Best Lawyers in America for Family Law: Arbitration and Mediation
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State
Attorney Alison Krueger has focused her legal career on Family Law since earning her Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1999. She is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is a member of Nelson, Krueger & Millenbach LLC. Attorney Krueger represents individuals and families throughout Wisconsin in a broad range of Family Law matters, including divorce, legal separation, annulment, paternity, child support, maintenance (alimony), grandparent visitation, post-judgment mo...
With a background in tax and accounting, coupled with extensive domestic litigation experience, Mr. Andreasen is a top choice for clients needing estate planning or representation in family law matters. Trained as a mediator and in the collaborative law process, Mr. Andreasen was a founding officer of the Collaborative Family Lawyers of Utah. He has taught divorce and estate planning classes to other attorneys for their continuing legal education. Currently, Mr. Andreasen is the Chair of Clyd...
Jaime S. Dursht is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Jaime S., who practices law in Stamford, Connecticut, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jaime S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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.
Kara M. Swasey is a director at Bayard. She concentrates her practice in the area of family law, including divorce, custody, child support, adoption, guardianship and protection from abuse. She provides litigation support to Bayard’s bankruptcy, corporate and commercial law practices. Kara also represents landlords in commercial and residential landlord-tenant matters in Justice of the Peace courts throughout the state of Delaware. Kara is a member of the Executive Committee of the Mels...
Kendra G. Gjerdingen chairs the Appellate Law Group at Mallor Grodner Plummer LLP and handles the legal needs of private and business clients in civil litigation and family law. Her concentration includes family law and jurisdiction, interstate and international custody disputes, appeals, and civil litigation. Kendra is a leading family law and appellate lawyer in Indiana. She also has extensive experience in jurisdictional disputes. She has represented many clients in Hague Convention cases,...
Susan McLerran’s practice encompasses a broad array of family law matters, with a focus on complex divorce proceedings involving marital property characterization, valuation and division, business valuation, taxation, issues related to retirement assets, stock options, restricted stock and employee benefits, and conservatorship, visitation and child support matters, pre-marital and post-marital agreements, and suits regarding modification and enforcement of court orders. Susan’s e...
Whether helping her clients negotiate to draft commercial leases or working collaboratively to resolve complex family law issues, Leslye Fenton brings a uniquely powerful combination of sensitivity and tenacity to her work. As an attorney and trained mediator, Leslye believes in listening carefully to her clients to identify what drives their interests. This key, she says, unlocks the paths toward resolution, successful negotiation and, hopefully, beneficial outcomes. Her practice includes Fa...
Erica R. Kemmerley 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. Erica R., who practices law in Denver, Colorado, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Erica R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jeff is a highly experienced litigator, mediator, and collaborative law attorney. With such a versatile skill set, he is exceptionally equipped to advise clients on the best approach to resolve their family law matter, and achieve an outcome that is ultimately successful. Jeff manages the full range of family law issues, with special expertise in high net worth business and complex property cases. Time as a civil business litigator early in Jeff’s career honed his technical skills and b...
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...
Christina Smith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Christina, who practices law in Seattle, Washington, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christina is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jennifer B. Sackett is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Jennifer B., who practices law in Portland, Oregon, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jennifer B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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 ...
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...
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.