Melone Hatley earns first Best Law Firms ranking for family law

Melone Hatley, P.C. received its first Best Law Firms recognition in the 2027 edition, landing a Regional Tier 3 ranking for family law in the Washington, D.C. metro area. The win spotlights the firm’s Reston office and comes after three Virginia attorneys earned individual Best Lawyers honors for 2027.

Why it matters: - The ranking gives Melone Hatley, P.C. third-party validation in a competitive legal market. - The recognition can strengthen the firm’s profile with family law clients across Northern Virginia and the broader Washington, D.C. region. - The award also signals momentum as the firm expands its family law and estate planning work across Virginia, Florida, South Carolina, and Texas.

What happened: - Melone Hatley, P.C. earned its first Best Law Firms recognition in the 2027 edition. - The firm received a Regional Tier 3 ranking for Family Law in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. - The recognition is tied to Melone Hatley’s Reston, Virginia office. - The office serves clients throughout Northern Virginia and the greater Washington, D.C. region. - The ranking was announced as part of the 2027 Best Law Firms results.

The details: - Best Law Firms evaluates law firms by practice area and geographic market. - The evaluation uses feedback from clients, fellow attorneys and other research. - Melone Hatley said the ranking reflects the work of its Northern Virginia family law team. - The team handles divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support and other family law matters. - Charles Hatley, CEO of Melone Hatley, said the recognition reflects the firm’s hiring and service standards as the firm continues to grow. - Rebecca Melone, founder and managing partner, said the client and attorney feedback in the evaluation makes the recognition especially meaningful. - The complete 2027 Best Law Firms rankings are available at Best Law Firms.

Between the lines: - The firm’s first group ranking follows separate individual honors for three Virginia attorneys in the 2027 Best Lawyers awards. - Andrew “Andy” Patzig of Reston was named to The Best Lawyers in America. - Erik McCauley of Virginia Beach was named to The Best Lawyers in America. - William Vazquez of Reston was recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America. - The mix of firm-level and individual recognition suggests Melone Hatley is building visibility both for its practice and for specific attorneys.

What's next: - Melone Hatley is likely to use the ranking to support continued growth in its family law and estate planning practices. - The Reston office will remain a key hub for the firm’s Northern Virginia client base. - The firm’s next benchmark will be whether it can improve on the Regional Tier 3 ranking in future editions.

The bottom line: - Melone Hatley turned a growing regional presence into its first Best Law Firms ranking, giving the Reston-based family law practice a new credential in a crowded market.