Best Lawyers in America for Family Law: Arbitration and Mediation
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Deanna Rusch is an attorney at McKean Smith's Vancouver office. Highly respected as a skilled family law attorney in Southwest Washington, Deanna's poise in court, knowledge of the law, and trial experience sets her apart. She focuses her practice on complex divorce cases (particularly those involving high net worth property ownership and complicated assets), custody cases, relocation, third party custody, modifications, and all other areas of family law. Deanna was drawn to family law over a...
Kelly has a longstanding career in the legal profession, spanning over four decades. She is licensed to practice law in five jurisdictions and has advocated for litigants within both state and federal courts. Her experience includes serving as an Administrative Health Law Judge with the Department of Health and working as a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) in Pierce County before becoming Senior Counsel at Envision Family Law. In her role as a GAL, Kelly played a crucial part in many child custody cas...
Mr. Feeney practices exclusively in the area of family law mediation and litigation. He is a trained family law mediator and regularly participates in the mediation of all types of matrimonial and family law disputes, both pre- and post-judgment. Mr. Feeney is also on the New Jersey Judiciary Roster of Mediators for Economic Aspects of Family Law Cases. As a litigator, Mr. Feeney has experience in a wide range of matters impacting divorcing parties and families, including child custody and su...
A State Bar of Arizona Board Certified Family Law Specialist, Mitchell “Mitch” Reichman has the knowledge and experience to manage high conflict divorces with substantial assets. Mitch focuses his practice only in family law and represents clients in high-stake divorce matters. He is one of only 1,650 family law attorneys in the United States admitted as a fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Academy fellows are considered as preeminent family law attorneys with ...
Shalini Nangia is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Shalini, who practices law in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Shalini is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Laci Bowman represents clients in all aspects of family law, including divorce, modification proceedings, premarital and post marital property agreements, suits affecting parent-child relationship, and enforcement issues. Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2013, Ms. Bowman has extensive experience negotiating difficult settlement agreements or, when appropriate, taking a case through trial. She has tried multiple jury trials, bench trials, and arbit...
“My clients are priority number one. I approach each interaction with integrity, respect, and well-reasoned advocacy to best meet your needs. Working to reach a positive outcome for you is my greatest reward.” With more than four decades of experience, I have a depth of knowledge that gives me clarity, wisdom, and skills that few can match. It’s exciting for me to be at this point in my career and I look forward each day to making a difference in the lives of my clients. I h...
Kathryn Deckert is passionate about guiding clients through what are often challenging, emotionally fraught cases. Kathryn focuses her practice on issues related to divorce, child custody and support, domestic violence and pre- and post-nuptial agreements. Kathryn is motivated by a desire to help her clients move beyond difficult times and into more positive phases of their lives. She wants them to feel heard and supported throughout their case and she works assiduously and compassionately to...
Bar Admissions: New Jersey New York District of Columbia U.S. District Court U.S. Supreme Court Jerry S. D’Aniello, a member of the firm, devotes his practice exclusively to all aspects of divorce and family law. Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Law Attorney, he has worked with clients whose needs lie in all areas of matrimonial and family law, including divorce litigation, mediation, and arbitration; post-judgment litigation; custody and parenting time issu...
Elizabeth S. Owen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Elizabeth S., who practices law in Rock Hill, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Elizabeth S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Lauren L. Gill is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law: Arbitration and Mediation. Lauren L., who practices law in Tysons Corner, Virginia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lauren L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Laila Raheen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law: Arbitration and Mediation. Laila, who practices law in Fairfax, Virginia, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Laila is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
We first met Elizabeth in 2020 when she applied for a summer internship here at Armstrong Law. It was clear from the start that she was one-of-a-kind. Wise beyond her years, perceptive, compassionate, and not afraid of hard work, she quickly proved herself to be an indispensable member of our team. She still is. After completing her law degree and passing the bar exam, Elizabeth is now the brilliant family law attorney we always knew she would be. “For as long as I can remember, I knew ...
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.