I've been a divorce lawyer for a little over ten years now, long enough now to recognize when other lawyers are making empty promises. When a lawyer promises the sun, the moon and the stars, client expectations can get unrealistic. This can serve to encourage unnecessary litigation, as a client may perceive a reasonable settlement offer to be anything but.

I've always been committed to delivering a frank and honest appraisal of a case, one that's not sugar-coated or embellished. Yes, sometimes the information is not going to be enthusiastically received - but I am not interested in pumping up my clients with unrealistic expectations. For me, it's about positioning my client for the best and most workable outcome.

Some of my views are definitely shaped by my personal experience. I've confronted many of the same issues myself, so I am better able to empathize than many lawyers. I've been a stay-at-home parent, and a sole-breadwinner as well.

I think that experience has given me broader skills, and the ability to help my clients in ways other lawyers don't. I communicate ways that fathers can stay involved in their children's lives, for instance. And I discuss constructive ways for ex- or soon-to-be-ex spouses to communicate. In that respect, my work is all about moving a case forward, not simply reacting with a memo or letter to what the other side does.

I grew up in Michigan, but I've come to love Northern Virginia and the Washington area: It's a dynamic, competitive and culturally rich environment. It offers everything. Many here are well educated and sophisticated. That all makes my work more rewarding.

When Jerry Curran asked me to join him in launching our firm, I really didn't hesitate. I am honored to be part of this team and have found building our practice to be very rewarding. Jerry is at the top of his game, and the rest of the bar recognizes that.

My practice is not all litigation, however. I do take on collaborative-law cases, which is to say the parties agree in advance that they will not go to court. If one party decides to drop out of the process and go to court, both lawyers have to withdraw, and that's usually in no one's interest - but that rarely occurs.

In fact, even in litigation most of my cases - more than 90% -- don't reach a final hearing or judgment by the court. They are settled - because we worked to arrive at a workable and durable agreement.

I am most proud of the fact that I receive a lot of referrals from prior clients. I think they appreciate that I address their concerns and that I deliver a lot of value in the services I provide.

I love what I do, and I love doing it in the new environment Jerry and I have created. At the end of the day it's very rewarding that my work has a positive impact on my client's lives.