Ariel Lauren Baniowski

Ms. Baniowski is a phenomenal Family Law attorney who helped me resolve many complicated issues concerning my divorce. My ex-wife hired a high-priced, name-recognizable, attorney. Even though I considered doing the same, I ultimately chose Ms. Baniowski because she was more affordable. Her hourly rate is insanely low for her knowledge, dedication and work ethic, and her care/empathy for her clients. I have to admit, I kept a close eye on my case in the early stages because of the contrasting experience between Ms. Baniowski and my ex-wife's attorney. But, she was absolutely up for the task and didn't back down -- she was a bulldog when I needed her to be a bulldog, she was a diplomat when I needed an accord, she was an ear when I needed to vent, and she was blunt when giving me the realities of my case. Ms. Baniowski won't sugar-coat things for you and I appreciated that quality in her. Her job is to educate and advise you -- I knew at the end of the day, she's working for me and is on my side, even if she was giving me not-so-great news. Keep in mind, as with any attorney, (and I can't emphasize this enough) you need to advocate for yourself, educate yourself, and be a part of the process. Yes, you will incur more costs for that frequent two-way communication with an attorney, but you'll have a better outcome (and save money) in the long run. That means dig around, keep meticulous records, research Virginia's divorce laws yourself, and know your case better than anyone else. Get involved. Arm yourself with knowledge. Ms. Baniowski will tell you the things that apply to your case. There were times that she told me certain aspects were not relevant, but there were also a few things I discovered and passed on to her that benefitted my case greatly. You need to anticipate your ex's next move and prepare for it in advance; Ms. Baniowski's role in that regard is limited. Again, be an active participant in your Family Law team. I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge her amazing paralegals. Ms. Baniowski switched paralegals three times during the span of my case. Neither Ms. Baniowski nor any of her paralegals (Isabella Baldanza, Anastasia Richter, and Bethny Scheuerman) missed a beat. The transitions were seamless, and it was as if her paralegals had been working my case the whole time. In fact, the whole Livesay & Myers team is incredibly responsive. Ms. Baniowski is awesome and I'd definitely recommend her to anyone who has a Family Law situation that needs resolution. I can attest: the hourly rate has ZERO correlation to results; i.e. a higher-priced attorney isn't necessarily a better attorney. In fact, I believe whole-heartedly that the divorce agreement I struck with my ex-wife heavily favors me. Moreover, my ex-wife's attorney's aggressiveness and propensity for risk-taking ultimately cost her (easily) $10,000 as a result of his missteps. More expensive doesn't buy you better. Now, stop reading this review and contact her! * Disclaimer: I have no personal connection to disclose regarding my relationship with Ms. Baniowski or any of her paralegals other than I retained her for (and she represented me in) my divorce.

Ariel Baniowski has done an outstanding job in representing me with professional legal guidance, support and strategy during my custody and child support hearings, concerning my infant daughter. While I originally sought an attorney that was a similar to Jack McCoy – style “Bull in the china shop”, Ariel proved to be different, but much preferred, to what I thought I wanted. She possessed the ability to not only listen to what I wanted, but integrate my desires into a coherent and sound legal strategy that provided me a with better result than first anticipated. She was both candid and forthright throughout the process, which allowed me to anticipate and understand the legal process and what was in store for me. I highly recommend Ariel (as I call her), because not only does she care about your desires and what’s best for your child(ren), she can stand her ground against opposing counsel. Livesay and Myers is a warm and inviting firm where you can feel that the entire staff from the receptionist to the paralegal is committed to helping you through your ordeal.