Archives: Team

Kate A. O’Konski

Practice Areas

Wills, Trusts, and Estates:

  • Estate Planning
  • Probate and Estate Administration
  • Contested Wills/Probate/Guardianship Litigation

Family Law:

  • Protective Orders
  • Qualified Domestic Relations Orders

Bar

Virginia State Bar, 2002

Education

George Mason University School of Law, JD, 2002

Mary Washington College, BA (Political Science), 1999

About Kate A. O’Konski

Kate joined Farrell & Croft, P.C. in 2024 as an Associate Attorney in the Wills, Trusts and Estates section and practices in areas including estate planning, probate and estate administration, and contested wills/probate/guardianship litigation. She also litigates protective orders and drafts Qualified Domestic Relations Orders which divide marital pension and retirement accounts in the event of divorce.

Kate graduated from George Mason University School of Law in 2002. Kate came to Farrell & Croft, P.C., bringing with her extensive prior legal experience. She is passionate about the practice of law and believes that all should have access to competent and zealous representation in order to protect their assets, livelihood, and happiness. She is particularly dedicated to the assistance of the elderly and advocacy for victims of domestic abuse.

She was appointed as the Executive Director of the Piedmont Symphony Orchestra in 2018, where she has also played the violin since 2011. She continues her tenure and is proud to perform with the PSO and other local ensembles.

She lives in Nokesville, Virginia, with her three children and two dogs. In addition to playing the violin, she enjoys painting and writing as well as traveling and the study of languages.

Organizations:

  • Prince William County Bar Association
  • Virginia Women Attorneys Association

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    Sherie Kristiansen

    Practice Areas

    Estate Planning:

    • Wealth Strategies
    • Wills
    • Trusts (Revocable and Irrevocable)
    • Financial POA
    • Medical POA
    • College Student/Over Eighteen Financial and Medical POA
    • Uncontested Guardianships and Conservatorships
    • Advice and Assistance in Administration of Estates and Conservatorships
    • Advice and Assistance in Probate Matters
    • Appointments as Executor/Administrators of Estates
    • Appointments as Conservator

    Bar

    Virginia State Bar, 2005

    Education

    Arizona State University, cum laude with BS in justice studies and minor in psychology, 2000

    American University Washington College of Law, 2005

    About Sherie Kristiansen

    Sherie began work on our Wills, Trusts and Estates team in 2020 as a law clerk. During that time she assisted with drafting estate planning documents, the administration of estates and trusts, and provided support in guardianship and conservatorship cases.  In 2022, Sherie reactivated her law license to begin taking on her own Wills, Trusts and Estate clients. Not only does she provide estate planning, but also administers estates, helps families with guardianship and conservator petitions and acts as a guardian and conservator.

    Sherie graduated from Arizona State University in 2000 with a summa cum laude Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology.  In 2005, she graduated from American University Washington College of Law and went on to pass the bar in the summer of 2005. 

    In 2006, she began working for Farrell & Croft providing support for family law cases. She then took a sabbatical from the practice of law beginning in 2008 to stay home with her children. During this time, she volunteered with her boy’s school and their sports teams. In 2010, she returned part-time to Farrell & Croft as a law clerk supporting the family law team in all aspects of family law until 2020 when she began her support of the Wills, Trusts & Estates section.

    She believes that it is vitally important for everyone to have an Estate Plan to ensure that their wishes for their Estate are fulfilled and to help ease the burden of their passing on their family and friends.

    She lives in Manassas, Virginia with her husband and three children. She enjoys traveling both domestically and internationally. She continues to volunteer at her children’s schools and her church.

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      Andrea Morisi

      Practice Areas

      Estate Planning:

      • Wealth Strategies
      • Wills
      • Trusts (Revocable and Irrevocable)
      • Financial POA
      • Medical POA
      • College Student/Over Eighteen Financial and Medical POA
      • Uncontested Guardianships and Conservatorships
      • Advice and Assistance in Administration of Estates and Conservatorships
      • Advice and Assistance in Probate Matters
      • Appointments as Executor/Administrators of Estates
      • Appointments as Conservator

      Bar

      Virginia State Bar, 2000 – present

      Massachusetts, 1989, (inactive)

      Education

      George Washington University, Washington, D.C. Juris Doctorate, 1989

      Master of Health Services Administration, 1990

      Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA

      Bachelor of Science (Biology and Psychology), 1983

      About Andrea Morisi

      Andrea has practiced law for more thirty years specializing in the fields of drafting wills and living trusts in an efficient and cost effective manner. Andrea also assists in the probate of estates, including serving as executor.

      A graduate of Boston College, she earned her Juris Doctorate from the George Washington University National Law Center and is licensed to practice law in the state of Virginia. Her expertise brings to the firm a strong background in financial management and business law as well as corporate governance and litigation having served as Senior Counsel for the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. Her commitment is helping families realize their estate objectives with a concentration in General Estate Planning and related areas.

      Andrea also received a Masters in Health Services Administration, with a concentration in Long Term Care. She has a unique understanding of families facing issues with an older family member such as powers of attorney, guardianships, nursing home placements, and using benefits such as long-term care insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid.

      Andrea, a native Bostonian, resides in Manassas with her husband. She is active in her church and with Capital Caring Hospice.

      Clients have touted her responsiveness, legal knowledge, and ability to translate their needs into an understandable estate plan.

      Organizations

      Capital Caring Hospice

      Virginia Women Attorneys Association

      Prince William County Bar Association

      Virginia State Bar

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        Kathleen L. Farrell

        Practice Areas

        Family Law:

        • Adoptions
        • Child Custody
        • Child Support
        • Divorce
        • Enforcement Of Court Orders
        • Child Abuse
        • Modification Of Custody
        • Modification Of Support
        • Pre-Marital Agreements
        • Property Distributions
        • Marital Debt
        • Protective Orders
        • Separation Agreements
        • Spousal Support
        • Mediation
        • Personal Injury

        Bar

        Virginia State Bar, 1988

        Education

        University of Richmond, TC Williams School of Law Juris Doctorate
        Virginia Tech B.S., Business Administration

        About Kathleen Latham Farrell

        Kathleen Farrell has been helping clients effectively navigate the difficult and stressful personal issues involved in family law cases for over 30 years. She understands the importance of providing her clients with compassionate support and strong advocacy to successfully resolve their unique family law matters. She appreciates the importance of keeping the client well informed and educated in the legal process.

        She has successfully represented clients in a wide array of family law cases including complex divorces, contested custody cases, child and spousal support determinations, valuation and division of closely held businesses, domestic violence, and modification of custody or support cases. She has prevailed on appeal to the Virginia Court of Appeals in the case of Klein v. Klein, Record No. 2826-02-4, July 8, 2003. Her reputation for the successful use of aggressive advocacy and effective negotiation has contributed to the AV Preeminent rating she has earned from both her clients and colleagues.

        Ms. Farrell is a well-respected member of the legal community, having served as President of the Prince William County Bar Association, as a Director in the Prince William County Bar Foundation, as a member of the local section of the Virginia State Bar disciplinary committee, and in many other important leadership positions. Ms. Farrell is also included the Influential Woman of the Law for the Class of 2020. She has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Virginia Tech and a law degree from the University of Richmond. Between her undergraduate and law school education, she worked for several years as a claims adjuster, investigating and settling personal injury and workers’ compensation claims. She takes pride in bringing her reputation, leadership, education, and experience to work for her clients.

         

        Professional Associations and Appointments:

        Virginia State Bar 1988 – Present Family Law Section

        Prince William County Bar Association1988 – Present President, 2002 Director, 2019 – Family Law Committee, Co-Chair, 1995-1999 Community Outreach Committee, Chairperson, 2002-2006 Judicial Liaison Committee, Chairperson, 2002 Judicial Screening Committee, Member, two terms

        Prince William County Bar Foundation Director, 2003-2015

        Virginia Women Attorneys Association 2007 – Present Prince William County Chapter

        Virginia State Bar Fifth District Disciplinary Committee, 2004-2011

        Prince William County Circuit Court Commissioner in Chancery

        Prince William County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Conciliator, 2005-2007

        Fairfax County Circuit Court Neutral Case Evaluator, Property Distribution Cases, 2003 – Present

        AWARDS:

        AV Preeminent® Rating, for the highest level of legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards as rated by their peers, Martindale Hubbell

        Arthur Sinclair Award for Professionalism, Prince William County Bar Association, 2025

        Influential Woman of LawVirginia Lawyer’s Weekly

        Virginia “Go To” Lawyer, Family Law, Virginia Lawyer’s Weekly

        Pro Bono Attorney of the Year, Prince William County Bar Association, 2006

        Top Lawyer, Family Law, Northern Virginia Magazine

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          Catherine S. Croft

          Practice Areas

          Matrimonial and Family Law:

          • Adoptions
          • Child Custody/Modification of Custody
          • Child Support/Modification of Child Support
          • Divorce
          • Mediation
          • Pre-Marital/Pre-Nuptial Agreements
          • Property Distribution
          • Separation Agreements
          • Spousal Support/Modification of Spousal Support

          Bar

          Virginia State Bar, 1988

          Education

          George Mason University School of Law Juris Doctorate, 1988

          Virginia Commonwealth University B.S., Administration of Justice and Public Safety (Juvenile Option), Minor in Psychology, 1980

          Rappahannock Mediation Center Training Basic Mediation and Family and Divorce Mediation Training, 1993

          About Catherine S. Croft

          Catherine Croft is among the top lawyers practicing family law in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating is awarded to only those attorneys who demonstrate significant experience in their chosen area of law and uphold the highest ethical standards. Ms. Croft was also recognized by Virginia Business Magazine as a Legal Elite in 2006, 2022, 2023.

          As adjunct professor for George Mason University’s Department of Criminology, Law and Society, Ms. Croft taught an upper-level course in family law. She has participated as a panel member in various local and multi-jurisdictional continuing legal education courses.

          Ms. Croft was an early advocate in support of — and is a current provider of — mediation services.

          Ms. Croft has a reputation in the Prince William County legal community as a tough litigator and a tireless advocate for her clients in the courtroom. Her record of success reflects her experience as well as her dedication to clients’ well-being. Ms. Croft’s ability to think on her feet, as well as her creative problem-solving skills, serve her as well today in the courtroom as they do at the negotiation or mediation table. While Ms. Croft’s preference is to resolve issues without contested litigation, she is prepared to litigate when necessary.

          Ms. Croft graduated in the top seventeen percent of her class, and was a member of the law review, at George Mason University School of Law, one of the 50 top-ranked law schools in the United States. Having received excellent mentoring herself, she is also committed to helping shape the careers and training of younger Prince William County attorneys. Her client base is evenly divided by gender, representing as many men as she does women. Even so, as founding President of the Prince William Chapter of the Virginia Women Attorneys Association, she encourages and promotes the advancement of women in the community and in the legal profession.

          Ms. Croft’s passion for family law is longstanding and predates her legal training. As an undergraduate, Ms Croft obtained her B.S. in Administration of Justice and Public Safety, Juvenile Option, from Virginia Commonwealth University. Prior to law school, Ms. Croft worked as a paralegal for the Veterans Administration tracking veterans’ legislation through Congress and writing for the VA Legislative Status Report. Thereafter she worked as a family law paralegal for a private legal services firm representing local union members.

          ORGANIZATIONS:

          Virginia State Bar 1988 – Present Speakers Bureau 2000 – Present

          Prince William County Bar Association 1988 – Present Secretary, 1991 Treasurer, 1992 Family Law Committee, 1989-2001 — Chair, 1992-1994 — Co-Chair, 1995-1999 Continuing Legal Education Committee, Chair, 2001-2006 Beat the Odds Mentor 2003 – Present

          Prince William County Bar Foundation Director, 2011 – 2017 President, 2014

          Virginia Women Attorneys Association (VWAA) 2007 – Present

          Prince William County Chapter (VWAA) — Board Member, 2007-2013 — Founding President, 2007-2008 State Organization, Director at Large, 2007-2014

          Prince William County Circuit Court Commissioner in Chancery Conciliator 2006 – Present Special Commissioner of Accounts, 1996-2003 Court Appointed Conservator, 2003 

          Prince William County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Conciliator, 2005-2013

          Prince William County Circuit Court Conciliator, 2005-present

          Center for the Arts DBA ARTfactory: Board of Directors 2019 – 2025

          AWARDS:

          Prince William County Bar Association – Sinclair Award, 2019

          Prince William Chapter VWAA – Justicia Award – 2023.

          Chosen as a 2025 Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters

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