Shortt Gap Lawyers

Brian has been a divorce attorney litigating and settling cases in Northern Virginia since 1985, and is certified by the Virginia Supreme Court in Family Mediation. He is listed in "The Best Lawyers in America", Washingtonian magazine's Top Divorce Lawyers, Northern Virginia magazine’s Top Divorce Lawyers and Virginia Business magazine's "Legal Elite".

He is the editor of the Virginia Family Law Quarterly, the official publication of the Family Law Section of the Virginia State Bar. Brian is a past Chair of the Virginia State Bar Family Law Section Board of Governors. He has been a Fellow of the American Academy of...

Scott is licensed to practice law in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. He is also a former Certified Public Accountant and began his career in public accounting for a big five CPA firm. Scott's accounting background enables him to grasp tax and financial issues that are important in structuring transactions, ensuring that business as well as legal goals are met and that tax-reduction strategies are maximized and not overlooked. Scott has published several articles covering a variety of business, tax and estate planning issues, in addition to speaking on a variety of topics. ...

Daniel Kim is a Korean American bi-lingual attorney with extensive experience in the intersection of law, business, and technology. Previous to his law practice, Daniel has built over 30 years of successful litigation and corporate advisory consulting career track record serving as a trusted adviser to over 50 Fortune 500 companies, five of the top 50 U.S. banks, and 25 Am Law 100 clients providing multidisciplinary solutions to help clients navigate through complex problems during their most critical and stressful times.

S. Alexander Miller is a 2009 graduate of George Mason University School of Law, and a 2005 graduate of Elon University in North Carolina where he was a member of the Psi Chi, Alpha Kapa Delta and Pi Gamma Mu Honor Societies. He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Virginia, the U.S District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, and the Eastern District of Virginia Bankruptcy Court. He has practiced in the fields of bankruptcy and immigration, specializing in family-based immigration, removal defense, and non-immigrant employment visas. He is a member of the Virginia Bar Association,...

Jana holds the distinction of being one of the very few, if only, practicing Virginia attorneys who has served as a university Title IX deputy coordinator. This insider’s view of the Title IX process and her work on university investigations gives Jana a leg up for her clients.

The consummate problem solver, Jana’s been solving people-problems in corporate human resources management for the last decade.

Jana has also been an advocate for families and young people who need assistance since her early days as a professional for the YMCA and later as a Guardian ad Litem (GAL).

Whether student or family or...

Laura Dove is an experienced Northern Virginia family law attorney who has exclusively focused her practice on domestic relations matters, including divorce, property distribution, child support and spousal support issues, custody and visitation, preparation of separation and property settlement agreements and all other aspects of family law. Her legal knowledge and experience spans a diverse range of complex family law issues, such as the valuation and distribution of business interests, military retirement benefits, financial investments, family trusts, imputation of income and spousal and child support matters involving unemployed or underemployed individuals, allegations of abuse, child custody evaluations, interstate...

Mr. Stancliff handles a broad spectrum of disputes and transactions involving the maritime industry, and variety of commercial, maritime and admiralty civil litigation matters in federal and state courts in Virginia and North Carolina.

I am an attorney practicing in Berlin, MD and on Chincoteague Island, VA. I am a licensed attorney (Maryland, Virginia, DC), certified fraud examiner (nationwide), and registered private investigator (Virginia). Before starting my own law practice, I was a National Park Ranger, a law clerk to a federal judge, a U.S. government prosecutor, and a criminal investigator. I completed my career as the Assistant Inspector General for the Securities and Exchange Commission. I hold a doctorate from the University of Florida, and a law degree from Syracuse University College of Law. Today, most of...

Jonathan Phillips is a former Fairfax County prosecutor and experienced trial attorney practicing in all Virginia courts.

Mr. Phillips graduated from Virginia Tech with a bachelor’s degree in Business Information Technology and was an I.T. consultant in both public and private sectors before focusing on the practice of law. After attending law school at Pennsylvania State University, Mr. Phillips worked as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in Fairfax County where he amassed significant trial experience, handling thousands of misdemeanors and felony cases, while taking over 100 cases to jury and bench trials in the county’s Circuit Court.

He founded a private practice, Jonathan...

Kelly Cournoyer brings both compassion and powerful advocacy to her cases. Raised in a military family that moved to stations on three continents, Kelly knows first-hand the unique challenges that military families face and the support they need to be successful. A former prosecutor, Kelly is a confident and talented trial lawyer who is focused on delivering excellent results for her clients. Prior to prosecuting, Kelly held positions as a law clerk and intern in private firms and in state and federal government, including for the U.S. Navy JAG Corps Trial Department. She earned a law degree at George Washington University and a...

I have several years experience working in immigration law both before and after becoming an attorney. I am well-versed in the federal legal processes available to immigrants who are applying for benefits or seeking relief from removal.

EDUCATION

College: Old Dominion University, B.A., 1972
Law School: University of Florida, J.D., 1975

Carlton Bennett’s practice concentrates in personal injury litigation, representing only...

"AV" - "Preeminent" Martindale Rating A Virginia Beach native, Ted was featured on 60 Minutes (Oct. 4, 2009) for his work involving environmental contamination from coal ash/ fly ash waste. And thanks to his AV® Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest possible rating from the premier peer review process for the legal profession. He also enjoys the highest client review rating. In addition to his defense of health care providers; Ted tries lawsuits involving plaintiff’s catastrophic injury, brain damage, paralysis and environmental cases in state and federal court in Virginia and in Pennsylvania. He was first admitted in Pennsylvania in1988...

Ra Hee Jeon is a Pender & Coward attorney focusing her practice on family law and immigration matters. Born and raised in South Korea, she is bilingual in Korean and English and skillful in Spanish. Ra Hee routinely drafts and reviews prenuptial agreements and property settlement agreements and advises her clients in complex contested divorce, uncontested divorce, and child custody/visitation/support issues. She actively participates in negotiation efforts to zealously represent her clients and to serve the best interests of any children involved. Ra Hee represents foreign-born and U.S. citizen clients in a variety of immigration matters and helps them navigate the...

Jessica graduated summa cum laude from Otterbein University (Columbus, OH) with a major in Political Science/Government & triple minor in Psychology, Speech Communication, & Legal Studies. She graduated second in her law school class with highest honors from the HBU, North Carolina Central University School of Law (Durham, NC), earning a Juris Doctor & Certificate in Dispute Resolution. Her diverse legal experience includes legislative and policy evaluation, judicial internships, litigation, and mediation/settlement negotiation/alternative dispute resolution. In 2014, Jessica joined The Cooper Law Firm, P.C. (Virginia Beach, VA) to form its successful family law division. In May 2019, was named Partner...

Josh is a tenacious attorney with extensive courtroom and business experience that brings value to his clients. He has a broad area of practice with clients throughout the country. Josh’s focus of practice in the following areas of law: civil litigation, personal injury, criminal and traffic defense, divorce and family law, wills, trusts and estate planning, landlord and tenant law, business and corporate law, intellectual property, and general practice.

Chris Saady is admitted to practice law in all courts of the Commonwealth of Virginia, as well as the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. He graduated from Campbell University, Norman A. Wiggins School of Law, in 1998, and from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1993. Before joining Marcari, Russotto, Spencer, & Balaban, Chris was Senior Staff Counsel for The Hartford; a Tort Claims Attorney for the Department of the Navy; Trial Counsel for Nationwide Insurance; and while in private practice represented a multitude of plaintiffs in personal injury actions....

After finishing law school, I started a company focused on teaching new fathers (by birth or adoption) skills and abilities they may not have had a chance to learn. Eventually I closed that business in order to work in the area of foreclosure prevention law due to the increasingly common foreclosure (which in Virginia can happen very quickly). I have chosen to continue to help people in need at my own law firm so I can give my clients the attention they deserve.

After a decade of serving the community through a career in law enforcement, I transitioned into the legal field with the hopes of helping the struggling families and individuals I saw in the courtroom. My sole focus is family law which includes custody, child support, divorce, protective orders, and more. I am certified as a guardian ad litem for juveniles and dedicated to making fair assessments for the benefit of the children I represent. I provide unique value to my clients in that I have seen many sides of the law and know when to defend, fight, and settle.

Dave Ventker is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, an invitation-only trial honorary society composed of less than one half percent of lawyers in the United States. Immediate past member of the Board of Directors of the Maritime Law Association of the United States, past Chairman of the Inland Waters and Towing Committee of the Maritime Law Association and a Proctor in Admiralty, Dave has been practicing law since 1982. He has been concentrating in maritime law and commercial litigation since 1989, when he entered private practice after serving on active duty for more than 7 years with...

Sean A. Sherlock is an award-winning trial attorney specializing in criminal defense, DUI/traffic defense, and civil litigation. A passionate and forceful advocate for his clients, Mr. Sherlock consistently achieves outstanding results through the application of his extensive trial experience and legal insight. Having tried hundreds of cases ranging from DUI/DWI, drug distribution, fraud, embezzlement, domestic violence, gang offenses, and murder, Mr. Sherlock's depth of experience as a former prosecutor for the City of Alexandria distinguishes him from other defense attorneys. Clients facing criminal or traffic charges benefit from his unique insights into how law enforcement and prosecutors build their cases and...

Brian is originally from central New Jersey. He moved to the DMV area in 2014 for law school, intending to move to Virginia to practice. He became a licensed Virginia attorney in 2017 after graduating law school, and moved into the Commonwealth shortly thereafter. Brian’s law school experience includes work in a non-profit advocacy organization, a public interest law firm, the United States Federal Election Commission, and the United States Senate Judiciary Committee.
State Admission


Education:

Saint Joseph’s University, B.A.
The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, J.D. cum laude

Todd Lewis is a highly skilled attorney whose breadth of experience spans multiple facets of commercial law, making him a trusted advocate for business clients and professional investors. As an accomplished litigator, Todd has tried a wide range of complex commercial cases, using his keen ability to identify pivotal legal issues and strategically leverage case facts to achieve his clients’ business objectives. His articulate negotiation style and meticulous approach have resulted in favorable outcomes in high-stakes disputes, complex transactions, and multi-party litigation scenarios. Todd’s extensive experience as legal counsel to two Fortune 500 companies has honed his ability to navigate sophisticated...

Jessica L. Leischner is partner with Friedman, Grimes, Meinken & Leischner, PLLC. As an accomplished family law attorney and litigator serving Northern Virginia, Ms. Leischner represents clients in Fairfax County, Alexandria City, Arlington County, Loudoun County, and Prince William County. Ms. Leischner’s practice is exclusively in the area of family law, including divorce, child custody, visitation, child support, spousal support, equitable distribution, settlement agreements, property rights, post-divorce disputes, prenuptial agreements and other family law matters. With the proximity to Washington, D.C., Ms. Leischner has extensive experience in cases involving federal government employees, military personnel, Foreign Service employees, including complex retirement...

Thomas Curcio, the driving force behind Curcio Law, is a dedicated trial lawyer with over 40 years of experience in Northern Virginia. He has committed his career to representing individuals seriously injured through no fault of their own. Tom tirelessly works to secure rightful compensation for his clients, allowing them to rebuild their lives with dignity. His practice focuses on cases involving serious injuries or fatalities resulting from car, pedestrian, motorcycle, bicycle, and truck crashes, as well as those caused by dangerous dogs, unsafe products, and premises. He has successfully tried numerous cases to favorable jury verdicts. Tom is also actively engaged...

Seth has extensive courtroom experience throughout the northern Virginia area, litigating cases in the area district, circuit, and federal courts. When preparing and trying cases, Seth subscribes to the George Washington "organization is the soul of the army" approach, which is complimented by his lifelong love of healthy competition in athletics.

Tony Lee focuses his practice on representing wireline and wireless telecommunications carriers, cable TV, and Internet companies in regulatory issues and proceedings before the FCC and state utility commissions. Mr. Lee advises local exchange and long distance carriers regarding state and federal regulatory issues, including intercarrier compensation, universal service and compliance matters. He is engaged in substantive and complex litigation in federal court, and before the Federal Communications Commission and state commissions.

Mr. Lee is also engaged in high technology transactions and other corporate matters for his clients, which includes the purchase and transfer of high technology assets, and master...

Stephen Taylor earned his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the University of Richmond School of Law, where he served as Allen Chair Editor of the University of Richmond Law Review. He was a member of the John Marshall Inn of Court and was inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honor society. Stephen's primary practice areas include Elder Law, Estate Planning, Business Planning, Estate and Trust Administration, and litigation in support of these practice areas. Stephen is licensed to practice in Virginia and North Carolina.

Dan Mazzio has been practicing law in Hampton Roads for more than a decade. He has represented clients in courts all over Virginia and has earned a reputation as a skilled trial attorney. Dan has tried countless jury trials to successful outcomes and is passionate about fighting for his clients to get them the best possible outcome. Dan grew up in Chesapeake and attended Longwood University. He received his law degree from the University of Richmond’s T.C. Williams School of Law in 2007. Dan is married to Lisa, a psychologist and the owner of Watermark Psychological Services in Ghent. They have...

Jeanne primarily focuses her practice on immigration law. Jeanne has personal experience with applying for benefits through the former INS- now U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services. She understands the angst that foreign clients feel when faced with an unfamiliar and confusing set of laws. Jeanne's goal is to make the law accessible to her clients and to make the process as seamless as possible.