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For twenty years, I was a tough, no-nonsense litigator. I thought that was the only way a lawyer can be if he wanted to serve his clients best. Then I was involved in a long divorce case that changed everything. During that case, I saw how destructive litigation is for families. It was destroying the kids. It made the spouses even more antagonistic. It created long-term damage for everyone involved. After the battle ended, the family lost everything. It just felt wrong.

During the trial, I was introduced to the collaborative divorce process. I appreciate how the collaborative model makes it so much easier for families to resolve problems. I still get excited by the incredible synergy created by team members and clients. There’s more creativity, more focus on solving problems. I love seeing how clients really accept that they can solve their issues together, that the issues aren’t too big for them.

With collaborative divorce, solutions don’t always come from the law. They come from creativity. I appreciate that every family requires different solutions. And I am stunningly inspired by other professionals in how their creative views overtake the problems.

I think I genuinely help women reach a truly positive outcome with their husbands. I know their families benefit from the experience. Spouses learn to communicate, work out problems, and have better relationships with their children. All great short and long term outcomes.

What you should know about Charlie:

Since law school, Charlie has fought for women’s rights. He advocated for the acceptance of women to Washington and Lee Law School. He advocated for the first women’s basketball scholarship grants at Old Dominion University. As General Counsel for the Democratic Party of Virginia, he vigorously supported women’s and minority rights.

Charlie created a local public education seminar titled “What Women Need to Know about Divorce.” He teaches it every month(since 1992) to protect women through education.

Charlie has vigourously advocated for women concerning:

• Domestic relations
• Divorce trials and appeals
• Complex equitable distribution
• Post judgment modification and enforcement
• Custody
• Domestic violence
• Child sexual abuse