I believe in a problem solving approach to family law cases.
Carolyn 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.
Consistently named a ‘Best Lawyer’ (from 2014-2022), Ms. Grimes has also been honored as an AV Preeminent (2001-2022) and Gold Client Champion (2019-2021) by Martindale-Hubbell. In addition, she’s been named a Top Lawyer by Northern Virginia Magazine Magazine (2011, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021), a Top Attorney by Arlington Magazine (2019-2021), and a Top Attorney by Washingtonian Magazine (2015) as well as many other top attorney designations— see full list below. 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.
In addition to traditional settlement and litigation practices, Ms. Grimes also practices in the area of collaborative law. Collaborative law is a process of alternative dispute resolution designed to keep the parties out of court. Counsel who have been trained in the collaborative law process and other professionals, such as financial professionals and custody experts, engage in a series of meetings with the clients designed to develop creative solutions to the issues in a divorce and agree on peaceful, practical solutions. Ms. Grimes has been trained in the collaborative model since 2006 and practices in this model as well as more traditional settlement or litigation models. She is also a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP).
Ms. Grimes is also a mediator and can act as the neutral mediator for both parties. Mediation is also an alternative dispute resolution process designed to have parties agree outside of court proceedings. If you are interested in using Ms. Grimes as a mediator, please contact our office. One party may initiate the contact to set up the appointment but as a mediator, she needs to meet with both parties together for the mediation process.
Practice areas
30 years
30 years
30 years
30 years
18 years
Wade, Grimes, Friedman, Meinken, & Leischner PLLC
500 Montgomery St.Suite 575
Alexandria, VA, 22314
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
VA | Authorized to Practice Law | 1991 | 07/02/2022 |
Legal answers | 72 |
Legal guides | 0 |
Award name | Grantor | Date Granted |
---|---|---|
AV Preeminent | Martindale-Hubbell | 2022 |
AV Judicial Edition Preeminent | Martindale-Hubbell | 2022 |
Top Attorney | Arlington Magazine | 2021 |
Client Champion Silver Award | Martindale-Hubbell | 2021 |
AV Judicial Edition Preeminent | Martindale-Hubbell | 2021 |
Client Champion | Martindale-Hubbell | 2021 |
Top Attorney | Arlington Magazine | 2020 |
Client Champion | Martindale-Hubbell | 2020 |
Best Lawyers VA | US News & World Report | 2019 |
Top Attorney | Arlington Magazine | 2019 |
Client Champion | Martindale-Hubbell | 2019 |
Super Lawyers VA | Super Lawyers | 2019 |
Virginia's Legal Elite | Virginia Business Magazine | 2019 |
Top Lawyers | Washingtonian Magazine | 2015 |
Super Lawyers VA | Super Lawyers | 2015 |
Super Lawyer Virginia | Super Lawyers Magazine | 2014 |
SuperLawyer- Virginia | SuperLawyers | 2014 |
Leaders in the Law | Virginia Lawyers Weekly | 2011 |
SuperLawyers | SuperLawyes | 2010 |
Superlawyer | SuperLawyer | 2009 |
SuperLawyer | SuperLawyer | 2008 |
SuperLawyer | Superlawyer | 2007 |
Local Bar Leader of the Year | Virginia State Bar | 2006 |
Pro Bono Attorney of the Year, Alexandria | Legal Services of Northern Virginia | 2001 |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Managing Member | Wade,Grimes, Friedman, Meinken & Leischner, PLLC | 2015 - Present |
Partner | Lieblich & Grimes, PC | 1992 - 2015 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Legal Services of Northern Virginia | Director, Past President | 2004 - Present |
Collaborative Practice of Northern Virginia | Member | 2003 - Present |
Virginia Bar Association | Member | 1997 - Present |
Northern Virginia Women's Attorney Association | member | 1993 - Present |
Alexandria Bar Association | Member | 1992 - Present |
Fairfax Bar Association | Member | 1992 - Present |
Virginia State Bar | Member | 1991 - Present |
Virginia State Bar | Bar Council, Member | 2011 - 2017 |
Publication name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Aspatore Books, Thompson Reuters | Inside the Minds: Strategy for Military Family Law | 2014 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
Georgetown University Law Center | graduate certificate | 2000 |
George Mason University School of Law | JD - Juris Doctor | 1991 |
Johns Hopkins University | BA - Bachelor of Arts | 1985 |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
State Bar Conference | Updates to Family Law | 2015 |
Family Law CLE | Retirement Issues | 2015 |
Virgina State Bar Fee Dispute Seminar | Fee Dispute | 2012 |
Annual Family Law | Non-Traditional Family Issues | 2011 |
Advanced Topics in Family Law | Retirement Issues in Family Law | 2004 |
Virginia Family Law | Child Custody | 2000 |
Case name | Outcome |
---|---|
Nkopchieu v. Minlend, 59 Va. App 229 (2011) | Trial Court reversed. |
Posted by Sreelakshmi
August 9, 2019
Posted by Olivia
February 28, 2018
Posted by Jonathan
February 15, 2016
Posted by Kim
June 27, 2012
Donne Colton, Divorce and separation Attorney on Mar 6, 2017
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
I am happy to endorse this lawyer. Carolyn is smart and experienced, easy to work with and good in court. I've worked with her for over 20 years and she's one of the best.
Carolyn Abbate, Family Attorney on Jul 27, 2016
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
I endorse this lawyer. Carolyn is well versed in the law and zealously represents her clients, but is always willing to sit down and work to resolve a case.
Donne Colton, Divorce and separation Attorney on Mar 6, 2017
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
I am happy to endorse this lawyer. Carolyn is smart and experienced, easy to work with and good in court. I've worked with her for over 20 years and she's one of the best.
Carolyn Abbate, Family Attorney on Jul 27, 2016
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
I endorse this lawyer. Carolyn is well versed in the law and zealously represents her clients, but is always willing to sit down and work to resolve a case.
Christopher Schinstock, Family Attorney on Jul 15, 2016
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
I endorse this lawyer.
Deborah Arthur, Family Attorney on Nov 18, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
John Crouch, Family Attorney on Nov 13, 2012
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
I endorse this lawyer.
Bryce Fetter, Child support Attorney on Oct 24, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Jennifer Mandell, Family Attorney on Nov 15, 2011
Relationship: Worked together on matter
Carolyn served as the neutral case evaluator in a complex divorce I handled several years ago in Northern Virginia. She was extremely knowledgeable on all the issues involved in our case and was very helpful in bringing the parties to an agreed resolution of their property and support matters. I endorse this lawyer.
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