Jen West serves on Spotts Fain's executive committee and is president of the firm. She focuses her practice on creditors' rights, commercial litigation, insolvency, workouts and foreclosure. She primarily represents banks and other lending institutions, with a particular focus on community banks.
In 2026, Jen was appointed Commissioner in Chancery by the Circuit Court of the County of Chesterfield. In this role, she acts as a neutral attorney appointed to assist judges by gathering facts, conducting hearings, and submitting reports on complex matters. In 2019, Jen was appointed to the Panel of Chapter 7 Trustees for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division. In this role, she is responsible for the administration of Chapter 7 cases to which she is assigned.
Jen also dedicates a significant portion of her practice to bankruptcy, representing creditors in Chapter 11, Chapter 7, Chapter 12, and Chapter 13 proceedings. She primarily handles matters involving commercial debtors, but also represents creditors in consumer matters. She has experience representing Chapter 7 Trustees in fraudulent conveyance actions, avoidance actions, and liquidation of various types of real and personal property.
Education
Education
The College of William and Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law (J.D., 2001) Law Review: Environmental Law & Policy Review, Articles Editor and Business Editor, 2000 - 2001 Law Journal: William and Mary Bill of Rights Journal, Member
Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, VA (B.A., Political Science and Sociology, cum laude, 1996)
Bar Association
Bar Association
Virginia
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Virginia
U.S. District Court Western District of Virginia
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Western District of Virginia
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Virginia
U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit
Representative Experience
Representative Experience
Represented community bank in workout of multi-million dollar commercial development loan, including sale of a portion of the loan portfolio and restructuring and refinance of remaining debt relationship
Represented large national telecommunications company in the defense of alleged automatic stay and other consumer protection violations in a chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding
Represented Fortune 50 company in acquisition of intellectual property assets from a Chapter 11 Debtor
Represented a Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee in recovery of fraudulently transferred life insurance policies and prosecution of related claims
Represented agricultural lender in motion to convert Chapter 12 bankruptcy to Chapter 7 proceeding on the basis of fraudulent activity of the debtor, and liquidation of assets and recovery of amounts owed in close cooperation with Chapter 7 trustee
Represented Fortune 500 company in defense of significant preference claim in large Chapter 11 retail bankruptcy
Representative Cases
Representative Cases
In re ClubX, LLC 2024 Bankr. LEXIS 3038 (U.S. Bankr. E.D. Va 2024)
Iles v. North Carolina Agricultural Finance Authority, 249 Fed. Appx. 304; 2007 U.S. App. LEXIS 22837 (Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals 2007)
Parker v. North Carolina Agricultural Finance Authority (U.S. Dist. E.D. Va. 2006)
Phillips v. Rinehart (In re Rinehart, 352 B.R. 427; 2005 Bankr. LEXIS 3028 (U.S. Brankr. E.D. Va. 2005)
Richards v. Rapid Funding, LLC (In re Richards), 336 B.R. 722; 2004 Bankr. LEXIS 2418 (U.S. Bankr. E.D. Va. 2004)
Wells Fargo v. Kroeger (U.S. Dist. E.D. Va. 2003)
Kepley Broscious, PLC v. Ahearn (In re Ahearn), 318 B.R. 638; 2003 Bankr. LEXIS 2103 (U.S. Bankr. E.D. Va. 2003)
Professional Associations and Memberships
Professional Associations and Memberships
Richmond Bar Association
Board of Directors, 2012-2016, 2018-present
Immediate Past President 2026-2027
President 2025-2026
President-Elect 2024-2025
Vice President 2023-2024
Secretary / Treasurer 2022-2023
Membership Committee, 2006-2009; Chair 2008-2009
Administration of Justice Committee, 2009-2012; Chair 2011-2012
Bankruptcy Section Member, 2001-Present; Long Range Planning Committee Chair, 2019-2021
Finance Committee Chair, 2022-2023
Sponsors Committee, 2022-2025
Virginia Creditors Bar Association
National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees 2019-Present, DE&I Committee Member 2021-2023
Virginia State Bar, Bankruptcy Section Board of Governors, 2022-present
American Bankruptcy Institute
Virginia Bar Association
Honors and Awards
Honors and Awards
Influential Women of Law Circle of Excellence Honoree, Virginia Lawyers Weekly, 2026
Virginia Lawyers Weekly Leaders in the Law2025
Chambers USA, Bankruptcy / Restructuring, 2025, 2026
Virginia Business Women in Leadership (2024)
Virginia Law Foundation, Fellow (Class of 2023)
Influential Women of Law Honoree, Virginia Lawyers Weekly, 2022
Virginia Super Lawyers 2024-2026 for Bankruptcy: Consumer
Virginia Business magazine's "Legal Elite" 2015, 2018-2025 for Bankruptcy/Creditors' Rights
Best Lawyers in America, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law 2022-2026
Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
Pro Bono Activities
Pro Bono Activities
Director of Firm Pro Bono and Community Outreach Activities, 2019-2026
Central Virginia Legal Aid Society, Pro Bono Hotline Project
Greater Richmond Bar Foundation Pro Bono Triage Project, Bankruptcy Practice Champion, 2017-2019
Community Involvement
Community Involvement
VSB Disciplinary Committee Member, 2012-2015
VSB Committee on Lawyer Discipline 2021-Present
Chair Oversight Committee, 2022-2026
Former Virginia Tech Athletic Fund Board of Directors; Member, Privileges and Benefits Committee
Publications
Publications
Claims Deadline Set in Southern Title Receivership
Pursuing and Defending Awards of Attorneys’ Fees
Seminars Taught
Seminars Taught
"Bankruptcy: Now What?" Virginia Trial Lawyers Association 2021 Tort Law Seminar, May 11, 2021 at The Westin Richmond and online.
Best Practices in Consumer & Commercial Bankruptcy, Richmond Bar Association Bankruptcy Section Virtual CLE Seminar, October 20, 2020. Jen spoke on a panel discussing the best practices for attorneys representing debtors, creditors, Trustees, and other participants in the bankruptcy system.
Off the Clock
Off the Clock
Jen and her family live in Chester, Virginia. She and her husband are season ticket holders for Virginia Tech football games.
