Makiba Gaines was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, and raised in Norfolk and Virginia Beach. In 2018, she graduated from the honors program at the Regent University School of Law in Virginia Beach. During her time in law school, she served as an Associate on the Moot Court Board and as the Executive-Editor of the Law Review. 

     Gaines started her legal career with a brief internship for a justice in the Virginia Supreme Court and for judges in the Norfolk General District Court. She also had the profound privilege and honor of clerking for a judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. 

     Prior to entering private practice, she represented the Commonwealth of Virginia as a prosecutor in the Portsmouth Office of the Commonwealth Attorney. One of her proudest legal accomplishments is having served as Litigation Counsel for the Buried Alive Project. Gaines is the tireless and fearless litigator you deserve on your side. 

ADMISSIONS

• Supreme Court of Virginia 

• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

• United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia

• United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

EDUCATION
The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA:
             A.A. Letters, Arts, Science
             B.A. Political Science
             B.A. Law

Regent University School of Law, Virginia Beach, VA (Honors Program):
            Juris Doctor
            Regent University Law Review

Peer Recognition:

• South Hampton Roads Bar Assoc., Treasurer 2022-2023

• SHRBA WT Mason, Jr. Bar Member of the Year, 2023

• Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2021 -2024

• Virginia Legal Elite, 2022-2023