Christopher Francis Malinowski

Christopher Francis Malinowski

also known as Chris Malinowski

5.0
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 25 years

Family Lawyer at Fairfax, VA
Practice Areas: Family, Divorce & Separation, Child Custody, Child Support

12150 Monument Drive, Suite 650, Fairfax, VA

About Christopher

Biography

Practice Areas

4

Practice Areas

Child Custody 25%

Mr. Malinowski is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and recognized in "Best Lawyers in America" for his dedication to family law, with a passion for helping clients with child custody or visitation matters.

26 years

25%
Child Support 25%

26 years

25%
Divorce and Separation 25%

Mr. Malinowski has extensive experience handling complex and difficult divorce matters, and is recognized by his peers as an outstanding divorce lawyer who maintains the highest standards for his profession.

26 years

25%
Family 25%

Mr. Malinowski's practice is solely focused on family law issues. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and is recognized for his courtroom advocacy, skill, and experience in all areas of family law.

26 years

25%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer


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Licenses

Licensed in Virginia for 25 years

State: Virginia

Acquired: 2000

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Malinowski Hubbard, PLLC

12150 Monument Drive, Suite 650, Fairfax, VA, 22033

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Christopher Francis Malinowski's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

5 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (5) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 5 of 5 reviews

Posted by skdoshi25 | March 04, 2025 | Hired Attorney | Family

Highly recommend

Highly recommend Chris Malinowski and his firm. I sought their help on a family matter and was provided with sound and honest advice right from the initial consult. Chris listened to and guided me thoroughly to minimize back and forth. The entire team, especially the paralegals is sharp, caring and r...esponsive resulting in super quick turnarounds.

Posted by anonymous | September 05, 2024 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation

Solid Divorce Attorney

Like most of us, I met multiple lawyers prior to selecting one to handle my divorce and custody of three children. I knew it would be contentious and needed someone willing to take on the fight and unexpected allegations. From the day I met Chris, I knew he was the right personality. His calm deme...anor portrays a confidence necessary in the court room and handling complex negotiations with OC. I unfortunately had the pleasure of not one, but two instances of trial prep in Chris's office and really appreciated the thoroughness of his preparation and the inclusion of his staff. I genuinely feel I benefited from the full team environment at the firm, I needed the support and persistent follow-up! I ended up being sued twice and each time Chris handled it with complete professionalism, maturity and assurance knowing exactly how to handle each situation. Most importantly, I always felt I could tell Chris exactly how I was feeling and he did the same for me. There were no pretenses, which I find important in a client-attorney relationship. This helped when we were thrown the proverbial 'curve-ball' and had to respond often on the stand with no advance warning. His trial preparation was impressive and ability to favorably negotiate vital for my situation. In short, Chris and his team were outstanding and I hope to never see them again in court :-)

Posted by Marlen | October 11, 2021 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation

Great lawyer

I met with several lawyers before my initial consultation with Chris Malinowski but was impressed with him and the organization of his firm. Before the appointment, Greg sent me forms, and Chris had read them before we met and was already familiar with the situation and had a game plan. They provided... a folder with information and guidelines to follow (i.e., social media, deadlines on documentation, how to fill out the documents, what to gather, etc.) My ex-husband retained an aggressive lawyer (a young Better Call Saul type) who was pushy from the beginning, and Chris was professional but firm in all his responses. Chris has an aggressive style but is tactful in communicating with opposing counsel. His approach was perfect in court for handling someone like my ex-husband (narcissistic traits)- confident demeanor (calm but intimating), the presentation of the questions, and pointing out the inconsistencies in their responses. Despite Chris stating over and over that he has to present all options, I felt safe going in whatever direction he thought was best, and it always worked out well. He seemed to map out all the possible dangers that may come (with realistic expectation), and I felt like he rescued me many times. I would highly recommend Chris and his firm. They made the emotional roller coaster of divorce (with young children and in a pandemic) more bearable with a lawyer who knows what he’s doing, is fair, and will fight to protect my children and me.

Posted by anonymous | March 11, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation

Mr. Malinowski will advocate on your behalf

I retained Christopher Malinowski to represent me in a contested divorce upon a recommendation from a friend who also used Mr. Malinowski in a divorce situation similar to mine. By that point, I had worked with two other lawyers but was not satisfied with progress on my case. Meanwhile, my spouse ret...ained a very expensive and aggressive lawyer who advocated vigorously on his behalf from the beginning. I could tell the difference between my other two lawyers and Mr. Malinowski after my first meeting with Mr. Malinowski. Unlike with my other two lawyers, I did not have to convince Mr. Malinowski to advocate on my behalf. After hearing the details of my case during our first meeting, I could tell that he was sympathetic to my circumstances, was ready to advocate on my behalf, and knew what he was doing. I knew I was in good hands and felt that I finally had a lawyer who could think strategy and was not intimidated by opposing council. Thanks to Mr. Malinowski’s skills and guidance, we were able to avoid litigation while securing a great separation agreement. Mr. Malinowski always listened to my wants and needs while providing a voice of reason and logic when needed. He was flexible and always honored his client’s preferences. He was available via email late at night and on weekends and responded to my questions and concerns in a timely manner. He was always courteous yet firm with the opposing council – an important skill a lawyer must have. He has a fantastic team who do a great job supporting clients. I would highly recommend Mr. Malinowski to anyone who needs a serious, experienced, and non-nonsese professional to advocate on their behalf.

Posted by Gene | February 05, 2015 | Divorce & Separation

Divorce Case

In a difficult divorce situation (like most are), Chris Malinowski had a unique combination of skills. Of course he was extremely competent, knowledgeable and capable in assisting me every step of the way through this life changing situation. But more than that, he had an intuitive, caring nature wh...en answering questions. He was genuine and thoughtful in his responses. His compassion for me as a person, not just me as a client, made him stand out as an exceptional attorney (and person of integrity). Chris' professional demeanor (his ability to maintain a rational, logical perspective when interacting with various people, while remaining calm and in control when negotiating my situation) made a significant impact in how my case was resolved. I recommend him highly.

See All Client Reviews

Christopher Francis Malinowski's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Christopher
Adam Turner Kronfeld headshot
Adam Kronfeld

Child support lawyer | May 02

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I have had the privilege of working with Chris Malinowski on several occasions, with interests both aligned and adverse, and without hesitation I endorse him as an experienced, skillful, knowledgeable, thorough and prudent attorney. Chris is a zealous advocate for his clients, and it is clear that he has their best interests in mind when representing them. I have never known him to take a position that is patently unreasonable or irrational, as some attorneys are prone to do in family law cases, and is focused on obtaining realistic results for his clients. Chris Malinowski comes with the highest recommendation in family law matters."

Albert Michael Bonin headshot
Albert Bonin

Divorce and separation lawyer | May 15

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. One of the most talented and well respected attorney in Northern Virginia."

Larry Henry Bowen headshot
Larry Bowen

Family lawyer | Apr 23

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. I have known Chris for a decade and have had numerous cases with him on the other side. I find him to be among the best of the best."

A. Marie Felsen headshot
A. Felsen

Child custody lawyer | Dec 27

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Malinowski is a great asset to the AVVO community and a great lawyer. I highly endorse him! =)"

View All Endorsements
I. David Horowitz headshot
I. Horowitz

Family lawyer

Adam Turner Kronfeld headshot
Adam Kronfeld

Family lawyer

Albert Michael Bonin headshot
Albert Bonin

Family lawyer

Larry Henry Bowen headshot
Larry Bowen

Divorce and separation lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2015

Best Lawyer, Best Lawyers in America

2014

Super Lawyer, Virginia Super Lawyers

2013

Top Lawyers, Northern Virginia Magazine

2011

Top Lawyers, Northern Virginia Magazine

2009

Top Divorce Lawyer, Northern Virginia Magazine

2008

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

Associations

2014 - Present

Virginia State Bar, Family Law Section

Board of Governors

2010 - Present

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers

Fellow

Education

1999

Thomas M. Cooley Law School

J.D.

Speaking Engagements

2014

Fairfax Bar Association, Family Law Section

UCCJEA, Hague, and PKPA: The Alphabet of Custody Jurisdiction: What Every Attorney Needs to Know or Review

2014

Annual Divorce Practice Seminar

Subject Matter Jurisdiction in Interstate Disputes: How to Avoid a Void Order

2012

31st Annual Family Law Seminar

Modern Families: Do Grandma, Grandpa, or Auntie Ann Have Custody or Visitation Rights?

2008

Annual Paralegal Seminar

Child Support Calculations

2007

Virginia Family Law Practice for Paralegals

Managing Your Equitable Distribution Case

2005

Virginia Family Law Practice for Paralegals

Obtaining and Evaluating Financial Information

Publications

2008

Virginia CLE Negotiating and Drafting Marital Agreements

Languages

English

Avvo Rating

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  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
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Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution