Still in his early 40s, John E. Byrnes has emerged as one of Virginia’s leading young matrimonial lawyers. Named in 2002 a partner of the well known and widely respected 10-lawyer firm founded and led by Joseph Condo, Byrnes – focused, earnest, even-tempered and the veteran now of hundreds of cases – helps define the firm’s productive culture and reputation for success. Moreover, Byrnes already assumes important leadership roles in the profession, heading a Virginia State Bar Disciplinary Committee, which reviews complaints against attorneys. Some colleagues even suggest there may be, a decade or two from now, a place for Byrnes in the judiciary.

Growing up in Fairfield County, Connecticut, the son of a management consultant, Byrnes was a standout swimmer–his Wilton, CT, club team competed on the national level; he was a state champion in the 200-yard and 500 yard freestyle. It’s a famously demanding sport – “in the pool, six days a week, from 5:30 to 7 every morning” – and Byrnes went on to compete for Berkeley for a year, before “I finally decided I wanted to experience college like everyone else.” After graduating with a degree in English, Byrnes worked for a San Francisco general practice, until his fiancée was admitted to medical school at George Washington University. In Washington – still before law school – Byrnes was a paralegal researcher with a 200-lawyer firm.

When he matriculated at George Mason Law School, his maturity showed quickly: Within a year he was named to the prestigious Dean’s Scholar Program, teaching legal writing; he later served as lead articles editor of the school’s Law Review.

After a clerkship with a Fairfax County Circuitjudge, Byrnes met renowned divorce lawyer Joe Condo (“Everyone in the profession knows Joe – he’s approachable, and he’s interested in the development of young lawyers. He’s a great mentor. The firm was the right fit. So I was fortunate”) joining him in January 1998. He became a named partner at the firm in four years, in his mid 30s – light speed in the legal profession, and giving Byrnes a stature that’s led to several bar appointments in a short time.

Today the firm, in terms of both staff size and cases handled, is one of the largest matrimonial firms in the state, and Byrnes is an influential and productive manager of that team. Most of his practice today is in the jurisdiction of Fairfax County, although he handles cases in all Northern Virginia jurisdictions. First-time clients will find Byrnes no-nonsense, almost low-key, but his evenhanded style has a welcome, calming effect on so many emotionally charged cases. Byrnes and his wife – Dr. Laura Byrnes, a physician with Fairfax Pediatric Associates – have two young children, who both enjoy swimming. Byrnes enjoys travel and a round of golf when he can get away from the office.

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