Members

Northern Virginia: Counties and Cities of Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Alexandria, Arlington U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Alexandria

Right out of law school, Gretchen knew she wanted to work in criminal defense. For two years, she worked as an Assistant Public Defender in Roanoke, Virginia, her first murder case being only six months after she passed the bar. Finding a passion for criminal law, she went on to be a prosecutor in Newport News for five years, gaining invaluable experience of the prosecutorial mindset, and forging connections in the legal community. During this time, Gretchen recognized the importance of educating the next generation, teaching as an Adjunct Professor of Law at her alma mater William & Mary. In 2002, realizing that her calling was defending and helping people charged with various crimes, Gretchen served as an Assistant Federal Public Defender in the Eastern District of Virginia for seven years. Reflecting on her time working for both sides of the government, Gretchen was recently quoted by Super Lawyers Magazine as recognizing that “sometimes justice means you let someone go or you give them a chance for redemption.” Having worked for the government for over a decade, she decided in 2008 to move to Northern Virginia and open her own law practice, incorporating as Taylor Law Company in 2011, where she practiced criminal law until joining a boutique firm in January 2022. In August 2023, Gretchen joined Scrofano Law PC to the Fairfax, Virginia office and lead the Virginia criminal practice group. She continues to represent defendants throughout Northern Virginia in both state and federal courts. She also represents individuals involved in protective order cases, expungements, and firearm rights restoration petitions. Gretchen’s practice expands beyond typical criminal defense attorneys -she has a particular passion for defending juveniles charged with crimes. While the focus for the state is on the crime, she focuses on the individual, as this is a turning point in their life that helps define their future. As a parent of two teenagers, Gretchen can place herself in other parents’ shoes and can partner with them in rehabilitation. She was also one of the founding members of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association and is currently a member of their Board of Directors. Her practice has even expanded beyond defending just people, as she has successfully defended dogs who animal control believed were dangerous but were simply misunderstood. Her clients know her as “an honorable, ethical, and kind woman who drastically altered the course of my life simply by doing her job.” She has been recognized as a Super Lawyer repeatedly over the last several years and is considered an AVVO Top Attorney. Gretchen is both a relentless fighter and compassionate criminal defense attorney, and she always fights for justice. She lives in Herndon with her children, her husband Chris, and her Black Labrador, Chase.

B.A. Communications, Virginia Tech 1992 J.D. College of William & Mary 1995