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Mr. Ash, CRE, joined Carlin & Ward in 2019 bringing 15 years of experience in real estate law for public projects to the representation of property owners in eminent domain acquisitions. Now a partner at Carlin, Ward, Ash & Heiart, LLC, his practice focuses on real estate litigation and trial advocacy in eminent domain matters and tax appeals. He collaborates with experts in various disciplines including real estate appraisers, engineers, planners, and environmental consultants. Mr. Ash is certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a certified civil trial attorney, handling all aspects of condemnation valuation jury trials, commissioner hearings, and tax appeals in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Court, Tax Court, Supreme Court, and United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and Southern District of New York. In 2018, he was awarded the CRE® designation by the Counselors of Real Estate®, an international group of real estate professionals recognized as leading advisors in complex real property matters with approximately 1,000 members worldwide, of which only about 50 are practicing attorneys. Mr. Ash has been recognized as “Rising Star” and Super Lawyer in Eminent Domain 2012 through 2022. He earned his B.A. degree from Rutgers University and his J.D. degree from New England School of Law.

Benjamin H. Haftel is a trial lawyer with over three decades of litigation experience and an exceptional record of success at trial. During his career, Mr. Haftel has handled a wide range of catastrophic injury matters involving birth injuries, medical device and pharmaceutical products liability, sexual assault, and traumatic brain injuries. His aggressive and strategic approach to discovery, depositions, and cross-examination has made him one of New Jersey’s successful defense attorneys and has led to his retention in other high-exposure commercial and estate, employment, fraud, toxic tort, construction liability, municipal and police liability, defamation, and select criminal defense matters where he is highly regarded for his client-focused representation. For more than 30 years, Mr. Haftel has successfully defended doctors, nurses, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other allied healthcare providers and facilities at trial in the Superior Court of New Jersey and Supreme Court of New York, alternative dispute forums, and state licensure proceedings. He has also successfully represented clients before the Appellate Division and Supreme Court of New Jersey, having achieved success on behalf of Mt. Sinai Medical Center on the application of Choice of Law Principles before the New Jersey Supreme Court.

Mr. McCarthy is an accomplished litigator who worked in the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office for several years. He has significant motion practice experience, has conducted bench and jury trials, and prosecuted white-collar financial crimes.

Mr. Minde is a trial partner with Dughi, Hewit & Domalewski and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He joined the firm in 2014, bringing with him legal experience in both government and private sectors. His practice focuses on representing individuals and businesses charged with criminal offenses or undergoing criminal investigations, defending physicians and hospitals charged with medical malpractice or healthcare billing matters, defending individuals before professional licensing boards, and handling complex civil-litigation matters. Representing a vast array of businesses and individuals in high-stakes civil matters, as well as those investigated and charged with federal and state crimes, Mr. Minde uses the techniques and strategies he learned as a former prosecutor to swiftly resolve his clients’ cases. Mr. Minde is often able get the charges against his clients dropped without the need to move through the litigation process. However, when this is not possible, Mr. Minde works quickly and tirelessly to achieve the most advantageous outcomes possible for those he represents. Though he endeavors to help his clients avoid the expense of going to trial, Mr. Minde is an aggressive courtroom litigator who is relentlessly focused on winning favorable verdicts.

Ms. Voorhis is a graduate of The College of New Jersey, formerly known as Trenton State College, where she earned a B.S. degree in Nursing in 1985. She attended Pace University School of Law and was a Member of the Health Law Division of the John Jay Legal Services Clinic and a member of the Pace Law Review. In 1992 she received her J.D. degree with Ranking Scholar Honors. She was admitted to the New Jersey State Bar in 1992 and the New York State Bar in 1993. In addition to her involvement in law, Ms. Voorhis practiced as a registered nurse and brings to law a unique understanding of the health care professional. Ms. Voorhis also has had the opportunity to be a guest professor in the Law and Medicine course at the Fordham Law School and has been a program speaker with the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Iona College, and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Jeffrey R. Youngman, Esq. is a member of the New Jersey Bar. He received his B.A. degree from Tulane University in 1983 and his J.D. degree from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1986. Prior to joining the firm, he served as Law Clerk to the Hon. Frederic Weber, J.S.C., of the Superior Court of New Jersey. He lectures to the New Jersey Bar on an annual basis concerning issues related to harassment, intimidation and bullying. Among his reported cases are Dixon v. Jacoben Mfg Co., 270 N.J. Super. 569 (App. Div.1994), cert. denied 136 N.J. 295 (1997), a leading case in the field of product liability; and DuHamell v. Renal Care Group East, Inc., 431 N.J. Super. 93 (Law Div. 2012), a leading case regarding the reimbursement of Medicare liens. He lives in Morris County with his wife (a bankruptcy attorney) and two children and enjoys spending his free time with them.

Ms. Ward specializes in insurance defense. With over a decade of experience, she has developed expertise in personal injury, employment law, domestic relations, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), and comprehensive trial preparation. In her current role, Ms. Ward is responsible for document drafting, case management, and conducting legal research. Throughout her career, she has worked on complex matters, including ERISA long-term disability cases and intricate personal injury claims. Ms. Ward is certified in Westlaw and LexisNexis, enhancing her legal research capabilities and ensuring the precision and efficiency of her work. Additionally, she is committed to mentoring and training the next generation of paralegals, sharing her extensive knowledge and fostering professional growth. Outside of her legal career, Ms. Ward is an avid barrel racer, demonstrating the same dedication and competitive drive she brings to her professional endeavors. She is deeply motivated by the continuous opportunities for growth and learning within the dynamic field of law.

Samah (“Sam”) T. Abukhodeir was born and raised in Lake Wales, Florida. Following high school, Ms. Abukhodeir moved to Tallahassee, Florida, to pursue a B. S degree in Psychology with a minor in Arabic and Child Development at Florida State University. Ms. Abukhodeir obtained her J.D. degree from Florida International University College of Law, where she was on the Dean’s List and earned two CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in Islamic/Sharia Law and Judicial Externship. While in law school, Ms. Abukhodeir worked as a graduate assistant to law professor Cyra Choudhury and was a judicial intern for the Honorable Marisa Tinkler Mendez, Circuit Court Judge in the Criminal Division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade, Florida, and the Honorable Maria M. Korvick, Circuit Court Judge in the Probate Division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade, Florida.

Ms. Daddino focuses her practice on elder law, estate planning, and guardianships. She developed her passion for assisting the elderly due to her upbringing surrounded by aging family members, including being raised with the help of not only a great-grandmother, but also her maternal grandparents. Ms. Daddino attended Wake Forest University School of Law and is licensed in both North Carolina and South Carolina. She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and serves on the board of the North Carolina Chapter. She is also a member of the North Carolina Bar Association Estate Planning and Fiduciary Law Section and serves as a council member for the North Carolina Bar Association Elder Law Section. In South Carolina, she is a member of the South Carolina Chapter of NAELA and serves on the South Carolina Bar Elder Law Committee.

In 2024, Ms. McKinney officially launched the Garlock & McKinney, P.C.’s beach office where she spends most of her time. Although she still takes on clients in the mountains, she now offers legal services in her practice areas to the residents of the Greater Topsail Island, Sneads Ferry and surrounding areas. In her more than 20 years of practice, Ms. McKinney has very unique experience as an attorney. She was a probate clerk in both Wake and Buncombe Counties where she audited and approved estate filings, assisted attorneys, and presided over hearings as an “ex officio Judge of Probate” as an extension of the elected Clerk of Court’s authority in those counties. She also served as assistant legal counsel to all the Clerks of Court and their staffs statewide in her practice areas. Ms. McKinney attended Univeristy of North Carolina Wilminton to obtain her undergraduate degree in Communication Studies. She received her law degree from North Carolina Central School of Law and was licensed to practice law in 2004. Ms. McKinney is a member of The Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce and ANEW, A Network Empowering Women. She is also a trained Christian mediator and conflict coach. She offers those services through PeacePoint Ministry.

Ms. Simpson started Simpson Law Firm because she wanted to create a premier estate planning firm that was unique and stood apart from the pack. Her main strategies were to call clients back (attorneys are notoriously bad at this), treat clients with as much kindness as they receive at Chick-fil-A (my pleasure!), and to provide outstanding, smart, efficient legal services so that families can protect their assets and their loved ones. With plenty of elbow grease and some great mentors, Ms. Simpson is accomplishing her goals with the help of the most amazing attorneys and outstanding law firm staff in all of North and South Carolina. Simpson Law Firm continues to grow and strives to be the kindest and largest premiere estate law firm in the Carolinas.

Ms. Buckley is the prior president of the San Francisco Bar Association Paralegal Section and continues to sit on the board. She taught family law for two semesters at San Francisco State in their paralegal program. Since obtaining her paralegal certificate from Cañada College in 2011, Ms. Buckley has worked exclusively in family law. Prior to becoming a paralegal, she taught English at middle and high schools across the country. During her free time, Ms. Buckley enjoys reading Victorian novels, trashy true crime, and taking her Golden Retriever, Jolene, on swim dates. She has presented multiple CLEs over the years, mostly focusing on discovery.

Swanson & McNamara LLP is a trial and appellate law firm specializing in high-stakes criminal, civil, and regulatory defense and internal investigations. Prior to joining Swanson & McNamara, Ms. McGuigan worked for the Federal Public Defender in the Northern District of California for 15 years where she assisted in several trials including four complex death penalty cases, one of which resulted in an acquittal. She is a certified eDiscovery specialist holding multiple ACEDS eDiscovery certifications, as well as certifications in Cellebrite mobile forensic fundamentals (CMFF), and digital forensics, and she has over 21 hours of digital forensic training in FTK. Ms. McGuigan is the acting president of San Francisco Paralegal Association, chair of the San Francisco Bar Paralegal Section, and the director of the San Francisco Chapter of Women in eDiscovery. When she isn’t working, she enjoys spending time crafting and hanging out with her four dogs. She will be presenting at the NALA Boston conference in July, on ethical considerations in criminal law cases, text and smartphone evidence for paralegals – how to identify, preserve, collect, and produce and assisting at trial.

Ms. Skaggs serves as the president of San Francisco Legal Professionals Association (SFLPA) and has served the SFLPA Board consecutively for the last 10 years. She also serves on the Continuing Education Committee as the webinar co-chair for Legal Professionals, Inc. (LPI), where she arranges and moderates continuing legal educational webinars with a dynamic team. Ms. Skaggs is working on the Summer Court Series where courtroom clerks in both federal and state courts all over California present for one hour two to three times per month. When serving as the SFLPA Education chair, she organized a three-day legal professionals workshop at San Francisco State University, which allowed all levels of legal secretaries and paralegals to earn a certificate showing that they completed the class. Ms. Skaggs has presented on a panel with an attorney about the California Rules v. the Local Rules of the Court in the presentation, “Cracking the Code,” as well as on a panel of attorneys and a paralegal at the Bar Association of San Francisco Paralegal Section called “50 Days to Trial.” She is a Bay Area native and earned her bachelor’s degree with a major in English and a minor in Political Science from the California State University, East Bay, where she returned several years later to obtain her Paralegal Certificate. Ms. Skaggs is committed to continuing education and enjoys being a part of any organization with the commitment to supporting that cause. She recently studied for, and successfully passed, the intense 8-hour exam to become a California Certified Legal Secretary (CCLS) in 2019 and is honored to add those four initials at the end of her name. Ms. Skaggs looks forward to continuing her passion through learning, teaching, or mentoring others while contributing to their personal growth and success.

Ms. Chasanov focuses her practice on general insurance defense litigation as well as coverage disputes and bad faith matters. She has experience serving as an arbitrator in Rule 16.1 disputes. Ms. Chasanov started in private practice in 2007 and joined the firm in December 2021. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Chasanov’s practice included civil defense litigation, plaintiff’s litigation and landlord/tenant disputes. Ms. Chasanov is a Delaware native. She earned her B.A. degree from the University of Delaware in 2003, where she graduated with honors. She secured her J.D. degree from Widener University School of Law in 2007, where she also graduated with honors. She was admitted to practice law in the State of Delaware in 2007, and she is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. Additionally, Ms. Chasanov is an adjunct instructor for Wilmington University in the Legal Studies program. She has taught Advanced Legal Writing, Cyberlaw and Contract Law.

Mr. DeSantis focuses his practice on advising on all aspects of the employee-employer relationship for both individuals and companies. He advises on a wide range of employment matters, including contract negotiation, HR policies, employee handbooks, trainings, and compliance issues. With a background in both litigation and negotiation, Mr. DeSantis is dedicated to finding innovative solutions to complex employment issues. He represents a diverse range of clients, including government agencies, small businesses, and individuals involved in labor and employment disputes at all levels. With over a decade of experience as a seasoned litigator and trial attorney, Mr. DeSantis previously served as litigation counsel for a large insurance corporation in Delaware. His extensive background includes handling jury and bench trials, as well as alternative dispute resolution. Renowned for his meticulous approach, Mr. DeSantis is also a skilled legal researcher and writer, notably in the Delaware Court of Chancery. He is dedicated to helping employers navigate the complexities of labor and employment law. Mr. DeSantis earned his B.A. degree from Johns Hopkins University and his J.D. degree from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law.

Ms. Doherty is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. She is also admitted to the Court of Appeals, District of Columbia (1998), U.S. District Court of Delaware (1993), U.S. District Court of New Jersey (1987), U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (1987) and the Washington, D.C. District Court (1988). Ms. Doherty graduated summa cum laude from LaSalle University in 1983. She attended Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law, graduating in 1986. Joining the firm shortly after its inception, she opened the Delaware office and has continued a multi-jurisdictional practice in the area of excess exposure litigation assisting carriers in evaluating, negotiating or defending these matters at trial. Ms. Doherty is the head of the firm’s healthcare practices group and has extensive experience counseling and defending traditional healthcare defendants as well as the ever growing needs of the mental healthcare communities, nursing homes, and same day surgery facilities and clinics. She is a member of the Professional Liability Defense Federation and the Defense Research Institute. As an active lecturer to attorneys and clients for professional education credits, Ms. Doherty speaks most often on fundamentals of practice and ethics.

Ms. Huey has been fighting for businesses and individuals for more than 20 years in both state and federal courts. After a career with a major regional law firm representing businesses ranging from multinationals to small local companies, Ms. Huey turned her attention for a number of years to serving those going through divorce and living with its aftermath. She was chosen to serve as a member, then panel chair and finally district chair of the District 6 Grievance Committee of the State Bar of Texas. In addition to business litigation, her practice now focuses on legal ethics and professional responsibility. She helps lawyers navigate the disciplinary process and counsels law firms and individual attorneys on matters of professional responsibility and malpractice. She brings to this practice the same commitment to excellence and the needs of her clients that she has always brought to business and other cases. Ms. Huey is the author of the “Legal Ethics Today” blog found at legalethicstoday.com. She is also a frequent speaker on ethics and professionalism issues to local and national bar associations. She is the web content editor for the Ethics and Professionalism Committee of the American Bar Association Litigation Section and the program coordinator and immediate past chair of the Dallas Bar Association Solo and Small Firm Section.

Ms. Jones specializes in insurance defense litigation and focuses on matters related to construction defect, premises liability, and auto-related claims primarily as well as domestic relations/family law. She graduated from Widener University School of Law, cum laude, in 1996 and began her legal career clerking for the Honorable Will J. Walls (Ret.) and the late William N. Nicholas in the Kent County Family Court in Dover, Delaware. Since that time she has spanned her 25-year legal career in general civil litigation, appearing in matters statewide in all Delaware Courts, including Delaware’s Court of Chancery and successfully arguing in the Delaware Supreme Court. Ms. Jones’ significant domestic relations practice garnered her peer recognition as a Delaware Today top family law lawyer for the years, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. She is a Delaware Superior Court and Delaware Family Court certified mediator, assisting in alternative dispute resolutions for parties seeking to avoid litigation.

Ms. Swift assists her clients with insurance coverage and litigation, professional liability (doctors, psychiatrists, accountants, lawyers), labor and employment, commercial litigation, construction, and real estate disputes. Ms. Swift acts as Delaware counsel and recently launched an arbitration and mediation practice where she offers her services as a third-party neutral. She has nearly a decade of experience representing clients from case origination to resolution. Ms. Swift defends clients in all aspects of insurance coverage and litigation. She represents directors and officers in high-stakes claims litigation, fiduciary coverage issues, bad faith dispute litigation, policyholder disputes, and defends insureds against liability matters. Ms. Swift provides guidance to insurance carriers on underwriting and product development, including policies, endorsements, and coverage agreements. She defends employers in wage and hour cases, against retaliation and discrimination claims, and provides general consultation and advice on workplace investigation and best practices. In her commercial litigation practice, Ms. Swift represents corporate clients as general counsel and assists corporate and individual clients in a range of disputes. Her real estate practice includes advising Homeowner Association Boards and members and litigating HOA disputes. Ms. Swift assists individuals with nuisance claims, deed issues, and offers advice on general real estate issues, including commercial leases. Before joining Kaufman Dolowich, she co-managed the Delaware office of a national law firm, developing their real estate practice and overseeing their workers’ compensation practice. Prior to that role, Ms. Swift worked as an associate on civil litigation matters and as a litigator for a national insurance carrier. During law school, she was awarded the merit-based Josiah S. Wolcott Fellowship and clerked for former Justice Jack B. Jacobs of the Delaware Supreme Court. Ms. Swift interned for the Honorable Leonard P. Stark, formerly of the U.S. District Court, District of Delaware, and for the Honorable Judge Mary F. Walrath of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware before graduating magna cum laude.

Ms. Wardlaw focuses on securities, antitrust, and complex pharmaceutical and medical device litigation as an associate. She was a recipient of the Chadwick Memorial Scholarship and a Fred G. Dibona Moot Court participant. Prior to joining Grant & Eisenhofer, Ms. Wardlaw’s focus was on pharmaceutical and securities litigation, as well as workmen’s compensation. She earned her B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from Temple University with a degree in Journalism and Public Relations, and her J.D. degree from Widener University School of Law.

Ms. Craven represents clients in all forms of litigation ranging from business and land disputes, contracts, construction claims, employment lawsuits and misdemeanor and felony criminal matters. As a former prosecutor and now civil litigator and criminal defense attorney, Ms. Craven brings a perspective and experience that is second to none. She earned her J.D. degree from the University of Wyoming College of Law.

With more than 17 years of trial and appellate experience, Mr. Klein has established himself as a top litigator whose practice areas encompass both criminal defense and civil disputes. The central theme of Mr. Klein’s representation is attention to detail at every stage of a case, from initial discovery and investigation through trial — as well as at sentencing and on appeal, if necessary. Mr. Klein makes sure that he has personal knowledge of every case fact and a thorough understanding of the applicable law. He employs a creative motions practice to leverage positive results for his clients. Mr. Klein has successfully defended clients charged with crimes ranging from drug possession to sexual assault and murder. He has won trials and appeals in state and federal court in Colorado and the District of Columbia. He has also had success in post-conviction representation, obtaining new trials in two sexual-assault cases in 2015. Mr. Klein has a wide-ranging knowledge of forensic science issues. He has received extensive training in DNA analysis, fingerprints, handwriting comparison, bloodstain pattern analysis, firearm and toolmark examination, and other areas of forensic science. He has served as lead counsel or co-counsel in several DNA-related cases. He has also litigated the admissibility of handwriting comparison evidence, fingerprint evidence, and firearm and toolmark evidence. Mr. Klein regularly serves as adjunct faculty for Harvard Law School’s annual Trial Advocacy Workshop and has been a visiting professor at Georgetown University Law Center. He graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown Law in 1998 and was inducted into the Order of the Coif. He then clerked for the Honorable Jose A. Gonzalez, Jr., in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida before returning to Georgetown as an E. Barrett Prettyman graduate law fellow. Following his fellowship, Mr. Klein spent eight years at the prestigious Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, ultimately serving as a supervising attorney. Mr. Klein has practiced law in Colorado since 2010 and has been a partner at Johnson & Klein since 2013. Mr. Klein is a member of the Criminal Justice Act panel for the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.

 Paralegal with Rostad Law, LLC, in Laramie, WY

With more than 15 years of experience, Mr. Lawson has earned a reputation as a powerful advocate for victims of catastrophic accidents, securing seven- and eight-figure settlements in trucking and oilfield accident cases. Throughout his career, Mr. Lawson has been committed to holding negligent parties accountable, fighting relentlessly for clients whose lives have been forever changed by the actions of others. He is NBTA board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Mr. Lawson is a highly respected attorney with numerous accolades, including being named to the U.S. News Best Lawyers in America in 2020, 2021, and 2022, and earning the prestigious Lawyer of the Year honor in 2023. He holds an AV Martindale-Hubbell peer review rating, the highest distinction for legal ability and ethics, and an AVVO Rated 10.0, the highest rating for attorneys. Additionally, he was recognized by The National Trial Lawyers as one of the Top 40 Under 40 in 2013 and 2016. Mr. Lawson earned his J.D. degree from the University of Wyoming College of Law.

Mr. Ochs began his legal career in 2002 with a national multi-district litigation law firm in Newport Beach, California. There he worked on a variety of high-profile, complex-litigation projects including pharmaceutical and medical-device litigation across the country. In 2012, he founded the Ochs Law Firm in Casper, Wyoming and soon became national trial counsel in the largest food poisoning outbreak in the country. In 2017, Mr. Ochs relocated his firm to Jackson, WY. He primarily practices large-scale product liability litigations across the country. In 2024 he became a member of the prestigious America Board of Trial Advocacy.

Ms. Rostad’s practice focuses on family law, including divorces, custody, visitation, child support, guardian-ad-litem matters and grandparent visitation. She represents many clients in their Wyoming Workers’ Compensation cases and all kinds of civil litigation matters. Ms. Rostad serves as a Court Commissioner for the Albany County District Court where she presides over Title 25 hearings and various juvenile cases. She is a member of the Albany County and Wyoming Bar Associations. Ms. Rostad earned her J.D. degree from the University of Wyoming College of Law.

Ms. Thorpe grew up in Cheyenne and in 2020 graduated from the University of Wyoming with a J.D. degree, becoming the first member of her family to attain a doctoral degree. During her time at law school, she externed for the Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and The Family and Child Legal Advocacy Clinic before partnering with Domonkos Law to create Domonkos & Thorpe Law, LLC.

With a robust legal career spanning across litigation in various legal areas, probate, estate planning, and in-house counsel roles, Ms. An offers a wealth of experience and practical expertise. She has previously represented numerous clients in high-stakes commercial disputes, personal injury cases, complex probate cases and estate planning matters, and she now focuses her practice in probate and estate planning. Ms. An received her J.D. degree in 2017 from the University of Houston Law Center. She also received her B.S. degree in Psychology, summa cum laude, from the University of Houston in 2011. She is a current member of the State Bar of Texas, the Houston Bar Association, and the Asian American Bar Association in Houston. She is admitted to practice before all Texas State Courts.

Ms. Barr founded Barr Law, PLLC, after serving as managing attorney of RMO LLP’s Houston office for almost two years. After seeing how she could run a satellite office of another firm, she decided to venture out on her own and hang her shingle. As a seasoned litigator, her areas of practice include defending and prosecuting causes of action against fiduciaries in probate, trust, guardianship, and power of attorney proceedings. Ms. Barr also handles guardianship, probate, and trust administrations to stay abreast of any statutory changes and court requirements. As a part of this type of litigation, she has experience handling several commercial real estate transactions (including acreage), commercial and dram shop liability litigation, equitable and statutory bill of review proceedings, and appeals. Ms. Barr defends fiduciaries wrongfully accused but she also prosecutes fiduciaries who have abused their positions. Her extensive experience in discovery disputes, either defending privilege and objections to prevent production of certain documents and compelling documents, allows her to advise clients on the pitfalls of discovery. Ms. Barr earned her J.D. degree from the University of Houston Law Center.

Mr. Coufal is a Texas licensed attorney and his areas of practice are elder law, estate planning, and Medicaid planning. His goal in practicing law is to make complex legal challenges easier to understand and provide the support and education his clients need to relieve the financial and emotional stress associated with long-term care expenses. Mr. Coufal is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). He is also a member of the Elder Counsel, a group of attorneys dedicated to the elder law practice. In addition, Mr. Coufal is a full member of the Texas Bar College, an honorary society of lawyers who are among the best trained attorneys in Texas. Members are qualified attorneys who are interested in both high ethical standards and improved training for all Texas attorneys. He has a J.D. degree and an LL.M. degree from the Duke University School of Law. He is also a graduate of Texas A&M University Mays Business School and Dallas Baptist University. He and his family are actively involved in church ministry in north Texas.

Mr. Ford’s main areas of practice include estate, trust and guardianship litigation, estate planning and uncontested probate and guardianship. In 2010, he achieved the highest distinction available to an attorney practicing in the area of estate planning and probate in Texas. He has become Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, which is a coveted recognition bestowed on few attorneys who have demonstrated special competence in this area of law and who have received recommendations from fellow attorneys and judges with whom they have worked. In 2009, Mr. Ford completed the required course-work to become certified to serve as a mediator. In pursuit of this distinction, Mr. Ford attended the world-renowned Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine University School of Law in Malibu, California. He attended this intensive course with the goal of being able to conduct mediations in probate and guardianship cases, as few mediators in Texas specialize in these areas. In 2006, Mr. Ford was appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas to serve on the Guardianship Certification Board (GCB), which is a 15-member board that creates policy and oversees the regulation of private professional guardians in the State of Texas. At the inaugural meeting of the GCB, Mr. Ford was elected as the chair of the Rules Committee, where he has served with distinction since that time. Mr. Ford graduated from Baylor University with degrees in Accounting and Law. He has also completed several post-graduate courses at Baylor in pursuit of a master’s degree in Taxation.

Ms. Hoggatt concentrates her practice in estate planning and probate law, business planning and tax law. Her practice includes estate planning, providing estate administration and probate services to executors, trustees, heirs and beneficiaries in matters involving probate, estates, and trusts, general business matters, formation and financing of business ventures, entity choice and formation considerations for business entities, asset protection, and tax planning for businesses and their owners. Ms. Hoggatt received her LL.M. degree in Taxation in 2012 and her J.D. degree in 2008, both from the University of Houston Law Center. She received a B.A. degree in Government from The University of Texas at Austin in 2005.

Ms. Pierson’s main areas of practice are estate planning and probate. She realizes that a well-planned estate can mitigate a lot of the burdens families face when they lose someone they love. Ms. Pierson believes her clients deserve a plan that goes beyond the legal documents and ties up both legal and non-legal loose ends in order to give her clients’ families a path forward through their grief. She helps her clients create estate plans that do not just transfer assets. The wills and trusts she creates take a load off the survivors, prevent familial conflict, and protect future generations. Whether clients need a will, a trust, or a vehicle to protect their assets, Ms. Pierson can prepare a customized plan that will help them to achieve their goals. She enjoys counseling her clients on how to use their estate plan to protect their legacy and provide for loved ones in the event of death or incapacity. Ms. Pierson graduated with honors from the University of Texas School of Law.

For more than a decade Mr. Ence has represented clients throughout Massachusetts in a variety of civil and criminal matters. He is committed to providing personalized counsel that focuses on each client’s goals and obtaining the best possible outcome. He moved to Boston to attend law school after living in the western U.S. After graduation he stayed in Boston and began working with a downtown law firm. Over ten years ago, Mr. Ence opened his own practice and moved to Western Massachusetts.

Mr. Gutbezahl has a proven track record of success in Massachusetts state and federal court. In addition to handling contentious, high stakes cases, Mr. Gutbezahl counsels his clients on the importance of developing best practices to avoid litigation and mitigate risks. After nearly a decade of representing private sector businesses and individuals, he now represents municipalities in a wide array of litigation matters. Mr. Gutbezahl is a recognized thought leader on the legal implications of generative artificial intelligence (“Gen AI”) on the workplace and is a member of multiple steering committees and task forces concerning the use of Gen AI. He has been a featured speaker for numerous associations and organizations concerning the intersection of Gen AI and employment law and is the author of a monthly newsletter on the topic, “ChatAdamG.” Mr. Gutbezahl was recently recognized by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as an Up & Coming Lawyer as part of its Excellence in the Law series. In 2024, he was also recognized as a Top Lawyer by Boston Magazine, as well as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers and the New England Real Estate Journal. Mr. Gutbezahl is also a 2024 graduate of the Boston’s Future Leaders Program, which is a 10-month leadership initiative conducted by Harvard Business School and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.

Ms. Salsburg focuses her practice in the areas of business litigation, corporate advice and counsel, and white-collar criminal defense. She represents corporations, small businesses, and individuals in contract and business disputes, False Claims Act matters, State Ethics Commission inquiries, and government and internal investigations. Ms. Salsburg also advises closely-held businesses on corporate and employment matters. Prior to joining Laredo Smith & Kane, she was a litigator at a large international law firm, in its Florida and Boston offices. Her work at the firm focused on litigation at the federal and state levels involving breaches of contract, corporate dissolution, fraudulent transfer claims, commercial foreclosures, and patent infringement. She also handled FINRA arbitrations on behalf of broker-dealers. Ms. Salsburg’s pro bono experience includes several successful CORI-sealing petitions, petitions for asylum, an appeal from an inmate on Florida’s death row, litigation and appeal to assist a not-for-profit foundation, and invoking Hague Convention protection to return a child wrongfully removed to the United States by a parent. She was also a bar advocate for criminal matters at the Boston Municipal Court (Central).

Ms. Emory is a senior associate in Morris, Manning & Martin’s Commercial, Class Action and Product Liability Litigation practices, with a specialization in insurance coverage defense. She brings extensive experience and a proven track record in handling complex legal matters, drafting legal documents, and representing clients in complex insurance coverage and general liability cases. Additionally, she has experience managing cases solo in both the Superior and Magistrate Courts and drafting motions involving complex federal jurisdiction issues. Ms. Emory currently serves as the newsletter co-editor for the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia where she plays a crucial role in distributing important legal updates and supporting the professional growth of fellow attorneys. Additionally, she is a 2020 graduate of the State Bar of Georgia’s YLD Leadership Academy. Ms. Emory holds a J.D. degree from the University of Georgia School of Law as well as a B.S. degree from the University of South Carolina.

Since 1991, Mr. Huff has specialized in the defense of high-damages lawsuits, primarily medical malpractice lawsuits and claims. He has represented defendants in more than 135 jury trials. He has defended and successfully tried cases for every specialty of medicine and numerous hospitals throughout Georgia. In the past five years Mr. Huff has tried more than 40 medical malpractice cases in Georgia and outside of Georgia and is recognized as a “go-to” trial lawyer for defendants in difficult cases. In 2024 Mr. Huff was recognized by Best Lawyers in America as the Lawyer of the Year for Medical Malpractice Defense. Because of Mr. Huff’s trial record and reputation with plaintiffs’ attorneys, he is able to obtain the best possible outcomes for physicians and hospitals whether the case is tried or resolved. In addition to representing defendants, Mr. Huff is a regular contributor to legal and medical publications and seminars. Mr. Huff and his firm are proud to donate their time and resources to help several local charities and provide pro bono legal representation to indigent clients.

Mr. Lyon advises and represents clients in a broad range of insurance coverage and commercial litigation matters, including commercial general liability, property damage, property liability, and personal injury. He assists clients in evaluating the legal and factual issues in first-party and third-party insurance coverage disputes, including interpreting policy provisions. He also defends clients in complex litigation in federal and state courts. Before joining Cozen O’Connor, Mr. Lyon was a litigation associate with a law firm based in Atlanta. As an associate, he handled a wide variety of civil litigation matters, including representing domestic and international insurers in coverage disputes and construction defect claims and defending insureds against personal injury and property damage claims. He has additional experience in complex corporate matters, liability defense, real estate, and contractual disputes. Mr. Lyon earned his B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from Oglethorpe University and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from the Mercer University of Law, where he was the editor-in-chief of the Mercer University Law Review.

Mr. McElhone is a pragmatic litigator with a focus on serving families in crisis. He started his legal career as a domestic violence prosecutor in Cordele, Georgia and now practices family law at Eittreim Martin Cutler in Atlanta. He served as a representative for the Young Lawyer’s Division of the State Bar of Georgia from 2021-2023, has been published in the YLD Review, and received the YLD’s Award of Achievement in 2023. Outside of court, he is a runner and musician.

Ms. Modi is an associate in King & Spalding’s Atlanta office and is a member of the Trial & Global Disputes practice group. Ms. Modi ‘s practice focuses on representing businesses in high-stakes commercial litigation, complex business disputes, and product liability litigation. She is a team member on several matters, including representation for Fortune 500 companies such as Coca-Cola, R.J. Reynolds, and Boehringer Ingelheim.

Ms. Smith’s practice focuses on the defense of cases of alleged medical and dental malpractice, long-term care and assisted living malpractice, premises liability, automotive and transportation liability, products liability, insurance, and business litigation. Prior to joining Huff Powell Bailey, Ms. Smith was a partner at two medical malpractice and insurance defense firms, and an attorney for a leading communications, media and automotive services company handling commercial, media law, and intellectual property disputes and litigation. Her clients include physicians, dentists, medical and dental group practices, hospitals, long-term care and senior living facilities, commercial vehicle insurers, small businesses and national corporations. Ms. Smith has successfully defended medical malpractice, premises liability and automotive liability cases at trial and through the appellate phase of litigation. She also represents professionals before state licensing boards.

Katherine Blackmon Carroll is the owner and managing attorney of the Law Offices of Katherine E. Blackmon, a trauma-informed family law firm with an emphasis on helping clients navigate difficult times with empathy and expertise. She believes the most important part of being a successful family law attorney, in addition to legal skills, is the ability to walk with someone through one of the most difficult emotional experiences in their lives with empathy, compassion, and, sometimes, with bluntness and a firm hand. Ms. Blackmon Carroll earned her J.D. degree from the University of Southern California Law Center.

Mr. Bousquet was formerly a visiting associate professor and Friedmann Fellow with The George Washington University Law School. Professor Bousquet earned his B.A. degree, summa cum laude, from Bates College and his J.D. degree from Yale Law School.

Ms. Copeland is the founder and managing attorney of Leslie Copeland Law & Mediation, a boutique family law firm in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Since establishing the firm in 2018, she has expanded its services to include mediation, reflecting her commitment to innovative and client-centered legal solutions. A native of Little Rock, Ms. Copeland graduated with honors from Mount Saint Mary Academy. She earned her bachelor’s degree cum laude in political science and philosophy, with a pre-law minor, from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. She then obtained her J.D. degree with honors and distinction from the University of Arkansas William H. Bowen School of Law in Little Rock. During law school, she clerked for Little Rock District Court Judge Alice Lightle and contributed to the Arkansas Circuit Court Judges’ Benchbook. Ms. Copeland is a certified attorney ad litem and mediator, emphasizing her dedication to resolving family disputes amicably. She has held leadership roles in the Arkansas Bar Association, including serving as chair of the Family Law Section, and she is a past president of the Washington County Bar Association. Her contributions to the legal profession have been recognized with the prestigious Golden Gavel Award from the Arkansas Bar Association. In 2024, Ms. Copeland was honored as one of the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal’s Top Forty Under 40, highlighting her professional achievements and community impact. Beyond her legal practice, she is passionate about the arts and has a background in theater, which has contributed to her confidence and public speaking abilities. Ms. Copeland’s approach to family law is characterized by empathy, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to her clients’ well-being. Her extensive experience in child custody and visitation issues makes her a sought-after speaker and advocate in the field

M. Hamer focuses her divorce practice on high-asset, highconflict cases. Ms. Hamer believes that divorce should be handled with professionalism and discretion, and she works to diffuse destructive, expensive tactics from overly aggressive opposing counsel, always aiming to maintain the clients’ privacy while preserving assets for settlement. She draws from her extensive litigation experience, as well as her work as a trained mediator, to obtain results her clients can not only live with, that allow them to live well. A nationally recognized speaker for family lawyers, Ms. Hamer was recently invited to present to the ABA Family Law Section Spring Conference. She currently practices law in Memphis and Nashville. She is a Rule 31 trained civil and family law mediator, and she has also completed domestic violence mediation training. A leader in the legal community, Ms. Hamer is past chair of the Family Law Committee of the Memphis Bar Association, and she is an active member of the American Bar Association, the Nashville Bar Association, and the Association of Women Attorneys. She has successfully completed the prestigious ABA Family Law Trial Advocacy course at the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, and she was a member of the inaugural class of Tennessee Leadership. Before becoming a family law attorney, she practiced with Bass, Berry & Sims, PLC, in Nashville and Wolff Ardis, P.C., in Memphis, handling complex commercial litigation. Ms. Hamer graduated from New York University School of Law in 1996 and with high honors from the University of Tennessee in 1989, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Ms Riggan’s interest in domestic law started at the William H. Bowen School of Law litigation clinic. Ms. Riggan worked with other law students and the Clinic Attorney, Beth Levi, and the Arkansas Center for Legal Services for domestic matters. This rooted her desire to help the less fortunate and provide an affordable avenue to the law. Immediately after becoming licensed, she worked for two general practice firms, one in Little Rock and one in Hot Spring County. In October 2014, Ms. Riggan became a qualified ad litem attorney, and in April 2015, she became mediator certified for domestic and civil mediations. Ms. Riggan earned her J.D. degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, William H. Bowen School of Law.

Mr. Chinn is the co-author of The Divorce Paralegal Handbook. He has practiced law for 46 years and operates a Mississippi statewide practice, specializing in family law. Mr. Chinn has been the husband of Cathy for 46 years and they have four daughters and five grandchildren. Mr. Chinn has been chair of the Mississippi Bar Family Law Section twice, served on the ABA Family Law Section Council, and has enjoyed long-time service on the ABA Family Law Section Publications Board. He is the author of three other ABA books on family law: How to Build and Manage a Family Law Practice, The Constructive Divorce, and Forms, Checklists and Procedures for the Family Lawyer. He has been a frequent speaker on law practice management for the American Bar Association Family Law Section, The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, state bar associations, Mississippi College School of Law, Ole Miss Law School and the Mississippi Bar.

Ms. Hall’s responsibilities include teaching legal writing to first-year law students. She is a Mississippi College of Law alumnus, graduating in 2019 after completing law school in two years via the school’s accelerated two-year J.D. degree program. While in law school, she also completed an externship with the Mississippi Workers Compensation Commission providing support for the Administrative Law Judges and a brief externship with Mississippi Supreme Court Justice David M. Ishee. Ms. Hall has over 15 years of experience in the legal field. Prior to graduating law school she spent 12 years as a paralegal handling complex family law and bankruptcy cases. Immediately following graduation, she joined the Shannon Law Firm, PLLC, a small practice in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, where she was given the opportunity to gain a wealth of experience drafting complex legal documents and arguing various matters in state court and federal court on cases involving general plaintiff’s litigation, family law, criminal law, and probate matters.

Ms. Kerr is a native of Pass Christian, Mississippi. She graduated from Mississippi State University in 2013 with a B.S. degree in Kinesiology. She received her J.D. degree from Mississippi College School of Law in 2016 with an emphasis in family and juvenile law. She has been working with Chinn & Associates, specializing in family law, since passing the Mississippi Bar in 2016. Ms. Kerr is a co-author of The Divorce Paralegal Handbook published by the American Bar Association Family Law Section in 2023. She was selected for the prestigious Leadership of Greater Jackson in 2023.

Ms. Lawson practices in the areas of insurance defense, medical malpractice defense, family law, wills and estates, and real estate. She received her B.A. degree from Wichita State and her J.D. degree from Mississippi School of Law. Ms. Lawson is admitted to the Mississippi Bar and is a member of the Mississippi Bar Association, the Defense Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association, the Hinds County and Warren County Bar Associations. Ms. Lawson has been instrumental in educating MS lawyers about collaborative law since the Supreme Court adopted the rules in July 2024.

Ms. Rush is a Hattiesburg native, who attended undergraduate at Mississippi State University and law school at the University of Mississippi. Following law school, she worked on Capitol Hill as part of a legislative team for a United States Congressman that focused on Mississippi interests. Ms. Rush returned to her hometown to practice law and in the fall of 2018, opened Rush Law Firm. She continues her commitment to civic duty by serving as the lead prosecutor for the City of Hattiesburg, prosecutor for the City of Sumrall, and attorney for the City of Bassfield. She is an active member of the Bar Association, currently serving on the executive board for the South Central Mississippi Bar Association, as president of the Hattiesburg Young Lawyers, and as Southeast District Director for the Mississippi Bar Young Lawyers Division. She also serves on the board of directors for the Mississippi Center for Legal Service and Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Program.

Mr. Wright is widely recognized as one of the finest family lawyers in Mississippi. Best Lawyers in America named him “Lawyer of the Year” in family law in 2013, 2017, and 2020. SuperLawyers has also recognized Mr. Wright since its 2006 inception and selected him as one of Mississippi’s “Top 50 Lawyers” in all categories on six occasions. He is a diplomat in the American College of Family Trial Lawyers, a select group of only 100 family lawyers nationwide. Mr. Wright is a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and also in the International Academy of Family Lawyers. He has tried hundreds of cases, in state and federal courts, and has served as appellate counsel on more than 50 published decisions. Mr. Wright is commonly regarded as integral to the development of Mississippi’s modern divorce, property division, custody and support jurisprudence.

Morvareed Z. Salehpour is an experienced business and tech lawyer with over a decade of experience in representing entrepreneurs, startups, and businesses. She specializes in creating and negotiating strong contracts and tech transactions to help clients scale and protect their startups and businesses. Her expertise includes counseling clients on product launches, intellectual property licensing and protection, open source issues, and data rights and privacy. She also helps her clients navigate mergers and acquisitions and successfully close such deals. With a track record of successful negotiations and a deep understanding of the legal intricacies associated with commercial contracts and tech transactions, Ms. Salehpour is a trusted advisor to clients ranging from startups to established businesses in various industries, such as SaaS, AI, analytics, software, and digital health, as well as professional services, media and entertainment, transportation, logistics, healthcare, manufacturing, real estate, fashion, cannabis, food and beverage, and other businesses. She handles a wide range of agreements, including master services agreements (MSAs), SAAS agreements, licensing agreements, terms of services/terms and conditions, subscription agreements, reseller/referral agreements, merger agreements, asset purchase agreement, and many others. She also provides counsel on business structure, operations, revenue generation, and M&A activity. Ms. Salehpour is known for applying unique solutions to client needs and working tirelessly to achieve efficient resolutions.

Ms. Sheppard has practiced family law since 2009. Using her extensive experience, she guides families through the legal system, specializing in divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, and mediation. She possesses significant expertise in handling military divorce matters. Ms. Sheppard is often appointed by the court as a minor’s counsel and qualified as a discovery referee. Beyond her legal practice, she actively contributes to the legal community. Ms. Sheppard held a position on the Family Law Bar Association Board and officer positions on the Foothills Bar Board, engages as a mandatory continuing legal education presenter, volunteers for the Lawyer’s Club and Pro Bono services in San Diego, and is an adjunct professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law.

Mr. Starrett is founder of Starrett Law and Advisory, a firm specializing in artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and AI governance. He has extensive experience in law, risk management, and technology. He has served as general counsel and chief risk officer for an international AI and data management corporation, overseeing global legal operations and risk management. A seasoned educator, he teaches AI governance and law at Santa Clara University School of Law and the University of the Pacific’s Masters in Data Science program. With a background in software engineering, electronic discovery, and cybersecurity, Mr. Starrett holds multiple certifications, including CertifiedFraud Examiner (CFE) and former EnCase Certified Examiner (EnCE). He earned an M.S. degree in Predictive Analytics from Northwestern University and an LL.M. degree in Taxation from Golden Gate University School of Law.

Ms. West has 20 years of experience in both family and criminal law and is certified by the California Board of Legal Specialization as a Specialist in Family Law. She joined Genesis Family Law, APC, in April 2023. For the six years prior to joining Genesis, Ms. West worked as a senior litigation attorney in local firms. She also owned West Maldonado Law Group and was an owner-partner at Rhoads & West for 11 years. Ms. West has been the lead attorney on 30-plus trials, including countless family law trials, rape and criminal domestic violence jury trials, fraudulent conveyance and partition actions, and multiple contempt trials. She has also been the lead attorney on over 50 domestic violence restraining order and/or civil restraining order evidentiary hearings. Ms. West has written four and argued two appeals in front of the 4th DCA.

Ms. Augustin practices elder law, probate litigation, estate planning, estate administration, and family law at Augustin Law Offices, PLLC, in East Lansing, Michigan. She is a graduate of Michigan State University College of Law and serves on several committees and council roles, including board member of the Ingham County Bar Association, member of the ICLE Elder Law Advisory Board, co-chair of the Ingham County Bar Association Probate Section, and State Bar of Michigan Probate and Estate Planning Council member. Ms. Augustin is also a member of the Greater Lansing Estate Planning Council and Michigan State University Inn of Court.

Mr. Boey is an associate in the Detroit office dedicated to representing clients in all areas of domestic relations and matrimonial law, including high-asset divorces, complex custody cases, child and spousal support matters, pre-marital and post-marital agreements, and enforcement actions. With a focus on designing comprehensive and personalized solutions for his clients, he navigates his clients — ranging from corporate executives to stay-at-home parents to physicians to business owners to other professionals — through the profoundly personal nature of family law cases. Mr. Boey devotes himself to minimizing the emotional toll on his clients’ families, especially children, while maintaining strict confidentiality and ensuring results-driven representation. He takes a practical approach to his client’s matters — maintaining a focus on obtaining favorable results outside of the courtroom, whether through informal settlement or at mediation, while at the same time being prepared to fully litigate the matter through trial. Throughout the case, Mr. Boey is dedicated to listening, connecting, and working with his clients by giving them the clarity they require to reach optimal outcomes through personalized solutions.

Ms. Boutell is an attorney in Taft’s Domestic Relations practice group. Her practice centers around all aspects of domestic relations law, including divorce, separation, custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support, paternity, post-nuptial and pre-nuptial agreements, change of domicile, post-judgment modifications, and other domestic relations matters. She is also a dedicated advocate for reproductive rights, with a particular focus on issues surrounding family building. Ms. Boutell practice encompasses cases involving assisted reproductive technologies, surrogacy, and parental rights, working to ensure equitable access to these services and to protect the legal rights of all parties involved. She maintains a personalized approach, working with men, women, and families to provide domestic relations and related guidance and advocacy.

Mr. Keeler is a lifelong Michigander, raised in Plainwell, just north of Kalamazoo. He earned his undergraduate degree from Western Michigan University, majoring in History with a minor in Social Studies Education. After a brief period working at the high school level, Mr. Keeler pursued his passion for law, graduating from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2014. Initially starting his career in family law, he explored other practice areas but quickly realized that his background in education uniquely positioned him to support clients navigating divorce and custody matters. Mr. Keeler ability to explain complex legal concepts in a clear, compassionate manner has been invaluable to families facing emotionally charged situations. For the past several years, he has focused exclusively on family law, where he leverages his skills to help clients resolve issues efficiently and thoughtfully. Mr. Keeler is a solutions-oriented attorney who understands that no two families are alike. His approach is tailored to each client’s specific circumstances, recognizing the need for flexibility and creative problem-solving. Having a brother who is a combat veteran and children with special needs has made these issues deeply personal to him, driving his commitment to advocacy and support for families in challenging times.

Ms. Shadowens is a partner at Varnum LLP. Her practice is entirely devoted to family law matters, specializing in divorce, child custody and family law litigation including change of domicile, interstate and international child custody matters. Ms. Shadowens is also a trained mediator and collaborative lawyer. She adamantly advocates for her clients in Kalamazoo, Kent, Allegan, Berrien, Van Buren, St. Joseph, Barry, Calhoun, Eaton, Ionia, and surrounding counties. Her 26 years of experience lends itself well to complex high-asset cases involving closely held family businesses, and challenging child custody matters. Her knowledge of the law, diligence and tenacity help her accomplish her client’s goals in their family law matters. Ms. Shadowens has litigated cases in all levels of the court system, including the Michigan Supreme Court. Media outlets call on her to share her expertise. She is a former council member of the State Bar of Michigan Family Law Section and currently serves as a board member for the Girls on the Run of Greater Kalamazoo.

Mr. Williams practices in the Southfield office of Foster Swift as a member of the litigation practice group, focusing on family law cases including divorce, child support, and spousal support, criminal defense, and criminal and family law appeals. Mr. Williams is a former Chicago violent crimes prosecutor where he prosecuted first-degree murders, child sexual assaults, aggravated driving under the influence, and other violent offenses. Mr. Williams is a co-author of the Physical and Scientific Evidence chapter of the Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education publication Introducing Evidence at Trial, and he is a regular contributor to Foster Swift’s Family Law Advocate blog. Mr. Williams is also a former presenter on DUI issues for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. He is an active member of the State Bar of Michigan’s Family Law Section and the Oakland County Bar Association. Mr. Williams is licensed to practice in the state courts of Michigan, Illinois, and California.

John Bahe is a partner with Bahe Cook Cantley & Nefzger PLC in Louisville, Kentucky. He is a former corporate and insurance defense litigation attorney who now uses this experience to help the injured effectively prosecute their claims at Bahe Cook Cantley & Nefzger PLC. Mr. Bahe maintains a national practice focusing on civil trials, medical product and pharmaceutical liability claims, and catastrophic personal injury cases of all types. He is also well-versed in contract disputes, business litigation, nursing home negligence, civil rights actions, and consumer protection claims and has effectively prosecuted several claims for insurance bad faith, both first and third party. Mr. Bahe has also been a lecturer on several different legal topics for both the Louisville Bar Association (LBA) and the Kentucky Justice Association (KJA) and the University of Louisville’s Brandeis School of Law. Mr. Bahe is experienced and highly knowledgeable in helping people who bring their cases in an individual capacity and those whose legal matters are part of a class-action or multi-district litigation (MDL). Mr. Bahe earned his juris doctor degree from the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville. While at Brandeis School of Law, Mr. Bahe was elected by his peers as Student Bar Association representative and also was the president of the school’s chapter of Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity, International. Prior to law school, Mr. Bahe earned his undergraduate degree (B.A.) from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. He is past-board member of the Kentucky Justice Association (“KJA”) – a statewide organization of trial attorneys as well as a KJA committee chairman for the past 15 years. Mr. Bahe is also a member of Leader’s Forum of American Association for Justice (“AAJ”), the largest national organization of plaintiff’s lawyers.

H. Gera Meyman is the principal of Meyman Law in Lexington, Kentucky. Her areas of expertise include administrative litigation as well as family law and employment law. Her employment law experience primarily centers on wrongful termination as well as unlawful discrimination and retaliation. Ms. Meyman’s administrative litigation experience primarily centers on Social Security Disability and Kentucky Retirement Systems. Her family law experience centers on divorce, child support, and maintenance matters. She is also experienced in the areas of criminal expungement, probate estate management, debt collection, and fraudulent conveyance. She is licensed to practice in Kentucky state courts as well as the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky and the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. She has also been listed as an attorney of record in a Sixth Circuit case. Ms. Meyman graduated summa cum laude from Virginia Tech with a double major in English and Psychology. She earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Kentucky College of Law.

Robert Thompson is an attorney with Thompson Legal LLC. Throughout his legal career, he has focused on a wide range of practice areas, with a particular emphasis on employment law, constitutional law, and personal injury cases. His passion and dedication to his clients drive his results, as he tirelessly works to achieve favorable outcomes in every case. Whether it’s navigating complex employment disputes, defending constitutional rights, or advocating for individuals injured through negligence, Mr. Thompson is committed to delivering exceptional representation and fighting tirelessly on behalf of his clients. He is a native of Louisville, Kentucky and pursued his undergraduate studies at Western Kentucky University, earning a degree in Political Science and Entrepreneurship. After completing his undergraduate studies, he pursued a J.D. degree from Northern Kentucky University graduating cum laude.

Franklin S. Yudkin is the principal of Yudkin Law in Louisville, Kentucky. He practices primarily in collections and debtor/creditor matters. Mr. Yudkin has been a frequent speaker on collection topics, and also searches the internet and various data bases to locate debtors. He is a member of the Louisville, Kentucky and Indiana State bar associations; Commercial Law League of America and National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys. Mr. Yudkin earned his B.A. degree from Indiana University and his J.D. degree from the University of Louisville.

Jane Binder is the owner of Binder Law Offices, P.A. Throughout her career, she has tackled a wide range of family law issues, including divorce, child custody and parenting time, property division, spousal maintenance, and domestic violence. She has a comprehensive understanding of the legal complexities and emotional dynamics involved in family matters. As a mediator, Ms. Binder acts as a neutral third party, helping parties communicate effectively and reach mutually acceptable agreements. Through her skillful facilitation and calming demeanor, she helps find creative solutions that consider the unique circumstances and priorities of each party. Ms. Binder also serves as an arbitrator, where she makes legally binding decisions when parties are unable to reach agreements. Her strong analytical skills and deep understanding of family law enable her to render fair and informed decisions, helping parties avoid the potential pitfalls of lengthy court battles. Ms. Binder is highly regarded for her compassionate approach and her ability to guide and support parties through the often challenging and emotionally charged process of family law disputes. Her dedication to achieving fair outcomes for all parties involved makes her a valuable asset to those seeking alternative methods to traditional litigation. Every year since 1996, she has been recognized as a Super Lawyer. Ms. Binder has also been named one of the top 50 Women Attorneys in Minnesota. She has twice been named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers in Family Law in the Twin Cities. She is a fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, where she served as the president of Minnesota Chapter. She serves on the Minnesota ADR Ethics Board, and she frequently lectures on family law topics. Ms. Binder is admitted to practice in the Minnesota Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Charley Good is an attorney in Pemberton Law’s Alexandria office. He focuses his practice on family law which includes divorce, child custody, spousal maintenance, post decree motions, child support, school choice issues, parenting time, adoption and all related issues. Mr. Good is a rule 114 certified neutral and enjoys mediating family law cases. Additionally, he handles Guardian and Conservatorships. He graduated magna cum laude from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota with a B.A. degree in Legal Studies and Philosophy. He received his J.D. degree from William Mitchell in St. Paul, Minnesota, graduating cum laude. While attending William Mitchell, he made numerous appearances in district court as a certified student attorney logging over 300 hours of courtroom experience. Mr. Good is a past president of the Douglas County Bar Association and has co-authored and updated Chapter 13 of the Minnesota Civil Practice Deskbook on Depositions.

Katie Kelley is a partner with Chestnut Cambronne, practicing mainly in the firm’s Family Law Practice Group. Admitted to the bar in 2017, she has experience throughout the family law spectrum, including domestic abuse orders for protection, marital dissolution, post-decree matters, custody and parenting time disputes, third party custody, and financial support. While in law school at Loyola University Chicago, she worked as a student attorney on the domestic violence team at Chicago’s Legal Aid Society. Ms. Kelley represented exclusively Spanish-speaking clients there and continues to represent the Spanish-speaking community in her current practice. She majored in International Studies and Gender and Women’s Studies at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Ms. Kelley strongly believes in making the legal system as accessible as possible. She volunteers with Tubman and the Volunteer Lawyers Network and has regularly been named a North Star Lawyer by the Minnesota State Bar Association for her pro bono service. Ms. Kelley is also involved in the local family law legal community. She is the past-president of the Family Law League organization and involved with the Family Law Council of the newly merged MSBA/HCBA/RCBA family law sections. She has been named a Rising Star attorney by Super Lawyers since 2021.

Carole Pasternak is a partner at Klampe Law Firm and has been with the firm since 1999. Her practice focus is family law, a dynamic field involving all aspects of divorce, custody, child support, parenting time, step parent adoption, and domestic abuse. She is Rule 114-neutral providing family mediation services. While attending law school, Ms. Pasternak was associate editor of the Seton Hall University School of Law Constitutional Law Journal and authored Victims Once Again: The New Jersey Supreme Court’s Unwillingness to Provide all Marital Tort Victims the Right to a Jury Trial. She was selected to be a research assistant to Professor Jack M. Sabatino, Deputy Presiding Judge for Administration, New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division. During law school, Ms. Pasternak worked with the State Division of Mental Health and Guardianship Advocacy involving the rights of children in juvenile psychiatric civil commitments. She interned for The Honorable Donald W. de Cordova as an assistant law clerk and clerked for Honorable Herbert S. Glickman; both positions focused exclusively on family law matters. Ms. Pasternak was active in the Center for Social Justice at Seton Hall and represented underprivileged clients in family law matters as a student attorney through a mentorship program. She also served as a mediator in the special civil part of the district court handling landlord/tenant issues and other conciliation court matters. Ms. Pasternak earned her B.A. degree from Rutgers University and her J.D. degree from Seton Hall University School of Law.

Nicole J. Tabbut is a partner at Pemberton Law’s Detroit Lakes office. She is a member of the Family Law group and primarily practices in the areas of divorce, child custody and parenting time, spousal maintenance and child support, adoption, and family law appellate matters. Ms. Tabbut also maintains a neutral practice where she is a Rule 114-qualified mediator, parenting time expeditor, parent consultant, and custody evaluator. She also practices in the areas of Guardianship and Conservatorship. Ms. Tabbut is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association and the MSBA Family Law Section where she has held the positions of vice chair and chair of the statewide Family Law Section. She is also active on the Board of Directors for A Place to Belong, having held the position of vice president and president. Ms. Tabbut is a member of the Otter Tail and Becker County Bar Associations and has held the positions of secretary/treasurer, vice president, and president in Becker County. Additionally, she mentors law students from Mitchell Hamline School of Law’s hybrid program. Ms. Tabbut is a past member of the Minnesota Lavender Bar Board of Directors and helped plan the MLBA’s annual conference for several years. She has earned the distinction of North Star Lawyer since 2018 and has been named as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers since 2021. A native of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, Ms. Tabbut graduated summa cum laude from Minnesota State University (Moorhead) with a Bachelor of Social Work degree. She then attended Mitchell Hamline School of Law, where she was an associate and senior editor on law review, served as vice justice and justice of the Monroe Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, and Chairperson of the Student Bar Association’s Social Committee. Ms. Tabbut was named to the dean’s list every semester during law school, received numerous CALI awards, and graduated summa cum laude.

Matthew Yost is an associate attorney at Chestnut Cambronne, PA, representing clients in all types of family law cases. He prefers a creative, collaborative approach and prioritizes case resolutions based in certainty and equity. Mr. Yost obtained his B.A. degree in English from the University of Minnesota and his law degree from Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Before entering private practice, he worked as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Richelle M. Wahi in Minnesota’s First Judicial District. He has also served as an adjunct professor at Mitchell Hamline, assisting a tenured professor in Constitutional Law and Civil Procedure courses. Mr. Yost serves on a number of boards and organizations, including the Family Law League and the Association of Family and Conciliations Courts, and he is a volunteer attorney with Tubman and the Children’s Law Center.

Kathleen (Katie) Brown is the associate dean for information resources at Charleston School of Law and a 2024 vLex Fastcase 50 honoree, recognized for her contributions to integrating technology and ethics into legal education. She is also the recipient of the 2024 AALS Section of Technology, Law & Legal Education Technology & Ethics Award, honoring her significant impact in this field. Ms. Brown holds a J.D. degree from Seattle University School of Law with an emphasis in intellectual property law, an M.S. degree in Library and Information Science from Drexel University, and a B.F.A. degree from DePaul University. She often presents on the topics of intellectual property, legal technology, and the business of law, with a focus on process optimization and legal research. She has also taught courses on Legal Technology for Practice, Art of Advocacy, Contracts, and Advanced Legal Research. An active member of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL), Ms. Brown has held numerous leadership positions within the organization, including serving on the AALL Executive Board from 2011 to 2014. Some of her research interests include intellectual property, acting skills for lawyers, law and literature, and legal tech management.

Amy Cann brings over two decades of practical experience in business, human resources, and safety to her legal practice, providing clients with common-sense legal guidance, often during stressful and difficult situations in people’s lives. She has a law degree and a Certificate in Information Privacy Law from the University of Maine School of Law, two graduate degrees in Business and Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University, and privacy and cybersecurity certification from IAPP and ISC2, respectively. She is active with many professional organizations, including the New Hampshire Bar Association, the New Hampshire Women’s Bar Association, and SCORE. Additionally, she teaches for the University of New Hampshire and Franklin Pierce School of Law. Ms. Cann also presents for local and national audiences on employment law and AI, data privacy, and cybersecurity, including for the National Business Institute. She formed Cann Law as a registered NH benefit corporation, reflecting her commitment to social responsibility through her pro bono work with 603 Legal Aid. She enjoys hiking with her dogs, family and friends, playing soccer at Seacoast United and supporting the Pope Memorial Humane Society, FURRR, SAFER, the Center for Wildlife, and the New Hampshire Women’s Foundation.

June Hunter is a technical enablement lead for legal software company, DISCO, where she works daily to train individuals on legal technology. Before joining DISCO, Ms. Hunter worked as a paralegal/IT services provider/e-discovery Specialist at CGS3, LLP, a boutique real estate firm in San Diego. She is equipped with a powerful combination of IT systems expertise and legal experience and has a unique capability for recognizing and resolving the complex technology issues encountered in a law firm environment. A graduate of the ABA-approved Paralegal Studies program at UC San Diego, Ms. Hunter has worked in the legal field for 34+ years in roles such as legal secretary, paralegal, litigation support, and computer software trainer. Her industry experience and talent has made her a go-to provider of clear, hands-on training for other legal professionals on effectively using legal software.

Luke Rushing is an attorney with Huth Reynolds LLP and is admitted to practice in New York and California. He graduated from Columbia Law School in 2018 where he was a Kent Scholar and took one of the first legal classes to be offered in machine learning techniques. As a practitioner, Mr. Rushing has represented numerous major figures in the entertainment industry in IP work, as well as many major retailers in COVID-related maritime cases. He has written on AI adoption by the legal industry, taught AI usage to legal professionals, interviewed numerous leading figures in the AI tech industry, and has twice been appointed vice chair of the ABA Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.

Cari L. Sheehan is an assistant general counsel with Taft Stettinius & Hollister, LLP. With over 15 years of legal experience in civil litigation, conflicts of interest, and professional responsibility, she serves as the firm’s assistant general counsel with Taft Stettinius & Hollister, LLP. In this role, she advises firm attorneys with respect to ethics compliance, risk prevention, and conflicts of interest. In addition, she assists in the review and negotiation of outside counsel guidelines, conflict waivers and engagement letters, and other items with ethical implications. She also assists in providing ethical training and education within the firm to its attorneys and staff. Ms. Sheehan is an adjunct professor at the IU Robert H. McKinney School where she teaches Professional Responsibility. She is also a former assistant clinical professor of Business Law and Ethics at the Kelley School of Business. She is passionate about promoting ethical awareness, integrity, and professionalism in the legal and business fields and contributing to the advancement of knowledge and practice in these domains. Ms. Sheehan is a frequent presenter and author on ethics and professionalism in the legal industry. She is a recurring author with the Res Gestae regarding the ethics curbstone and has been quoted in publications for her knowledge on ethical topics. Ms. Sheehan is also an avid speaker, having given over 200 seminars on ethics and professionalism for various local and national platforms. Her primary area of research is regarding the ethics of AI and how it affects the legal and business community.

Ms. Anderson has dedicated her professional career to fiercely advocating for children and adults in complex civil rights litigation cases. Her practice focuses on matters involving solitary confinement, sexual abuse, excessive force, prisoner rights, and wrongful death. As a litigator, her focus is on client-centered, collaborative, and empowering approaches to hold powerful institutions accountable. Ms. Anderson earned her juris doctor degree at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Among other achievements, she participated in the school’s prestigious Civil Rights Clinic for two years where she represented clients in civil rights and prisoner rights cases. Prior to law school, she earned her bachelor of arts degree in Psychology and minor in Child and Family Studies from the University of Tennessee. While earning her B.A. degree, Ms. Anderson also worked closely with her community as a volunteer in non-profit organizations.

Ms. Butler focuses her practice on civil rights and employment discrimination, and she is is committed to fighting for justice on behalf of her clients. Prior to joining Rathod | Mohamedbhai LLC, she served as a judicial law clerk for two years for the Honorable Philip A. Brimmer on the United States District Court for the District of Colorado. Ms. Butler started her clerkship shortly after graduating from Columbia Law School. While in law school, she was an executive editor of the Columbia Journal of Environmental Law and on the executive board for the Environmental Law Society. She also interned with the Queens County District Attorney’s Office where she prosecuted misdemeanor domestic violence cases. Ms. Butler earned distinction in law school as a James Kent Scholar and a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. She graduated from Colorado College with a bachelor of arts degree in Geology.

Ms. Moskwa specializes in real estate finance, development, joint ventures, acquisitions and distressed asset workouts. As a member of Gibson Dunn’s Real Estate Practice Group, she provides counsel on complex transactions, back-leverage financing and leasing. Since May 2024, Ms. Moskwa has been seconded to KKR & Co. Inc., where she focuses on real estate, compliance and general risk mitigation, and collaborates closely with external counsel to upgrade and streamline the client’s risk management efforts. In this role, she led the rollout of updated best practices, including enhancements to billing processes. Drawing on her legal tech expertise, Ms. Moskway has developed innovative solutions tailored to the client’s needs. Ms. Moskwa earned her juris doctor degree, summa cum laude, from New York Law School in 2021 while working full-time with Giorgio Armani Corporation and later with the New York City Mayor’s Office. During law school, she served as staff editor of the New York Law School Law Review, externed with the New York Attorney General’s Office, and was affiliated with the Center for Real Estate Studies and the Innovation Center for Law and Technology. Notably, she presented her legal tech app to Microsoft’s Legal Operations Technical Sharing Committee, showcasing her commitment to integrating technology into legal practice. She is a recipient of the prestigious Trustees’ Prize. Ms. Moskwa holds a bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies, with highest honors, from Roma Tre University in Italy. A former legal assistant and Italian thespian, she is fluent in Polish, Italian, and French. Ms. Moskwa is admitted to practice in New York.

Mr. Oh-Willeke has had mixed litigation and transactional practice since 1995. He was a cum laude graduate of the University of Michigan Law School. He is admitted to the practice of law in Colorado and New York State. He has previously been an associate professor of estate planning, a law partner, and has been of counsel in law firms with four to seven hundred lawyers.

Yvonne Sell is an attorney with SJJ Law. Her main areas of practice include Insurance Coverage Disputes and Insurance Appraisals and Litigation. She represents companies and individuals against insurance companies who have wrongfully denied or delayed paying a claim. Prior to her insurance practice, she spent the early years of her career in real estate and civil litigation. Ms. Sell earned her B.S. degree from University of Saint Mary and her J.D. Degree in addition to her Master’s in Legal Administration from Sturm College of Law.

Ms. Barker brings over three decades of dedicated paralegal experience to her clients. Starting her career in 1989, Ms. Barker has a rich background in litigation across civil, family, and criminal law. She has attended numerous criminal trials at counsel table and has managed family law cases through both court processes and mediation. Her experience includes thorough document preparation, individual client meetings, and maintaining client relationships without direct attorney supervision. Later in her career, Ms. Barker transitioned into estate planning, assisting with trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and deed transfers into trusts. Her extensive experience spans working with one firm from 1989 to 2012, two firms from 2012 to 2018, and providing contract services to attorneys from 2018 to 2023. In 2024, she retooled her business model to extend her services directly to individuals, making her valuable legal support more accessible. Ms. Barker holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Her educational background enhances her ability to support clients, especially those facing stressful legal situations.

Ms. DeBernardis has worked all over the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the State of New Hampshire, and she has a vast amount of experience in many areas of law. Ms. DeBernardis has worked with clients from all walks of life ranging from representing indigent clients through appointment by the Court to private clients in all areas of law in lower and higher Courts throughout each state. Over the years, she has been a member of the Essex County Bar Advocates, Inc., and a panel attorney for the Appellate Division of the Committee for Public Counsel, providing counsel to indigent defendants. Ms. DeBernardis’ practice focuses on family law, criminal law, and appellate law in Massachusetts and family law in New Hampshire. Ms. DeBernardis earned her B.S. degree in Psychology and Law at the College of New Jersey (formerly Trenton State College) in 1996. She continued her education at the New England School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts, where she earned a juris doctor degree in 1999. Attorney DeBernardis was admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1999, the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts in 2003 and the State of New Hampshire in 2007.

Mr. Gabor has extensive experience in human resources, litigation, and alternative dispute resolution. His human resources practice includes compliance, drafting policies, preparing manuals, conducting training, handling workplace investigations, conducting auditing, and counseling clients in all aspects of the employee-employer relationship. Mr. Gabor’s litigation practice includes employment discrimination, harassment, employee classification, wage and hour, unfair competition, non-compete, and ERISA matters. He conducts regular seminars, workshops, and webinars on matters concerning employment law and human resources. Mr. Gabor has been recognized as a Best Lawyer in America and Super Lawyer in New York, Massachusetts, and New England. He earned his B.A. degree from the University of Michigan and his J.D. degree from Touro College, Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center.

Mr. McMahon’s main areas of practice include personal injury, employees’ rights and probate controversies. He was most recently an attorney with Rath, Young and Pignatelli. Mr. McMahon earned his B.A. degree from Boston University and his J.D. degree from the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law.

Ms. Brown has been exclusively practicing family law since 2011 with experience specializing in divorce, modifications, custody cases and other family law-related matters. While attending law school she was awarded a certificate in Family Law. Ms. Brown has been nominated as a Georgia Super Lawyer every year since 2017 an accolade awarded to fewer than 2.5 percent of lawyers in the state. Additionally, she has also been nominated by Georgia’s Trend Legal Elite every year since 2018. Ms. Brown is an active member of the Cobb Bar Association and State Bar of Georgia. She serves on numerous boards and is heavily involved in Kennesaw Business Association and the Kennesaw Public Safety Foundation.

Ms. Fodor is an experienced divorce attorney who has been practicing law since 1998. She provides compassionate, yet aggressive representation for clients facing divorce, as well as custody and child support disputes. Prior to becoming an attorney, Ms. Fodor was a stockbroker/financial advisor for Prudential Securities, Inc., and then Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Her experience has helped her understand the complexities of finance and securities. In addition to divorce, child support and custody issues, she provides legal counsel to individuals and companies in such areas as business and securities law. Ms. Fodor is a member in good standing of the State Bar of Georgia and the State Bar of Arizona. In addition, the Supreme Court of Georgia appointed Ms. Fodor to serve as a mentor for beginning lawyers in Georgia. Ms. Fodor is also a Member of the Cobb County Bar Association, where she is involved in the Family Law Section. Ms. Fodor graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1998. She excelled in academics, won trial competitions, and earned her degree with honors. She also wrote articles for the University bar journal and worked two internships her final year: one for the Arizona Public Defender’s Office and one for the Arizona Corporation Commission, Securities Division.

Gary Graham is a partner with Stern Edlin Graham Family Law, P.C. His main areas of practice include high net worth divorce, complex custody cases and family law matters. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and a member of the State Bar of Georgia.

Mr. Naggiar is a top rated attorney by Georgia legal leaders and has received the Client Distinction Award from Martindale-Hubble, an accolade bestowed on less than four percent of the 900,000 attorneys on Martindale-Hubble. Mr. Naggiar has an AV Preeminent rating, meaning that his peers have rated him at the highest level of excellence. In addition, he has earned the honor of being named to Superlawyers and the honored distinction of making the Superlawyers Top 100 in Georgia. Mr. Naggiar has also been named as one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s Legal Elite. He represents clients in the full spectrum of family law cases, including contested child custody, drafting of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and modifications of custody, alimony and child support. Due to his entrepreneurial background and corporate work prior to practicing family law, his expertise is sought out specifically for high asset cases involving the division of businesses and complex financial assets. Mr. Naggiar graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in 2000. After working as a consultant in the commercial real estate and entertainment industries in California, Mr. Naggiar’s desire for more meaningful and solidly ethical work spurred him to change course and became a Judge Advocate General (JAG) in the Army. He served as Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia and prosecuted cases for the Army in Federal Court. Mr. Naggiar served nearly four years on active duty before being honorably discharged at the rank of Captain. He then took over as Chief of Legal Assistance in the Department of the Army as a Civilian Attorney, serving over 30,000 service members, their family members, and retirees in all aspects of family law. During his tenure, the office won the Chief of Staff Legal Assistance award, and he was awarded the Superior Civilian Service Award. As a military officer and as a civilian attorney, Mr. Naggiar represented clients in thousands of family law, criminal law, and estate planning cases for both active duty and military retirees in the Atlanta area. With his military background and understanding of the unique issues that confront military personnel, his legal expertise is frequently sought by service members and retirees from all branches of the U.S. Armed Services, as well as their families. Mr. Naggiar continues to give back to the military community by volunteering his services for the Georgia State Veteran’s Clinic and speaking at continuing legal education seminars regarding military/family law issues. Mr. Naggiar is admitted to the State Bar and State Supreme Court of both Georgia and California. He is also admitted to the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia. He is also certified by the State of Georgia in both domestic and civil mediations.

Ms. Palmer earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama then attended law school at Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, Florida. She previously worked as in-house counsel for a real estate investment company and was the managing attorney of a law firm in Midtown Atlanta. Ms. Palmer is a partner at Oxendine Law, LLC, practicing in all areas of domestic litigation, divorce, child custody, paternity and legitimation, and modification actions. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia Family Law Section and the Gwinnett County Bar Association Family Law Section.

Ms. Birt is a seasoned family law attorney, mediator, and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) with over 20 years of experience in family law and child advocacy. As the founder of Birt Family Law and creator of the signature Restorative Divorce™ process, Ms. Birt focuses on guiding families through resolution-focused divorce and co-parenting while minimizing court involvement. She is a sought-after speaker on ethics and best practices in family law, known for her practical insights and child-centered approach.

Ms. Dunn is a certified mediator, award-winning, and trained in collaborative divorce, and she has been appointed by judges to represent the interests of minor children in custody disputes. She was named a member of the illustrious Forty Under 40, a peer-reviewed selection of the finest young attorneys in Chicago. She has extensive knowledge of family law issues, including divorce and custody disputes, child support payments, alimony matters, prenuptial agreements, domestic violence cases, adoption proceedings and other types of family disputes. Ms. Dunn practices exclusively in family law and has done so since 2008.

Mr. Field has been practicing matrimonial and family law in Illinois for 24 years. He currently serves as the Head of Beermann LLP’s Family Law Practice Group and he is an experienced litigator specializing in custody disputes, relocation actions (including interstate and international matters under the Hague Convention), post-dissolution conflicts, and the negotiation and drafting of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. In 2010, Mr. Field was named one of Illinois’ Top 40 Attorneys Under Forty by Law Bulletin Publishing Company and has been recognized by Super Lawyers Magazine every year since 2009.

Mr. Gordon works exclusively in the area of family law. He has significant experience dealing with both parenting-related and financial litigation. In addition, Mr. Gordon has expertise conducting settlement conferences, drafting marital settlement agreements, parenting agreements, and pre and post-nuptial agreements. Furthermore, he is a skilled appellate advocate, having litigated numerous family law cases at the Appellate Court level. In 2012, Mr. Gordon’s book, Pre-Nuptial and Post-Nuptial Agreements, was published by the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE). He also authored the 2022 edition of the book, and it remains their most comprehensive authority on the drafting and enforcement of pre and post-nuptial agreements.

Mr. Maurer has over two decades of experience in all aspects of divorce and family law. As a trained guardian ad litem, Mr. Maurer has been appointed by judges to investigate contested custody cases, to be “the eyes and ears of the court”, and to give guidance and recommendations to the court as to what is in the best interest of the children. As a trained and certified mediator, he has been appointed by the courts and retained by private parties to act as a neutral third party to facilitate settlement agreements between parties to divorce and parenting disputes. Mr. Maurer handles cases in DuPage County, Cook County, Kane County, and other counties in the Greater Chicagoland Area. He has focused his practice in the area of family law, including divorce issues (contested and uncontested divorces, complex financial divorces), parentage cases, preparation of prenuptial agreements and postnuptial agreements, custody disputes, establishing visitation or parenting schedules, child support calculation and maintenance determination, grandparent rights, relocation disputes regarding removing children from Illinois, and enforcement or modification of court orders.

Ms. McGuan received her J.D. degree, summa cum laude, from the Northern Illinois University College of Law in 2010, where she graduated first in her class. Prior to attending law school, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish Language and Literature from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and a Certificate in Paralegal Studies from William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, Illinois. An attorney in private practice, Ms. McGuan is a member of the Adjunct Faculty in the Legal Studies Program at the College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, where she teaches Introduction to Legal Research and Writing, Family Law, and Immigration Law. She is the author of The Illinois Family Law Paralegal (Carolina Academic Press, 2024).