Donna Dougherty represented us in a child custody case. She was very professional. Was always available to answer any questions I might have and would calm me when things would get overwhelming. I highly recommend this law firm.

Ugh. Do not hire Donna Dougherty to handle your case. When you meet her, you'll find that she is, in my opinion, brash and abrasive and unquestionably condescending. Your first thought is "Perfect, that's how she's going to work tirelessly on my behalf." You'll be wrong. That's how she'll continue to treat you and good luck getting to effectively advocate on your behalf. In my specific experience, she will rather yell at you (as her client) than work with opposing counsel on an amicable resolution (as I've learned since severing ties with this firm).

My initial consult was full of "we're going to do this" and "we'll file this" and all great salesmanship. I was excited...finally an attorney that really wants to do more than push papers and genuinely wants to help create an optimal outcome for my child. Boo. Within 2 days of writing that first big monster retainer check to Donna, before any additional documentation was provided, the tone rapidly degraded to (paraphrased) "well, I'm not sure" and "hopefully we'll prevail" type speak. Sadly, I fell for it all and have lost almost every financial resource in the process. Now Donna is going after what little is left. That's really all you need to know about the character of the character.

To say I've had nothing but problems feels like a gross understatement. Donna ran up my legal tab at a rate that has offended attorneys I've consulted with since; and it takes a lot to offend another attorney. Ultimately, Donna lost my case. Anything can happen in a courtroom, but this was a worst case scenario in the face of what should have been, fairly objectively, a ruling 180 degrees in the opposite direction. Despite being the attorney I retained, Donna did not appear at the hearing to argue for attorney fees (sadly, the mostly expensive part of the entire matter) and sent an associate instead. That mistake was another $12000+ on top of the mostly unsubstantiated $20k+ billed for a very simple case (that she lost).

Now Donna is suing me although I've yet to be provided any granular itemization of the billable work "provided." Always beware of lawyers that gleefully sue their clients; it's a litmus test as to where their priorities lie in terms of monetary greed vs client advocacy. And, to pour more salt in the wound, Donna is now demanding 24% interest and thousands more in legal fees for suing her own client (me in this case). Her reputation in the local family law community exists for very good reasons. I wish I had figured that out beforehand (back before the reorganization of the firm).

FINAL WARNING: If you're dealing with a sensitive family law matter involving your young children and their private meetings with therapists, you may want to consider a law office that does not send confidential psychiatric documentation to the WRONG CLIENT! That's right. Donna's law office sent me an another client's very private and sensitive data regarding the child's meetings with a therapist. I've yet to ever be answered as to whether sensitive data from my case was sent to someone else. If you retain her, perhaps you can update me on my case if/when you receive the wrong confidential records too.

Don't make the mistake of making what is likely the most stressful and emotionally wrenching process of your life that much worse by hiring an attorney that values your checking account significantly more than operating in the best interests of you and your child/children.

Amy Tobias has been this Dad's attorney through a pretty complicated divorce, with issues that have flared up repeatedly over 9+ years. She has represented and advised me while she was an associate, a sole practitioner, and now as a partner. This is one very intelligent lady and knowledgeable and competent family law attorney. Her advice is always sound and direct. She cuts through the fluff and tells me what I need to know and what she needs from me. When we've had actual contested hearings, the results have always been in my favor.

I have truly been blessed to find a law firm who is warm, supportive and caring for their clients, but killer Great White Sharks in the courtroom for divorce/custody. Amy Tobias and Claire Salitsky gave me my life back……..my son! I started off with a different law firm, which he was HORRIBLE!!!! I felt helpless and felt he did not put any effort into my case, just collecting my check. Before I came to Dougherty Tobias Iszard, Northern Virginia Law, I thought I could lose my son for no reason other than poor lawyer representation. That all changed when I went to Dougherty Tobias Iszard, Northern Virginia Law! I will say, these ladies are expensive, but I'm telling you they are WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you for EVERYTHING Amy, Claire and Dawn!

The firm is bias towards men and unrelenting in persecuting the innocent in order to win their cases. They use defamation and intimidation tactics which border on the line of unethical and immoral. They are unreasonable and difficult to speak and negotiate with. And, I was just a witness of the case. I can only imagine how they treat actual clients.

Wonderful people. Reasonably priced. Hard not to like their professionalism, courteousness and friendliness.