Education and Background
Caryn was born and raised outside Buffalo, New York. Her first love and passions are reading and writing, which naturally led to a career in law. She attended the State University of New York at Geneseo, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honors in Philosophy and English. From Geneseo, she moved South for warmer weather and attended Washington and Lee School of Law in Lexington, Virginia, graduating cum laude in 2002. During law school, Caryn was a member of the Editorial Board of the Washington and Lee Law Review.
Experience
Having visited her aunt and uncle in Virginia Beach during her childhood, Hampton Roads was a natural choice after law school. Caryn obtained a clerkship with the Norfolk Circuit Court and spent her first year of practice learning the ropes of the courthouse. Caryn then worked for a small firm in Suffolk practicing residential real estate law, before spending over 10 years handling trusts & estate, business, and real estate transactions in Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Most recently, Caryn gained hands-on experience in trust administration as a trust officer for a local investment bank.
Joining Parks Zeigler
Caryn is now the Wills, Trusts & Estates attorney at Parks Zeigler, assisting our clients with Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Estate Administration, Probate Matters, and Guardianships. She also represents business owners and businesses, helping entrepreneurs form new businesses, assisting existing businesses with contracts and real estate transactions, leases, and general guidance, as well as helping business owners with succession planning.
Honors and Recognition
- Accredited Estate Planner of the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils (NAEPC)
- Rated AV® Preeminent™ by Martindale-Hubbell
- 10.0 Rating by AVVO
- Top Lawyer by Coastal Virginia Magazine
- Best Lawyers 2022 by Bestlawyers.com
- Legal Elite by Virginia Business Magazine
- Rising Star in the Business/Corporate category, 2011 – 2015, by Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters
- Recipient of the Walter E. Hoffman Community Service Award from the Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association
- 2011 graduate of LEAD Hampton Roads
Community Involvement
Caryn is a past president of the Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association and a member of the Virginia Beach Bar Association. She also serves as a Director and Treasurer of the Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association Foundation, which generally supports projects that enhance the image of, and builds trust in, the legal system and provides scholarships for high school and law students. Caryn is also currently the Treasurer of the Hampton Roads Estate Planning Council.
Practice Areas
More About Caryn
Outside of her practice of law, Caryn enjoys spending time with her husband, Marc, going on long walks on the beach with their yellow lab and boating when time and weather allow.
