About Jace M.
Jace M. Padden grew up studying the humanities before turning to law. He earned a B.A. from the University of Virginia in 1998 and completed his J.D. at the University of Richmond School of Law in 2006. Those years shaped his approach to practice: careful reading, direct questions and an emphasis on practical solutions.
After law school Padden began building a practice in Virginia. He joined DeFazio Bal PC, where he has worked on matters that intersect family relationships and legal process. Colleagues describe him as deliberate in preparation and steady in court. He balances courtroom work with negotiated resolutions.
Padden’s professional affiliations reflect the areas of law that occupy his time. He belongs to the Metro Richmond Family Law Bar Association and the Chesterfield Bar Association. He is a member of Virginia Collaborative Professionals and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. He previously served as a co-president of Collaborative Professionals of Richmond. Those roles expand his network and give him regular contact with other lawyers, mediators and family professionals.
Child welfare and community involvement feature prominently in Padden’s outside work. He is a current board member of Prevent Child Abuse Virginia and formerly served on the board of Chesterfield CASA. Those positions have kept him tied to nonprofit governance and the practical challenges facing families and service providers.
Within his firm and through collaborative groups, Padden participates in case planning that often involves parenting plans, custody questions and support arrangements. He works on negotiated agreements and also litigates when settlement is not possible. He tends to the procedural details that keep cases moving and to the client questions that make long matters more manageable.
Padden’s colleagues point to an evenhanded courtroom style and an interest in cooperative processes as distinguishing aspects of his work. He continues to maintain memberships in local and national collaborative and family law organizations. He practices in Virginia and maintains an active role at DeFazio Bal PC, handling family law and collaborative law matters as part of his current practice focus.
