Best Lawyers in America for Family Law: Arbitration and Mediation
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State
Julie has practiced family law in Southwest Michigan for over 20 years. She is a fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. She is past President of the Kalamazoo County Bar Association. And, she was elected twice to serve as a commissioner for the nine counties that comprise District F of the Michigan State Bar.
Erika Leuffen Salerno Shadowens is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Erika Leuffen, who practices law in Kalamazoo, Michigan, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Erika Leuffen is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Richard J. Rotole focuses his practice on negotiation and settlement of complex family law disputes involving such issues as divorce, parental responsibility, spousal maintenance, child support, division of property, and prenuptial/marital agreements. He maintains an active and well respected mediation practice assisting lawyers and parties to divorce in amicably resolving their family law cases with an impressive number of settlements. He is also a well respected Arbitrator known for his tho...
Anne E. Grover is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law, Family Law Arbitration and Family Law Mediation. Anne E., who practices law in Rockville, Maryland, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Anne E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Lon M. Loveless is a Partner in the family law firm of Orsinger Nelson Downing & Anderson, LLP, and is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Mr. Loveless is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell and was selected as one of the Best Lawyers in America in the practice area of Family Law for 2015-2021. Mr. Loveless is a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He has been honored by Texas Super Lawyers for the past 12 years, (2009-2020) in the area o...
Walter P. Eells is a partner in the firm’s West Chester office. With over 30 years of litigation experience, he concentrates his practice in the Family and Orphans’ Courts, offering focused and timely advice to clients involving adoptions, guardianships, divorce, custody, support, pre- and postnuptial agreements, and all related litigation and mediation. He previously served as the Chairperson appointed by the Chester County Court of Common Pleas to review and revise the Local Fam...
Jacqueline A. Whisnant, born in Burbank, California in 1960, has been an Orange County resident since 1985. She and her husband, Bruce Whisnant, have two children. Ms. Whisnant graduated from California State University, Northridge (B.A., 1984) and Loyola Law School of Los Angeles (J.D., 1987). While in law school, she was a member of the Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court Honors Program and held the position of judicial extern for the Honorable Allan E. Broussard of the California Sta...
Sondra Douglas is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Sondra, who practices law in Rockville, Maryland, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sondra is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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...
Kristiana Butler is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and a partner at Goranson Bain Ausley in Austin. With over 13 years practicing exclusively in family law, Kristiana has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America for Family Law, Collaborative Law, and Family Law Mediation (2024–2025), named to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Family Law (2020–2023), named a Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star (2017–2023), named by Texas Super Lawyers (20...
David N. Iancu is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin family law attorney with Karp & Iancu SC . His practice focuses on Family Law , Family Law Arbitration, and Family Law Mediation , representing clients throughout Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington, and counties across Wisconsin. He works with individuals and families in a wide range of matters involving divorce , child custody , placement, support , property division , post-judgment disputes, and other family law issues. Attorney Iancu has d...
Cary J. Mogerman is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and Past President of the national organization (2022). He was honored to be recognized as the AAML "Fellow of the Year" for 2018-19. He is one of the 100 Diplomates of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers (ACFTL). He has been listed in "Best Lawyers" since 1999, and named its "Lawyer of the Year, Family Law, St. Louis" three times: 2024, 2019, and 2009. He is also a Fellow of the International Academy ...
“While many of my cases are litigated, my training in collaborative law ensures that every effort is taken to reach a resolution in the most cost-effective and clear manner possible.” – Aimee Pingenot With a compassionate focus and an eye towards the future, Aimee works with clients to skillfully assist them in identifying their goals and guide them towards a resolution in often complex and contentious family law matters. Having a Master’s degree in social work provide...
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.