Douglas Sanderson
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
United States
Profession(s)
LawyerCollaborative practice provides a terrific opportunity to help my clients to identify and pursue a process of divorcing that is more client-controlled and safer than traditional, litigation-based divorce. I enjoy this practice area especially because I see that it probably is the best feasible way to achieve a respectful, less painful divorce. It can be the optimal approach for divorcing couples and their children, and for aging couples too. If both spouses agree to work within the collaborative divorce process, it can allow them to take the lead to identify and implement cooperatively a resolution of their marital issues, without fighting through the courts. The environment is client controlled, while being supported by legal and other professional support and guidance. It also tends to facilitate divorcing families identifying and establishing an amicable working relationship for future co-parenting.
Professional Activities
“Virginia Business” magazine has named Mr. Sanderson as one of its “Legal Elite” attorneys in Virginia, in the practice area of family law, in all but one year since the inception of the list in 2000, based on a statewide survey of attorneys by the magazine. He frequently has been named a "Superlawyer" for the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, by the magazine of the same name; maintains the highest, “a v,” ratings from Martindale-Hubbell; and regularly has been listed in Who's Who publications for the South and Southwest, for America, for American Law, and for the World. Mr. Sanderson has been an active volunteer in northern Virginia. He has served since 1991 as volunteer legal counsel to the Arts Council of Fairfax County, Inc. He is or has been a member of the Boards of Directors of his Temple, his family's swim and tennis club, Legal Services of Northern Virginia, Inc. (of which he served as President from 1993 through 1996) and of the Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce. He has served on the Site Selection Committee for Habitat for Humanity and on the Board of Communities of Faith United for Housing. He is honored to have become a 2016 recipient of the Certificate of Merit from the Fairfax Federation of Citizens Associations for his work on the Arts Council.Undergraduate Education
Trinity College, Hartford, CT, B.A. Economics 1974
Professional Education
George Washington University, Washington, DC, J.D. 1977