Best Lawyers in America for Collaborative Law: Family Law
Select a location from the list below to find the best legal talent for your needs.
State
Practice Areas Family Law Commercial Litigation Construction Litigation Collaborative Law Practice Emphasis Jessica has a diverse trial practice that focuses on family law and business litigation. She has extensive experience in handling family law cases, including divorce, child custody, asset division, property and business valuation, paternity, financial support and many other issues that arise in a family law context. Jessica has tried many family cases as well as worked with her clients ...
Rebecca is a fighter. She fights for her clients, her clients’ children, her clients’ financial well-being, and her clients’ futures. And she fights to win. Her prowess in the courtroom is well known throughout the legal community. She’s prepared, astute, quick-witted, and good on her feet. Even attorneys on the other side of the table appreciate working with her; yes, she’s an ardent advocate for the people she represents, but she’s also fair, good-natured...
Aimee Pingenot Key is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and a partner at Goranson Bain Ausley in Dallas and Midland. With over 23 years practicing exclusively in family law, Aimee has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America for Family Law (2015–2026), Collaborative Law: Family Law (2024–2026), and Family Law Mediation (2025–2026). She has been selected to Texas Super Lawyers (2014–2025), the Top 100: Texas Super Lawyers (2017&...
Lisa R. Zonder is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Lisa R., who practices law in Calabasas, California, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lisa R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Erin L. Kopelman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Erin L., who practices law in Bethesda, Maryland, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Erin L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Carla M. Calabrese is the founding and managing partner of Calabrese BudnerLLP , a Dallas-based boutique family law firm focused on complex divorce and custody matters. With more than 35 years of experience, she practices in FamilyLaw , Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law Mediation, and Family Law Arbitration. Carla is a pioneer of Emotionally Intelligent Divorce®, guiding clients through high-stakes family matters with clarity, strategy, and a focus on long-term outcomes. A Master ...
Allison Gerli is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Allison, who practices law in St. Louis, Missouri, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Allison is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Sarah M. Armstrong is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Collaborative Law: Family Law and Family Law. Sarah M., who practices law in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sarah M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Laura Dale is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Her practice is concentrated in the area of family law involving high conflict divorce, high net worth property division, both domestic and foreign, property valuation, custody cases, international child abduction brought under The Hague Convention and complex multi-jurisdictional family law disputes. Ms. Dale is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers and a USA Delegate on the Board of Gov...
Known as a thoughtful, determined problem-solver, who is committed to finding positive, constructive approaches for resolving family legal issues, Amy L. Stewart practices exclusively in Mallor Grodner Plummer LLP’s family and matrimonial law division. She assists clients with a full range of family law matters, including separation and divorce, paternity, asset valuation, division and distribution, child custody, child support, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, cohabitation, and d...
Ryan R. Bauerle is a Partner at Goranson Bain Ausley in Plano, Texas, Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© for Family Law (2024–2026), following inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch© (2020–2023). Ryan is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, the International Academy of Family Lawyers, and the American Bar Foundation, and is also active in the International ...
A Nationally Recognized Leader in Family Law and Dispute Resolution Vicki L. Shemin brings more than 35 years of experience in family law to her role as Partner at Turco Legal’s Boston office. Widely regarded as one of Massachusetts’ most respected attorneys, mediators, collaborative law practitioners, and parenting coordinators, she has built a career at the intersection of law, mental health, and conflict resolution. Vicki is regularly recognized for her excellence in the field,...
Esther R. Donald is a family law attorney at Goranson Bain Ausley in Dallas. She has been admitted to the Texas Bar since 1988 and has practiced family law for 38 years. Esther is a Master Credentialed Collaborative Professional through Collaborative Divorce Texas and is admitted to practice in the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas. Esther has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© for Family Law from 2017 through 2026 and for Collaborative Law: Family Law from 2024 throug...
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.