Melissa Suzanne Vanzile

Melissa has represented me before, during, and after my complex and contentious divorce case from an abusive ex spouse. She is professional, prompt, organized, and detailed and always advises and explains options and possible outcomes. In numerous court hearings (including custody, property divisio...n, appeals, support) she has been a skilled, poised and effective litigator, fighting for the best possible outcome for me and my child despite the complexity of the situation and numerous changes in counsel for the opposing party. Compassionate, consistent, and professional, I highly recommend Melissa.

Well, I am at my one year anniversary of my divorce finalizing so I thought I would give my feedback with respect to my experience with Ms. Vanzile for other folks to consider. For reflection, I had a very contentious divorce negotiation with the opposing counsel, with OC trying to do her best to re...present her client by overstating just about everything possible. We actually came to an agreement in a settlement meeting then several months later OC wanted to renegotiate. Melissa helped me stick pretty much to the original agreement (through much adversity). Importantly, with Melissa’s advice we were always negotiating from the high ground. The things that stood out as the starkest contrast between Ms. Vanzile and OC was her promptness in everything, her professionalism and her attention to detail. For example, Ms. Vanzile would make time to call me between 15 minute breaks while she was in court to help advise me on next steps. This resulted in our turn-around time averaging a few days, while OC took anywhere between 2 weeks and 5 months. During the period OC was not responding Ms. Vanzile continuously sent inquiries. On professionalism, I couldn’t have felt more appropriately represented. The tenor of Ms. Vanzile’s correspondence to OC was always professional and decidedly neutral in tone. In contrast, OC’s correspondence frankly sounded like a junior high student airing grievances and trying to be contentious. As a professional myself, I greatly value timeliness in correspondence. I was honestly shocked with the speed with which Ms. Vanzile turned around the various documents and correspondences. The lawyers in my company with whom I work never display the same alacrity that is for sure. (This is really important when you are going through a stressful divorce). Finally, the absolute most important thing Ms. Vanzile did was strategically word the PSA in order to maintain my ability to have freedom of choice with respect to my children’s lives. This was of utmost importance to me. In the past year this attention to detail has already born fruit and limited my exposure to requests for additional spending on my part. She ensured that I didn’t get “put into a corner” based on the the wording of the PSA. This made sure I didn’t get put into a situation where the wording in the PSA made it so that I didn’t have a say in various things related to our children. Again, issues have already come up in the past year and I am able to simply point to the PSA and say, “that is not what we agreed to in the PSA”. Really, couldn’t have asked for more.

I used this attorney to represent me during my child support case. She gave me high hopes for my prospects in the case yet I received the worst outcome possible. I could have achieved that same outcome by representing myself and at least I wouldn't have owed attorney fees on top of my costs. The t...hings she indicated would happen in the courtroom went differently than she described to me beforehand and she asked questions during the proceedings that even I would not have asked - and I have no knowledge of the law. I would stay away from this attorney.

Melissa VanZile, and the Hall and Hall firm as a whole, are spectacular family law practicioners. I used them for a bitter divorce and custody battle that stretched out for more than a year. They fought very hard for my case, kept me well infomred, and were extrememly detail oriented and well prepare...d when we ended up in the courtroom. Melissa showed great compassion, extrememly good argument skills, and her paralegal, Katja Ross, was an incredible resource in keeping my case organized, keeping me up to date, and ensuring that all details of my case were handled. I highly recommend this firm to all of my friends and collegues--and my friends who have taken those referrals have been pelased as well. They were able to walk me through a very complex and contentious case and fought for a positive outcome for me and my children.