Best Lawyers in America for Collaborative Law: Family Law
State
Sheraz Barkat is a Washington, D.C. attorney with Barkat Law Firm whose practice focuses on helping individuals and families address complex legal and personal matters with practical guidance and clear communication. He works with clients facing emotionally challenging situations and strives to develop thoughtful solutions tailored to their goals and long-term interests. Mr. Barkat represents clients in a wide range of matters involving Family Law , Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law M...
Andi believes that many family law matters can be resolved through thoughtful negotiation and problem-solving, allowing people to move forward without further strain on already sensitive relationships. She approaches each case with the goal of reaching agreement when possible, while also preparing carefully for litigation when settlement is not achievable. This balanced approach allows Andi to advocate effectively for her clients at every stage of a case, with the support of her dedicated par...
Nicole A. Forbes is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Nicole A. practices law in Concord, New Hampshire Best Lawyers has recognized Nicole A. Forbes since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Nicole A. Forbes is held by other lawyers.
Margaret has over twenty-five years of experience concentrating on high-asset and complex divorce cases. Margaret’s clients include business owners, public figures, elected officials, executives of publicly traded companies, successful inventors, tech entrepreneurs, attorneys, doctors, dentists, retirees, those with generational wealth, and many others. Her cases regularly involve issues relating to the valuation and division of complex assets such as business interests, private equity,...
Lindsay B. Haber is a highly accomplished family law attorney and founding partner of Haber Legal in Boca Raton, Florida. She represents clients across South Florida in complex and emotionally sensitive matters involving matrimonial and family law , equitable distribution , alimony , timesharing and parental responsibility , paternity , prenuptial and postnuptial agreements , and complex financial issues , while also providing clients with comprehensive estate planning and probate counsel. Ms...
Elizabeth K. Bransdorfer received her bachelor’s degree from the College of Liberal Arts and her law degree cum laude from the Law School, both at the University of Minnesota. Liz specializes in divorce and family law using mediation, and collaborative practice as well as traditional litigation and arbitration. She is admitted to practice in all Michigan state courts, the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the United States District Co...
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...
Heather Trostle Smith, a partner with Pittsburgh family law firm Pollock Begg, applies her experience in multifaceted family law issues to advocate for clients in all types of divorce, support and custody cases, including those with complex financial estates and high net worth individuals. Heather began her legal career in Pittsburgh concentrating in commercial matters, professional liability, personal injury law and family law with a well-known commercial litigation firm. Her keen ability to...
Many years selected by her peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers In Connecticut, Connecticut Superlawyers, Best Law Firm, Best Lawyers in the New York area, Best Lawyers in New England. Awarded Connecticut Magazine "Top 25 Women Attorneys" as recognized for excellence by peers in the legal community for professional achievement and high ethical standards.. Attorney Mariani is board certified as a Family Law Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, an American Bar Association accr...
Jessica L. Toelstedt joined Mason Law & Mediation LLC as a partner in 2025 and has practiced family and matrimonial law in New York for nearly twenty years. Before joining the firm, she was a partner at Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein, LLP, where she served as Co-Chair of the Mediation and Collaborative Law Practice. Jessica represents clients in matters involving Family Law, Collaborative Law: Family Law, and Family Law Mediation . After spending the first half of her career litigati...
Megan Greene, a partner with Greene & Greene, was born and raised in St. Petersburg, and is happy to still call it home today. She attended the University of Florida, where she earned both a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Science, and a Juris Doctor degree. While in law school, Megan served as a member of the Journal of Law and Public Policy and the Estates and Trusts Society. Upon graduation, she was awarded the Community Service Certificate and the Pro Bono Outstanding Achieve...
Curtis Harrison is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and a partner at Goranson Bain Ausley in Plano. With over 31 years practicing exclusively in family law, Curtis was named Best Lawyers in America's “Lawyer of the Year” for Family Law Mediation in the Dallas/Fort Worth region (2022) and is recognized in Best Lawyers in America for Family Law, Family Law Mediation, and Collaborative Law: Family Law (2017–present). He has been named a ...
Pittsburgh divorce attorney Stephanie L. Jablon aggressively works to amicably resolve a variety of cases through collaborative family law, mediation or litigation. Skilled in the courtroom and specially trained in collaborative family law and mediation, Pittsburgh divorce attorney Stephanie L. Jablon works toward cordial resolutions that allow clients to move forward with hope. She approaches equitable distribution, support, custody and protection from abuse cases with an aptitude for swift ...
Moving Foward, With Integrity and Respect Kelly Caperton Fischer on doing what’s best for clients: I excel at finding creative and respectful solutions to family law matters, including property and child-related issues. Understanding that each family is unique and has different end goals, I use “collaborative law” as a critical foundation to help clients put settlement at the forefront, negotiate more openly and truly focus on what is best for their family. This results in t...
Kristen A. Algert is a Board-Certified family law Partner at Goranson Bain Ausley in Austin and one of the most peer-distinguished collaborative law practitioners in Texas. She has been included in The Best Lawyers in America© in the fields of Family Law, Family Law Mediation, and Collaborative Law: Family Law continuously since 2007, representing nearly two decades of sustained peer recognition. Best Lawyers has named Kris “Lawyer of the Year” in Austin for Collaborative Law...
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.
