Now in his 50s, Christopher W. Schinstock is widely regarded today as one of the top divorce lawyers in the metropolitan Washington region. Well-liked and respected by peers and rivals from his arrival in the region in the mid-90s, Schinstock owns a reputation as a diligent and thorough lawyer with strong litigation skills, something of a lost art in this age of confrontation-averse lawyering. Moreover, unlike many lawyers today, he’s comfortable with complex legal issues, and articulates them clearly.
The youngest of three sons of a U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, Schinstock grew up “a classic Army brat” who was born in Heidelberg, Germany, but was raised primarily in Southern Arizona. He followed a brother to VMI “without even having laid eyes on” the Lexington, Va., campus. He describes four years there as “very challenging, both physically and mentally,” but he excelled at the 1300-student Institute and, with a degree in History and English, he went straight on to Washington & Lee Law School.
In his final year at W&L Law, Schinstock clerked for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Roanoke, Virginia. As he was “third year practice certified,” Schinstock was fortunate enough to try motions and litigate actual jury trials while clerking there. This experience shaped his desire to become a trial attorney.
After law school, Schinstock immediately worked with former Commonwealth’s Attorney, Hal St. Clair, a respected litigator in rural Alleghany County, Virginia. He spent nearly three years practicing criminal and civil litigation with St. Clair, who was, according to Schinstock, “a gentleman” and “a great mentor.” James Cottrell, a well-known Northern Virginia divorce lawyer hired Schinstock a position with his firm, known for handling complex and high-stakes cases. In June 2016 Schinstock, after 20 years with the Cottrell firm, launched his own practice. In May 2024, Colleen Haddow and Schinstock formed the practice of “Schinstock & Haddow, PLLC”.
Schinstock says he was drawn to matrimonial law “because coupled with criminal defense litigation it’s arguably the purest form of litigation practice today.”
Education
1990 – Virginia Military Institute, B.A.
1993 – Washington & Lee University, J.D.
Admitted
1993 – Virginia; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
2024 U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit
Memberships
Alexandria Family Law Section (Prior Co-Chairman) and Fairfax Bar Associations
Virginia State Bar, Member, Board of Governors, Family Law Section, 2006-2010
Faculty, Virginia State Bar Professionalism Committee, 2006-2009
Faculty, Law School Professionalism Program, 2009-2011
Employment
May 1, 2024 to the present
Schinstock & Haddow, PLLC
June 1, 2016 to April 30, 2024
Christopher W. Schinstock, PLLC
March 1, 2008– May 31, 2016
Cottrell Fletcher Schinstock Bartol & Cottrell, P.C.
January 1, 1996 to Februrary 28, 2008
Gannon, Cottrell &Ward, PC
August 4, 1993 to December 31, 1995
St. Clair & Associates
Biography
Listed in:
Virginia Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Family Law 2007 and 2008
Ten Leaders for Prominent Matrimonial & Divorce Attorneys Under the Age of 45 in the Greater Washington District of Columbia Area, 2008
Top Divorce and Family Lawyers, Washingtonian Magazine, 2009-2021
Top Lawyers Lifetime Achievement honor roll, Washingtonian Magazine, September 2022
Best Lawyers in America, Family Law, 2010 to present
Best Lawyers in America, Lawyer of the Year, Family Law Arbitration, D.C. metro area, 2021 and 2023
Virginia Super Lawyer, Family Law, 2010 to present
Martindale-Hubbell, AV rated since 2012
Cases
Baxter v. Baxter, 2000 Va. App. LEXIS 655 (2000) (on brief); Buziak v. Buziak, 2024 WL 1381783; Clemente v. Clemente, 2006 Va. App. LEXIS 337 (2006); Craven v. Williamson, 2012 Va. App. LEXIS 2 (2012) (on brief); Denise v. Tencer, 46 Va. App. 372, 617 S.E.2d 413 (2005) (on brief); Douglas v. Douglas, 17 Va. App. 380, 347 S.E.2d 244 (1993); Freeman v. Golden, 2011 Va. App. LEXIS 54 (2011) (on brief); Goudreau v. Goudreau, 2000 Va. App. LEXIS 805 (2000) (on brief); Goudreau v. Goudreau, 2001 Va. App. LEXIS 409 (2001); Johnson v. Johnson, 26 Va. App. 135, 493 S.E.2d 668 (1997) (on brief); Keeling v. Keeling, 47 Va. App. 484, 624 S.E.2d 687 (2006); McGlathery v. McGlathery, 1997 Va. App. LEXIS 221 (1997) (on brief); MacDougall v. Levick, 87 Va. Cir. 160 (2013); Mitrano v. Warshall, 150 Fed. Appx: 277 (2005); Morrill v. Morrill, 43 Va. App. 621, 600 S.E.2d 911 (2004); Morrill v. Morrill, 45 Va. App. 709, 613 S.E.2d 821 (2005); Napert v. Napert, 2000 Va. App. LEXIS 84 (2000) (on brief); Napert v. Napert, 261 Va. 45, 540 S.E.2d 882 (2001) (on brief); Nolting v. Nolting, 2004 Va. App. LEXIS 322 (2004) (on brief); Recker v. Recker, 48 Va. App. 188, 629 S.E.2d 191 (2006); Roth v. Roth, 2011 Va. App. LEXIS 71 (2011); Rutherfoord v. Scott, 2002 Va. App. LEXIS 460 (2002) (on brief); Rutledge v. Rutledge, 2001 Va. App. LEXIS 453 (2001) (on brief); Rutledge v. Rutledge, 2003 Va. App. LEXIS 78 (2003) (on brief); Sjoblom v. Sjoblom, 1997 Va. App. LEXIS 508 (1997) (on brief); Van Lear v. Commonwealth, 1996 Va. App. LEXIS 131 (1996) (on brief); Velez v. Lizardi, 2015 Va. App. LEXIS 68 (2015); Watt v. Watt, 1998 Va. App. LEXIS 341 (1998) (on brief); Wilcher v. Slayton, 1995 Va. App. LEXIS 294 (1995) (on brief)