Best Lawyers in California, United States for Family Law: Arbitration and Mediation
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Belinda Hanson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Belinda, who practices law in San Mateo, California, has been recognized since 2003. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Belinda is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Paula J. Swensen, who was born in Orange, New Jersey in 1955, has been an Orange County resident since 2000 after relocating to California from New England. Ms. Swensen lives in Trabuco Canyon and has three children. She is an avid sports fan, supporting any and all teams from the Boston area. Ms. Swensen graduated from the University of New Hampshire (B.S., Behavioral Science, highest honors, 1996) and Franklin Pierce Law Center (J.D., 1999; M.A., Intellectual Property). Between her second a...
Attorney Brian Seastrom is the President of the Seastrom Tuttle & Murphy law firm in Irvine, California. Board certified as a Family Law Specialist by The State Bar of California's Board of Legal Specialization and possessing more than 21 years of legal experience, Mr. Seastrom focuses his practice solely on family law. He represents the rights and interests of clients throughout Orange County and in high net-worth complex family law litigation. Throughout the course of his career, Mr. Se...
Michael A. Morris was born in Winston Salem, North Carolina. Michael was named Best Family Law Lawyer of the Year - Orange County in 2013 and 2018 by Best Lawyers in America. He has been listed as one of the Best Lawyers in America by Best Lawyers in America Orange County - Family Law since 2007 and by Super Lawyers each year since 2004. Michael is also listed in Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers (USA) - 2020. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (B.A.) and Western State Un...
Joseph P. Crawford is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Joseph P., who practices law in San Mateo, California, has been recognized since 2009. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joseph P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Sara Z. May is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law, Family Law: Arbitration and Mediation and Litigation - Trusts and Estates. Sara Z., who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sara Z. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Nina Shayan Depatie is an experienced family law attorney based in Los Angeles. A strong advocate with experience trying high-stakes cases, Nina also recognizes that family law matters can be emotionally trying and is dedicated to achieving the best outcomes for her clients in and out of court. Because every client and every fact pattern is unique, Nina favors a highly-personalized approach, tailored to her clients’ specific needs, and pursues all avenues to achieve the desired outcomes...
Jacob A. Ellenhorn is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law: Arbitration and Mediation. Jacob A., who practices law in Costa Mesa, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jacob A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.