Best Lawyers in America for Collaborative Law: Family Law
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State
David Littman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law, Family Law Arbitration and Family Law Mediation. David, who practices law in Denver, Colorado, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Maria Montoya Chavez is an attorney with Sutin, Thayer & Browne APC in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has been recognized by Best Lawyers since 2018 for her work in Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law, Family Law Arbitration, and Family Law Mediation. This recognition is based on peer review by attorneys practicing in the same geographic and practice areas. Maria Montoya Chavez has practiced law since 2000 and focuses exclusively on family law matters, including divorce, child custody...
Paul Smollar has been practicing family law for more than forty years, and has become a leader in Collaborative Practice in the Washington Metropolitan Area. Recognized as the only trained mediator in the District of Columbia by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Mr. Smollar nevertheless is an accomplished litigator when matters do not settle. Mr. Smollar practices in both the District of Columbia and Virginia and is an active member of the Fairfax County Bar, the Virginia Trial Law...
With over 30 years in the legal field, my journey as a lawyer has been marked by a commitment to fostering resolution and understanding through Collaborative Law and Mediation. Unlike traditional legal paths, something about mediation and helping people in conflict find a better, more productive way to resolve their differences attracted me to Mediation and Collaborative law. While starting my career at a notable Fifth Avenue matrimonial litigation firm, I volunteered as a court mediator, wit...
Abigail M. Cohen is a Senior Associate at Gladstone, Weissman, Hirschberg & Schneider, P.A. She is Board Certified in Marital and Family Law by the Florida Bar and a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Ms. Cohen earned her J.D. (magna cum laude) from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where she was ranked 7 out of 238 in her graduating class. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Florida. Since her admission to the Florid...
Thomas L. Ausley is the founding partner of GoransonBain Ausley’s predecessor firm Ausley, Algert, Robertson & Flores, LLP. He has devoted his legal career to the practice of family law and has earned the respect of peers and judges alike for his unwavering integrity in guiding and advising clients. Tom was bestowed the prestigious Sam Emison Award by the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists in 2013 in recognition of his significant contributions to the practice of family law and...
Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Susan Myres has over 35 years of experience practicing family law in Harris County and the Greater Houston area. Susan works closely with all of her clients to develop a legal strategy that best fits her client's goals and needs. Her background in business studies allows her to work through complex issues involving the characterization and valuation of a business, closely-held business interests, characteri...
Julie Quaid is a partner in the firm of Quaid Farish, LLC whose practice is limited to matrimonial law. Quaid Farish and all its lawyers are Martindale-Hubbell "AV" rated and are listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, the highest ratings a lawyer and a law firm can receive. Julie provides her clients with a full spectrum of family law services, including collaborative divorce, pre and post-marital agreements, domestic partnership agreements, complex property issues and child relate...
Kyle is a highly regarded family attorney who draws on deep experience and a competitive nature in seeking to prevail for his clients. A seasoned litigator, mediator, and collaborative lawyer, he handles the gamut of family law matters, with special expertise in complex custody and business cases. In addition, Kyle has cultivated a niche in working with Christians, who often struggle with reconciling divorce and their faith. Kyle began his legal career as a civil litigator but realized family...
Shalini Nangia is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Shalini, who practices law in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Shalini is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Christopher M. Farish is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Collaborative Law: Family Law and Family Law. Christopher M., who practices law in Dallas, Texas, has been recognized since 2014. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christopher M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Candice L. Komar’s legal career spans nearly four decades as a prominent practitioner recognized equally for excellence in litigation and alternative dispute skills. Incorporating her affinity for business and her understanding of the sensitivity surrounding marital break down, Pittsburgh family lawyer Candice L. Komar is a skilled and formidable opponent in the courtroom who also shines in the alternative dispute arena as a collaborative lawyer, mediator and arbitrator. Candice provide...
Kathryn J. Murphy is a Board Certified family law partner at Goranson Bain Ausley in Plano and one of the most highly credentialed family law attorneys in Texas. She has been named the Best Lawyers in America© Family Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Dallas three times — in 2015, 2017, and 2019 — a distinction awarded to only one lawyer per practice area in each community. Kathryn has also been recognized continuously in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of...
Sheraz Barkat is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Civil Rights Law, Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Sheraz, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sheraz is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Focusing on the future rather than the past results in better decisions, Lindley Bain believes, and counsels divorcing clients to strive for healthy, attainable goals. Lindley concentrates on financially complex divorces and high-conflict custody matters. Lindley is board certified in Family Law. She practices both collaborative and traditional litigation with both creativity and compassion to address both their financial and emotional divorce. She is the current Chair of the State Bar of Tex...
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.