Melanie A. Friend

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Melanie Friend practices family law at CowanGates focusing on divorce, alimony, child custody and visitation, adoption and prenuptial agreements. She is qualified as a guardian ad litem for children. She joined CowanGates in 2007, after completing a clerkship for the Honorable Timothy E. Meredith of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals.

Melanie obtained her law degree from William & Mary School of Law, where she earned Honors for excellence in research, writing and client relations. In addition, she served as member of the Moot Court Team and National Trial Team. As a member of the National Trial Team, Melanie was one of three students to represent William & Mary at the 2005 National Trial Competition after finishing in second place at the regional level of the competition. She also served as Lead Development Counsel for the National Trial Team, training new team members in basic trial techniques.

In 2003, Melanie graduated summa cum laude from Thiel College with a bachelor of arts degree in English and was named class salutatorian. While attending Thiel, Melanie received the Thiel College Excellence Award, a full academic scholarship presented each year to one entering freshman. She also received the Vira I. Heinz Scholarship for Study Abroad, allowing her to spend a summer term studying at University College Cork in County Cork, Ireland.

Melanie serves as a board member and representative to the Bench-Bar Committee for the Metropolitan Richmond Women's Bar Association. She is also a member of the Chesterfield County Bar Association, the Metro Richmond Family Law Bar Association, the Family Law Section of the Virginia State Bar, and the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association.