Our Team

Chris Way

Chris Way is the Founder and Managing Attorney of Way Law. Chris’ practice focuses on helping small and mid-sized businesses use legal strategy creatively to reach business goals. Chris is an ardent believer in the connection between business and law, and how the best legal strategy is the one focused on business goals over mere compliance or checking boxes. Chris believes that business is ultimately a creative endeavor (just a practical application of creativity) and a work of passion. He brings that enthusiasm to everything he does, from designing contracts to cheering on his kids at their games and plays (sometimes to their chagrin).

Chris received his BS, Finance from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. Despite knowing he wanted to be a lawyer since childhood (ask him about it) and that math was not his favorite subject, Chris studied Finance because he understood the importance and impact of quantitative measures on a successful business. Or as Chris might put it, math is the language of business, and Chris wanted to be fluent!

Chris earned his law degree at the University of Kentucky College of Law and graduated Cum Laude. He served on the College’s Honor Council, Moot Court Board, and was Editor-in-Chief of the Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Law.

Chris doesn’t sit still well. His favorite part of practicing law is being an active companion in the adventure of business and coming with ways to overcome challenges. When he’s not doing that with work, he’s finding adventures out in the world. Outside of the office, you can find Chris hiking, kayaking, or looking for live music with his wife and two children, or folding laundry while watching a movie just a bit too loudly.

Community Involvement

Chris is a strong believer in supporting one’s community. He believes that by giving back we help others move forward. Some of Chris’ community service includes:

• Trustee, Board of Trustees, Children’s Museum of Richmond
• Director, Board of Directors, Jewish Family Services, Inc.
• Secretary, Children’s Museum of Richmond
• Past Chair of the Children’s Museum Associate Board, where he has a been Board member since 2016 (Chris previously has served as Chair of the Associate Board’s Nominating Committee from 2018 to 2019 and Chair Elect from 2019 to 2020)
• Mentor with the Dominion Energy Innovation Center
• Speaker, SCALING4GROWTH, a six month business curriculum sponsored by the Commonwealth of Virginia through the Small Business Supplier Diversity Agency
• Speaker, SCALING4PROSPERITY, the alumni group of SCALING4GROWTH
• Co-founded a local private operating foundation in 2016
• Mentor with Chamber RVA’s THRIVE Mentor Network
• Basketball Coach, YMCA of Greater Richmond

Kristen Duffeler

Kristen Duffeler is a Virginia native and has resided in Williamsburg, Virginia for over twenty years. She received dual degrees in Business Administration and History from the College of William and Mary, before earning her law degree from the College’s Marshall Wythe School of Law.

While in law school, she was a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Team, founded the Therapeutic Jurisprudence Society, and served on the Journal of Women and the Law.

Kristen began her career as an associate at a large law firm ranked in the top 200 law firms in the United States by the American Lawyer. Her focus was on corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, operating subsidiary formation and activities, and governance. Discovering that her passion was for smaller and mid-sized businesses, she moved into serving as in-house counsel for a Williamsburg-based hospitality, dining, and retail business group. After 10 years, seeking something new, she moved to a position as in-house counsel for a Newport-News-based manufacturing business.

She joined Way Law in 2022 seeking to work with a broader variety of businesses, serving the needs of business owners and entrepreneurs. Kristen believes that the collaboration between entrepreneurs and legal counsel can help wield the law as a positive tool for building, growing, and protecting businesses and relationships. When she’s not working Kristen loves to read, garden, and bake, as well as spend time with her husband, three children and four dogs.

Lisa Brennan

Lisa Brennan is originally from the Northern Virginia area, but has called Richmond home for over ten years. Lisa earned her B.A., cum laude in History from Virginia Tech and her J.D. from Ohio Northern University. During law school, she served as the secretary of the Public Interest Law Association.

Lisa volunteered with non-profits and legal aid societies in both Ohio and Virginia. She also served as an IRS certified VITA/TCE volunteer, preparing tax returns for low income and elderly individuals.

Lisa began her career in private practice. She spent several years with law firms in the Richmond area, practicing in the areas of civil litigation, estate planning, real estate, and business law. She has a broad range of experience representing both individuals and small to medium sized businesses. Immediately prior to joining Way Law, Lisa served as in-house counsel for a private mortgage lender. Realizing her passion for helping business owners solve problems, she joined Way Law in 2023.

She strives to build legal solutions and collaborate with business owners to provide them with the tools they need to succeed. The law to her is more than just crafting appropriate documents – it is an integral part of building a complete business strategy.

Lisa lives in Henrico County with her husband and two sons. In her free time, she enjoys running, hiking, baking, and cheering on the Virginia Tech Hokies.