Melanie Friend is a principal at CowanGates, where her family law practice focuses on divorce , child custody and visitation, spousal support, child support, adoption, and prenuptial agreements. She is qualified as a guardian ad litem for children. She joined CowanGates in 2007, after completing a clerkship for the Honorable Timothy E. Meredith of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. In 2019, Virginia Lawyers Weekly named Melanie to their "Leaders in the Law" list, and in 2016, the publication named Melanie to their inaugural class of of Virginia's Up & Coming Lawyers. In 2013, the Richmond Bar Association selected Melanie as the recipient of its Young Lawyer of the Year award. Virginia Business Magazine selected her to its list of Legal Elite in the area of family law 2013-2019, and she has been named as a Super Lawyers Rising Star 2010-2013 and a Super Lawyer in the area of family law 2014-2020. Melanie is a past-president of the Metropolitan Richmond Women’s Bar Association. She has also served on the boards of the Greater Richmond Bar Foundation, the Richmond Bar Association, Collaborative Professionals of Richmond, and the Metro Richmond Family Law Bar Association. She is a member of the Lewis F. Powell, Jr. American Inn of Court, the Chesterfield County Bar Association, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, and the Family Law Section of the Virginia State Bar. Melanie obtained her law degree from William & Mary School of Law, where she earned Honors for excellence in research, writing and client relations. In addition, she served as member of the Moot Court Team and National Trial Team. In 2003, Melanie graduated summa cum laude from Thiel College with a bachelor of arts degree in English and was named class salutatorian. Melanie received the Thiel College Excellence Award, a full academic scholarship presented each year to one entering freshman. She also received the Vira I. Heinz Scholarship for Study Abroad, allowing her to spend a summer term studying at University College Cork in County Cork, Ireland.
PRIOR:
Lewis F. Powell American Inn of Court
Metro Richmond Women's Bar Association
Metro Richmond Family Law Bar Association
Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
Richmond Bar Association
Chesterfield County Bar Association
Year | Course Title | Instructor | Hours |
---|---|---|---|
Basic/ Introductory Collaborative Law or Interdisciplinary Collaborative Team Training. | |||
2013 | Collaborative Divorce 3-Day Team Training | Virginia Collaborative Professionals | 19 |
30-Hr Interest-Based Negotiation & Mediation Skills | |||
2014 | Family Mediation | Commonwealth Mediation Group | 20 |
2014 | Basic Mediation Skills and Process | Ervin Mast | 20 |
Additional 15 hours Intermediate/ Advanced interest-based negotiation, communication skills, collaborative, or basic professional coach training | |||
2014 | Understand Attachment Styles and Its Application in Collaborative Divorce Cases | Yuval Berger, MSW, RSW and Lisa Alexander, BA, LLB | 7 |
2013 | Client Science for Collaborative Professionals: Client Interviewing and Decision-Making Through Bad News and Other Legal Realities | CPTI | 7 |
2013 | Behavioral Finance | Susan Buniva | 1 |
Annual 4 hours collaborative continuing education (basic, intermediate, or advanced) | |||
2021 | The Psychological and Ethical Dimensions of Collaborative Practice (13th Annual Conf.) | David A. Hoffman, Collaborative Attorney & Mediator | 4.75 |
2020 | Things to Consider in Handling Multi-Nationals Family Law Cases and Cases with International Aspects | CPR: Melissa Kucinski | 1 |
2019 | What's IACP Got To Do With It? | Chris Farish, JD | .5 |
2019 | Collaborative Boot Camp: An Experiential Day of Refining Skills and Deepening Team Cohesion (12th 11-11-19 | Barbara Burr, JD & Lisa Herrick, PhD | 5.5 |
2018 | UCLA Panel: What’s In It For Me? (11th VaCP) 11-12-18 | Del. David Toscano; Robert Merlin, PA; Teresa Cole, JD; and Cathleen Rea, PhD | 1.25 |
2018 | The Complicated Marriage of Family Law & Estate Planning and Estate Law | Scott Stovall, Esq. | 1 |
2018 | Support Redux: Navigating the New Tax Laws and the Emotional Challenges They Create for Spouses (and Teams) (11th VaCP) 11-12-18 | Sanford Cassel, PhD; Frank Morrison, JD; Gigi Robson, CPA, CDFA; and Paul Smollar, JD | 3.25 |
2018 | Protecting Ourselves & Our Clients from Identity Theft | Bryant Harrison | 1 |
2018 | Love Yourself First: Top 10 Financial Planning Tips | Jennifer Berdell | 1 |
2018 | Intersection of the Property Settlement Agreement & the Parenting Plan, Part 2 | Mary Owens, Will Fitzhugh, Sandy Cassel & Annelise Petry | 1 |
2017 | Securing Collaborative Clients | CPTI | 7 |
2017 | Mastering Crucial Moments in Separation and Divorce | Lisa Herrick, Kate Scharff | 6 |
2016 | Risk Assessment within the Collaborative Process | Kenny Elikins | 1 |
2016 | Retirement and Preparation for Retirement During Times of Uncertainty | Paul LeGrand | 1 |
2016 | Client Science for Collaborative Professionals: Client Interviewing and Decision-Making Through Bad News and Other Legal Realities | Marjorie C. Aaron | 4.5 |
2015 | Virginia Case Law and Legislative Update for the Collaborative Professional | Christopher MacTurk | 1 |
2015 | Perry Mason Goes Digital: What Collaborative Professionasl Need to Know about Electronic Evidence | John Simek | 0.5 |
2015 | Information Security for Collaborative Professionals | Sharon Nelson | 1 |
2015 | Building Your Collaborative Practice | Mike Fancher | 3 |
2013 | Parent Coaching | Janet Carter | 1 |