Best Lawyers in America for Family Law: Arbitration and Mediation
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State
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...
Jennie R. Wray is a Partner at The Harris Law Firm. Nationally recognized for in Divorce and Family Law, Attorney Wray has been named to the Colorado Super Lawyers® list of Rising Stars™ seven years in a row. Selection to the Rising Stars list is earned by just 2.5% of all practicing attorneys in each state. As passionate advocate who has dedicated her professional career to making the law clear and accessible to those who need it most, Ms. Wray has helped numerous individuals and f...
Sam recently entered his 30th consecutive year of being able to dunk a basketball. He also happens to be a Board Certified family lawyer with more than 20 years of experience. Based in Austin, Texas, Sam practices with Noelke Maples St. Leger Bryant LLP, where his work centers on Family Law and Family Law Mediation. His practice frequently involves divorces for professionals, business owners, and their spouses. Sam’s approach is deliberate and understated. He listens carefully and choos...
David S. Bouschor, II is a 1991 graduate of the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. Mr. Bouschor was a sole practitioner and a shareholder in a previous law firm until January 2000 when he opened The Law Office of David S. Bouschor, II, P.C. in Denton, Texas. For over twenty-eight years, Mr. Bouschor’s legal practice has consisted of Family Law, Guardianship and Probate. Since 1995 Mr. Bouschor has been Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specializa...
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...
Susan L. Steffey was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1987 and to the Mississippi Bar in 1991. She is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Mississippi and Florida and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Before joining Watkins & Eager in 1991, Susan practiced in Tampa, Florida, with the law firm of Sessums & Mason (1987-1990), and served as law clerk to the Honorable Rhesa H. Barksdale, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (1990-19...
Chrysandra S. Bowen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law, Family Law Arbitration and Family Law Mediation. Chrysandra S., who practices law in Denton, Texas, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Chrysandra S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Robert L. Schwartz has been practicing law for over 35 years, specializing in domestic relations. He is a member of the American, Arizona and Maricopa County Bar Associations. He is admitted to practice in the federal courts of New York, Arizona, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Schwartz is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and former president of the Arizona chapter. He serves as a judge pro tem for the Superior Court of Maricopa County in...
Jacqueline Newman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Jacqueline, who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jacqueline is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jason R. Marks is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Family Law, Family Law Arbitration and Family Law Mediation. Jason R., who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jason R. 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 ...
Guiding You Through Divorce, Ethically and Diligently Kristiana Butler on Your Family and Your Future: Whether through Collaborative Law or the traditional litigation model, I work with clients to develop personalized solutions for a new and better normal. I help clients prioritize goals, generate options, and explore long-term solutions with respect and support. From LGBTQIA+ parenting to buyouts of business interests, I provide a thoughtful and empathetic approach to protecting the people a...
Making strategic decisions for the future can be challenging during a family crisis like divorce. Jonathan Dana, a compassionate and straightforward divorce attorney with more than 35 years of experience, helps clients navigate these difficult times to make educated, informed and optimal decisions for their circumstances. “I present clients with options, letting them know that my role is to guide, rather than tell them what to do,” says Jonathan. “It’s important that t...
Susan S. Lichterman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law Arbitration. Susan S., who practices law in Southfield, Michigan, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Susan S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Bethany J. Roberts is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law, Family Law Arbitration and Family Law Mediation. Bethany J., who practices law in Lawrence, Kansas, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Bethany J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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.