Bristow Lawyers

For more than 25 years, I have represented Fortune 500 companies and individuals in commercial litigation and securities enforcement matters. I have also represented accounting firms and their partners and employees in government investigations and enforcement proceedings, malpractice, and state disciplinary proceedings.

As a partner in an ‘American Lawyer Top 100 firm’, I’ve represented clients in bet-the-company litigation matters involving breach of contract, business tort, antitrust, insurance coverage, and securities claims. At the PCAOB, I led investigations of Big 4, mid-size, and small accounting firms and their partners and employees.

My litigation experience includes:

• securities fraud class action in the...

W. David Falcon Jr. is a founding partner of the law firm Ackerman & Falcon, LLP where he concentrates his practice on trying cases before the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission. He is admitted to practice in Virginia and Washington, D.C. Mr. Falcon earned his B.A. degree from the College of William & Mary and his J.D. degree from the University of Richmond. Mr. Falcon is a member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, the Workers' Injury Law and Advocacy Group and serves as Counselor of the Virginia Workers' Compensation American Inns of Court.

Sarah Patras is a lead senior associate attorney at Livesay & Myers, P.C. She practices exclusively family law, representing clients in separation, divorce, custody, visitation and support cases, including a large number of contested cases. Ms. Patras works in the firm’s Fredericksburg-Stafford office, and represents clients in Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania and surrounding areas. Born in Nebraska, Ms. Patras grew up in Iowa and earned double B.A. degrees from Iowa State University. She then relocated to Virginia, and graduated from the University of Richmond School of Law in 2016. After law school, Ms. Patras clerked for one year for a Virginia Circuit Court...

Frank R. Kearney is a Nationally Recognized, Board-Certified civil trial lawyer, author, and advocate for injured workers, serious car accident victims, and people with long term disability claims. This means he represents people who have been seriously injured and families who have lost a loved one due to medical malpractice, car accidents, construction site accidents and other serious work accidents, and denials of ERISA long term disability benefits based on injuries and serious medical conditions. Early in his career, Mr. Kearney represented insurance companies and other corporations, defending personal injury lawsuits. He now uses this experience to his clients’ advantage in...

David Hagan is an associate at Friedman, Grimes, Meinken & Leischner PLLC, where he focuses on family law and criminal defense. He handles litigation across all areas of domestic relations, including adoptions, divorce, child custody and support, spousal support, equitable distribution, settlement agreements, property rights, prenuptial agreements, and post-divorce disputes. Additionally, he represents clients in protective order cases and misdemeanor criminal defense matters, such as traffic violations and assault/battery cases. Mr. Hagan also assists with estate litigation and other civil matters. He earned his J.D. from George Mason University School of Law, where he served as a student advisor in the...

Mike brings over a decade of experience to his litigation practice and is rated a top lawyer by Northern Virginia Magazine, Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers. Mike advocates aggressively but compassionately for his clients with a keen sense for identifying the strengths and weaknesses of both sides of every case. Having personally experienced how tragedy impacts a family, Mike truly understands how hard it is to move forward when trust has been broken and justice feels out of reach. That’s why he dedicated his career to helping people in situations like yours. Mike is here to carry the legal burden so...

Mr. "Sris," CEO of the Law Offices of Sris, P.C., established his firm in 1997, now with locations in Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Colombia, and India. Based in Fairfax, Virginia, he holds law licenses across multiple states. With a background as a prosecutor, Mr. Sris brings strong negotiation and litigation skills to his practice, focusing on complex family law cases and defense against serious criminal charges. He holds IT certifications and boasts international business knowledge, enhancing his legal knowledge. Committed to justice, Mr. Sris actively engages in legislative initiatives and community outreach, offering consultations to Indian nationals in need. With...

John graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in English before attending law school at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. John was still a student when he tried his first case as a member of the Criminal Defense Clinic. He also attempted to free the wrongly convicted, working with the Innocence Project. John gained invaluable experience as a research assistant for a member of the law school's faculty and as an intern for the North Carolina's Office of the Attorney General. John has always practiced criminal defense. He began his...

Lindsay Connolly is a lead senior associate attorney at Livesay & Myers, P.C., practicing exclusively family law. She is experienced in handling every type of family law matter in Virginia, including separation, divorce, custody and support cases. Ms. Connolly works in the firm’s Fredericksburg office, and represents clients in Stafford, Spotsylvania, Fredericksburg and surrounding areas. Originally from Milford, Massachusetts, Ms. Connolly graduated magna cum laude from Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island. She then earned her law degree from David A. Clarke Law School in Washington, D.C., graduating summa cum laude and the top female in her class. Ms. Connolly was...

Accomplished and result-focused with 24 years of experience in Family Law, Bankruptcy and Administrative Law specializing in Security Clearance Defense and Medical License Defense.

Ed handles all kinds of criminal cases in state courts in Virginia and in the District of Columbia and in federal courts nationwide, particularly the DC, Virginia, and Maryland federal district courts. Ed has practiced as a criminal defense attorney for almost 25 years since graduating Yale Law School in 1993.

During law school, Ed worked for two large DC law firms, Jenner & Block and Akin, Gump. When his federal appellate clerkship ended, Ed continued to focus on criminal appeals and state and federal post-conviction habeas appeals at public service law offices in Tempe, Arizona and New York City....

Edward is an accomplished litigator and talented personal injury attorney who has tried and won cases in both state and federal courts. He wants clients to be treated fairly in the legal system, so he strives to serve as a compassionate advocate on their behalf. Edward currently serves as the President of the Allen Law Firm.

Edward helped spearhead the firm’s expansion to Northern Virginia and has been the managing partner of the Fredericksburg office since it opened in 1994. He joined Allen & Allen in 1987 after graduating from Washington and Lee University School of Law. He is proud to...

J. Douglas McCarthy is a founding partner of McCarthy & Akers, PLC. His practice focuses on transactional law dealing with Estate Planning, Real Estate and Corporate matters. Prior to founding McCarthy & Akers, PLC, Mr. McCarthy was a partner in the Winchester, Virginia law firm of Groves and McCarthy.

Mr. McCarthy received his J.D. from the Keller School of Law at The University of Dayton, in Dayton, Ohio, where he earned honors in the fields of Taxation, Wills and Trusts. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, where he majored in Political Science.

MEDVIN LAW Criminal Defense & DWI Law Firm, located in Alexandria, Virginia, provides award-winning, top-rated Virginia criminal defense lawyer services. Experienced criminal attorneys & DUI lawyers offer representation for Northern Virginia Felony and Misdemeanor criminal charges and arrests in Alexandria, Fairfax, and Arlington. Experienced in Federal Criminal Defense, we also specialize in Federal criminal attorney services in Alexandria VA for Federal criminal charges, Federal indictments and investigations, White Collar cases, and Federal traffic Misdemeanors in the US District Court in Alexandria.

MEDVIN LAW was founded by attorney Marina Medvin, a highly sought-after and nationally revered criminal trial lawyer who has defended FBI's 10 Most Wanted, WikiLeaks and Anonymous hacker...

Christopher J. Toepp dedicates his practice of to helping clients and making his community a safer place. Although still early in his career, he has earned a reputation as an exceptional litigator in the courtroom. His expansive trial experience includes hundreds of bench and jury trials. This background gives Chris an understanding of jurors' expectations when they evaluate a case. He knows how to present evidence so that the jury comprehends his client's hardships and the impact their injuries have had on their lives.

Chris works on a wide range of personal injury cases including car crashes, truck accidents and motorcycle...

Maria Zamayar is an associate attorney at Livesay & Myers, P.C., practicing exclusively family law. Her practice covers every type of family law matter in Virginia, including separation, divorce, custody and support cases. Ms. Zamayar works in the firm’s offices in Fairfax and Arlington, and represents clients in Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria and all across Northern Virginia. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Ms. Zamayar graduated from Georgia State University before earning her law degree from American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C. During law school, Ms. Zamayar earned a great deal of experience geared toward making her a successful family law attorney....

Jeffrey Weaver is the founder of Prenup Pros, the first law firm in Virginia to only specialize in marital agreements (prenuptial agreements and post-nuptial agreements). Jeff has prepared contracts for clients since 1999 and through Prenup Pros he applies his expertise and experience to prepare prenuptial agreements for clients located in Texas, Virginia, Florida, New York, Nevada and New Jersey. Jeff formed Prenup Pros to provide marrying couples access to affordable, easy-to-understand prenuptial agreements because he believes that all couples should at least consider a prenup. His belief derives from the fact the he personally experienced the...

Melannie Dino is a Lead Family Law Attorney at Steven Krieger Law, PLLC practicing exclusively family law. Ms. Dino works remotely from her Ashburn home office, and represents clients in Loudoun, Prince William and Fairfax Counties and across Northern Virginia. Originally from Erie, Pennsylvania, Ms. Dino earned her Bachelor of Science in Communications in 1996 from nearby Clarion University of Pennsylvania. She proceeded to earn her J.D. from Widener University Law School in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1999. Ms. Dino then returned to Erie to work in the law practice of her father, a prominent bankruptcy lawyer in Erie for decades. It was...

Jeremy Flachs is the owner and principal attorney of the Law Offices of Jeremy Flachs. Jeremy is a 1975 graduate of Wake Forest University and a 1978 graduate of Wake Forest University School of Law. He restricts his cases to plaintiff's personal injury. The firm accepts cases in Northern Virginia (licensed since 1979) and the District of Columbia (licensed since 1980). Jeremy Flachs has litigated cases involving truck, bus and car crashes, pedestrian injuries, premises liability cases, falls on public sidewalks and other slip and fall injuries, bicycle crashes, ski accidents, police brutality/excessive force,...

Benjamin has always stood up for what’s right – he finds real meaning in helping the good guys win! He’s always been guided by a clear sense of right and wrong, from his time in the U.S. Army to his time as a Commonwealth Attorney (prosecutor), to his current position at J. Madison PLC.
Before starting at J. Madison PLC, Benjamin worked at the Arlington Commonwealth Attorney’s Office for five years. As a Commonwealth Attorney, he helped the victims of violent, non-violent, and financial crimes find justice. He also tried hundreds of traffic cases and specialized in DUI cases. ...

Sonja Aoun represents family law clients in all aspects of separation and divorce, including divorce planning/premarital agreements, collaborative divorces, negotiated settlements, and trials. Her estate planning practice ranges from the preparation of powers of attorney and advance medical directives to wills and complex trusts and special needs planning. Sonja obtained her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center after graduating cum laude with a B.S. in Languages (Spanish) from Georgetown University. Starting in 2014, she has been named to the Virginia SuperLawyers list in the field of family law; she has been listed in the Washington,...

I represent small, medium, national and international businesses, non-profits and individuals on a wide variety of corporate and business matters, including forming companies, drafting and negotiating contracts, dealing with employment matters, handling real estate and land use issues, collecting receivables, and defending and prosecuting litigation. I also assist many clients with their elder care, estate planning and estate administration needs, including drafting wills and trusts, assisting with the appointment of guardians and conservators, and the Virginia probate process. I strongly believe that clients receive the best legal services from an attorney who is intimately familiar with their businesses and goals....

Ariel Baniowski is a managing partner at Livesay & Myers, P.C., practicing exclusively family law. She is experienced in handling every type of family law matter in Virginia, including separation, divorce, custody and support cases. Ms. Baniowski works in the firm’s Ashburn office, and represents clients in Leesburg, Ashburn, Loudoun County, and all across Northern Virginia. Ms. Baniowski is known as one of the more aggressive attorneys at Livesay & Myers, P.C., and has litigated every type of family law matter in Virginia, including custody, support, separation and high asset divorce cases. Ms. Baniowski’s work ethic and drive are unmatched. To say...

At the Bushman Law Group, our motto is simple: "Let our attorneys deal with your legal problems while you get back to what is truly important . . . the rest of your life." We know that facing a legal problem is stressful, that is why our attorneys guide you through each step of the legal process with prompt, personal service you can trust. Our goal is to build a long-term, relationship with our clients, and we want our clients to trust us with all of their legal work. To this end, we work hard on every case,...

Amy Harber has a wealth of experience in both criminal and civil litigation and advocates smartly and effectively for her clients in personal injury, criminal and traffic, and civil matters. Amy served as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in the City of Hampton from 2008-2012 and Loudoun County from 2012-2020. In that time, she prosecuted cases ranging in severity from traffic tickets to murder and everything in between. In 2020, Amy joined Allstate Insurance Company’s Fairfax, Virginia legal office as a Senior Attorney and handled litigation involving bodily injury, property damage suits, automobile diminished value claims, wrongful death and infant settlements,...

John Whitbeck is the founder and partner of WhitbeckBennett. His practice focuses on family law, more specifically divorce, child custody, child and spousal support, domestic violence and protective orders, adoption, special education law, and mental health law.

He is a professor of law at George Mason University Law School, and the former Director of the George Mason University Law and Mental Illness Clinic.

John uses his expert knowledge of the law to advocate for his clients and their families.

Amanda Stone Swart is a lead senior associate attorney at Livesay & Myers, P.C., practicing exclusively family law. She is experienced in handling every type of family law matter in Virginia, including separation, divorce, custody and support cases. Ms. Stone Swart works in the firm’s Ashburn office, and represents clients in Leesburg, Ashburn, Loudoun County, and all across Northern Virginia. Ms. Stone Swart is originally from Boone, Iowa. She graduated summa cum laude from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska in 2004, with Bachelor’s of Arts degrees in both Political Science and Journalism. Upon graduation, Ms. Stone Swart worked in politics in...

I have been representing workers injured in Virginia for over thirty years. With a statewide practice, I have represented firefighters in Fairfax, policemen and policewomen in Alexandria, poultry workers in Harrisonburg, auto workers in Dublin, factory workers in Winchester, store workers in Richmond, oyster shuckers in Tappahannock, and construction workers in Loudoun, to name a few. I have always worked hard for working people. (And its "Sweeny," not "Sweeney.")

Our team is currently providing a 10% discount on attorney fees during the Coronavirus pandemic.

A graduate of the George Washington University and the University of Denver College of Law, Mr. Krischer focused his early legal career in prosecution. As a staff attorney at the National District Attorneys Association, he assisted the creation of the National Center for the Prosecution of Violence Against Women and drafted curriculum and served as an instructor for prosecutors nationwide.
Mr. Krischer left NDAA to serve as an Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney for Arlington County, prosecuting a range criminal activity from traffic offenses and DUIs to rape and other aggravated felonies. Mr. Krischer left prosecution and worked for the Stuttgart Law...

Andrew Stewart graduated from George Washington University Law School in 2003. Since graduating he focused his practice on criminal defense of individuals and corporations in both DC and Virginia state and federal courts. In 2009 he co founded Dennis Stewart & Krischer PLLC and is presently serving as the managing partner of the firm. Mr. Stewart has extensive trial experience in both federal and state courts. He is also an adjunct professor at The George Washington University Law School.

Ellie Pittman is an attorney at Livesay & Myers, P.C., practicing exclusively family law. Her practice covers every type of family law matter in Virginia, including separation, divorce, custody, visitation and support cases. Ms. Pittman works in the firm’s Fredericksburg-Stafford office, and represents clients in Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania and surrounding areas. Ms. Pittman graduated cum laude from the University of Richmond School of Law in 2021, after graduating cum laude from the University of Delaware in 2018.

Zachary Deubler, as Carmichael Ellis & Brock, PLLC's Senior Associate Attorney, is a vital part of the Firm's criminal defense litigation group. With extensive trial experience in both federal and state courts, Zachary works tirelessly to achieve the best result possible for his clients. Believing that preparation is critically important in defending a criminal case, Zachary works to lay the groundwork at every stage of litigation to best minimize risk and bring about favorable resolutions for his clients. Zachary possesses a wealth of legal expertise and has represented individuals accused of international terrorism, hostage-taking, fraud, cyber...

Wallace B. Wason, Jr. is a trial lawyer, first and foremost. His primary practice focus is helping people who have been injured by the negligence or wrongful conduct of another. His primary practice areas include medical, dental, and legal malpractice, and personal injury.

I am an experienced litigator whose practice is dedicated to standing up for the rights of clients who have been seriously injured through no fault of their own. I practice out of the Allen Law Firm's Fredericksburg office in the areas of personal injury litigation, including automobile and trucking accident litigation, product liability, and premises liability in both state and federal courts. Prior to joining Allen & Allen, I practiced law with a Richmond insurance defense firm where I gained valuable knowledge of how insurance companies and their attorneys evaluate claims and handle cases. I use this understanding combined with...

In addition to representing clients in education, family law and guardianship and conservatorship matters, Joan is certified as a Guardian ad litem to represent incapacitated adults in guardianship, conservatorship, and family law matters. She is also certified as a Guardian ad litem for children.

Kendall is a Virginia native and received his undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Virginia in 1981, and his law degree from the University of Richmond in 1984. A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, David Kendall has been in private practice since 1988, when he joined a Charlottesville personal injury firm. He soon became a partner and practiced there for 21 years, before forming the Kendall Law Firm in 2009.

Kendall knew early in life that he wanted to serve people by becoming a trial attorney. Kendall gained valuable courtroom experience, handling prosecution and criminal defense matters...

Evan joined Bean, Kinney & Korman, P.C. in 2024. Since 2013, Evan has worked as outside corporate counsel for entities ranging from small tech startups to large multinational trade groups and corporations. For his corporate clients, his representation includes: contract preparation, negotiation and review; mergers, acquisitions and sales; governance oversight; regulatory compliance; intellectual property licensing; and non-litigation employment law matters, among others. Evan received his J.D. from the George Washington University Law School (2013). While in law school, he was a legal extern for the Department of Labor's Civil Rights Center, the U.S. Marshals Service's Office of General Counsel, the Maryland...

Alex Butterman’s practice covers all facets of trademark prosecution and practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and virtually every trademark office around the world with the help of an extensive network of foreign associates. Alex has also been counseling a diverse group of foreign and domestic businesses in a variety of industries and commercial sectors since 1995 at all stages of development – assessing and searching the availability of marks; establishing, enforcing, and maintaining trademark and service mark rights; resolving intellectual property disputes; handling internet domain name IP issues, anti-counterfeiting matters, copyright prosecution, IP licensing and transactional...