Best Lawyers in America for Family Law: Arbitration and Mediation
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State
Katherine Dupuis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law Mediation and Mediation. Katherine, who practices law in New Providence, New Jersey, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Katherine is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jennifer E. Presti is Counsel in the Family Law group at Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A. Jennifer concentrates her practice on family law and matrimonial law, serving as a trusted advisor to her clients and providing a stable base they can rely upon in the times they need it most. Jennifer represents clients in all aspects of divorce, equitable distribution, alimony, custody, parenting time, child support, domestic violence, as well as prenuptial, marital, and cohabitation agreements. Je...
Mr. Schilawski is a partner in the law firm of Wake Family Law Group in Raleigh, North Carolina. He received his B.A. degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1971, his M.Ed. degree from North Carolina State University in 1976 and his J.D. degree from Campbell University in 1982. He served as Editor-in-Chief of the Campbell Law Review. Mr. Schilawski's principal area of practice is family law. In 1989, he was board certified as a specialist in family law by the North Car...
Across Pennsylvania, Brian Vertz is viewed as a powerful advocate for his family law clients. For more than 25 years, Brian has zealously represented clients in complex child support cases, high net worth divorces, prenup enforcement cases, difficult custody disputes, and appeals up to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. With his MBA background and financial training, Brian develops effective strategies for family law cases involving business valuation, executive compensation, double dipping, fam...
Maria Montoya Chavez is an attorney with Sutin, Thayer & Browne APC in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has been recognized by Best Lawyers since 2018 for her work in Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law, Family Law Arbitration, and Family Law Mediation. This recognition is based on peer review by attorneys practicing in the same geographic and practice areas. Maria Montoya Chavez has practiced law since 2000 and focuses exclusively on family law matters, including divorce, child custody...
Taylor cares about people: She’s an auxiliary board member at The Family Place – a vital area resource for victims of domestic abuse. She’s been active in fundraising efforts for the Genesis Women’s Shelter. She served as a valued member of the Texas Young Lawyers Association board of directors. (The TYLA helps advance the legal profession’s role in serving the public.) But first and foremost, Taylor cares about her clients. “Divorce is not just an ending; ...
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...
A Nationally Recognized Leader in Family Law and Dispute Resolution Vicki L. Shemin brings more than 35 years of experience in family law to her role as Partner at Turco Legal’s Boston office. Widely regarded as one of Massachusetts’ most respected attorneys, mediators, collaborative law practitioners, and parenting coordinators, she has built a career at the intersection of law, mental health, and conflict resolution. Vicki is regularly recognized for her excellence in the field,...
Nicholas B. Missad is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Nicholas B., who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nicholas B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Caryn has limited her practice exclusively to Marital and Family Law since her admission to the Florida Bar in 1996. Caryn promotes problem solving by utilizing appropriate dispute resolution methods designed to avoid expensive litigation, whenever possible. Caryn, a partner at West, Green & Associates, P.L., brings over 19 years of Family Law experience to the firm and is board certified by the Florida Bar, a Fellow of the prestigious American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and is A/V r...
Barri Hilton Payne In 2011, Barri became a Board Certified Specialist in Family Law and a Certified Family Financial Mediator. She was born in High Point, North Carolina and grew up in Davidson County. She attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where she majored in Religious studies and Sociology. Barri is a 1999 graduate of University of North Carolina School of Law at Chapel Hill. After twelve years as a partner in a local law firm, Barri opened her own solo family law and m...
Elaine Pudlowski joined the office of Frankel, Rubin, Klein, Payne & Pudlowski, P.C., in 1997. Elaine practices extensively in the field of domestic relations where she represents both men and women in matters pertaining to divorce, paternity, child custody, child support and spousal support. Elaine also works in the juvenile court handling adoptions, detentions and care and protection matters as well as in the probate court assisting families with legal guardianships and estates. In addi...
With over 30 years in the legal field, my journey as a lawyer has been marked by a commitment to fostering resolution and understanding through Collaborative Law and Mediation. Unlike traditional legal paths, something about mediation and helping people in conflict find a better, more productive way to resolve their differences attracted me to Mediation and Collaborative law. While starting my career at a notable Fifth Avenue matrimonial litigation firm, I volunteered as a court mediator, wit...
Frank P. Tranchina, Jr., is a partner in the law firm of Tranchina & Mansfield, L.L.C. He received his law degree from Loyola University School of Law in 1979. He is Board Certified in Family Law by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization and is also licensed in the State of California. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He is a past chairman of the Family Law sections of the Louisiana State and Jefferson Bar Associations as well as co-chair of the board ce...
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.