Best Lawyers in Virginia, United States for Family Law
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Cities
Julia Yolles is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Julia, who practices law in Fairfax, Virginia, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Julia is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Carrie received her Bachelor of Arts (magna cum laude) in Psychology from Central Connecticut State University in 2003, and earned her Juris Doctor from the George Mason University School of Law in 2007. She is admitted to practice law in all courts throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Since graduating law school, Carrie has been in private practice representing clients exclusively with their family law issues. Carrie handles all aspects of family law, from the routine to the complex. She...
Ilona Ely Grenadier Position: Partner. Founding Partner Background: Born, Baltimore, Maryland, May 18, 1940; admitted to Virginia Bar in 1968. Education: Mount Holyoke College (B.A., 1962); George Washington University (J.D., cum laude, 1967). Order of the Coif. Member: Alexandria, Fairfax , Virginia and American (Member, Family Law Section) Bar Associations; Virginia State Bar; Virginia Trial Lawyers Association ; American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers ; International Academy of Matrimonial...
Naveed Kalantar is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Naveed, who practices law in Virginia Beach, Virginia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Naveed is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
David Rust Clarke is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law Mediation. David Rust, who practices law in Fairfax, Virginia, has been recognized since 2010. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David Rust is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Catherine “Kate” Reese focuses her practice on the full spectrum of family law matters in the Northern Virginia and Montgomery County, Maryland regions. She has extensive trial experience in contested divorces, child custody and visitation matters, equitable distribution of assets, child and spousal support, and the negotiation and preparation of prenuptial and marital agreements. Ms. Reese is known to be an aggressive and resourceful litigator when representing clients’ bes...
Mr. Colten was born in New York City and has been a long-time resident of Virginia. After serving as Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney in Fairfax County for two years, Mr. Colten entered private practice in Northern Virginia. He was a founding member and principal of Surovell, Jackson, Colten & Dugan, P.C. and its predecessor and successor firms, prior to forming Colten | Watson | Vincent Law Group P.C. In 1965, Mr. Colten received his B.S. with a major in sociology from American Universi...
Patrick L. Maurer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Patrick L., who practices law in Virginia Beach, Virginia, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Patrick L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Carolyn Abbate is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Carolyn, who practices law in Arlington, Virginia, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Carolyn is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Stephanie M. Sauer is an award-winning attorney, a GLG Partner, and Chair of the firm’s Divorce , Family Law , and Adoption Group. She also formerly served as the firm’s Pro Bono Chair. Stephanie is dedicated to serving as an advocate for her clients, supporting them with honest feedback, and helping determine the best path forward. Stephanie’s background is a mix of public service, working for Legal Aid, and private practice. For over a decade, Stephanie has worked exclusiv...
For over two decades, I have represented clients in Northern Virginia who need family law assistance. My goal is to provide vigorous, honest, and thorough representation.I started this firm with my founding partners in November 2004, and have worked towards becoming the best family law partnership in Virginia. Since 2004 we have grown to a firm of nine attorneys from various backgrounds. We are a full-service team ready to handle virtually any Virginia family law issue.I pride myself on being...
Alexander H. Xanttopoulos is a principal attorney with Roop, Xanttopoulos, Babounakis. He joined the predecessor firm in Fall 2010, to focus primarily on family law. He works in cases involving divorce, child custody, support, visitation and equitable distribution. Prior to joining Roop Law, Alex worked for several years for Greenspun, Shapiro, Davis and Leary P.C. as an associate practicing in the areas of domestic relations, traffic, criminal defense and civil litigation. He also has experi...
Debbie has over 37 years experience handling all aspects of family law. Her practice areas include Contested and Uncontested Divorces, Spousal Support, Child Custody, Visitation and Support, Separation Agreements, Equitable Distribution of Property, Division of Retirement, Pensions and Profit Sharing Plans, Business Valuation and Division, Post-Divorce Issues, Pre-marital Agreements and Marital Agreements. She practices in the Circuit Courts and the J & DR courts throughout Hampton Roads....
Brian has been a divorce attorney in Northern Virginia since 1985. He is also certified by the Virginia Supreme Court as a family law mediator. He is listed in "Best Lawyers in America", Washingtonian and Northern Virginia magazine's Top Divorce Lawyers and Virginia Business magazine's "Legal Elite," as both a lawyer and mediator. He is a Commissioner in Chancery as well as a Neutral Case Evaluator for Fairfax County Circuit Court. Brian served on the Virginia State Bar's Fifth District Disci...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.