Best Lawyers Near You in Golden, Colorado for Family Law: Arbitration and Mediation
Heather M. White is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law: Arbitration and Mediation. Heather M., who practices law in Golden, Colorado, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Heather M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jim has been a lawyer for 39 years representing over 1,900 family law clients. His years of experience in litigating and negotiating family law cases has honed his ability to achieve success in mediation. Jim was a Municipal Court Judge for 22 years. His experience as a judge has provided him with the demeanor and temperament to arbitrate family law cases. Jim has mediated and arbitrated a myriad of issues including decision-making and parenting time, child support, complex property division,...
Elizabeth practices exclusively in family law, having served hundreds of clients during her tenure with their divorces, parenting, and child support cases. Elizabeth’s family law practice has focused on asset and business valuation, income valuation, complex divorce, parental responsibilities, child relocation, and child support matters, among others. Elizabeth speaks both Spanish and Italian and uses these skills to assist non-native speakers in navigating through domestic matters. Eli...
Catherine Puttmann, Esq. is a founding shareholder at Sherr Puttmann Akins Lamb, PC. Ms. Puttmann received her B.A. in political science from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1994, and her J.D. in 1997 from the University in Houston. Ms. Puttmann is an experienced litigator and negotiator. She was a criminal prosecutor with the 18th Judicial District from 1999 until 2005 when she moved to private practice, specializing in family law. Ms. Puttmann is an advocate for alternative dispute r...
About Banafsheh Banafsheh Lari is an associate attorney with Ciancio Ciancio Brown, P.C. and a member of the Family Law Team. Banafsheh earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Affairs with an emphasis on the Middle East from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2012. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 2015. Banafsheh began her legal career as a law clerk in Adams County District Court primarily for the Honorable Jac...
Emily Warren is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law, Family Law Arbitration and Family Law Mediation. Emily, who practices law in Denver, Colorado, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Emily is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
About Melinda Melinda, or Mindy as she is better known, is a member of Ciancio Ciancio Brown, P.C. family law team. Mindy comes to CCB from a boutique firm that specialized in family law and probate. Before that, Mindy worked as a staff attorney at the Colorado Court of Appeals for almost 20 years. She specialized in cases involving all aspects of family law, dependency and neglect, and workers’ compensation. The issues she addressed ran the gamut from adoption and paternity to complex ...
Tia Zavaras: Leading the Way in Family Law Innovation As the founder and CEO of Evolved Law, I am proud to lead a team dedicated to transforming the family law landscape. With over 20 years of experience as a licensed attorney, mediator, and certified divorce coach, I have built Evolved Law to provide clients with innovative, accessible, and affordable solutions for navigating divorce and other family law matters. At the heart of our mission is the integration of Licensed Legal Paraprofession...
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.
Tanya brings a unique perspective to Sherr Puttmann Akins Lamb PC through her extensive background as a Master of Social Work (MSW). Prior to graduating cum laude from DePaul University College of Law, Tanya spent eight years as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker conducting custody evaluations and providing courtroom testimony of her custody findings and recommendations. Her experience gives her special insight into cases involving mental health and substance abuse issues, as well as complex d...
Megan is the President and CEO, as well as a founding shareholder of Sherr Puttmann Akins Lamb PC. She is a seasoned attorney with an extensive background in family law. Megan served as a Deputy District Attorney, where she earned an appointment from District Attorney Bill Ritter to lead a juvenile federal grant program. Through the grant program she managed a team of professionals from multiple agencies and departments. Megan has litigated, mediated, and settled all types of family law cases...
Patricia A. Riley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law, Family Law Arbitration and Family Law Mediation. Patricia A., who practices law in Denver, Colorado, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Patricia A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Erika Alese Gebhardt is an attorney licensed in Colorado, who offers clients efficient and effective representation and tailors her services to the unique needs of each individual client. Ms. Gebhardt's practice focuses exclusively on family law. Ms. Gebhardt’s clients have the added benefit of her experience in the areas of employment law, estate planning, and complex commercial litigation. Her previous experience in these areas provides her with a unique perspective and skill set, whi...
About Carrie Carrie Chaille Eckstein is a Partner at Cline Caldwell. Carrie is a member of the distinguished Family Law Team. Her practice includes handling high asset matters, drafting marital agreements, working as a mediator between cooperative clients, and resolving child custody disputes. Carrie’s experience as a Guardian Ad Litem and Child & Family Investigator for the Colorado Courts has given her extensive experience into court processes as well as into the needs of children...
Carolyn Witkus is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Carolyn, who practices law in Denver, Colorado, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Carolyn is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
About Cynthia Cynthia L. Ciancio is a founding shareholder of Ciancio Ciancio Brown, P.C. She also heads up the firm’s Family Law Group. Ms. Ciancio’s practice specializes in high asset divorces and complex child custody disputes. She is also a certified mediator conducting both mediations and arbitrations for parties with or without lawyers. With over 20 years of experience exclusively in family law, and another four years prior as a Deputy District Attorney in Adams County, Ms. ...
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.