Portia Koptish is an associate in Hancock Daniel’s Richmond office, where she focuses her practice on the defense of medical malpractice claims against hospitals and healthcare providers. She brings to her practice a clinical background uncommon among defense attorneys. Portia practiced and taught clinical nursing before becoming a lawyer, which gives her a firsthand command of the medicine that her cases turn on, the medical record, and the standard of care. “Before my legal career, I practiced nursing, so I know what it’s like to be on the other side of a chart that’s being questioned,” Portia says. “I bring a deep clinical understanding to every case, working closely with my hospital and physician clients to tell the full story of the care they provided. My goal is to defend their work with the same diligence they bring to their patients.”
Portia earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Richmond School of Law in 2026. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Virginia, and she completed the paramedic program at Piedmont Virginia Community College. She joined the firm as an associate in 2026 after serving as a summer associate in 2024 and 2025. Portia is a member of the Raven Society and Sigma Theta Tau, the international nursing honor society.
Academic Credentials
University of Virginia, B.S.N., B.A.
University of Richmond School of Law, J.D.
Admitted to Practice
Virginia (pending)
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