Carolyn M. Grimes Partner

Ms. Grimes is a partner in the firm, practicing in all areas of family law including divorce, spousal support, child custody, child support, equitable distribution, retirement issues, and prenuptial agreements, among other areas. She practices in all of the Circuit and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts in Northern Virginia and has argued before the Court of Appeals. She has lectured on family law topics ranging from custody to retirement issues, including military, federal, civilian and Foreign Service retirement issues, for various organizations in the Commonwealth. In addition to traditional litigation, Ms. Grimes practices law in the collaborative law model. She is also a mediator herself.

Named a Top Attorney in 2015 from Washingtonian Magazine, Ms. Grimes actively serves the community as well. She was the 2009 and 2006 President of the Board of Directors for Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV), has served on its Board for many years and has performed many hours of pro bono work for the organization. She is a Past President of the Alexandria Bar Association, for which she has co chaired the Pro Bono and Community Service Committee and chaired the “Beat the Odds” Program, a scholarship program for youths who have overcome adversity. She also participated in the American Bar Association program offering legal assistance to victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks. She is currently serving her second term on Bar Council for the Virginia State Bar and has been a panel chair for the Virginia State Bar Fee Dispute Program as well.

BAR ADMISSIONS

• Virginia, 1991
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court, 1993

EDUCATION

• George Mason University School of Law, Arlington, Virginia
  • J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence – 1991
• Georgetown University School of Law, Graduate Law Certificate in Employee Benefits Law – 2000
• Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
  • B.A., Bachelor of Arts – 1985

REPRESENTATIVE CASES

• Nkopchiev v. Minleno, 59 VA. App. 299 (2010)

HONORS AND AWARDS

• AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
• 2016 Top Rated Family Law Lawyer, Martindale-Hubbell
• 2016 Top Rated Lawyers in Virginia, Richmond Magazine, Washington Post Magazine
• 2015 Top Attorney Washingtonian Magazine
• 2014-15 Best Lawyers in America, U.S News & World Report
• 2014-16 Avvo.com Rating of 10.0
• 2011 Virginia’s Leaders in the Law for 2011, 2011 – 2016
• 2007-2016 Super Lawyers for Northern Virginia and Washington DC
• 2008, 2013-14 Virginia’s Legal Elite
• 2011, 2015 Top Lawyer by Northern Virginia Magazine
• 2006 Local Bar Leader of the Year, Conference of Local Bar Associations, VSB
• 2001 Northern Virginia Pro Bono Attorney of the Year award, LSNV
• 2011-2017 Virginia State Bar Council, Elected