Atty. Brian M. Hirsch

Atty. Brian M. Hirsch

Brian has been a divorce attorney litigating and settling cases in Northern Virginia since 1985 and is certified by the Virginia Supreme Court in Family Mediation. He is listed in "The Best Lawyers in America", Washingtonian magazine's Top Divorce Lawyers, Northern Virginia magazine's Top Divorce Lawyers and Virginia Business magazine's "Legal Elite".

Reston Reston 41 yrs experience 41 year
Call (703) 977-1670 Book Appointment

Profile Summary

About Brian M. Hirsch at a glance

Brian M. Hirsch is a Partner based in Reston, Virginia, practicing at Hirsch & Ehlenberger, P.C.. They have 41+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1985. Their practice focuses on divorce, child custody, family law, real estate, and child support. Admitted to practice in Virginia (1985), U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia (1985), and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit (1985). Educated at American University, Washington College of Law (J.D., 1985) and Pennsylvania State University B.A. Political Science, Religious Studies, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society (—). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Serands clients in Reston, VA and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Brian has been a divorce attorney litigating and settling cases in Northern Virginia since 1985 and is certified by the Virginia Supreme Court in Family Mediation
  • He is listed in "The Best Lawyers in America", Washingtonian magazine's Top Divorce Lawyers, Northern Virginia magazine's Top Divorce Lawyers and Virginia Business magazine's "Legal Elite"
  • Brian was presented with a 2017 Leaders in the Law award by Virginia Lawyer's Weekly for his extensive statewide work and leadership in Virginia family law
  • He is the editor of the Virginia Family Law Quarterly, the official publication of the Family Law Section of the Virginia State Bar
  • Brian is a past Chair of the Virginia State Bar Family Law Section Board of Governors
  • He has been a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers since 2004
  • He is also a current member of the Virginia Bar Association Family Law Coalition and served on the Virginia State Bar Fifth District Disciplinary Committee
  • Published Works Brian M. Hirsch and Daniel V. Poliner, Virginia Family Law Trial Handbook: Pleadings, Evidence and Strategies , Virginia Continuing Legal Ed
  • Foundation, 2017 Brian M. Hirsch, Term Sheet or Bust, Legal and Practical Implications of Term Sheets in Mediation, Virginia Family Law Quarterly, Vol
  • No. 37, Number 4, 2017 Brian M. Hirsch, Unfaithfully Yours: Re-Examining Adultery as a Bar to Spousal Support, Virginia Lawyer, Volume 66, Number 1, 2017 Brian M. Hirsch, Evaluative Mediation: Friend or Foe, Resolutions, Office of the Executive Secretary of the Virginia Supreme Court, Dept. of Judicial Services, Division of Dispute Resolution, Volume 25, Issue 5, 2016 Brian M. Hirsch, Settlement or Bust!
  • Ethical Implications of Late Night Settlements, Family Law News, Volume 31, Number 4, 2011 Brian M. Hirsch, Just be Quiet, Virginia Lawyer, Volume 59, Number 3, 2010 Brian M. Hirsch, Maximizing Your Chances of a Fee Award in a Family Law Case, Family Law News, Volume 30, Number 2, 2010 Brian M. Hirsch, Assessing "Manifest Injustice” in Spousal Support Cases: Playing the Blame Game, Virginia Lawyer, Volume 55, Number 7 , 2007 Betty A. Thompson and Brian M. Hirsch, A New Tool for the Divorce Lawyer: Using the Attorney Lien to Get Paid, Family Law News, Volume 26, Number 3, 2006 Brian M. Hirsch, You Bet Your Spouse’s Life: Examining Virginia's Position on Life Insurance in Divorce, Virginia Lawyer, Volume 53, Number 7, 2005 Brian M. Hirsch and William C. Wood, Monitoring Mediation: Identifying and Monitoring Uncertified Mediators in Virginia, Family Law News, Volume 23, Number 3, 2003 Honors Fellow, Virginia Law Foundation, 2023 Virginia Family Law Section Service Award, 2020 Best Lawyers in America Top Divorce Lawyers, Washingtonian Magazine Top Divorce Lawyers, Northern Virginia Magazine Legal Elite, Virginia Business Magazine Leaders in the Law Award, Virginia Lawyer's Weekly, 2017 Seminars Presented “Burdensome” Issues In Equitable Distribution Cases: Determining Burdens and Standards of Proof, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed
  • Foundation, 2023 Practical Advice: Evidence in Family Law Practice, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed
  • Foundation, 2022 Navigating Resist/Refuse Custody Cases, Fairfax Bar Association Annual Conference, 2022 Assisting Our Community: Neighborhood Outreach Program Training – Family Law, Northern Virginia Pro Bono Center, 2021 Where Should I Bring My Case?
  • Strategic Considerations When There are Jurisdiction Options in Family Law Cases, Fairfax Bar Association, 2020 Resist/Refuse Custody Cases: When Children Won’t Go with a Parent, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed
  • Foundation, 2019 Avoiding, Bringing and Defending Rules to Show Cause, Fairfax Bar Association, 2018 Mixed Custody Child Support Guidelines, Loudoun Bar Association, 2018 Difficult Clients and Counsel in High-Conflict Cases: Being Ethical and Effective, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed
  • Foundation, 2018 The Gray Divorce: Divorcing Later in Life, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed
  • Foundation, 2017 Family Law Legislative and Case Law Update, Fairfax Bar Association, 2016 Trial Preparation and Presentation of Child Custody Cases, Northern Virginia Pro Bono Center, 2016 Difficult Clients and Counsel in High Conflict Cases: Being Ethical and Effective, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed
  • Foundation, 2015 Navigating the High Conflict Divorce, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed
  • Foundation, 2014 Getting to Yes, Fairfax Bar Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, 2014 Everything You Wanted to Know About Child Support , Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, 2013 Examining the Trend Toward Shared Custody, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed
  • Foundation, 2011 Divorce, Foreclosure and Bankruptcy, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed
  • Foundation, 2011 Practicing Family Law at the Intersection of Divorce and Religion, Virginia Women Attorneys Assoc. and Fairfax Bar Association, 2010 Anatomy of a Spousal Support Hearing, Virginia Trial Lawyers Assoc., 2010 Spousal Support Trial Strategies, Fairfax Bar Association, 2009 Equitable Distribution in a Recession, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed
  • Foundation, 2009 Evidentiary Issues and Objections in Family Law Cases, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed
  • Foundation, 2008 23rd Annual Advanced Family Law Seminar, Moderator, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed
  • Foundation, 2007 The Evolving Role of Fault in Virginia (with Patrick McConnell), Virginia Continuing Legal Ed
  • Foundation, 2006 Ethical Concerns in Dealing with Difficult Clients and Opposing Counsel, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed
  • Foundation, 2005 So You Thought You Could Avoid Family Law, Virginia State Bar, 2004 Family Law Discovery, Virginia Continuing Legal Ed
  • Foundation, 2004 Managing Equitable Distribution Cases, Half Moon Enterprises, 2003 Relocation Custody Cases, Fairfax Bar Association, 2002 Division of Stock Options in Divorce, Fairfax Bar Association, 2001 Rehabilitative Alimony, Fairfax Bar Association, 2000 Law School Faculty Adjunct Professor, George Mason University, Antonin Scalia Law School Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (Fall 2021 to present)

Practice Areas Explained

Brian M. Hirsch's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Brian M. Hirsch handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Divorce

A divorce attorney guides you through property division, spousal support, custody, and the final decree — contested or uncontested.

Brian M. Hirsch is one of 50,487 divorce attorneys indexed nationally. Browse divorce attorneys in Virginia →

Child Custody & Visitation

Brian M. Hirsch is one of 31,241 child custody attorneys indexed nationally. Browse child custody attorneys in Virginia →

Family Law

Family law attorneys handle divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, prenups, and protective orders. Find verified family lawyers near you.

Brian M. Hirsch is one of 187,066 family law attorneys indexed nationally. Browse family law attorneys in Virginia →

Real Estate Law

Real estate attorneys handle home purchases, sales, commercial transactions, title disputes, and landlord-tenant matters.

Brian M. Hirsch is one of 316,149 real estate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse real estate attorneys in Virginia →

Child Support

Brian M. Hirsch is one of 24,688 child support attorneys indexed nationally. Browse child support attorneys in Virginia →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in Virginia

Practicing law in Virginia. Legal matters in Virginia are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Reston are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Virginia state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Virginia brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Virginia courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional Virginia attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Reston or all attorneys in Virginia.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Brian M. Hirsch

Where is Brian M. Hirsch's law office located?
Brian M. Hirsch's law practice is located in Reston, Virginia. The firm is Hirsch & Ehlenberger, P.C.. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Brian M. Hirsch handle?
Brian M. Hirsch focuses on divorce, child custody, family law, real estate, child support. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Virginia.
How long has Brian M. Hirsch practiced law?
Brian M. Hirsch has 41+ years of legal experience and has been licensed since 1985.
Where did Brian M. Hirsch go to law school?
Brian M. Hirsch earned their education at (J.D., 1985); (—).
How can I contact Brian M. Hirsch for a consultation?
You can contact Brian M. Hirsch directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has Brian M. Hirsch received?
Brian M. Hirsch's notable recognition includes: AV Preeminent.

Education

J.D.
American University, Washington College of Law
- 1985
Pennsylvania State University B.A. Political Science, Religious Studies, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society
- In Progress

Awards

AV Preeminent

Bar Admissions

Virginia
Admitted: 1985
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
Admitted: 1985
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
Admitted: 1985

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