Attorney Biographies
Andrew T. Elders
Andrew Elders has represented thousands of clients in private practice and as a former Assistant Public Defender for Fairfax County. As a Public Defender, he handled the full range of traffic and criminal misdemeanor charges including Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), Reckless Driving, Assault, Petit Larceny, and Possession of Marijuana. He also has handled numerous felony charges, including Grand Larceny, Obtaining Money by False Pretenses (Fraud), Drug Possession and Distribution, Aggravated Sexual Battery, Malicious Wounding and Aggravated Malicious Wounding, Rape, and Murder.
Mr. Elders is an experienced trial attorney whose jury trials have resulted in numerous acquittals, including acquittals for life offenses. He also has extensive experience guiding clients suffering from mental illness and substance abuse through the complexities of the criminal justice system.
Mr. Elders graduated cum laude from Duke University in 1999 and earned his law degree cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center in 2002. During law school, he served as an intern for the Honorable Ellen Segal Huvelle of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Before working at the Office of the Public Defender, Mr. Elders worked for a Washington, D.C. securities and litigation defense firm.
Email Andrew (Andrew@EldersZinicola.com)
Todd M. Zinicola
Todd Zinicola is a former Assistant Public Defender for Fairfax County. During his legal career, he has defended clients charged with misdemeanor crimes and traffic offenses including Reckless Driving and Speeding, Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), and Hit and Run. His felony experience includes Grand Larceny, Fraud, Possession with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of Controlled Substances, Burglary, Robbery, and Sex Offenses. Mr. Zinicola has tried cases before over a dozen juries and has represented clients in courts throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Mr. Zinicola is a lifelong resident of Fairfax County. He grew up in Reston and attended South Lakes High School. He graduated from James Madison University in 2000 with a degree in business and earned his law degree cum laude from the University of the District of Columbia in 2004.
Email Todd (Todd@EldersZinicola.com)
Patrick M. Blanch
As an Assistant Public Defender for Fairfax County, Patrick Blanch represented clients charged with misdemeanors including Driving While Intoxicated, Reckless Driving, Driving on a Suspended License, Petit Larceny, Possession of Marijuana, Assault, and Indecent Exposure. He also worked on many felony cases including Grand Larceny, Embezzlement, Construction Fraud, Drug Possession and Distrubution, Felony Assault, Robbery, and Rape.
Mr. Blanch is an accomplished and innovative DWI trial attorney with particular experience dealing with legal and technical defenses. Mr. Blanch’s experience in DWI cases extends to the Court of Appeals of Virginia and Supreme Court of Virginia, where he has successfully argued numerous DWI-related cases, including briefing and arguing the Court of Appeals’ recent decision in Grant v. Commonwealth, which clarified the rights of Virginia drivers following the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts.
Mr. Blanch graduated from the George Washington Law School after earning his Bachelor of Arts degree at Millersville University of Pennsylvania. During law school, he worked at a Corporate Compliance and Lobbying firm in Washington, D.C.
Email Patrick (Patrick@EldersZinicola.com)
