Best Lawyers in America for Family Law: Arbitration and Mediation
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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...
Michael A. Morris was born in Winston Salem, North Carolina. Michael was named Best Family Law Lawyer of the Year - Orange County in 2013 and 2018 by Best Lawyers in America. He has been listed as one of the Best Lawyers in America by Best Lawyers in America Orange County - Family Law since 2007 and by Super Lawyers each year since 2004. Michael is also listed in Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers (USA) - 2020. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (B.A.) and Western State Un...
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.
Sheraz Barkat is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Civil Rights Law, Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Sheraz, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sheraz is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Todd M. Begg focuses his practice on divorce, equitable distribution and custody matters with an emphasis on custody litigation. Having practiced almost exclusively in this area for more than 20 years, Todd is known as an articulate and experienced attorney, well-versed in statutes and case law. With a background in psychology and sociology, Todd is extremely comfortable litigating cases, including high-conflict cases, which may include issues of addiction, mental illness, or abuse. His educa...
Kathryn J. Murphy is a Board Certified family law partner at Goranson Bain Ausley in Plano and one of the most highly credentialed family law attorneys in Texas. She has been named the Best Lawyers in America© Family Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Dallas three times — in 2015, 2017, and 2019 — a distinction awarded to only one lawyer per practice area in each community. Kathryn has also been recognized continuously in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of...
Marlene A. Pontrelli is a certified specialist in family law. Her practice focuses on all aspects of family law including dissolution and legal separation of marriage, business valuations, division of property, spousal support, post-dissolution modifications, premarital and post-marital agreements, paternity, child custody, parenting time, and child support matters. She is admitted to practice in Arizona and California. She also acts as a private mediator for parties wishing to settle outside...
Justin L. Mauney, a partner at Wake Family Law Group, was admitted to the practice of law in North Carolina in 2007 and focuses his practice on all aspects of North Carolina family law litigation and negotiation. Justin received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2004. In 2007, he received his Juris Doctor, cum laude , from the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University...
Sarah T. Schaffer, CFLS is a family law attorney and mediator, holding the prestigious Certified Family Law Specialist designation from the State Bar of California. Schaffer Family Law Group, APC is a full-service Mediation, Divorce, and Family Law firm dedicated to delivering practical & effective results to high net-worth clients. Ms. Schaffer builds her practice on a thorough knowledge of the law, excellent research skills, superior presentation to the court, and most of all calm, comp...
Lynne Weitzel began her college career at Boston University and graduated from UCLA in 1991. Her college days included a trip around the world via Semester at Sea in 1989. She then attended law school at Tulane Law School in New Orleans, clerking in San Francisco and Washington D.C. during the summers. After graduating from law school, she moved to Denver where she has continuously resided. Lynne has sat on various boards during her legal career including the Metropolitan Denver Interdiscipli...
Michael Bonetto is a San Francisco, California family law attorney with Moradi Neufer LLP . He has been practicing family law since his admission to the California Bar in 2007 and focuses his work exclusively on this area of law. Michael represents clients in a wide range of family law matters, including divorce , spousal and child support , complex property division , business valuation, separate property tracing, child custody and visitation , and the prosecution and defense of domestic vio...
A Strong Advocate When The Stakes Are High Hayley Collins Blair on Your Family and Your Future: I represent successful professionals and their spouses, including C-suite executives and business owners, with a range of high-level issues, including complex asset characterization and valuation and custody cases. Many of my clients are conscientious parents who put their children first and want to minimize the impact of divorce on their children. My goal is to guide people through a difficult tim...
Joseph J. Russell, Jr. is the Founder & Managing Partner of RUSSELL LAW, LLC, Divorce & Family Lawyers. Prior to RUSSELL LAW, Joe spent more than two decades as a Shareholder, Chair of the Family Law Department, a Member of the Management Committee & Managing Partner of the Red Bank office at Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A. Joe ended his career at Wilentz on February 6, 2026 to launch RUSSELL LAW with the majority of his Family Law Department including Founding Partner Amy Fr...
Julie Christopher is passionate about helping people navigate challenging transformations in their family landscape. She focuses her legal practice on domestic issues including separation and divorce, complex custody suits, child support and alimony, modifications to existing agreements, property distribution and valuations, contempt and enforcement, and pre- and post-nuptial and separation agreements. Julie is driven to ensure her clients maintain the steadfast belief that she is their advoc...
Jonathan Marks , Family Law Attorney in the St. Louis area, received his Juris Doctorate in 1997 from the University of Missouri – Columbia. Jonathan is admitted to practice in the State of Missouri, the State of Illinois, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, the United States District Court for the Central Distr...
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.