Christine’s practice in family law is shaped by her passion and ability to meet people where they are and assist them through some of the most challenging times in their lives. Christine has skillfully represented her clients through a wide range of family law matters involving divorce, contentious custody and timesharing disputes, complex property division at all economic strata, child and spousal support, modifications, and enforcement matters. 

Christine approaches each case with compassion and zealous advocacy aimed at achieving the best outcome possible considering the unique circumstances and dynamics of each family situation. Christine values and encourages a collaborative approach in cases involving children. Having personal knowledge of the trauma experienced by children in high conflict divorce proceedings, and the long-term effects on co-parenting and parent-child relationships, Christine generally believes that reaching an amicable resolution where the parents decide the arrangements, rather than the court, gives the parties the best opportunity to transition their lives in a healthy manner, preserve positive parent-child relationships, and cultivate an environment that promotes cooperative coparenting. However, the collaborative approach may not be appropriate in every case, and negotiation does not always lead to settlement. Every family is different, and therefore, every case is different. Whether her client’s goal is settlement, or the case must proceed to trial, Christine’s litigation skills and legal acumen make her a fierce advocate in court, and the attorney you want on your side.

Christine brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her practice of family law, garnered from her years of work, first in real estate financing, then in the federal government in support of U.S. foreign policy, national security, and diplomacy on multiple continents, while raising two children as a military spouse. Her multi-cultural, federal service, and diplomat experience gives her a particular understanding of the unique challenges facing military and foreign service families living in the U.S. and abroad.    

She has years of experience in working with child and family psychologists, and has handled numerous cases requiring psychological and/or custody evaluations. Christine also brings to her practice specialized knowledge and experience of the intersection of domestic relations and mental health challenges. Her study of psychopathology and maladaptive behaviors at the Master’s-level, combined with years of experience assisting others with a wide range of behavioral and mental health challenges, gives her a particular sensibility and understanding of mental health issues often present in family law cases.

Christine’s compassion for people extends to her pro bono activities as a former attorney in post-conviction relief matters with the Ohio Justice and Policy Center and its de-carceration project, Beyond Guilt, where her brief successfully resulted in a rare reversal of a conviction of an incarcerated woman. She has also volunteered her time assisting formerly incarcerated individuals with their reentry into society.

Prior to focusing her career in family law, Christine served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Richard E. Gardiner and the Honorable Randy I. Bellows at the Fairfax Circuit Court of Virginia. 

Christine graduated magna cum laude from Hawaii Pacific University with a B.A. in Business Administration. She received her J.D., with cum laude honors, along with a certificate in Human Rights and Global Justice Studies, from Florida A&M College of Law. Christine is admitted to practice law by the District of Columbia and the Virginia State Bar.

Professional Memberships and Organizations:

• District of Columbia Bar
• Virginia State Bar
• Fairfax Bar Association
• Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
• International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP)
• Virginia Collaborative Professionals (VaCP)
• Collaborative Professionals of Northern Virginia (CPNV)
• Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC)