Mears Lawyers

"I Care. I Fight. I help my clients put their lives back together."

Charlottesville attorney André Hakes is a partner at the law firm of Tucker Griffin Barnes P.C. handling criminal defense, sex crimes and DUI cases.

To the art and science of criminal defense, Ms. Hakes brings prosecutorial and police educator experience, and a long, successful track record defending clients on murder, sex crimes, drug charges, DUI, embezzlement, assault, and many other criminal allegations. Ms. Hakes has a reputation for “out-working” her opponent when preparing for trial.

Sample results from Andre's criminal defense cases:
[The results obtained under one set of circumstances cannot...

A native of Southside Virginia, Clint Clary has been defending criminal and traffic cases in Southside Virginia for over 30 years.

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,...

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...

The Law Offices of Richard S. Sternberg is dedicated to the principle that bigger is not always better. Instead, it rests on a tradition that actually antedates the rise of the “mega-firm”-the solo practice. Emulating a country lawyer in a big-city environment allows Mr. Sternberg to provide more individualized service to his clients, and, at the same time, pursue more collegial relations with other members of the Bar. Since 1984, Mr. Sternberg has dedicated his practice to representing individuals and smaller businesses. For those corporate clients who have larger needs, he is affiliated with the Metropolitan Washington Law Consortium,...

Rex focuses his practice primarily in the criminal and family arenas. He firmly believes client-centered representation. As such, the client’s needs are the primary driver of the course of litigation. Once the client’s needs and wishes are established, Rex Flynn will zealously work (with integrity) to obtain the desired result, often with innovative solutions.

A graduate of George Mason University’s School of Law, Mr. Flynn served multiple terms in student government, the Black Law Students Association (regional and local), the American Bar Association (the 11th Circuit Lt. Governor of Diversity), the Honor Committee and as an editor for the Journal of...

Abbigale Fredrick is an attorney who works from Allen & Allen’s Richmond, VA office. In addition to being an experienced lawyer, Abby is a strategic business manager. She supervises the new case department and works with clients at the earliest stages of their cases. Abby meets with potential new clients and helps determine how the attorneys at Allen & Allen are best able to meet their needs. Abby’s background in insurance defense gives her valuable insight into how insurance companies handle and evaluate personal injury and medical malpractice claims. This experience is an advantage to the firm’s clients as she...

Andrew Tank is a partner at Livesay & Myers, P.C., practicing exclusively family law. Mr. Tank works in the firm’s offices in Fairfax and Arlington, and represents clients in Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria and all across Northern Virginia. Mr. Tank is experienced in handling every type of family law matter in Virginia, including separation, divorce, equitable distribution, custody, visitation and support cases. An attorney since 2007, Mr. Tank has firmly established himself as a leader in the Northern Virginia legal community. He has been an active member of the Virginia State Bar’s Young Lawyers Conference, serving as Program Chair for the Bar’s annual...

James Livesay is a founding partner at Livesay & Myers, P.C. He leads the firm’s team of family law attorneys across offices in Fairfax, Arlington, Ashburn, Manassas and Fredericksburg-Stafford, Virginia. After graduating from Virginia Tech in 1995 and the University of Virginia School of Law in 1998, Mr. Livesay served three years in the U.S. Navy JAG Corps. He entered civilian practice as a family law attorney in 2001, and joined with partner Kevin Myers to found Livesay & Myers, P.C. in 2003. Drawing on his experience as a Navy JAG officer, Mr. Livesay established the military divorce section of the firm...

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....

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...

Elisha N. Hawk became a partner with Jenner Law, P.C. in 2023, focusing her practice on advocating for people and families who have been injured by the abuse and neglect of others. Her practice focuses on cases involving personal injury, mass torts, therapy abuse, clergy abuse, and nursing home abuse and neglect. Elisha started her career as an associate working under Jenner Law, P.C.’s founding partner, Rob Jenner, where she represented people who had been harmed by dangerous drugs and devices. She gained significant experience handling pharmaceutical and defective medical device cases under Rob’s mentorship. Following her work on the mass...

I am a member of the GreeneHurlocker firm, where my practice is centered around business law, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, and investment banking. In my role, I provide counsel to business clients and entrepreneurs on a variety of matters. These include buy and sell-side mergers and acquisitions, strategic financing and capital investments, joint ventures, credit facilities, commercial real estate investments, and contract matters.

My tenacity and meticulous trial preparation have earned me the respect of both my clients as well as my adversaries. I am a member of the third generation of the Allen family to have worked with the firm. Since joining the Allen Law Firm in 1983, I have had extensive experience handling various types of personal injury cases including car crashes, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and premises liability.

One of Dave's primary areas of practice is car accident litigation. He appears in the courtroom frequently, trying cases before both judges and juries and winning substantial verdicts for his clients. When it serves a client's best interests, he explores ways to resolve cases through arbitration and mediation. He works in the firm's Richmond, VA office and represents clients across the state of Virginia.

Before he joined the Allen Law Firm, Dave worked as in house legal counsel for a major automobile liability insurance company. He represented insurance company policyholders who had been sued by plaintiffs injured in...

Scott Fitzgerald is the great grandson of the Firm’s founder, George E. Allen, Sr., and is the first member of the fourth generation of the Allen family to join the Allen Law Firm. He currently works in the Richmond, VA office and focuses his practice exclusively on personal injury cases including motorcycle accidents, car accidents, and truck accidents. Having grown up with a family tradition of advocacy and service, Scott is passionate about protecting the interests of his clients and defending their rights against insurance companies.

Scott grew up in Chesterfield, Virginia and attended L.C. Bird High School, where he won...

As a take-charge lawyer, my forceful personality compliments my formidable litigation and negotiating skills. I bring to every case my strong intellect, innate sense of practicality, and my burning desire to win. My legal achievements for clients include many courtroom victories, but I am as able to search creatively for ways to settle cases as I am to prepare and try cases that cannot be settled. I was named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers in America for 2014 and 2015 in the Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs category in Richmond, Va. My ability to master complex...

David is an experienced and compassionate personal injury attorney who manages the Stafford, Virginia office of Allen & Allen. His legal career has focused almost exclusively on personal injury law, including car accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and slip and fall cases. He dedicates himself to shielding injured people from unfair and unsympathetic treatment from insurance companies.

David has an “AV Preeminent” rating (the highest available) from the Martindale-Hubbell attorney listing service. He has litigated a broad range of matters in various areas of personal injury law in both state and federal court, and he has even successfully argued cases before...

James Mick "Jamie" Kessel has dedicated his career to fighting for the rights of Virginians who have been seriously injured or killed because of the negligence of others. He enjoys being in court and believes each and every case should be handled from the beginning as if it were going to be tried before a jury. Jamie is an experienced trial attorney and has handled cases in State and Federal Courts throughout Virginia. His practice focuses on representing accident victims and their families in cases involving: car wrecks; tractor trailer accidents; wrongful deaths; distracted driving; dog bites; and dangerous premises.

Jamie...

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...

I provide diligent, passionate and personalized representation to clients in courts across the Commonwealth of Virginia, including Henrico, Chesterfield, Richmond, Hanover, Powhatan, Louisa, Petersburg and Caroline Counties. I practice in a variety of areas, with a emphasis on Criminal Defense and Family Law. I pride myself on being a dedicated, prepared and successful attorney. I am committed to maintaining close contact with clients, and pursuing the best possible outcomes.

I received my B.A. from Rollins College, and my J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law. My jurisdictions include the State of Virginia and Federal District Court, Eastern District of...

Robert Flax represents drivers with speeding and, reckless driving charges. He appears in the Richmond, Virginia area courts of the City of Richmond, Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, Petersburg and Colonial Heights. Richmond Virginia area traffic courts hear thousands of cases a year. Interstates 64 and 95 run through it. Out of state drivers may receive higher fines and other punishment if they do not have a lawyer to show that the driver deserves leniency or is innocent. Reckless driving is a misdemeanor. A conviction of reckless driving or speeding might affect the driver’s employment and security...

Sidney Schupak is a tenacious and relentless litigator who has been fighting for the rights of injured victims for 29 years. Mr. Schupak cares passionately about making a difference in the lives of those he represents. He believes strongly in the rights of the individual, having spent his entire professional career representing the little guy against well funded, powerful and deep pocketed corporate defendants. As a skilled, knowledgeable and aggressive litigator, Mr. Schupak works tirelessly to level the playing field when representing his clients against big insurance companies and corporate defendants. Other attorneys often refer cases to Mr. Schupak because...

A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Peter Greenspun graduated from LaSalle College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1975 and obtained his Juris Doctor from George Mason University School of Law in 1978. Widely considered by his peers as an expert litigator, Peter has advocated for the rights of his clients in criminal and civil matters ranging from the simplest to the most complex. With over 30 years of experience trying countless cases, Peter has obtained exceptional results in local, state, and federal trial and appellate courts. Since 1997 Peter has repeatedly been recognized by the Washingtonian Magazine as being among the...

Kelly Martin is a founding partner of Latham & Martin, where he dedicates his practice to personal injury litigation including automobile accidents, medical malpractice, products liability, and premises liability in Richmond and surrounding communities, including Henrico, Hanover, Chesterfield, Petersburg, Hopewell, and Colonial Heights.

Barbara Queen, a Partner at LawrenceQueen, is a dedicated and dynamic attorney with 16 years of experience in employment law. Known for her compassionate yet assertive approach, she brings invaluable knowledge and experience to every case, prioritizing meticulous preparation and personalized attention to guide clients through complex employment law challenges. Barbara earned her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University before graduating cum laude from Syracuse University College of Law. Early in her career, she secured prestigious internships with the New York Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York. Since joining Lisa...

Bryn Swartz is the owner and attorney at Pathfinder Injury Law, leading many injured workers to get the benefits and compensation they’re due. As the founder of Pathfinder Injury Law, he uses his experience with insurance companies to help them and their families recover. Attorney Bryn Swartz graduated in the top 7 percent of his class at Randolph-Macon College. During his time as an undergraduate, he was also part of Phi Beta Kappa honor society. After graduating, he attended law school at the University of Richmond and graduated magna cum laude. He was in the top 11 percent of his...

Exclusively practice criminal and traffic defense. Experienced solo practitioner, handle every aspect of case. I know the stress and uncertainty that comes with facing criminal charges. I believe that every client deserves an attorney who they can pick up the phone and call anytime they have questions or concerns throughout the case, as well as an attorney who will fight hard to get them the best possible outcome. That is what I am here to do.

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...

I assist clients with legal problems in the areas of bankruptcy, divorce, wills and trusts, and probate or estate administration. I am an experienced trial lawyer and have been a member of the Virginia State Bar since 1987. While I am glad to help clients settle their legal matters expeditiously and at the lowest costs to their satisfaction, I welcome the opportunity to litigate contested matters when settlement is not an acceptable option. I particularly enjoy the interplay between different practice areas, and have helped clients with both marital or divorce problems and financial problems such as...

I am a first generation Greek American born and raised in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area. Although I work as an attorney in Virginia , I am a Maryland girl at heart. I am a proud graduate of the University of Maryland in College Park, as well as Regent University School of Law in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

I am honored to work for two of the very best lawyers in Virginia, and am passionate about my job. I happily spend hours in the office with my hard-working colleagues, fighting for our clients. Outside the office, I'm dedicated to...

Carly Jehlen Hart focuses her practice in the areas of criminal and traffic defense, domestic law, and specializes in domestic abuse/violence. Ms. Jehlen Hart has been practicing law since 2010 and joined the Firm as a Partner in 2019. As a lawyer, Carly appreciates being able to help her clients, and getting to know them, during what is usually a very difficult situation, and the opportunity to advocate for them not just in their litigation, but for them in their lives.
Ms. Jehlen Hart graduated from the University of South Florida with two Bachelors of the Arts degrees in Literature and...

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,...

Russell ("Russ") Haynes is a tax attorney with the firm of Burton J. Haynes, P.C., in Burke, Virginia. Russ graduated magna cum laude from George Mason School of Law in 2011, with a concentration in tax law. Russ works mainly on employment tax cases for businesses with large tax delinquencies, unfiled returns, and when assessment of the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty is threatened against responsible persons. But he also handles cases for individuals with unfiled tax returns and unpaid balances. Russ lectures frequently for tax classes and industry groups on how to resolve federal tax liabilities...

Geoff earned his B.A. from the University of Virginia in ’86 in Foreign Affairs and his J.D. from the University of Richmond, T.C. Williams School of Law in ’89. Geoff attended the University of Hawaii on a football scholarship before transferring to the University of Virginia, where he played for George Welsh and was a member of the ’84 Peach Bowl championship team – the first UVA team to make a bowl appearance.

As a lawyer Geoff has obtained more than $400 million in settlements and awards for his clients. He has successfully tried cases resulting in over 200 written opinions,...

Chuck has practiced in Winchester and throughout northern Virginia since 2007. He is both a lawyer and a Certified Public Accountant (with an LL.M in Tax and Estate Planning) and worked in public accounting before attending law school. Chuck’s practice focuses on complex estate planning and administration matters, resolving tax disputes, business planning, choice of entity, conservation easements and other business matters. Chuck has extensive training in complex estate and business matters and his practice focuses primarily on business owners and families with more than $1 million in liquid assets. Chuck regularly works to resolve family disputes, establish business...