Practice Area:Child Custody & Visitation, Divorce, Family
Steven M. Garver is an accomplished trial attorney and divorce mediator. Having moved to Reston, Virginia in 1974 with his family, and Steven developed a diverse legal practice, with litigation experience in personal injury, medical malpractice, civil rights actions, domestic relations, and criminal cases. He also has significant experience in corporate, business and transactional work. Steven has tried to verdict personal injury cases, medical malpractice cases, felonies and business litigation. He has also tried numerous domestic relations matters.
In 1979, Steven became one of the first attorney mediators handling divorce cases. He is self-taught and was driven to the field by what he saw as unnecessary expense, both emotionally and financially, in the divorce process.
Steven more recently studied at the Harvard Mediation and Negotiation project to expand his skills as a mediator, and is now doing divorce mediation through Divorce Mediation Associates, Ltd. His diverse legal background gives him a special advantage in understanding many of the legal issues faced by families in this complex world.
He is an adjunct professor for George Mason University Law School teaching classes including a course in negotiation. Mr. Garver is a certified mediator by the Supreme Court.
Education
University of Maryland
J.D., George Mason University
Admissions
Virginia, 1975
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, 1975
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, 1976
U.S. Supreme Court, 1979
U.S. Tax Court, 1976
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1977
Court of Appeals of Virginia
Supreme Court of Virginia, 1975
Maryland, D.C. and Florida, pro hac vice
Professional Associations
Academy of Professional Family Mediators
Association of Attorney Mediators
Virginia Bar Association
Fairfax Bar Association
Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
American Association for Justice
Member of a 2007 delegation which went to China and met with members of the bar, law students and judges of the Courts, where by special order from a Justice of China’s Supreme Court, he had the rare opportunity to view a Chinese trial
