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Brian M. Hirsch
Brian M. Hirsch
Contact
Practice Areas
- Family Law
- Divorce
- Separation Agreements
- Child Custody
- Child Support
- Spousal Support/Alimony
- Property Division
- Pre/Post-Nuptial Agreements
- Divorce Mediation
Biography
Brian has been a divorce attorney litigating and settling cases in Northern Virginia since 1985 and is certified by the Virginia Supreme Court in Family Mediation. He is listed in "The Best Lawyers in America", Washingtonian magazine's Top Divorce Lawyers, Northern Virginia magazine's Top Divorce Lawyers and Virginia Business magazine's "Legal Elite".
He was the editor of the Virginia Family Law Quarterly, the official publication of the Family Law Section of the Virginia State Bar. Brian is a past Chair of the Virginia State Bar Family Law Section Board of Governors. He has been a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers since 2004. He is also a current member of the Virginia Bar Association Family Law Coalition and served on the Virginia State Bar Fifth District Disciplinary Committee.
Education
- American University, Washington College of Law, Washington, District of Columbia
- J.D. – 1985
- Pennsylvania State University
- B.A., Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) – 1982
- B.A., Bachelor of Arts (Religious Studies) – 1982
- Honors: magna cum laude
- Honors: Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society
Professional Associations
- Virginia State Bar, Family Law Section, Board of Governors, Past Chair
- Virginia Bar Association Family Law Coalition – Past Member
- Virginia State Bar, Fifth District Disciplinary Committee
- Fairfax County Circuit Court, Commissioner in Chancery
- Virginia Bar Association Family Law Coalition
- Loudoun Bar Association
Honors
- Best Lawyers In America, Family Law Mediation; 2007 – 2026
- Best Lawyers In America, Family Law; 2007 – 2026
- Virginia Super Lawyers; 2006 – 2026
- Best Lawyers In America, Lawyer Of They Year, Family Law Mediation, Washington, D.C.; 2025
- Fellow, Virginia Law Foundation, 2023
- Top Divorce Lawyers, Washingtonian Magazine
- Top Divorce Lawyers, Northern Virginia Magazine
- Legal Elite, Virginia Business Magazine
Awards
- Virginia State Bar Family Law Section Betty Thompson Lifetime Achievement Award (2026)
- Virginia Lawyers Hall of Fame (Class of 2022) from Virginia Lawyers Weekly
- Virginia State Bar Family Law Section Service Award (2020)
- Leaders in the Law Award from Virginia Lawyers Weekly (2017)
Published Works
Books:
Articles:
- Brian M. Hirsch, Virginia’s New Child Support Guidelines, Virginia Family Law Quarterly, Vol. 45, No. 3 (2025)
- Brian M. Hirsch and Lynn E. Hawkins, The Case for Using Lawyer-Mediators in Family Law, Virginia Family Law Quarterly, Vol. 43, No. 3 (2023)
- Brian M. Hirsch, Term Sheet or Bust, Legal and Practical Implications of Term Sheets in Mediation, Virginia Family Law Quarterly, Vol. No. 37, Number 4, 2017
- Brian M. Hirsch, Unfaithfully Yours: Re-Examining Adultery as a Bar to Spousal Support, Virginia Lawyer, Volume 66, Number 1, 2017
- Brian M. Hirsch, Settlement or Bust! Ethical Implications of Late Night Settlements, Family Law News, Volume 31, Number 4, 2011
- Brian M. Hirsch, Just be Quiet, Virginia Lawyer, Volume 59, Number 3, 2010
- Brian M. Hirsch, Maximizing Your Chances of a Fee Award in a Family Law Case, Family Law News, Volume 30, Number 2, 2010
- Brian M. Hirsch, Assessing “Manifest Injustice” in Spousal Support Cases: Playing the Blame Game, Virginia Lawyer, Volume 55, Number 7, 2007
- Betty A. Thompson and Brian M. Hirsch, A New Tool for the Divorce Lawyer: Using the Attorney Lien to Get Paid, Family Law News, Volume 26, Number 3, 2006
- Brian M. Hirsch, You Bet Your Spouse’s Life: Examining Virginia’s Position on Life Insurance in Divorce, Virginia Lawyer, Volume 53, Number 7, 2005
- Brian M. Hirsch and William C. Wood, Monitoring Mediation: Identifying and Monitoring Uncertified Mediators in Virginia, Family Law News, Volume 23, Number 3, 2003
Classes & Seminars
- Family Law Mediation: Improving Outcomes. (April 2024, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed. Foundation)
- “Burdensome” Issues In Equitable Distribution Cases: Determining Burdens and Standards of Proof, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed. Foundation, 2023
- Practical Advice: Evidence in Family Law Practice, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed. Foundation, 2022
- Navigating Resist/Refuse Custody Cases, Fairfax Bar Association Annual Conference, 2022
- Assisting Our Community: Neighborhood Outreach Program Training – Family Law, Northern Virginia Pro Bono Center, 2021
- Where Should I Bring My Case? Strategic Considerations When There are Jurisdiction Options in Family Law Cases, Fairfax Bar Association, 2020
- Resist/Refuse Custody Cases: When Children Won’t Go with a Parent, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed. Foundation, 2019 to Present
- Avoiding, Bringing and Defending Rules to Show Cause, Fairfax Bar Association, 2018 to Present
- Mixed Custody Child Support Guidelines, Loudoun Bar Association, 2018 to Present
- Difficult Clients and Counsel in High-Conflict Cases: Being Ethical and Effective, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed. Foundation, 2018 to Present
- The Gray Divorce: Divorcing Later in Life, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed. Foundation, 2017 to Present
- Family Law Legislative and Case Law Update, Fairfax Bar Association, 2016 to Present
- Trial Preparation and Presentation of Child Custody Cases, Northern Virginia Pro Bono Center, 2016 to Present
- Difficult Clients and Counsel in High Conflict Cases: Being Ethical and Effective, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed. Foundation, 2015 to Present
- Navigating the High Conflict Divorce, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed. Foundation, 2014 to Present
- Getting to Yes, Fairfax Bar Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, 2014 to Present
- Everything You Wanted to Know About Child Support, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, 2013 to Present
- Examining the Trend Toward Shared Custody, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed. Foundation, 2011 to Present
- Divorce, Foreclosure and Bankruptcy, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed. Foundation, 2011 to Present
- Practicing Family Law at the Intersection of Divorce and Religion, Virginia Women Attorneys Assoc. and Fairfax Bar Association, 2010 to Present
- Anatomy of a Spousal Support Hearing, Virginia Trial Lawyers Assoc., 2010 to Present
- Spousal Support Trial Strategies, Fairfax Bar Association, 2009 to Present
- Equitable Distribution in a Recession, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed. Foundation, 2009 to Present
- Evidentiary Issues and Objections in Family Law Cases, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed. Foundation, 2008 to Present
- 23rd Annual Advanced Family Law Seminar, Moderator, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed. Foundation, 2007 to Present
- The Evolving Role of Fault in Virginia (with Patrick McConnell), Virginia Continuing Legal Ed. Foundation, 2006 to Present
- Ethical Concerns in Dealing with Difficult Clients and Opposing Counsel, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed. Foundation, 2005 to Present
- So You Thought You Could Avoid Family Law, Virginia State Bar, 2004 to Present
- Family Law Discovery, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed. Foundation, 2004 to Present
- Managing Equitable Distribution Cases, Half Moon Enterprises, 2003 to Present
- Relocation Custody Cases, Fairfax Bar Association, 2002 to Present
- Division of Stock Options in Divorce, Fairfax Bar Association, 2001 to Present
- Rehabilitative Alimony, Fairfax Bar Association, 2000 to Present
Certified Legal Specialties
- Family Mediation, Virginia Supreme Court
Bar Admissions
- Virginia, 1985