Best Lawyers in America for Family Law
State
Robert C. Rutgers, Jr. is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law and Family Law. Robert C. practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan Best Lawyers has recognized Robert C. Rutgers, Jr. since 2021. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the pr...
James is a Principal with the Lasher Family Law Practice Group. His legal career spans more than two decades working in family law. Honed by his experiences, James’s strategy in each case is to focus on creative ways to resolve disputes rather than create them. James also appreciates that clients often have emergent needs that demand swift action, including court intervention. In each case, James’s goal is to help his clients deal with critical and often complex legal issues throu...
Tania Klam is a cum laude graduate of George Mason University (B.A. in Government and International Politics with a minor in Legal Studies) and a graduate of the Penn State Dickinson School of Law (J.D. 2009). She is admitted to practice in Virginia, District of Columbia, New York, and Florida. She is fluent in Arabic and focuses her practice on Family Law. Ms. Klam began her legal career as a prosecutor in Brooklyn, New York where she served as an Assistant District Attorney. While there, sh...
Heather Byrd earned her undergraduate degree, with honors, from Fairfield University in 1993. During that time, she also served as an intern with the Stamford Connecticut Probation Office. While serving as an intern, Heather became interested in cases where criminal and family law overlapped, particularly in the areas of domestic violence and child abuse. Heather earned her Juris Doctorate degree from Quinnipiac College of Law in Hamden, Connecticut in 1995. She graduated in the top 1/3 of he...
William S. Cizmadia is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Family Law. William S. practices law in Irvine, California Best Lawyers has recognized William S. Cizmadia since 2021. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which William S. Cizmadia is held by other lawyers.
Many years selected by her peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers In Connecticut, Connecticut Superlawyers, Best Law Firm, Best Lawyers in the New York area, Best Lawyers in New England. Awarded Connecticut Magazine "Top 25 Women Attorneys" as recognized for excellence by peers in the legal community for professional achievement and high ethical standards.. Attorney Mariani is board certified as a Family Law Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, an American Bar Association accr...
Florence M. Richardson, who joined O’Connell and Aronowitz in January 2018, is Of Counsel with our firm and has dedicated herself entirely to the field of matrimonial law since she was admitted to practice in 1984. She focuses her practice on divorce, custody, prenuptial agreements, separation agreements, child support, spousal support and equitable distribution. Before joining O’Connell and Aronowitz she was principal at Kahn and Richardson, an Albany law firm that focused exclus...
Turner Thornton is a Senior Attorney and leader of Varghese Summersett’s Family Law Division, where he represents clients in divorce, child custody, property division, and other complex family law matters. With experience handling hundreds of cases, Turner is equally comfortable negotiating a resolution outside the courtroom or advocating for his clients at trial. He takes a strategic approach to each matter, evaluating the circumstances and objectives of the family involved to determin...
Laura Guinta Gencarelli, Esq. joined Sarno da Costa D'Aniello Maceri LLC as an associate in February 2014 and became a partner in January 2018. She earned her Juris Doctor degree from Seton Hall University School of Law in 2007 and has been a member of the New Jersey bar since 2008. She served as a law clerk to the Honorable James S. Rothschild, Jr., J.S.C., Family Part, Essex County, from September 2007 to September 2008. Ms. Gencarelli was then associated with the law firm of Garrity, Graha...
Jennifer M. LaTosch is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Family Law. Jennifer M. practices law in Southfield, Michigan Best Lawyers has recognized Jennifer M. LaTosch since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Jennifer M. LaTosch is held by other lawyers.
Bruce Wyche Bannister is a partner of Bannister, Wyatt, & Stalvey, LLC and a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. Mr. Bannister graduated from Davidson College in 1995 and went on to earn his law degree from the University of South Carolina in 1998. Mr. Bannister focuses on Family Law, Eminent Domain, and Real Estate Law. He has tried cases involving Personal Injury, Premises Liability, Eminent Domain, Education Law, Residential Real Estate, Commercial Real Estate, Gover...
Ann E. Bauer is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Ann E. practices law in St. Louis, Missouri Best Lawyers has recognized Ann E. Bauer since 2014. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Ann E. Bauer is held by other lawyers.
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.
