Virginia Lawyers

Following the attacks on September 11, 2001, Chris entered the United States Navy as an Intelligence Specialist Petty Officer. While serving, he studied at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law.

Chris is admitted to practice law in all Virginia General District and Circuit Courts, the Virginia Court of Appeals, the Virginia Supreme Court, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern and Western District of Virginia, and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. In 2008, he was a contributing author on the Virginia Continuing Legal Education publication, “Defense of Serious Traffic Cases in Virginia.” Chris is a...

Melone Hatley, PC attorney Charles D. Hatley has made a career of practicing family law because of the opportunity it gives him to help families through such a critical juncture. “I am passionate about helping individuals through trying times and protecting their rights so they can concentrate on their personal lives,” Mr. Hatley said. The divorce process can be highly confusing for many people. Getting bogged down in all the legal jargon and procedures can be incredibly frustrating when so much is at stake. Mr. Hatley walks through each step of the process to make sure his clients...

The Higgs Law Firm provides legal assistance to businesses and individuals throughout Virginia and nationwide in: Administrative Law; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Banking; Mortgages and Equity Financing; Bankruptcy (Creditors only); Business & Commercial Law; Civil Litigation; Corporations, Partnerships, L.C.C.s and other Entities; Creditors' Rights and Commercial Collections; Foreclosures; Lease Enforcement; Litigation; Real Estate; and Wills, Trusts and Estates. Bankruptcy practice limited to representing creditors. *The American Board of Certification is accredited by the American Bar Association to certify lawyers in the areas of bankruptcy law and creditors' right law. There is no procedure in the Commonwealth of Virginia for approving certifying...

Jonathan Wren is an experienced Charlottesville personal injury lawyer. Jonathan built his reputation by handling difficult cases that other attorneys refused to handle, such as hotly contested premises liability and personal injury cases or cases involving serious and complex injuries. Jonathan has extensive experience in personal injury and wrongful death claims. Many of the cases involve complicated injuries, such as burn injuries, chemical inhalation injuries, nerve damage and injuries, brain injuries, and other injuries that are outside of common ailments following accidents. In addition, Jonathan has obtained favorable results for clients under difficult factual scenarios, such as...

Bryan is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and Brigham Young University. Bryan started his career prosecuting in the Louisa County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office. After leaving the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office, Bryan practiced for a traffic, DUI, and criminal defense firm in Central Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. In 2016, Bryan opened his own practice in Charlottesville, serving Charlottesville and the surrounding counties. Bryan serves on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and as a member of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association. Bryan lives in Albemarle County, Virginia with his wife...

I am a senior litigation attorney known for my strategic precision and grounded approach in tackling high-stakes legal issues. My drive is fueled by a commitment to deliver effective, customized solutions that produce tangible results. My knack for blending thorough preparation with inventive problem-solving has established me as a reliable advocate in the courtroom. Before my tenure at BerlikLaw, I was a Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in Loudoun County, representing the Commonwealth of Virginia in prosecuting a broad spectrum of felony and misdemeanor offenses. Over my four years as a prosecutor, I handled complex litigation involving vehicular crash data, computer and...

John H. Kitzmann is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and a partner and co-founder of Davidson & Kitzmann, PLC. He is also the former Chair of the Family Law Section of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Kitzmann has been practicing family law for more than twenty years. He has extensive experience negotiating and litigating the full range of family law issues. Mr. Kitzmann's recent representations in the area of family law have involved a divorce involving more than $500 Million in marital property, litigation concerning the value and distribution of a multinational corporation, complex...

Lewis A. Martin, III began his law practice by joining his father upon his graduation with a JD from the University of Virginia in 1979. He focuses his practice in the areas of real property law, including commercial real estate, mechanics’ and materialmen’s liens, like-kind exchanges, and advanced property conveyances and financing, as well as estate planning and administration, serving as an Assistant Commissioner of Accounts for Albemarle County, Virginia. Mr. Martin was born and raised in Charlottesville, and values the relationships he’s developed through a lifetime of calling Central Virginia his home.

Mr. Frankl is a litigator whose practice concentrates on general insurance defense litigation with a specialty on defending individuals and commercial motor carriers in catastrophic injury claims. He has handled complex litigation on behalf of primary and excess insurers in the areas of products liability, wrongful death, premises liability andpersonal injury. Mr. Frankl has tried numerous cases in both state and federal courts throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Prior to forming Frankl Miller & Webb in 2004, Mr. Frankl was the head of both the insurance defense and trucking andtransportation practice groups as a partner in the...

Admitted to practice law in Virginia in 1998, Mel brings a wealth of litigation experience to clients that includes practice as a prosecutor and working for insurance companies defending lawsuits, to include defending government officials charged with misconduct and violations of civil rights. Now he represents persons and small businesses in litigation arising out of serious personal injury, employment disputes, and employment and administrative/governmental grievances, such as professional discipline. Mel received his Bachelor of Science degree, magna cum laude, from Bridgewater College of Virginia in 1995, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Philosophy/Religion. In 1998,...

I wrote the book, "The Truth About Bankruptcy in Virginia" as a consumer guide to the very basics of bankruptcy, and to assist people with making informed choices about their financial future. Many people who would benefit from filing choose not to because of preconceived notions or bad advice. The book recently received the Literary Distinction Award for Literary Excellence and was featured on the cover of Attorney Magazine. Whether you are an attorney or a potential client, call our offices to get your questions answered. We are always looking for a new one!

David was born and raised in the Roanoke Valley; the son of a Registered Nurse and a Roanoke City Police Officer, he spent his childhood in Salem and attended Glenvar High School. After graduating, he went on to attend Virginia Tech where he received degrees in both Finance and Accounting. After graduation, David worked as an accountant in both the public and private sectors, but decided the law was his true calling. He went on to attend Washington & Lee University School of Law, where he graduated with honors at the top of his class in 2010. David began his...

Jaime is one of the managing partners at Amaryllis Law Firm, located in Salem, VA. Her passion for immigration and adoption law was ignited by her experiences serving in an orphanage in Uganda and participating in a project in Thailand aimed at combating human trafficking. Her legal practice encompasses a variety of areas including providing immigration solutions for businesses and their employees, defense against removal, advocacy for victims, support for juveniles who have been neglected, abandoned, or abused, and handling both domestic and international adoptions. Since 2019, peers have consistently nominated Jaime as a Rising Star for Super Lawyers, and since...

Chris is very competitive and loves jury trials. As a former teacher and prosecutor, he is very comfortable speaking with judges and jurors in the courtroom. During law school, he won several awards competing in moot court and negotiations competitions, placing 2nd at the national ABA Negotiation Tournament in San Diego and 3rd at the National Moot Court Championship Tournament in Houston - the highest results his law school has ever achieved in either event. No lawyer can guarantee victory, but you always get Chris's best effort, and his proven record of success demonstrates that.

Naomi Huntington is a dedicated Criminal Defense Attorney at Huntington, Huntington & Huntington. She vigorously defends clients facing a wide range of criminal charges. With past experience as a Prosecutor, Ms. Huntington brings unique insight and knowledge to her cases. She is committed to promoting due process, fairness, and equality under the law for her clients.

Ms. Huntington attended the University of Virginia as an undergraduate. In 2012, she graduated from the Wake Forest School of Law. Ms. Huntington is licensed to practice law in the State of Virginia. She is the Vice President of the Montgomery County-Radford Bar Association.

I've been a partner at Dulaney, Lauer & Thomas since 1999. I work with and exclusively represent clients fighting for their rights against insurance companies and other corporate entities. Throughout the course of my career, I have litigated hundreds of injury cases in Virginia and in the Federal Courts. When I'm not in the office or courtroom, I'm an active community member and proud husband and father.

As a partner at Dulaney, Lauer & Thomas, I specialize in personal injury and workers compensation law. I practice out of both the Warrenton and Front Royal, Virginia offices. I'm an active member of the community and proud father of three.

Ms. Fine has practiced law for 35 years, the last 28 in Virginia. Her business law experience started immediately after graduating from Boston College Law School in 1982 when she worked at a 50-attorney Boston law firm. In 1989 she joined the Costello Dickenson firm in Winchester, Virginia, and in 1990 opened her own firm.

Ms. Fine has extensive practice drafting business contracts, including buy-sell agreements, employment agreements and non-competition agreements, and, balancing that experience, she reviews and litigates contracts drafted by other attorneys.

Her Wills, Trusts and Estates practice involves planning, drafting estate documents and probate litigation.

Her equine practice is an...

Greg represents individuals and families facing challenges from automobile accidents and tractor-trailer crashes, construction accidents, heavy equipment accidents, automobile defects, wrongful death, consumer product defects, traumatic brain injury, and asbestos illnesses. After graduating from the University of Virginia in 1986 with a degree in Economics, Greg commissioned in the United States Army for four years active duty with the 10th Mountain Division. Greg entered law school in 1992 and graduated from the University of Richmond School of Law in 1995 where he was admitted to the Virginia State Bar and Federal Courts of Virginia. Greg obtained one of the largest...

Margaret Byers 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. Byers works in the firm’s Fredericksburg-Stafford office, and represents clients in Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania and surrounding areas. Ms. Byers graduated from William & Mary Law School in 2023. During law school, she worked at two different law firms in Williamsburg and the City of Richmond Attorney’s Office. Ms. Byers also served as an Ombudsman and as a Staff Member for the Journal of Race, Gender and...

Virginia criminal defense attorney Steve Duckett has devoted his career to fighting for the right's of individuals charged with criminal offenses in the state of Virginia. Steve Duckett has handled a wide variety of criminal cases including, but not limited to, DUI charges, assault charges, drug charges, reckless driving charges, as well as federal charges. Mr. Duckett graduated from the University of Richmond with a Political Science and Economics degree in 1994. Since receiving his Juris Doctor from Valparaiso University he has practiced criminal law exclusively in the various courthouses in Northern Virginia. Mr. Duckett is admitted to practice...

My path to becoming a trial lawyer wasn’t a straight one. Early on, I dreamed of being a charter-fishing boat captain. But I quickly realized that a career in law, especially litigation, offered me the opportunity to help others while channeling my competitive spirit. I’ve had the privilege of trying numerous cases across courts throughout the Commonwealth, handling appeals, and successfully arguing before the Virginia Supreme Court. I thrive on stepping outside my comfort zone and tackling new challenges head-on. Before founding Merrick Brock, I spent over a decade defending insurance companies. Over time, their tactics—manipulating cases, undermining claims, and offering victims...

Name and co-founding partner Michele L. Burton was born and raised in Portsmouth, Virginia. She attended the University of Virginia where she obtained Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and Anthropology. Shortly thereafter, Michele graduated from Old Dominion University with a Master of Arts in Humanities with a focus on Race and Law. In May 2012, she graduated from the College of William and Mary School of Law with a Juris Doctorate and passed the bar in October of that year. Upon graduation, Michele worked as a magistrate in Norfolk, Virginia for two years where she conducted probable cause...

Ryan M. Schmalzle is a principal and founder of the firm. His practice focuses on family law, civil litigation, and criminal law. Ryan regularly practices in several jurisdictions in Northern Virginia including Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Clarke County, Frederick County and the City of Winchester. He also practices in the Maryland Courts, including Frederick County and Montgomery County. Ryan is an adjunct professor of law at George Mason University School of Law where he teaches appellate writing. Ryan also serves as a Special Justice in Loudoun County and he presides over civil commitment hearings. Although Ryan’s primary love...

Attorney Kevin Myers is a founding partner at Livesay & Myers, P.C. Along with partner James Livesay, Mr. Myers formed Livesay & Myers, P.C. in 2003, when the firm opened its first office in Woodbridge, Virginia. The firm has grown steadily since, and now encompasses a team of lawyers and paralegals across offices in Fairfax, Arlington, Ashburn, Manassas and Fredericksburg-Stafford, Virginia. Born in Fairfax, Mr. Myers is a lifelong resident of Northern Virginia, and now resides in Fairfax County with his wife.

For over a decade, lawyer Sarah Bruns has been aggressively protecting the rights of her clients in Northern Virginia. As a seasoned trial attorney, Sarah has defended individuals charged with Murder, Rape, Robbery, Theft, and Drug Possession/Distribution. Sarah also has extensive experience in representing clients charged with traffic offenses such as Driving While Intoxicated (DWI/DUI) and Hit and Run. While some crimes carry more severe penalties than others, Sarah handles every client’s case knowing that it is the most important one for that client. She believes that no client should be treated as if their issue is of little consequence. Sarah’s...

Kerri Castellini is primarily a DC-based attorney with a focus on estate and trust administration, guardianship for incapacitated adults and minors, and estate planning. She brings her legal experience to the Trusts and Estates Practice Group and is currently admitted to practice law in Washington DC, Maryland, and before the supreme court. She is passionate about providing a high level of attention to her clients to come up with a plan that is best for their unique circumstances.

Camellia Safi is a partner with Safi, Duran & Chim, PLLC, in Fairfax, Virginia. Camellia has over a decade of experience practicing family law in the Northern Virginia area. Camellia understands that good results require compassion, hard work and an ability to connect with the client. Family law is a unique area of law that requires the attorney and the client to be on the same page and have similar values and goals to achieve success. Camellia serves as an advocate for her clients and alleviates their concerns and fears but believes that to achieve the best results, the client...

Mr. Kales is an experienced Fairfax, Va. divorce mediator and collaborative divorce attorney. After practicing family law for years and concluding trials and court serve divorcing spouses poorly, making already difficult cases harder and more painful, Mr. Kales focuses his practice on helping his clients avoid litigation and to reach negotiated separation and divorce settlement agreements and prenuptial agreements. He wishes to provide his clients with the assistance needed to reach optimal solutions for themselves and their families, sympathetically, individually, and cost-effectively.

Mary Ellen Lench is the principal of M.E. Lench, P.C., and her practice is concentrated in estate and trust administration and business planning. Mary Ellen has been in practice for more than 18 years, representing clients in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area, and she focuses on personal service to her clients. She has been teaching estate planning classes through Loudoun County Adult Education for the past eight years and was recently voted among the Legal Elite for Trust/Estate/Elder Law Attorneys by Virginia Business Magazine. Mary Ellen received her J.D. from American University, cum laude, and was Editor of the Law Review. Following...

Attorney Anita Paka primarily practices in Wills and Estates law in Virginia. Anita started her legal career working as a paralegal and law clerk in Virginia, and Washington, DC where she gained insight into the inner workings of the legal system. Subsequently she started her solo practice where she practiced primarily in Estate planning. As a mother of two, Anita understands firsthand the desire of parents to build a secure future for their loved ones. She can customize estate plans and trusts to accommodate special needs, desire, or contingency, including (but not limited to): Special Needs Trust (providing for a family member...

After completing his undergrad with honors at the University of Toronto in Canada, Mr. Raheen moved to New York and attained his Juris Doctorate Law Degree (J.D.) and Master of Laws Degree (LL.M.) at the New York Law School and Fordham University School of Law, respectively. Following his post-doctorate graduation, Mr. Raheen worked with the prestigious NY law firm of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, where he gained and reflected their successful motto of attention to detail in high quality work product. Mr. Raheen and his family moved closer to family in the DC...

Tara Tighe is a personal injury attorney. She has significant litigation experience in both jury and bench trials, and her strong desire to help others led her to become an attorney who fights for the rights of injured individuals. She strives to give every client the guidance and legal protection they need after an accident in order for them to devote their focus on rebuilding their lives. Tara’s practice is focused exclusively on personal injury cases including car and motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, dog bites and chases, medical malpractice, slip and falls, mold inhalation and exposure, and wrongful death. Tara is...

Casey R. Stevens With more than 34 years of experience practicing law, Casey R. Stevens is a leader in the Virginia criminal defense community. He is a skilled and dedicated defense lawyer who is focused on achieving a successful outcome for his clients in every case that he takes on. Prior to becoming a criminal defense attorney, Casey served as a prosecutor in the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, Prince William County, Virginia where he gained unique insight into how the government develops and prosecutes both felony and misdemeanor cases. Casey is well respected by attorneys and judges and...

Growing up, Alanna’s parents heard primarily one complaint from her teachers: she talks too much. In high school, she had an English teacher sit down and explain to her that she needed to develop her listening skills and taught her that she would learn a lot more by listening than by talking. Alanna is a product of LA Law, and in her youth, the television show glamorized being a lawyer. Being active in debate and public speaking in high school and college, law school was a natural progression. She found that the two important qualities in being a family...

James M. Johnson graduated from James Madison University in with degrees in Biology and Economics. He received his Juris Doctor from the George Mason School of Law. James Johnson has worked at the outstanding law firms of Pfitzner & Morley, Johnson Ford Law, and now he is the managing attorney at the Johnson Law Firm, PC. He is admitted to practice in all Virginia courts, as well as the Federal and Bankruptcy courts of the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia.

My practice consists primarily of family law matters. People entrenched in a family law case-maybe a divorce or custody battle- often find this to be one of the most challenging seasons of their life. They are best served by an attorney who is truly invested in them. I work closely with my clients in creating a strategy that achieves my client’s goals in the most efficient and practical way possible. I am a skilled negotiator and an effective litigator, utilizing both of these tactics as needed.

I graduated from Christopher Newport University with a B.A. in Political Science, and I graduated...

I am a trial attorney at Christina Pendleton & Associates focused primarily on personal injury and criminal defense.

In addition to defending my clients, I enjoy traveling, yoga, and reading.

If you have a question or need assistance, please call me at 804-250-5050.

The Virginia attorneys of Select Law Partners, PLLC, assist clients with family law matters (Virginia divorce, child custody, support), Virginia criminal defense, traffic infractions, DUI/DWI, and estate planning (last will and testament, powers of attorney, advance medical directives). With offices in the Blacksburg, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, and Roanoke our lawyers offer Virginia legal services to clients in Blacksburg, Caroline, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Fredericksburg, Hanover, Loudoun, King George, Louisa, Orange, Prince William, Roanoke, Salem, Spotsylvania, Stafford.