SHOUNBACH - Key Persons
Mr. Showells has learned trial skills through years of litigation through Virginia's court system. He gained experience by litigating a variety of serious felonies and misdemeanors criminal cases. He also represented individuals in custody, support, protective orders and other family law issues.
When you need an experienced and committed family law professional, you can turn to Al Bonin; for professional, compassionate and effective counsel. For over four decades, Mr. Bonin has been practicing family law and handling difficult cases on behalf of all types of clients.
In addition to having handled complex litigation throughout the Northern Virginia region for more than thirty-four years, Ms. Bittel's appellate practice and the positions to which she has been appointed by the Fairfax County Circuit Court have provided her with a strong foundation to handle highly contested family law cases.
Hayden is a partner with ShounBach, and is proud of his work helping individuals and their families.
He is adept at resolving all types of family law and domestic relations disputes through negotiation, mediation, arbitration and the Collaborative divorce process. When necessary, Hayden draws on extensive litigation experience and diligent preparation to provide effective advocacy in court.
Hayden has presented to other lawyers on issues such as trial preparation, client advocacy, and unique ethical issues in divorce cases. He is currently the co-chair of the Fairfax County Circuit Court Domestic Relations Subcommittee, which works to improve family law court practice and procedure. He is also a former a board member of numerous bar groups, including the Fairfax Law Foundation, the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (as former Chair of the Young Lawyers Division), the Collaborative Professionals of Northern Virginia, and the District of Columbia Academy of Collaborative Professionals.
Mr. Anthony has nearly two decades of experience assisting clients with separation, divorce, child custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, equitable distribution, settlement negotiations, and enforcement issues. While Mr. Anthony believes that the most effective and successful resolution of family law matters occurs outside of the courtroom where clients have control over the outcome, Mr. Anthony has the skills and experience to effectively and efficiently advocate for his clients when settlement is not possible.
Job Titles:
- Estate Planning Paralegal
Mrs. Lawrence is a certified elder lawyer (CELA) and veterans benefits certified lawyer. She has been providing the highest quality of legal advice to the communities of Northern Virginia for more than 30 years.
Michael believes that the key to an effective attorney-client relationship is active and empathic listening.
Prior to joining ShounBach as a partner, Michelle Kaminsky was the Managing Partner of Hite Kaminsky Family Law & Mediation, PLLC (formerly the Law Offices of Kelly S. Hite, PLLC) where she commenced working in 2010. Ms. Kaminsky began her legal career serving as a Law Clerk for the Honorable David S. Schell of the Fairfax County Circuit Court from 2009-2010.
Ms. Kaminsky is a native of Tucson, Arizona, where she received her B.A. from the University of Arizona. Prior to law school, she was an Academic Advisor and high school English teacher. Ms. Kaminsky received her J.D. from the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University of America, where she developed an interest in adoption law. While at the Columbus School of Law, Ms. Kaminsky was a member of the Catholic University Law Review and in 2008 she authored a publication related to adoption entitled, "Excessive Rights for Putative Fathers: Heart of Adoptions Jeopardizes Rights of Mother and Child," 57 Cath. Univ. L. Rev. 917 (2008). Ms. Kaminsky has lived in Northern Virginia since 2005.
Job Titles:
- Attorney Bio
- Member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
Ms. Garrett is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. She is also an active member of the Fairfax County Bar Association (Family Law Section, the Wills Trusts & Estates Section and previously served on the Judicial Screening Committee).
Ms. Knapp firmly believes that resolving family law matters outside of court provides clients with the best possible outcome. Not only does it allow clients to control the outcome, it significantly reduces the stress, animosity, and financial hardship associated with drawn out court battles. However, when settlement is not possible, Ms. Knapp is a strong and strategic advocate for her clients.
Ms. Knapp is a partner at Shounbach having joined the firm in 2013. Her legal career has been dedicated entirely to the practice of family law since completing a two year judicial clerkship with the Honorable William D. Hamblen (Ret.) in Prince William County Circuit Court. Ms. Knapp graduated from George Mason University School of Law 2011, however, law is a second career for Ms. Knapp. Prior to law school, she worked in public and media relations for six years, gaining oral and written advocacy skills that were very transferable to the legal profession. She received her bachelor's degree, with double majors in Political Science and Communications, from Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island.
Ms. Knapp is a past President of the Prince William County Bar Association and currently serves as an elected member of the Association's Judicial Screening Committee. She is also a member of the Domestic Relations Section Council of the Virginia Bar Association and is Chair of the Section's Communications Committee. She has been named a Rising Star in 2021 and a Super Lawyer in 2022 by Super Lawyers® and has been listed in Best Lawyers in America ® in Family Law since 2021.
While she has brought the majority of her cases to closure without the necessity of contested court intervention, when it is not possible to reach an amicable resolution of a matter Ms. Butler has extensive experience in litigation of equitable distribution, custody, support and other family law issues in Northern Virginia court systems.
Ms. Butler was an elected member of the Virginia State Bar Council from 2008 to 2014. She is a former faculty member of the Harry L. Carrico Professionalism Course of the Virginia State Bar, and is the co-chair of the VSB's Law School Professionalism Course. She has been selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers® list since 2010 and is listed in Best Lawyers in America ® in the Family Law and Family Law Mediation categories. She was selected to the Virginia Lawyers' Weekly Inaugural list of Influential Woman of Law. She has been a member of the VSB Board of Governors section on Family Law since 2014 and is the current vice chair.