OUR TEAM

Cynthia L. Chaing, Esq.

Cynthia graduated summa cum laude from the University of Rio Grande, where she received her Bachelor’s of Arts degree in English, graduating with additional full honors. In 2003, Cynthia earned her Juris Doctor from Regent University School of Law. She furthered her legal education by studying under Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, of the Supreme Court of the United States, including studying with him at the University of Oxford and four international courts.

Cynthia has spent her entire career practicing family law. She is a member of the Virginia Beach Bar Association, Virginia Bar Association, and the Virginia State Bar. She chairs the CLASS Program for the Virginia Beach Bar Association, which coordinates local attorneys each week to provide free legal services in protective order matters.

Cynthia is a distinguished dual-certified fellow. She has been inducted into the esteemed American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML). This organization is comprised of the nation's most experienced and skilled family law attorneys, recognized for their proficiency in complex matrimonial matters. This prestigious honor complements her other fellowship with the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA). This is an elite collective of less than 500 attorneys worldwide. The AAAA attorneys lead the nation in handling challenging adoptions and assisted reproduction technology matters. Chaing Anders is one of the few law firms in the nation with fellowships in both the AAML and the AAAA.

Cynthia regularly handles complicated divorces, pre-marital and post-marital agreements, high asset distribution, contested and uncontested adoptions of every nature, contracts involving assisted reproduction technology, custody and visitation matters, violations of court orders, and other matters. She provides very candid yet compassionate advice to her clients. Her friendly, yet systematic and analytical approach enables her to help clients achieve favorable results in both collaborative agreements and intricate litigation.

In 2024, Who's Who of America honored Cynthia because of her accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in her field. In 2023, Virginia Lawyers Weekly honored Cynthia for her achievements and reputation amongst her peers and named her a member of the Most Influential Women of Law. She also has been recognized by Best Lawyers In America, Best Law Firms in America, Phi Delta Phi an international legal fraternity founded in 1869, Super Lawyers, Virginia Business Legal Elite, Top Lawyer by Coastal Virginia Magazine, and is platinum rated by Martindale-Hubbell. She has presented courses regarding complex family law matters and changes in the adoption statutes.

When she is not practicing law, Cynthia enjoys spending time with her husband, her daughter, and her son. When it comes to her favorite hobby of hiking, one of her children is happy to be by her side and it takes a little bribery to get her other child and husband on the trails.

Publications: Cynthia L. Chaing, "Will the Real Constructive Desertion Please Stand Up," Virginia Family Law Quarterly, Vol. 44, No. 2

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Allison W. Anders, Esq.

Allison has exclusively practiced family law since 2006, bringing nearly two decades of specialized experience to her clients. Her legal career began after earning her Juris Doctor from Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans in 2001. Following graduation, she returned to the region to clerk for an Administrative Law Judge with the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. Before establishing her current practice, Allison built a robust background in litigation and negotiation. She was an associate at McKenry, Dancigers, Dawson & Lake, and later rose to partner positions at both Kaufman & Canoles (2006–2015) and Parks Zeigler (2015–2022).

A leader in her field, Allison is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and currently serves as President-Elect of its Virginia Chapter. A dedicated member of the Virginia Beach Bar Association (VBBA), she served on its board from 2019 to 2025 and led the organization as President in 2024. Allison is also active in the Virginia State Bar (VSB), sitting on the Executive Committee of the Conference of Local and Specialty Bar Associations since 2021. To further her commitment to the profession, she maintains memberships in the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (VTLA) and the Virginia Bar Association (VBA), where she has been a member of the Family Law Coalition since 2015.

Allison has earned widespread recognition for professional excellence. Her accolades include recognition by Best Lawyers®, a "Rising Star" designation from Super Lawyers, and inclusion in Super Lawyers’ "Top 50 Women in Virginia" and "Top 100 Super Lawyers in Virginia" lists. She has been named "Legal Elite" by Virginia Business magazine and a "Top Lawyer" by Coastal Virginia Magazine. Additionally, she holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and a perfect 10.0 rating on Avvo. Beyond her casework, Allison frequently shares her expertise as a moderator, presenter, and panelist for Virginia CLE, the VTLA, and the National Business Institute.

Committed to her community, Allison is a past member of the Board of Directors for REACH (Reading Enriches All Children), Inc., a local non-profit. Outside the office, she cherishes time with her husband, son, and their two dogs. An outdoor-loving family, they enjoy beach days, swimming, fishing, paddle boarding, camping, and hiking. When she isn’t outside, Allison is an avid reader who loves a good suspense novel.

Alexandra D. Wood, Esq.

Alexandra graduated cum laude from the University of Massachusetts, where she received her Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Philosophy. In 2014, Alexandra earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Richmond School of Law where she graduated cum laude. While there, she focused her studies on family law and earned a Certificate of Concentration in Family Law with distinction, reflecting a GPA of 3.5 or higher in advanced family law course work. Alexandra exclusively has practiced family law since 2014. She brings a thoughtful and pragmatic approach to family law, offering direct and honest advice while addressing each matter with professionalism and sensitivity. She has extensive experience handling complicated family matters, including jurisdictional issues, division of extensive assets, contract disputes, tracing marital waste and hidden assets, and custodial relocation arguments.

Alexandra has been honored by numerous organizations, including being recognized by Best Lawyers, rated a Rising Star by Super Lawyers, and named Legal Elite by Virginia Business magazine. She is a member of the Virginia State Bar, the Virginia Beach Bar Association, and the Virginia Bar Association. Beyond practicing law, Alexandra serves on the Independent Citizens Review Board for the City of Virginia Beach. The Virginia Beach City Council appointed her to a law enforcement civilian oversight body where she works to ensure that reports of the Police Department’s Internal Affairs Office investigations involving abuse of authority or other serious misconduct are complete, accurate, and factually supported.

Alexandra resides in Virginia Beach with her husband, a Virginia Beach native and fellow attorney, and their three sons. She spends much of her time attending her children’s athletic events and volunteering at their schools. In her limited free time, she enjoys paddleboarding at the beach, reading, and pickleball.

Alexandria K. Hayward, Esq.

Alexandria earned her Juris Doctor from Regent University School of Law, where she established a strong foundation in civil litigation, legal writing, and advocacy. She has substantial experience in complex legal analysis and drafting, including her work revising and publishing the 7th and 8th editions of Federal Civil Pretrial Practice & Procedure, a comprehensive casebook addressing procedural issues and litigation strategy. Also while in law school, she competed in prestigious national Moot Court competitions, including being a semifinalist at the Brigadier General Wayne E. Allen Military Law Moot Court Competition and being a quarterfinalist at the Cardozo FAME Intellectual Property Law Moot Court Competition.

Alexandria represents clients in a broad range of family law matters, including divorce, custody, visitation, support, adoptions, enforcement of court orders, and many other areas of litigation. She approaches each case with a thoughtful and strategic mindset, combining careful legal analysis with an appreciation for the personal and emotional considerations inherent in family law disputes. Alexandria is committed to providing clear guidance, diligent advocacy, and practical solutions for her clients while navigating complex legal processes and significant life transitions, whether matters are resolved through negotiation or litigation.

Prior to entering the legal profession, Alexandria spent several years working in the insurance industry, gaining extensive experience in client advocacy rooted in clear communication and effective problem-solving. This experience continues to shape her practice, particularly in managing contested issues, guiding clients through high-stakes decisions, and maintaining professionalism in adversarial environments.

Originally from Juneau, Alaska, Alexandria earned her undergraduate degree from Montana State University before ultimately settling in Virginia, which she now proudly calls home. Outside of the office, she enjoys staying active, spending time outdoors, and exploring new places. She values time with family and friends and appreciates opportunities to recharge through hiking and travel.

Lauren T. Kotlar

Lauren is a rising legal professional known for her compassionate advocacy and wide-ranging practical experience. Currently, she is a third-year law student at Regent University School of Law where she has distinguished herself through both academic and extracurricular excellence. She is in the Honors Program and has excelled in oral advocacy, research, and writing.She also has competed in prestigious national Moot Court competitions, including being a semifinalist out of 42 teams at the William B. Spong, Jr. Moot Court Tournament hosted by William and Mary and recently coaching the team that won the Hicks Thomas Moot Court National Championship.

Additionally, Lauren serves as the Hassell Competition Director of the Moot Court Board, organizing and coordinating a national Moot Court competition for law schools from around the country.Before entering law school, Lauren earned her B.S. from the University of Cincinnati, where she was a student-athlete and team captain of the women’s rowing team. She then worked in property management and the fitness industry for ten years prior to entering law school.

Since 2023, Lauren has worked as a legal assistant and apprentice to Cynthia Chaing, working closely with her on many complex cases, including analyzing financial records and other evidence, actively assisting in trial preparation, navigating jurisdictional challenges across numerous states, implementing litigation strategies, and handling aspects of a complicated international divorce. After graduation, Lauren will be joining Chaing Anders as a full-time associate.