Melissa S. VanZile
Shareholder
Phone: (804) 796-1000
Fax: (804) 762-9654
Contact Me
Professional Experience:
- Shareholder at Barnes & Diehl, P.C. (Present)
- Partner at Hall & Hall, PLC (2004–2013)
Education:
- University of Richmond School of Law, J. D. (2004)
- Mary Washington College, B.A., Political Science (2001)
- Political Science Scholastic Honors Society
Awards/Honors:
- Top 50 Women Attorneys in Virginia, Super Lawyers (2018 & 2019)
- Listed Attorney, The Best Lawyers in America, “Family Law” (2017-2021)
- Leader of the Law Award, Virginia Lawyer’s Weekly (2016)
- Virginia Super Lawyers Family Law Attorney (2013-2021)
- Virginia Super Lawyers Virginia Rising Star (2011-2012)
- Reader’s Choice for Lawyer, Richmond Times-Dispatch (2018)
- Virginia Legal Elite (2014, 2015)
- Virginia Legal Elite Young Lawyer (2010)
- Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honors Society
Professional Memberships
- Past President, Metropolitan Richmond Women’s Bar Association
- Past Board Member of Metropolitan Women’s Bar Association
- Member Metropolitan Richmond Women’s Bar Association
- Member of Henrico County Bar Association
- Member of Chesterfield County Bar Association
- Member of Richmond Bar Association
- Member of Virginia State Bar
- Past Member of the Innsbrook Rotary Club
- Past Board Member of St. Joseph’s Villa Flagler Home
- Past Board Member of Metro Richmond Family Law Bar Association
- Past Co-Chair of Annual Bench Bar Conference
Publications:
- Third Party Custody and Visitation, VA Lawyer’s Weekly (2017)
- The Evolving Realm of Family Law – Non-Traditional Family Units – Melissa S. VanZile, NBI Advanced Family Law Seminar (2010)
- Child Custody and Visitation: Commencing & Defending an Initial Custody Proceeding, Contributing Author Melissa S. VanZile, NBI (2009)
- Child Custody and Visitation: The Interplay of Statutes on Parental Rights, Responsibilities, and Parent/Child Content: Commencing & Defending an Initial Custody Proceeding, Contributing Author Melissa S. VanZile, NBI (2008, 2009)
- Relocation and Custody and Visitation, Melissa S. VanZile, Bench Bar Conference (2007)
- Changes to Child Support Deviation Factors: It’s Effect on Antonelli and It’s Progeny, Melissa S. VanZile, Bench Bar Conference (2006)
- Changes to Child Support Deviation Factors, Melissa S. VanZile, Bench Bar Conference (2006)
- Cross Examination of Experts in Custody Cases, Melissa VanZile, Bench Bar Conference (2005)
Presentations:
- “Grandparents and Third Party Custody and Visitation”, Richmond Legal Staff Association, 2015
- “Financial Planning in Divorce”, Financial Planning Association of Central Virginia Chapter Seminar, 2014
- “Child Custody and Visitation”, Richmond Paralegal Association Seminar, 2014
- “Drafting Separation Agreements, The Who, What, Where, When and How”, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Seminar for Paralegals, 2011
- “Child Custody and Visitation”, Richmond Paralegal Association Spring Seminar, 2011
- “The Evolving Realm of Family Law-Non-Traditional Family Units”, Speaker, NBI Advanced Family Law Seminar, 2010
- “Child Custody and Visitation”, Commencing & Defending an Initial Custody Proceeding, Speaker – Melissa S. VanZile, NBI Seminar, 2009