Heather A. Cooper

I am one of the three founding partners of Cooper Ginsberg Gray, PLLC, and helped launch the firm in November of 2004. Our founding principles are focused on providing compassionate and competent legal representation, advancing the legal profession, and giving back to the Northern Virginia community. 

Throughout my 30-year career, my practice has been devoted to helping my clients navigate through family law matters. I have been privileged to represent mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, as well as extended family members in certain custody cases. I strive to connect with my clients on a personal level and provide them with a calming presence when handling their cases.  I always endeavor to manage the case in such a way that reduces the financial and psychological impact of the divorce on the family.

My main goal as a family law attorney is to assist my clients in reaching a negotiated settlement of all issues. If that option is not possible, my extensive trial experience enables me to present any family law issue effectively and efficiently to a court for determination.

My courtroom experience includes litigating issues ranging from child custody to distribution of property (including retirement assets, stock options and real estate), to issues pertaining to alimony and child support. I have also represented clients in protective order hearings, third-party depositions, and those seeking prenuptial agreements.

I have developed a particular interest in cases in which one or both spouses are in the military. Having come from a family dedicated to military service, I have an intense interest in all aspects of military divorce, including jurisdictional issues and those related to the division of military retired pay. 

In addition to my trial experience, I have written briefs and presented arguments in Virginia’s appellate court system in such areas as validity of prenuptial agreements, spousal support modification, equitable distribution, and the effect of Social Security Disability payments on child support obligations.

Outside of the courtroom, I give back to the legal community by conducting Continuing Legal Education seminars for other attorneys and paralegals. I speak on topics including basic divorce law for paralegals, premarital agreements, division of military retirement benefits upon divorce, drafting of Qualified Domestic Relations Orders for retirement plans covered by ERISA, litigation of custody issues, custody evaluations and enforcement of Marital Agreements. I was also honored to serve as President of the Board of Directors for the Fairfax Law Foundation, the charitable arm of the Fairfax Bar Association.

In my free time, I spend as much time as I can as a volunteer at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter.

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 DIVORCE ATTORNEY

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Partner, Cooper Ginsberg Gray, PLLC (2004 – present)
• Associate Attorney, Shoun & Bach (1997 – 2004)
• Associate Attorney, Law Office of Marcia M. Maddox (1995 – 1997)

EDUCATION

• Juris Doctor Degree, George Mason University School of Law (1994)
• Bachelor of Arts Degree, George Mason University (1990)

LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS

• Virginia State Bar
  • 5th District Committee (Section II) 
    • Member (2004 – 2010)
    • Chair (2009 – 2010)
  • Harry L. Carrico Professionalism Course, Faculty Member (2014 – 2017)
• Fairfax Bar Association
  • Law Related Education Committee, Former Vice Chair
• Fairfax Law Foundation
  • Member, Board of Directors (2015 – 2022)
  • Secretary (2018 – 2019); President-Elect (2019 – 2020); President (2020 – 2021)
• Secretary of Health and Human Resources Child Support Guideline Review Panel
  • Member (2012 – 2014)

RECOGNITION

• AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
• Listed in Best Lawyers in America (2010-present)
• Super Lawyers® (2020-present)
  • Top 100: Virginia Super Lawyers (2024)
  • Top 50: Women Virginia Super Lawyers (2024)
• 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

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS/PUBLISHED WORKS

• Virginia CLE, QDROs and COAPs: Ethical, Drafting and Litigation Traps for the Unwary (September 2023)
• VTLA Advanced Paralegal Retreat, Retirement Orders (April 2023)
• Second Saturday Workshop, Organizer & Presenter (2020 – 2021)
• Fairfax Bar Association, Dividing Retirement Assets Upon Divorce: Alleviating the Anxiety (February 2016)
• Virginia CLE, Dividing Retirement Assets Upon Divorce: Alleviating the Anxiety (September 2015)
• National Business Institute, Child Custody Evaluations: First Steps and Major Concepts (October 2013)
• National Business Institute, Advanced Issues in Divorce:  Troubleshooting Marriage Dissolution Issues (June 2013)
• National Business Institute, Handling Divorce Cases from Start to Finish:  Completing the Divorce (April 2012)
• Virginia CLE, Navigating Perils of Dividing Retirement Assets Upon Divorce: Military Retirement (April 2010)
• Half Moon, LLC, Virginia Family Law Practice for Paralegals: Assisting with Child Custody Issues (March 2007)

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• Fairfax County Animal Shelter
  • Volunteer (2022-present)
• South County High School Band Boosters
  • Member (2016 – 2017)
  • President (2018 – 2019; 2019 – 2020)

REPORTED CASES

• Jones v. Jones, 49 Va. App. 31 (2006)
• McIntyre v. McIntyre, 25 Va. App. 612 (1997)

BAR ADMISSIONS

• Virginia (1994)