Epton, Michael R.

The law firm of John C. Clark offers trusted, experienced representation and litigation in all areas of general law. John is known for his professionalism, eloquence and skill before the bar, and his excellent communications skills. He is highly regarded by other local attorneys, and knows many of them well. His familiarity with their style before the bar is always helpful when he represents his clients.

Clients who trust John with their cases feel reassured knowing they're getting a qualified "big city" lawyer with years of experience at some of the top law firms in the nation.

A native of Florida, John C. Clark earned his B.S. in chemistry from Florida State University, Tallahassee, in 1996. While there, he was active in sports and was president of his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon. In 1999, He earned his law degree from the University of Dayton School of Law, one of the only law schools in the country at the time with a complete curriculum in Intellectual Property (IP) law, which was his interest. He graduated from UDSL cum laude and ninth in his class of 156 students.

During his time at UDSL, John did an externship with the U.S. Magistrate Judge of Dayton and also earned a prestigious position as a staff writer and later Associate Editor for the UDSL Law Review. He also served as a summer associate at the law firm of Carlton Fields, Tampa, FL, an AmLaw 200 firm (i.e., top 200 firms in the country as far as annual gross). During his third year in law school, John took and passed the patent bar to become a member of the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office bar, and in 1999 passed the Florida State Bar and returned to Carlton Fields to begin his career in IP law.

John remained with the firm until he was married in 2001, and moved to Fauquier County to be near his wife's family. As joint master with the Casanova Hunt, his wife, Jeanne, has strong ties to this area, and is a lifelong horsewoman.

John became a member of the D.C. bar, and took a position at one of the top firms in the country, D.C.-based Venable, an AmLaw 100 firm. He practiced as an IP litigator, focusing on patent infringement litigation. His job required extensive travel all over the country.

Two years after the birth of his first child, Carson, in 2003, John realized the he couldn't be both a D. C. lawyer and father. He resigned his job at Venable and came to the Warrenton firm of Gulick, Carson & Thorpe in 2005. His second son, Cole, also was born that year.

"I loved the challenge of my fast-paced life as a D. C. patent litigator, but it left me away from my family too much," John says. "So like many successful business people, I made a choice to be a family man and work close to home. I don't regret it at all. I've found my life as a local general law attorney equally as satisfying because I get to work with people one-on-one and help them with their real-life situations."

John left the firm of Gulick, Carson & Thorpe to start his own firm in 2011. During his time as an attorney practicing general law, he has written briefs for and argued before the Court of Appeals of Virginia. He is one of the few local attorneys who enjoy appellate law.