Elizabeth Papoulakos joined Harman Claytor in November 2015. Her practice focuses on the defense of complex medical malpractice and healthcare litigation. Elizabeth represents physicians, hospitals, nurses, and long-term care providers throughout Virginia in matters involving allegations of professional negligence, catastrophic injury, and wrongful death. In addition to her litigation practice, she advises and represents healthcare professionals in regulatory proceedings before governmental agencies and the Virginia Department of Health.

Elizabeth leads a growing practice group at Harman Claytor dedicated to the defense of medical professionals and institutions. She fosters a culture of mentorship and professional growth within her practice group, ensuring that clients benefit from cohesive teamwork and informed, detail-driven defense strategies.

Before entering the legal profession, Elizabeth built a successful career in medical sales, gaining firsthand knowledge of healthcare operations, clinical practices, and patient care standards. During law school, she completed a legal internship at Johns Hopkins Medical Center, where she worked on matters involving healthcare compliance, medical ethics, and risk management. This background provides the foundation for her nuanced understanding of the intersection between medicine and the law.

Elizabeth’s professional accolades reflect both her substantive experience and the high regard in which she is held by her peers. She has been recognized for multiple consecutive years by Virginia Business Legal Elite, Virginia Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch for Medical Malpractice Law. In addition to her membership and service in the local Richmond and Henrico Bar Associations, Elizabeth has served as a board member of the Virginia Associates of Defense Attorneys, (VADA).

Through her commitment to a creative and collaborative approach to litigation, Elizabeth recognizes that the best outcomes arise from drawing on diverse perspectives and areas of expertise. She embraces a team-based methodology and develops tailored defense strategies that carefully address the medical, legal and regulatory dimensions of each matter, reflecting her dedication to both vigorous advocacy, and thoughtful, client-centered representation.