My approach to family law issues is as a problem solver. The collaborative process is based on creative, safe, problem solving and is an excellent way to resolve issues in all settings, including family law issues.
I have been involved with Collaborative Law for many years and quite frankly, it is a welcome change from litigating cases, which is an inefficient way of problem solving. Although I still litigate, I do strongly encourage clients to consider the collaborative process as a way to resolve their issues.
CURRENT:
Chair, Beat The Odds Scholarship Program for the Alexandria Bar Assn 2004-current;
President, Board of Directors, Legal Services of Northern Virginia, 2003-current
Virginia State Bar Committee on Fee Dispute Resolution, Alexandria Panel Chair, 2004-current
PRIOR:
President, Alexandria Bar Association 2004-2005 (President Elect, Treasurer in prior years)
Virginia Bar Association Community Service Executive Committee, 2003-07
2006 Virginia State Bar Local Bar Leader of the Year
2001 LSNV Pro Bono Attorney Award
Named to Super Lawyers annually 2007-2021
2008, 2013, 2018 named on of Virginia's Legal Elite
2015-16 Washingtonian Magazine Top Lawyer
2014-21 Best Lawyers. US News & World Report
Numerous CLE lectures on family law topics, especially retirement benefits issues
2011 Virginia Leaders in the Law honoree
Year | Course Title | Instructor | Hours |
---|---|---|---|
Basic/ Introductory Collaborative Law or Interdisciplinary Collaborative Team Training. | |||
2003 | Basic Collaborative Law Training | Palliser Conflict Resolution,Inc | 16 |
30-Hr Interest-Based Negotiation & Mediation Skills | |||
2010 | Mediation and Interest Based Negotiation | CPTI | 30 |
Additional 15 hours Intermediate/ Advanced interest-based negotiation, communication skills, collaborative, or basic professional coach training | |||
2013 | Everything You Wanted to Know about Divorce Tax | CPNV | 1 |
2012 | Advanced Training, Unique Approaches in Collaborative Law | CDRP | 6 |
2006 | Intermediate Training | Intermediate Training | 8 |
Annual 4 hours collaborative continuing education (basic, intermediate, or advanced) | |||
2022 | Divorcing your spouse, but staying married to Uncle Sam | CPNV | 1.5 |
2022 | Collaborative Clients: When Kumbaya is not Enough | CPNV | 1.5 |
2022 | A Parent’s Mental Illness Should Not Prevent a Successful Parenting Plan | CPNV Garver Smith | 1.5 |
2021 | VA Uniform Collaborative Act | CPNV | 1.5 |
2021 | Understanding Domestic Violence and the Challenges in Getting It Right | CPNV | 1.5 |
2021 | Should Virginia Create a Presumption of Shared Physical Custody? | CPNV | 1.5 |
2021 | ADULT ADHD IN COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE: A POWERFUL, UNDER-RECOGNIZED X FACTOR | Kate Scharff, Psychotherapist, CPNV | 1.5 |
2020 | The Psychological and Ethical Dimensions of Collaborative Practice | David A. Hoffman, Collaborative Attorney & Mediator | 6 |
2020 | My client is recently sober: integrating substance abuse into pareting plan | CPNV | 1.5 |
2020 | Cash, Covid, and Collaboration: Financial considerations for assisting your clients | Jordan Egert and Jane Ochsman Rowny | 1.5 |
2019 | What's IACP Got To Do With It? | Chris Farish, JD | .5 |
2019 | Intermediate/Advanced Collaborative Boot Camp | Barbara Burr, JD & Lisa Herrick, PhD | 5.5 |
2018 | What High Earning Professionals do Differently | Sylvia Gairibaldi | 1 |
2018 | Diversity & Collaborative Practice | Reynolds | 1 |
2018 | Creating Success for Large Practice Groups | Fancher, Evans, Piff | 1 |
2018 | Civil CP in search of the Tipping Point | Zeytoonian | 1 |
2017 | Creating the Conditions for Growth | Scharff/Herrick | 6 |
2016 | Public Education Outreach for Practice Groups | Robbins/Fancher/Trigg | 1 |
2016 | Practice Group Development Managing Difficult Conversations | Cheek/Rosenbaum/Throm | 1 |
2016 | Integrating Financial Professionals into Your Practice Group | Burge/Daigle/Richardson | 1 |
2016 | Creating & Implementing Access to Collaborative Program | Hirsch/O'Keefe | 1 |
2016 | Counseling Clients through Bad News | Aaron | 4 |
2014 | Breaking Down Barriers to Support | CPTI | 6 |
2013 | Collaborative Ethics | CPNV | 3 |
2010 | Team Training | CPTI | 21 |