Virginia’s New Permissible Venue Statute

Virginia’s New Permissible Venue Statute: What is a “Practical Nexus”?

By Robert C. T. Reed, Esq. and Nathan J. Veldhuis, Esq.

The 2013 session of the General Assembly made significant changes to a plaintiff’s ability to sue a defendant in a venue where the defendant regularly conducts substantial business activity. Legislation was initially proposed that would altogether remove this basis for venue. As part of a larger compromise, however, the resulting action preserved venue based on substantial business activity, but added a new “practical nexus” requirement.1 The legislation, enacted by the General Assembly and signed by Governor McDonnell, went into effect on July 1, 2013.

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