Daniel L. Gray

For over 25 years, I have represented clients in Northern Virginia who need family law assistance.  My goal is to provide vigorous, honest, and thorough representation.

I started this firm with my founding partners in November 2004, and have worked towards becoming the best family law partnership in Virginia.  Since 2004 we have grown to a firm of ten attorneys from various backgrounds.  We are a full-service team ready to handle virtually any Virginia family law issue.

I pride myself on being a client-first attorney.  I try to be a good listener and communicator.  I do my best to be accessible, and I do not keep clients waiting.  Your calls and e-mails are promptly returned.  I do not get rattled or frustrated, no matter the facts of your case or who else is involved.  I look forward to finding the best solution for your case.

While family law issues can seem overwhelming, I take a common sense and practical approach to my cases.  I can explain complex and emotional issues, and offer solutions in a straightforward, easy-to-understand way so you can make important decisions promptly and correctly.

I always try to resolve my cases through negotiation and compromise, but I also know that certain cases must be litigated.  If your case has to go to a judge, I will present it with confidence and authority.  I have litigated issues ranging from complex asset and debt distribution, to calculation of income for support cases, to matters involving closely held corporations and other business entities.  I have also routinely drafted prenuptial and post-nuptial agreements for my clients.

I was born and raised in Northern Virginia, and have been a Virginia resident my entire life.  I clerked for a Fairfax Circuit County Court trial court judge after graduating from the George Mason School of Law.  During my  career, I have routinely appeared in that court and those of the surrounding counties of Northern Virginia, including Arlington, Alexandria, Prince William, and Loudoun.

I have dedicated much of my professional life to improving the practice of family law.  I currently serve as the Chairman of the Virginia Bar Association’s Family Law Coalition, a group of attorneys who propose, track, advocate, and advise on family law bills pending before the Virginia General Assembly each legislative session.  I also serve on the Board of Governors of the Virginia Bar Association.  I am a proud member of the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, where I served as President from 2019 to 2021, and I currently serve on the AAML National Board of Governors.  I was appointed by Governor Northam to Virginia Child Support Guidelines Review Panel in 2020 and served until 2023.  I am former Chairman of the Virginia State Bar’s Family Law Section Board of Governors, and I served as Chairman of the Fairfax Bar Association’s Family Law Section for many years before retiring from that role in 2015.  I often lecture and teach other attorneys and paralegals on family law topics, ethics, and evidence.

I also believe service to my community is important.  I am a current board member and past Board Chairman of Pathway Homes, Inc., a Fairfax non-profit that provides non time-limited housing and services to Virginians with mental illness.

If you would like to schedule a consultation appointment with me, please call our office at (703) 934-1480 or complete our initial consultation form.  I look forward to meeting with you.

FAIRFAX FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Partner, Cooper Ginsberg Gray, PLLC (2004 – present)
• Associate Attorney, Shoun & Bach (2002 – 2004)
• Associate Attorney, Feldesman, Tucker, Leifer, Fidell & Bank (1997 – 2002)

EDUCATION

• Juris Doctor Degree, George Mason University School of Law (1996)
• Bachelor of Arts Degree, University of Virginia (1993)

LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS

• Virginia Family Law Coalition (Chairman, 2019 – present)
• Virginia State Bar
  • Harry L. Carrico Professionalism Course, Faculty Member (2010 – 2012)
  • Harry L. Carrico Law School Professionalism, Faculty Member (2013- 2017)
  • Family Law Section Board of Governors
    • Member (2012- 2018)
    • President (2016 – 2017)
  • Young Lawyers Conference
    • Member (2000- 2009)
    • President (2007 -2008)
  • Fee Dispute Arbitration Committee (2014-present)
• Virginia Bar Association
  • Board of Governors (2023-present)
  • Committee on Nominations to the Virginia Commissions & Appellate Courts, 

Member (2020 to present); Chairman (2022 – present)

• Fairfax Bar Association
  • Family Law Section (Chairman, 2006 – 2015)
• American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
  • Virginia Chapter, President (2020 – 2022)
  • National Chapter, Board of Governors (2022 to present)
• Virginia Child Support Guidelines Review Panel (2020 –2023)

RECOGNITION

• Family Law Service Award, 2022, Virginia State Bar Family Law Section Board
• AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
• Best Lawyers in America (2010 – present)
• Recognized multiple times in Northern Virginia Magazine, Arlington Magazine, Virginia Business and Washingtonian as one of the DC Metro Area’s top family law attorneys
• Super Lawyers (2010-2024)

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS/PUBLISHED WORKS

• American Bar Association, Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section, Divorce and Estate Planning for Married Owners of Closely Held Companies, (May 2024)
• Virginia CLE, 40th Annual Advanced Family Law Seminar, 2024 Legislative Update (April 2024)
• Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, 2024 Convention, Third Rail Issues in Custody Cases, (April 2024)
• Fairfax Bar Association, Fault, Factors, and Fees, (December 2023)
• Virginia CLE, 42nd Annual Advanced Family Law Seminar, 2023 Legislative Update, (October 2023)
• DC Bar, Family Law Around the Beltway, (September 2023)
• American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, 2023 Southeast Regional Meeting, Premarital Agreements for the T&E Practitioner, (August 2023)
• Virginia CLE, Basics of Social Media Evidence, (June 2023)
• Virginia CLE, 39th Annual Advanced Family Law Seminar, 2022 Legislative Update (April 2023)
•  Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Advanced Paralegal Retreat, Preparing the Support & Equitable Distribution Case Using VADER (April 2023)
• Virginia CLE, 41st Annual Family Law Seminar, Rule 8:3 and the Duty to Squeal, (October 2022)
• 2022 Conference for Virginia Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Judges, Third Party Custody and Visitation: Substance, Procedure, and Trends (May 2022)
• Virginia CLE, 38th Annual Advanced Family Law Seminar, Ethics: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You. What You Do Know Can Also Hurt You. Everything Can Hurt You (April 2022)
• Montgomery County Bar Association, Family Law Around the Beltway, (June 2021)
• Virginia Bar Association, Unmuting Ethics; Difficult Issues We Need to Discuss (March 2021)
• DC Bar, Family Law for Beginners, (March 2021, April 2023)
• Virginia Bar Association, VADER Online for Advanced Users, (February 2021)
• DC Bar, Child Support Enforcement in DC, Maryland, and Virginia (November 2020, May 2021)
• Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, 2020 VTLA Family Law Seminar, Ethics for the Family Law Practitioner (September 2020)
• Fairfax Bar Association, Online Court Appearances, Moderator (June 2020)
• Paralegal Association of Northern Virginia, VADER Online for Advanced Users, (June 2020)
• Virginia CLE, 36th Annual Advanced Family Law Seminar, Ethics for the Family Law Practitioner (April 2020)
• DC Bar, Family Law Practice Around the Beltway (September 2019, September 2022)
• Fairfax Bar Association, Negotiating Spousal Support and Other Current Tax Issues Related to Family Law Matters (May 2019)
• American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Prenuptial Agreements: The Do’s and Do Not’s Before I Do (March 2019)
• Virginia CLE, Annual Family Law Seminar, When and How to Use Forensic Psychological Evaluations: A Lawyer’s Perspective (October 2018)
• Fairfax County Bar Association, Annual Legislative Update (2017 – 2019)
• Virginia CLE, Premarital Agreements for the Trusts and Estates Practitioner (April 2018)
• Virginia CLE, 35th Annual Family Law Seminar, Legislative Update: 2016 General Assembly Session (October 2016)
• Virginia State Bar Annual Family Law Seminar, Direct Examination of Witnesses (April 2016)
• Fairfax Bar Association, Fault, Factors and Fees (March 2016)
• Virginia CLE 34th Annual Family Law Seminar, Social Media and Electronic Evidence in Family Law Cases: How to Use It (October 2015)
• Paralegal Association of Northern Virginia, The New VADER: A User’s Guide (May 2015)
• Attorneys Liability Protection Society, Is Fault Dead?  The Impact of Fault in Equitable Distribution and Spousal Support Cases (May 2015)
• VSB Law School Professionalism Course, Professionalism and Client Relations, University of Richmond (January 2015, 2016)
• Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Annual Divorce Practice Seminar: The New VADER: A User’s Guide: Solving child support problems and complex equitable distribution cases with Virginia’s premier divorce software  (January 2015)
• Virginia Family Law Quarterly, Advising Clients Under the New Virginia Child Support Guidelines (Spring 2014)
• District of Columbia Bar Association, Ethics in Family Law Around the Beltway (October 2013, December 2014)
• Virginia CLE: Negotiating, Drafting, Attacking and Defending Marital Agreements (October 2014)
• Fairfax  Bar Association, Judges are from Mars, and Family Law Attorneys are from Venus (October 2014)
• Montgomery County Bar Association, Jurisdictional Comparison of Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia (April 2014)
• Fairfax Bar Association, Business Valuations (March 2014)
• Fairfax County Bar Association, Business Valuations (March 2014)
• Paralegal Association of Northern Virginia, Solving Difficult Domestic Relations Problems Using the VADER Software (2010 – 2013)
• Good Samaritan Advocates, Family Law 101 Pro Bono Training (June 2013)
• Virginia State Bar, Family Law Section, Ethics and Professionalism (October 2013)
• Fairfax Bar Association, Young Lawyers Conference, Depositions (June 2013)
• District of Columbia Bar Association, Family Law Around the Beltway: Jurisdictional Comparisons (2013 – 2015)
• District of Columbia Bar Association, Premarital Agreements in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (2013 – 2015)
• Potomac Legal Aid Society, Child Custody in Traditional and Non-Traditional Families (2009)

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• Pathway Homes 

• Board Member (2009–present), Chairman of Board (2013 – 2018)

• Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute Citizen’s Advisory Council

• President (2011 – 2014)

• Annandale North Springfield Little League
• AAA Commissioner (2014) 

REPORTED CASES

• Bostic et al. v. Schaefer, 760 F.3rd 352 (4th Cir. 2014) (on brief amicus curiae)

BAR ADMISSIONS

• Virginia (1996)
• Maryland (1998)
• District of Columbia (1998)