Mary G. Commander

MARY G. COMMANDER was born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1956. She graduated with honors from Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia in 1974. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia where she served for three years as an elected member of the University Senate. In 1981, she graduated with honors from University of Richmond School of Law in Richmond, Virginia. During law school, she was a member of the Law Review Staff (chosen based on grades and a writing competition); Moot Court Board (chosen based on brief writing and oral argument competition) and McNeill Law Society (honorary academic society). She also had an article selected for publication in the University of Richmond Law Review in the Summer, 1981 edition.

Following graduation, Ms. Commander served a one year judicial clerkship (1981-82) with The Honorable John A. MacKenzie, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk, Virginia. Since 1982, she has been engaged in the practice of law in Norfolk, Virginia and surrounding areas.

For 18 years, Ms Commander served as an Administrative Hearing Officer for the State of Virginia in addition to her regular practice. She conducted hearings and decided cases involving employee grievances and terminations.

For 7 years, Ms. Commander served as a substitute judge sitting in Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts and General District Courts throughout the Hampton Roads area on a regular basis.

Ms. Commander is qualified and admitted to practice before The United States Supreme Court; United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit; United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia; United States Tax Court; United States Court of Federal Claims and all Virginia courts.

Ms. Commander is certified by the Supreme Court of Virginia as a guardian ad litem for children and as a guardian ad litem for incapacitated persons.

She also is certified by the Supreme Court of Virginia as a mediator in family cases in all Virginia courts and as a mediator mentor.

Ms. Commander is a member of the American Bar Association (Family Law Section); Virginia State Bar (Family Law Section); Virginia Trial Lawyers Association; Family Law Association of Hampton Roads, Virginia Women Attorneys Association; Norfolk - Portsmouth Bar Association; Virginia Bar Association; National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.

Ms. Commander is a current member of the Board of Trustees of the National Center for Family Law, University of Richmond School of Law; Board of the Intercollegiate Foundation of Old Dominion University and Citizens Advisory Council to the Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (Former Chairperson). She also is an elected member of the Virginia State Bar Council, the entity that governs lawyers in Virginia. She is a past member of the Boards of the Community Mediation Center and the Mt. Trashmore YMCA in Virginia Beach.

She is a member of the Better Business Bureau, Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce and is a Cooperating Attorney with the Lambda Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

Ms. Commander also is a certified Norfolk Master Gardener Volunteer and actively involved in the rescue of former racing greyhounds (with three of her own at home).

She also had articles selected for publication in the University of Richmond Law review in 1981 and 1991.

Ellen C. Carlson EXPERIENCE: 9-1-2010 - COMMANDER & CARLSON, Attorneys & Mediators, Norfolk, VA Present Bankruptcy representation of debtors, creditors and trustees Family law representation in custody, support and divorce matters Mediation services Guardian ad litem services in custody and other matters

7-15-05 - 8-31-2010 HARBOUR LAW, P.L.C., Norfolk, VA

• Prepare and file Chapter 7 and 13 cases for debtor clients
• Represent creditors in bankruptcy cases with respect to dischargeability issues; many of these cases involve former or estranged spouses and have provided significant experience with how bankruptcy and divorce law intersect and affect each other
• Represent clients in regular and collaborative divorce proceedings, including the evaluation of the clients' assets and liabilities, negotiation of appropriate agreements for the allocation of those assets and liabilities and evaluation and advice regarding custody and support arrangements, where applicable
• Mediate (primarily divorce) disputes regularly
• Other areas of representation included estates, real estate, collections, and corporate (primarily small business focus)

1998 -7-15-2005 ROUSSOS, LANGHORNE and CARLSON, P.L.C., Norfolk, VA

• Practice law in areas similar to current practice
• Secured a Fourth Circuit decision barring a debtor's discharge of his property settlement obligation to his ex-spouse

1996 -1998 WRIGHT & CARLSON, P.L.L.C., Virginia Beach, VA

• Practice law in areas similar to current practice

1989 - 1995 KAUFMAN & CANOLES, P.C., Norfolk, VA
Commercial Section, Creditors Rights Practice Group

• Represent secured creditors, primarily banks and trade creditors, in all chapters, with particular emphasis on preserving collateral and obtaining payment during pendency of cases, developing extensive experience in variety of secured transactions
• Wrote and obtained confirmation of creditor plan of liquidation which resulted in full payment of bank client with questionably-secured claim, recovery of all counsel fees paid by client and 99%+ payout to unsecured creditors
• Effected an ex-spouse's recovery of property and lien interest after commencement of ex-husband's bankruptcy proceeding as a result of knowledge of the unique interplay between bankruptcy and domestic relations law
• Pursued effectively for diverse clients a variety of collections actions, including motions for judgment, garnishments and detinue actions on behalf of mobile home financers
• Obtain approval from Immigration and Naturalization Service of L-1, H-2 and permanent resident petitions
• Engage in alternative dispute resolution (mediation)

1988 -1989 MARCUS, SANTORO & KOZAK, Portsmouth, VA
Bankruptcy Associate

• Prepared bankruptcy petitions in Chapter 7 and 11, accompanying clients to meetings of creditors, defending against dischargeability and other complaints, perfecting exemption entitlements and addressing all other issues affecting cases

EDUCATION:

• Marshall-Wythe School of Law, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA
  Juris Doctor, 1988

• Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA
  Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, 1970

PROFESSIONAL:

Admitted to Virginia State Bar, 1988, and to practice in the United States Bankruptcy Court and District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

Member: Virginia State Bar, Virginia Women Attorneys Association, Tidewater Bankruptcy Bar Association (Board), Norfolk-Portsmouth Bar Association; Virginia Institute for Collaborative Practice (VaCP)

Member, Second District (disciplinary) Committee, Virginia State Bar
Supreme Court of Virginia
Certified in Family Mediation and as a Mediator Mentor

Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.
Certified arbitrator for BBB AUTO LINE program

Collaborative Divorce Solutions of Tidewater, Inc. - (former board member)

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES:

Community Mediation Center, Better Business Bureau
Volunteer mediator and mediator mentor in family disputes; volunteer
Bankruptcy instructor for mediation training candidates;

Greater Pinewell Civic League
President 2008-2010

Wellesley College Development Fund
Chair, planned giving for Class of 1970