Providing excellent and informed representation to her clients is the hallmark of Jennifer Porter’s career. For over 25 years, Jennifer has successfully represented hundreds of people who have been injured through no fault of their own; people who were often just in the wrong place at the wrong time but suffered significant or catastrophic injuries as a result. Jennifer believes that people not only need and deserve someone who listens to them and talks the talk of a skilled litigator, but who also has the skill, experience, and background to walk the walk, preparing a successful claim for settlement or for litigation while also providing sound advice, sensitive to the needs of the individual. Jennifer is in the unique position to provide that level of representation to her clients and to maximize recovery for her clients, as a result of her years working as house counsel for Progressive Insurance and also as hired counsel for several of the country’s major insurance carriers, round-tabling defense strategies with insurance adjustors, engaging in defense-oriented training and education courses, and litigating hundreds of bench and jury trials using defense trial tactics. The thing that matters most is helping people navigate tough times with skill and sensitivity, and with a robust practice in personal injury, Jennifer looks forward to new legal challenges each day. Jennifer hails from East Tennessee and is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, College of Law – Go Vols! She completed her third year of law school as a visiting student at American University, Washington College of Law and is a 20+ year resident of Virginia. She is a committed member of the Virginia legal community. A long-time member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (VTLA), Jennifer has served on the VTLA Women’s Leadership Caucus, VTLA Business Partners Committee, and the VTLA Membership Committee. She is also active with the Fairfax Bar Association (FBA), in which she currently serves as a member of the Circuit Court Committee and the Domestic Relations Sub-Committee. Previously, she was a member of the FBA Young Lawyers Section, serving on the Board of Directors and then as President in 2007/2008, and then in her capacity as immediate past President, she served as a member of the FBA Board of Directors. Jennifer has been recognized as a Super Lawyer and has received the prestigious AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating of her legal ability and professional ethics from the Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating system for members of the legal profession and carries an Avvo Rating 10/10, also based on reviews from her peers. Jennifer is licensed to practice in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and California. In addition to her professional career, Jennifer is committed to her local community, having served on the Board of Directors of her neighborhood Swim Club and her neighborhood Civic Association. She is also troop leader to a very active group of middle school and high school aged Girl Scouts. Jennifer is a proud US Navy military spouse and mother to three school-aged daughters, and she can frequently be found at the soccer field, swimming pool or PTA meeting. She is active with the Naval Officer’s Spouse’s Club, the Military Spouse J.D. Network, and the Military Officers Association of America.

Alexander Laufer joined the firm in 1994. His practice is concentrated in civil litigation and real estate transactions, providing services in the areas of personal injury law, medical malpractice, construction law and employment law. Mr. Laufer grew up in Montreal, Canada but also lived and attended school in Jerusalem and Johannesburg, South Africa. He speaks four languages, English, French, Hungarian and Hebrew. Mr. Laufer graduated (cum laude) in 1972 from Loyola College and with High Honors from the University of Florida School of Law in 1976. Mr. Laufer has been an adjunct professor at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Florida and more recently at the Marymount University School of Business. He is a member of both the Virginia and Florida bars and is a Commissioner in Chancery in Fairfax County. Mr. Laufer has over 35 years of experience in complex litigation in both state and federal courts, including bankruptcy court and has handled thousands of residential and commercial real estate transactions. In recent years Mr. Laufer has litigated numerous cases involving noncompliance by residential builders with the federal Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act. In addition, Mr. Laufer has become a member of the Vaccine Injury Program Bar and the Federal Court of Claims Bar Association and is assisting families with members injured by vaccines, in obtaining compensation pursuant to the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, a federal program whichimmunizes (pun intended) pharmaceutical companies from suit, but substitutes a fund as an alternative. This is a relatively obscure and poorly understood program which, however, represents the only real recourse for those suffering injury from vaccines listed on the Vaccine Injury Table.

With over 15 years of experience in personal injury law, Lisa is dedicated to helping individuals navigate challenging moments with clarity and confidence. She began her career as a defense attorney for a major insurance company, where she handled thousands of cases and gained a deep understanding of how claims are evaluated and defended. She later spent six years at a plaintiff’s firm, advocating for injured individuals and guiding them through the legal process. Today, she uses that insight to effectively advocate for those she represents and work toward meaningful outcomes. Lisa is known for her thoughtful, client-centered approach and her ability to connect with clients and their families on a personal level. She understands that behind every case is a person facing uncertainty, and she is committed to helping them move forward. She finds it especially fulfilling to support injured individuals and help them reach outcomes that allow them to move on with their lives. Originally from Pittsburgh, Lisa attended Penn State University before earning her law degree from The Catholic University of America, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Contemporary Health Law and Policy. She now lives in Loudoun County with her husband, their two sons, and their bernedoodle, Murphy. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling with her family, especially to destinations that include a beach and fishing, as well as exploring her interests in food and wine. She also enjoys event planning, decorating, and visiting local wineries.

Dedicated to making the law accessible for all, Michelle is committed to helping clients navigate the complexities of personal injury law. She strongly believes that everyone deserves to have their voice heard and is eager to amplify the voice of every client. After obtaining a combined Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in English from the University of Georgia, Michelle attended the University of Richmond School of Law where she gained invaluable experience working with vulnerable populations through her numerous internships and externships. From those professional experiences, she has learned the importance of hard work, perseverance, and transparency. A second-generation Korean American, Michelle has lived in the United States and South Korea, providing her with close insight to the lives of immigrant and multicultural communities. She recognizes how comforting and empowering it can be to have a legal advocate by your side, especially for those who may struggle to ask for help. Outside of work, she enjoys taking landscape photos, spending time with her family and friends, and perfecting her recipes.

Stephanie Himel-Nelson has been practicing law for more than 25 years and serves as the firm’s principal estate planning attorney. She believes firmly that everyone needs an estate plan and is dedicated to helping Virginia families safeguard their assets and protect their financial future at every stage of life. Stephanie is licensed in Virginia and Washington, D.C., and is also a seasoned litigator with extensive experience in complex commercial contract litigation, government contracts, construction law, and negotiating and drafting commercial agreements. After more than a decade practicing as a litigator, she co-founded Blue Star Families, an influential nonprofit organization supporting military families nationwide. Originally from Louisiana, Stephanie grew up around the world in a military family. After attending the University of Miami and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, she met her husband, a proud Navy servicemember, before relocating to Virginia. She earned her law degree from The George Washington University Law School, where she served as Executive Notes Editor of the International Law Review. Now based in the Hampton Roads area, Stephanie is expanding the firm’s estate planning practice across the Commonwealth of Virginia. She is deeply committed to community service and has served in numerous leadership roles, including president of the board of directors for her children’s swim clubs, PTA board member, band booster board member, and contracts chair for the Junior League of Norfolk-Virginia Beach. She currently serves as Secretary of the Hampton Roads chapter of the Virginia Women Attorneys Association and as a member of the Programming Committee for the Hampton Roads Estate Planning Council. Outside the office, Stephanie serves as a stroke and turn official for USA Swimming, the Virginia High School League, the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association, and the Virginia Beach Swim League. On weekends, you will often find her on the pool deck at swim meets or cheering on Virginia Tech football, though she still roots for the Miami Hurricanes when the two teams face off.

Afsana Chowdhury founded The Law Office of Afsana Chowdhury, located in Fairfax, VA. She has handled all types of family law cases over her 11-year career, including divorce, child support, child custody, separation agreements, spousal support, and other family legal disputes. Her practice includes a special focus on the issues that arise in military and federal employee divorces. Ms. Chowdhury has experience representing spouses on both sides of these special divorce cases. Ms. Chowdhury is a native of Northern Virginia. She attended Virginia Tech University, where she earned her undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, in political science. After graduation, she attended the University of Richmond School of Law. She was a member of the University of Richmond Law Review editorial board and the Moot Court Board. As a member of the Virginia State Bar, Ms. Chowdhury is admitted to appear in all Virginia state courts. She is also admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Ms. Chowdhury strives to deliver efficient, effective, and professional legal services to her clients. Unlike many family law firms, she offers flat fee billing that provides peace of mind about legal fees and creates an open line of communication with her clients by eliminating surprise bills. Her clients have responded to her client-centered approach to practicing law. She has received Avvo’s Clients’ Choice Award four times. She has a perfect five-star review rating on Facebook and over 50 five-star reviews on Google. She has also earned a perfect 10.0 Superb rating from Avvo.

los Wall is a graduate of the University of Virginia and the George Mason University School of Law. Carlos has extensive experience in Virginia courts including representation of clients before the Virginia Supreme Court. During his 17 years of trial experience has represented more than 3000 individuals charged with misdemeanor and felony offenses. In addition to representing clients from throughout Northern Virginia, Carlos is one of the few attorneys in the area who has been chosen to represent police officers by the Police Benevolent Association. In that capacity, Carlos has represented numerous police officers in various criminal investigations as well as active criminal cases throughout Northern Virginia. Carlos’s effective representation of people in the community, as well as local police officers, has given him the respect of the local prosecutor’s offices and the local bench. Carlos looks forward to using that experience to help you with your case. Prior to becoming a partner at The Gordon Law Firm P.C., Carlos was an associate with Devine, Connell, and Sheldon LLC and served the community as an Assistant Public Defender in Fairfax County. In his previous employment, Mr. Wall was part of a team that defended several high-profile individuals, including Paul Powell, Larry Gooch, and John Allen Muhammad. Carlos is also experienced in immigration law and post-conviction remedies, including appeals, habeas corpus, pardons, restoration of rights petitions, and other extraordinary writs. Carlos also handles the firm’s civil caseload, which includes Personal Injury cases, Medical Malpractice cases, Domestic matters, and Expungements. Carlos was born in El Salvador and he has lived in various countries including Peru, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Ivory Coast. Carlos is fluent in Spanish.

Steve Halfhill concentrates in business, security, commodity and regulatory law, as well as domestic relations, traffic/criminal matters and general litigation. After receiving his J.D. Degree from West Virginia University in 1974, Mr. Halfhill entered the United States Army where he served as a Captain in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Upon completion of his military service, Mr. Halfhill became an Assistant Director in the Commodity Future Trading Commission’s Division of Enforcement and later was Special Counsel to the Director of the Commodity Future Trading Commission’s Division of Trading & Markets. He has been in private practice since 1981, and is a member of the Bars of the District of Columbia, Virginia, and West Virginia. In addition, he is experienced in major federal litigation nationally, and is an experienced appellate practice as well as domestic relations, criminal, traffic, business and homeowners’/condominium association law.