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 distinguished having been inducted into all three of the top family law fellowships. She is a fellow with 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 fellowship with the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA). This is a collective of less than 500 attorneys worldwide who lead the nation in handling challenging adoptions and assisted reproduction technology matters. Additionally, Cynthia is a fellow with the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL), a group comprised of the leading attorneys handling complicated international matters. Chaing Anders is one of the few law firms with fellows in all three fellowships.

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 complex litigation.

In 2024, Who's Who of America honored Cynthia because of her accomplishments 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.

Allison W. Anders, Esq.

Allison has exclusively practiced family law since 2006, bringing 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 family law litigation. 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 “Super Lawyer” and "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. In 2025, she was named one of the Influential Women in Law by Virginia Lawyers Weekly. Additionally, she holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and a perfect 10.0 rating on Avvo. Beyond her casework, Allison has shared 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.

Alex represents clients in a broad range of family law matters, including divorce, custody, visitation, support, adoptions, enforcement of court orders, and other contested family law proceedings. She approaches each case with a thoughtful and strategic mindset, combining careful legal analysis with an understanding of the personal and emotional considerations inherent in family law disputes. Alex is committed to providing clear guidance, diligent advocacy, and practical solutions while helping clients navigate complex legal processes and significant life transitions. Whether through negotiation or litigation, she strives to achieve meaningful and lasting resolutions tailored to each client's unique circumstances.

Prior to entering the legal profession, Alex spent several years working in the insurance industry, developing extensive experience in client advocacy, clear communication, and effective problem-solving. This background continues to inform her legal practice, particularly in navigating contested issues, guiding clients through difficult decisions, and maintaining professionalism in adversarial environments.

Alex earned her Juris Doctor from Regent University School of Law, where she developed a strong foundation in civil litigation, legal writing, and advocacy. Her experience in complex legal research and drafting includes contributing to the revision and publication of the 7th and 8th editions of Federal Civil Pretrial Practice & Procedure, a comprehensive casebook addressing procedural issues and litigation strategy. During law school, she also competed in national moot court competitions, earning semifinalist honors at the Brigadier General Wayne E. Alley Military Law Moot Court Competition and quarterfinalist honors at the Cardozo FAME Intellectual Property Law Moot Court Competition.

Originally from Juneau, Alaska, Alex 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 traveling.

Lauren T. Kotlar

Lauren earned her Juris Doctor from Regent University School of Law, where she graduated with distinction, receiving the Most Inspirational Award from the law school faculty for her academic and extracurricular excellence while balancing being a mom of two young children and a military spouse. While at law school, she competed in multiple prestigious national Moot Court competitions, including being a semifinalist among 42 teams at the William B. Spong, Jr. Moot Court Competition hosted by William and Mary School of Law and serving as one of the coaches for the team that won the Hicks Thomas Moot Court National Championship. Also, while there, Lauren earned an award for the highest grade in trial practice and served as the Hassell Competition Director of the Moot Court Board.

Since 2023, Lauren has worked at Chaing Anders, assisting the litigation teams in analyzing legal issues, developing trial strategies, and preparing evidence. Her work includes collaborating on very complex cases, including analyzing financial records for business valuations, navigating jurisdictional challenges across numerous states, handling aspects of an international divorce, and assisting with administrative and circuit court appeals in CPS cases.