (800-747-9354), website contact forms, email, and in-person consultation. Thought leadership, community events such as the Veteran Business Summit, and attorney-driven referrals form the primary acquisition channels.

Name

Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig PLLC

Legal name

Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig PLLC

Website

https://dbllawyers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig is a veteran-owned, multi-practice U.S. law firm with 75+ attorneys across 11 offices, serving businesses, government contractors, technology clients, veteran entrepreneurs, and individuals in corporate, IP, litigation, government, and wealth matters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Legal Services: The firm provides comprehensive legal services across multiple practice areas including corporate transactions, intellectual property, litigation, employment, immigration, government contracts, real estate, and private wealth services. Revenue is generated through professional legal fees billed to clients for legal representation and advisory services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig PLLC is a veteran-owned law firm providing comprehensive legal services across multiple practice areas including artificial intelligence, corporate transactions and finance, data security and compliance, employment, government and regulatory, immigration, intellectual property, litigation and disputes, private wealth and trust services, and real estate and construction. The firm advises and represents clients in national and international legal matters through over 75 attorneys across 11 office locations.

Product overview

Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig PLLC is a veteran-owned law firm offering comprehensive legal services across multiple practice areas. The firm operates as a unified legal services platform rather than a product-based company, providing legal counsel through specialized practice areas including Artificial Intelligence, Corporate Transactions & Finance, Data Security and Compliance, Employment, Government & Regulatory, Immigration, Intellectual Property, Litigation & Disputes, Private Wealth & Trust Services, and Real Estate & Construction. The firm also produces thought leadership content through the Blackletter Podcast and maintains a Small Business & Inventor Hub resource center. The firm has over 75 attorneys across 11 office locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Artificial Intelligence Legal Services Legal counsel and representation for artificial intelligence matters, including AI-related intellectual property, regulatory compliance, and litigation, for businesses developing or deploying AI.
• Corporate Transactions & Finance Comprehensive corporate legal services including bankruptcy, business formation, contracts, creditor's rights, cross border transactions, finance and venture capital, franchise, mergers and acquisitions, and SBA lending for businesses and entrepreneurs.
• Data Security and Compliance Legal services covering compliance program development, cyber incident preparedness, privacy impact assessments, regulatory advice, risk management, security awareness training, and website development compliance for organizations handling sensitive data.
• Employment Law Employment legal services including anti-discrimination compliance, counseling and training, employment agreements, federal and state wage payment law compliance, and non-compete agreements for employers.
• Government & Regulatory Legal services for government contracts, audits, internal investigations, crisis management, government disputes, international trade, export controls, political law, security clearance, and white-collar crime defense for government contractors and regulated entities.
• Immigration Immigration legal services covering business, investor, and family immigration, non-immigrant and immigrant visas for employers, investors, and families.
• Intellectual Property IP legal services including copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade secrets, technology transactions and licensing, and patent and trademark infringement protection for eCommerce and digital marketplaces, for inventors, technology companies, and brand owners.
• Litigation & Disputes Full-service litigation practice covering appellate practice, arbitration, mediation, commercial disputes, construction disputes, defamation, employment disputes, estate and probate litigation, government disputes, intellectual property disputes, internet and domain disputes, product liability, and real estate disputes.
• Private Wealth & Trust Services Estate planning services including business succession planning, estate and trust planning, guardianship, conservatorship, and probate and trust administration for individuals and families.
• Real Estate & Construction Real estate and construction legal services covering commercial leasing, construction contracts, real estate disputes, and sales and transactions for property owners, developers, and contractors.

Quantifiable outcome

• $31 million patent jury verdict secured by founding partner Thomas Dunlap in Eastern District of Texas
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• John Marshall BankcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 November 2025Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig and John Marshall Bank co-host the Veteran Business Summit in Vienna on November 6, 2025. The free event supports veteran entrepreneurs through expert-led sessions and networking opportunities covering financing, legal considerations, certifications, and succession planning for veteran-owned businesses.
• Element 84coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 February 2023Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig advised Element 84, a geospatial technology firm, on its acquisition of Azavea Inc. The transaction doubled Element 84's size and enhanced its mission of creating software and data tools for a changing planet. DBL partners Wright Lewis, Thomas Dunlap, and Tamara Dunlap led the legal team.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Oblon, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, LLP: Mid-size IP-focused law firm with deep patent prosecution and litigation capabilities, comparable to DBL's technical IP bench and technology client base.
• Smith Pachter McWhorter PLC: Mid-size firm specializing in construction, government contracts, and surety law; Tamara Dunlap previously practiced there, indicating direct practice-area overlap with DBL's government and construction work.
• ArentFox Schiff LLP: Mid-size full-service firm with prominent government contracts, IP, and regulatory practices competing for similar federal agency and corporate clients as DBL.
• Wiley Rein LLP: Washington, D.C.-based mid-size firm with strong government contracts, IP, and regulatory practices, similar in scale and federal client mix to DBL.
• Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP: Mid-size firm with comparable practice breadth including government contracts, IP, and corporate transactions, serving similar enterprise and federal clients.
• Steptoe & Johnson PLLC: Mid-size law firm with comparable Washington D.C. presence and overlapping practices in government contracts, IP, and litigation, serving similar clients.
• Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP: IP-focused mid-size firm known for high-stakes patent litigation and trademark prosecution, directly competing for the same technology and IP clients as DBL.
• Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C. Boutique IP-focused law firm with strong patent prosecution and litigation capabilities, competing for similar technical IP clients and patent matters as DBL.

Broad incumbents

• Foley & Lardner LLP: Larger established full-service firm with significant IP, government contracts, and corporate practices; broader geographic footprint than DBL but overlapping client types.
• McDermott Will & Emery LLP: Larger global law firm with established IP, government contracts, and corporate practices, comparable in client mix but with substantially more attorneys and offices.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dbllawyers
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCL1n8Wupq5xZA8C74gCcw0w
• Facebookfacebook.com/dbl-lawyers-1520351054899109
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dbllawyers
• Instagraminstagram.com/dbl_lawyers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig PLLC