Caryn Rivett West

Caryn Rivett West was born near Buffalo, New York, and developed a passion for reading and writing early in life, guiding her toward a legal career. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honors in Philosophy and English from the State University of New York at Geneseo. Seeking warmer climates, Caryn attended the Washington and Lee School of Law in Lexington, Virginia, where she graduated cum laude in 2002 and contributed to the Editorial Board of the Washington and Lee Law Review.

After law school, Caryn chose Norfolk, inspired by childhood visits to Virginia Beach. She began her career with a clerkship at the Norfolk Circuit Court, gaining valuable courtroom experience. Caryn then practiced residential real estate law at a small firm in Suffolk before dedicating over a decade to trusts & estates, business, and real estate law in Norfolk. Her recent role as a trust officer at a local investment bank provided her with hands-on trust administration experience, preparing her to lead as the Wills, Trusts & Estates attorney at Parks Zeigler.

Caryn has been a committed member of the Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association since 2002, serving as its President in 2018. She is also a Director and Treasurer of the Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association Foundation, supporting initiatives that enhance the legal system's image and provide scholarships. Additionally, Caryn serves on the Board of the Hampton Roads Estate Planning Council.

Outside her legal practice, Caryn enjoys beach walks and boating with her husband, Marc, and their two yellow labs.