For more than 20 years Don has been helping family law clients through often the most difficult time of their lives. Don's wealth of knowledge and experience allows him to effectively represent clients in family law matter negotiations, mediation, and contested family law litigation. Don always emphasizes the importance of exploring all options and alternatives to litigation to resolve family law disputes, including Collaborative Family Law. However, Don understands that the only way to resolve some clients' family law disputes is through litigation.
Collaborative Family Law is an alternate dispute resolution process available to parties who are committed to settling their separation and divorce or child custody dispute out of court, with their attorneys in a private, open, and respectful manner. By creating an atmosphere of open communication and cooperation, the Collaborative Family Law process allows both parties to preserve their dignity while they work toward a settlement that is acceptable to each of them, while maintaining some control over the outcome and avoiding the uncertainty of litigation. The Collaborative Family Law process will often involve the use of other professionals, such as financial planning professionals and mental health professionals. Don embraces this alternative to the frequently adversarial practice of family law, and Don has been representing clients in Collaborative Family Law matters since 2005.
While Don has been practicing only family law for more than 20 years, Don has experience in criminal law, bankruptcy law, and general civil litigation.
Don is a member of the Family Law Sections of the Virginia State Bar and the Fairfax County Bar Association, and he has served on the Fairfax County Circuit Court Committee and Family Law Subcommittee. Don was recently asked to teach a continuing legal education class for members of the Family Law Section of the Fairfax Bar Association, and he looks forward to more teaching opportunities. Don is also a member of the Virginia Collaborative Professionals, a state-wide organization of Collaborative professionals in Virginia, and the Collaborative Professionals of Northern Virginia.
Past Employment Positions
Fite, O'Brien & Anderson, Ltd., Attorney, 2004 to 2018
Professional Associations and Memberships
Fairfax Bar Association, 1995 to Present
Virginia Collaborative Professionals, 2004 to Present
Collaborative Professionals of Northern Virginia, 2004 to Present
