I cannot say enough incredible things about Shirley Chim at Safi, Duran & Chim. I came to work with…read moreher after reaching out to the Lawyer Referral Service through the Fairfax Bar Association, and I truly am so grateful for the chance referral that has led to top-notch representation since I first met her around May 2024. Through a protective order hearing, emergency hearings, a full day trial, and two settlements, Shirley always made me feel heard and has helped me see the bigger picture of the long-term. She is a mother of three herself and very attuned to concerns that mothers have, particularly when dealing with substance abuse and high-conflict individuals. I worked with three other attorneys prior to her in my custody matters involving my children, and I am truly blown away by her knowledge, empathy, and commitment to her clients. The difference in representation was immediately clear to me. Whether it was in Arlington or Fairfax, JDR or circuit court, Shirley has always gone above and beyond for me in two intertwined and complex custody cases. Shirley is exceptionally well-versed in family law and understands not only the legal framework, but the strategy behind it. She is thoughtful, thorough, and incredibly prepared. What sets her apart, though, is her ability to combine sharp legal skill with genuine compassion. She listens carefully, validates concerns, and then goes above and beyond to advocate effectively. Throughout my cases, I felt supported, informed, and confident that I had someone in my corner who truly cared about achieving the best possible outcome for my children. Her work ethic and attention to detail are unmatched. If you are navigating a complex custody situation and want an attorney who is brilliant, strategic, and deeply dedicated to her clients, I highly recommend Shirley.

I've heard horror stories about lawyers who disappear the second you pay a retainer, but Shirley is…read morethe exact opposite. From day one, her responsiveness and accessibility were incredible. Divorce and custody battles are inherently stressful, but never once did I feel like I was navigating the Virginia court system alone. Shirley is incredibly sharp and doesn't waste time on fluff. She gave me realistic expectations right out of the gate, telling me exactly what was achievable rather than just telling me what I wanted to hear. That upfront honesty saved me a massive amount of time, money, and unnecessary anxiety. When it came to litigation and dealing with opposing counsel, she was an absolute powerhouse. She was able to see what I wasn't able to and her attention to detail in our discovery and filings was so helpful. She cuts right to the heart of the matter, and protects your interests without dragging out the drama. If you want an attorney who is highly efficient, completely transparent, and executes a case with total precision, Shirley is the only person you should call. She wrapped up a brutal chapter of my life with an excellent result, and I cannot thank her enough.

I initially met Lindsay Hendrix when my original attorney was unavailable to represent me in court…read moreto file a Protective Order against my now ex-husband. Within 5 minutes of our initial meeting, I knew that she would be the best attorney to represent me moving forward and I immediately changed my representation. Lindsay was my absolute saving grace during a very difficult and extremely complex divorce and continues to provide stellar legal guidance. She is incredible. She is always responsive and attentive and always makes me feel like I am her only client when I know that she is extremely busy managing multiple clients and her own busy personal life. She is a strong, intelligent, and confident woman. She is professional, compassionate, and hardworking. My kids and I would not be where we are today without her guidance and expertise. I am truly grateful for her. I highly recommend Lindsay Hendrix as a loyal, honorable, and amazing attorney. I will forever be grateful to her for all she has done, and continues to do, for my kids and I. She is the best.

Charge for consultation when most are free then wanted to discuss fees. I specifically asked for a…read morepro bono lawyer

Mrs. Michele Burton is an exceptional attorney and litigator, but what truly sets her apart is her…read morecharacter. She is humble, empathetic, ethical, patient, and genuinely cares about her clients. Throughout our experience, we felt heard, respected, and well-represented. Her legal expertise, thoughtful guidance, and steady support made a difficult process much easier to navigate. Our family is incredibly grateful that we found her and would recommend her without hesitation.

I'm writing to share my highly unsatisfactory experience with Michelle Burton, a lawyer who…read morerepresented me in two custody cases. Her representation was consistently ineffective and communication was a significant issue. I felt my case lacked proper attention and proactive support, ultimately leading to a sense that my financial investment yielded no real value or clarity. Based on my experiences, I strongly advise against retaining her services.

The circuit court of Virginia determined that my lawyer, Kevin Jaros' billing was unreasonable…read more My lemon law case was settled out of court in my favor, but the defendants refused to pay my legal bills, claiming they included unnecessary and excessive activities, block billing and administrative tasks charged at senior lawyer rates. The case for the legal fees went to a Circuit Court of Virginia hearing My lawyer decided not to attend and instead sent a junior partner, Bret Giaimo, whose hands were visibly shaking and voice kept breaking up with nerves. Judge Stoney was clearly not satisfied with the Giaimo's explanation for Jaros' billing practices and awarded me only 70% of my costs as reasonable, leaving me over $11,000 out of pocket. When I asked Jaros to amend his billing to better reflect what the judge determined as reasonable, he refused. Even when I asked him to split the difference he flatly refused. To add insult to inquiry, after the court hearing Jaros sent me a long email telling me that I should look at this as a victory because the defendants were not happy with the amount they had to pay out . He then billed me a further $113 for the 'pleasure' of his email. Overall, I was billed more than $40,000 and was awarded $29,000 by the court as reasonable fees. I reached out to their CEO, Paul Abraham, but he didn't bother to reply. USE THIS COMPANY AT YOUR PERIL!!! *Sort reviews by lowest and you'll get the true picture

Justine impressed us with her estate planning knowledge and her kind, professional demeanor made…read moresigning up an easy decision. The pricing is very fair. Very organized and supportive front desk help, too.

PJI Law is fantastic to work with. They were very patient and answered all of our questions. They…read morewalked us through the whole process and offered guidance to help us feel at ease with our decision making.

A difficult & abused feeling experience with this firm…read more I needed legal help to process the estate of my deceased mother. I ended up wasting six months and about $4K, paid in fees, with no outcome with Geller Law. I was first requested to have a mandatory paid initial consultation session to go over my legal help needed. I was introduced to Julie S. during this session. After describing my specific case & needs, she informed me that Geller Law can handle my case. What followed was months of emotional stress & redundant conversations with the staff of this firm that yielded no results. It became clear to me that they didn't know how to legally handle my case. Some staff members were argumentative & appeared trying to take advantage of this emotional situation for me. There were redundant conversations that I was later billed for. I concluded that this firm is not the choice that can handle my case professionally. I terminated my work with them. The new law firm I selected to handle my case turned out to be more knowledgeable for my case. And, more compassionate with me. The process was handled smoothly & professionally to completion.

Mr. Robert Miller was a great guide. Frank Papa who handled my case directly is a 5 star World…read moreclass Attorney. You continue to follow through and help me well past the engagement. I could not recommend the Geller firm or Frank Papa more highly

Top notch firm, hands down. Did my company's incorporation, trademark, and NDA documents. Consult…read morethem when we have a contract, especially with tricky IP clauses. When we want the best, we go to them. Heard fantastic things from those in my circle about other practices within the firm, but mine experience is with the IP and business group.

I would strongly suggest staying away from this law firm. I spent a year working with them and had…read morewhat I believe to be false promises and radically high billing throughout the entire process. In the end they delivered less than I ever would have expected and I could not be more disappointed.

I was looking for an attorney when I came across EmClara Law and Ms. Melissa Bright, Esq. on Yelp…read more She actually came up as one of the top 10 attorneys in the area, so I decided to take a chance and give her a call. I was pleasantly surprised when she answered the phone herself. I explained my situation to her, and she spoke to me as a human being first, before even treating me as a client. I'm a newer entrepreneur building my business, so I really appreciated that Ms. Bright works with entrepreneurs who are in the early stages of their journey. I was dealing with a contract that I needed legal advice on, and she helped me take a step back and separate my emotions from the situation so I could make a more informed decision. She was incredibly pleasant, understanding, honest, and real throughout our conversation, and that conversation gave me the clarity I needed to take the next step. I also really love that EmClara Law is a woman-owned firm. As a newer entrepreneur, I found Ms. Bright's extensive experience working across big law, tech startups, and global corporations especially valuable. Her background gave her a perspective that felt very relevant to the situation I was navigating, and I really appreciated the knowledge and guidance she brought to our conversation. I would definitely work with Melissa Bright, Esq. again in the future for any legal matters concerning my business. I truly appreciate having someone like her in my corner as I continue on this journey. I highly recommend reaching out to her if you're an entrepreneur looking for an attorney who will take the time to listen, understand your situation, and give you honest guidance.

I went to Emclara for a legal matter and was very happy with how they handled my case and the…read moreoutcome. Ms. Bright was the lawyer who handled my case, and she was professional, gave me detailed explanation, and executed the law well. She even received a public accolade from the Judge for her preparation and knowledge of the law during a motions hearing. I recommended Emclara to 2 of my friends/family, and they were also happy with their interaction with this law firm. I recommend Emclara and would not hesitate to use them again.