13 th Annual Family Law Conference

Transcription

1 13 th Annual Family Law Conference Faculty Michelle R. Albano Legal Aid of Western Missouri Ms. Michelle R. Albano received her B.A. degree in Political Science and Communication Studies from the University of Kansas ( ) and her J.D. degree from the University of Nebraska ( ). Before relocating to Missouri, Ms. Albano was an Equal Justice Advocacy Fellow at Legal Aid of Nebraska s Norfolk office practicing in the areas of Family Law, Chapter 7 bankruptcy, Elder Law, and Social Security benefits ( ). Since 2006, Ms. Albano has been a staff attorney at Legal Aid of Western Missouri s office representing low-income clients in Public Assistance cases and victims of domestic violence in civil family law actions. Cynthia L. Albin Bauer Soule Garnholz Albin Clayton Ms. Cynthia L. Albin concentrates her practice in the area of family law. She is a member of the firm Bauer Soule Garnholz Albin in Clayton and St. Charles, Missouri. She received her J.D. from Washington University School of Law. Memberships include The Missouri Bar (member of the Family Law Section), the Bar Association of Metropolitan of St. Louis and the St. Louis County Bar Association. She is trained as a mediator and is an Associate Member of the St. Louis Collaborative Family Law Association. Ms. Albin is also a board member of the Jewish Community Center in St. Louis and the St. Louis Section of National Council of Jewish Women, an organization that is committed to working for a better quality of life for women, children and families. She serves as a Guardian ad Litem in St. Louis County Circuit Court as well as volunteers for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri and Legal Advocates for Abused Women. Amanda R. Basri Legal Aid of Western Missouri Ms. Amanda Basri received her B.A. degree in International Political Economy from Colorado College and her J.D. degree from the University of Minnesota. She has been a staff attorney in Legal Aid of Western Missouri s Domestic Unit since November Prior to joining Legal Aid, Ms. Basri clerked for the Honorable Fred Wellmann and the Honorable Donald Rysavy in the Mower County District Court in Austin, Minnesota. 1

2 Ann Bauer Bauer Soule Garnholz Albin St. Louis Ms. Ann Bauer concentrates her law practice in the area of family law, including mediation, collaborative law and serving as Guardian ad Litem in domestic cases. She has a master s degree in Child Development from the Erikson Institute of Loyola University in Chicago and her law degree from Washington University. She is a past chair of the Missouri Bar Family Law Section and has served on the annual conference planning committee. Active in the St. Louis Collaborative Family Law Association (founding member) and the Missouri chapter of AFCC (founding member), she has been included in the Missouri-Kansas Super Lawyers list of family lawyers seven times and in February 2010 was admitted into the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), a national organization that promotes the highest degree of professionalism and ethics in the practice of family law. In October 2012, Ann received the Missouri Bar Pro-Bono Publico Award. She currently serves as a volunteer for family cases for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri and as a volunteer attorney for St. Louis County s domestic violence dockets, assisting parties in developing parenting plans. In 2011 she was honored for her service by Woman s Place, the St. Louis area s only drop-in resource for women who have experienced domestic violence and sexual assault. She has served on the Woman s Place advisory board since Ronnie Beach, Ed.S. Conflict Resolution Services, Inc. Olathe, KS Ronnie Beach, Ed.S. is the owner of Conflict Resolution Services, Inc.; an entity specializing in serving high conflict families. These services partially include Mediation, Parent Coordination, Supervised Parenting, Parent Coaching, Educational Trainings and Mentoring. He has mediated over 1500 domestic cases. Ronnie has three advanced degrees, two in Psychology and the other in Conflict Management and Dispute Resolution. He teaches Mediation and Social Psychology at Avila University and in the graduate program at Park University teaching Conflict Management and Mediation. Ronnie is President Elect of the Association of Missouri Mediators (AMM) and active in the Missouri Chapter of Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (MO-AFCC). Hon. Jon E. Beetem 19 th Judicial Circuit Jefferson City Judge Jon Beetem is the Division I Circuit Judge for the 19th Judicial Circuit which is Cole County. He maintains a general docket of civil and criminal cases. He also has primary responsibility for the juvenile docket, including both abuse and neglect cases as well as delinquency. He was first elected in 2006 and was re-elected in Judge Beetem is a graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy as well as the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. Prior to becoming a judge, he maintained a general law practice focusing on litigation in the areas of administrative, probate and juvenile law. 2

3 Don Blythe CPA, MBA, CDFA Blythe Paperless Don Blythe CPA, MBA, CDFA has had an individual CPA practice in the area since 1987 serving as a divorce financial mediator, Collaborative financial neutral and forensic accountant in litigation cases as well as a financial planner, tax consultant, business planner and financial statement auditor. Don is profiled by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants as an accounting pathfinder by its CPA Vision project. Hon. John N. Borbonus 21 st Judicial Circuit Clayton Judge John N. Borbonus was appointed to the bench in August 2011 by Governor Jay Nixon. Prior to his appointment, he was a principal with the law firm of King, Krehbiel, Hellmich & Borbonus, LLC. where he handled a wide-assortment of civil litigation matters and trials, focusing primarily on real estate law, civil rights defense, insurance defense, and employment law. Prior to joining the firm, Judge Borbonus served for several years as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Missouri. He obtained his juris doctorate from the St. Louis University School of Law in 1994, and a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Politics from George Mason University in Judge Borbonus was appointed in 2003 by Governor Bob Holden to serve as a Board Member on the Missouri Humanities Council where he served until In 2005, he was appointed and served until his appointment to the bench as a Commissioner on the Board of Planning & Zoning for the City of Des Peres, Missouri. In 2011 Governor Nixon appointed Judge Borbonus to serve as a Commissioner on the Missouri Senate Apportionment Commission. Judge Borbonus is also a member of the Leadership St. Louis Class of Judge Borbonus and his wife reside in St. Louis County with their three daughters. Laura Bornstein Legal Aid of Western Missouri Ms. Laura Bornstein is a staff attorney in the Domestic Unit at Legal Aid of Western Missouri. She received her B.A. from Rice University and her J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center. Prior to joining Legal Aid, she was a Women s Law and Public Policy Fellow at the National Partnership for Women and Families in Washington, D.C. She has been assisting lowincome victims of domestic violence in various capacities since

4 Kara T. Burgess Northland Elder Law Liberty Ms. Kara T. Burgess, Elder Law and Special Needs Attorney, has practiced law in the Kansas City area for 25 years and is the founder of Northland Elder Law in Liberty, Missouri. She graduated from Northwest Missouri State University, in Maryville, Missouri with a B.S. in Psychology in In 1983 she received her Master s Degree in Psychology from the University of Missouri-. In 1987 she graduated from the University of Missouri- School of Law. Ms. Burgess practice areas include Elder Law, Medicaid Planning and Medicaid Applications, Estate Planning and Asset Protection, Special Needs Planning and Trusts, Guardianships and VA Benefits. She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, (NAELA), the Missouri Chapter of NAELA, and the NAELA section of Special Needs Law. She was the first member of Western Missouri in the Academy of Special Needs Planners. Kimberly A. Carrington Carrington & Moore, LLC Ms. Kimberly A. Carrington practices law and mediation focusing on juvenile and family issues. She has previously served as an Attorney for the Juvenile Officer and is currently handling termination of parental rights matters on a contractual basis. Ms. Carrington serves as a Guardian ad Litem for Adoption cases in the Jackson County Family Court as well as contested Guardianship matters in the Jackson County Probate Division. She also has a mediation practice focusing on contested Adoption, Guardianship, and other custody issues. Marjorie K. Carter Carter Family Law Group, LLC St. Louis Ms. Marjorie Carter opened Carter Family Law Group, St. Louis first holistic family law firm, in She focuses her practice on family law, including collaborative practice, mediation, cooperative practice, litigation and parenting coordination. Ms. Carter received her law degree, cum laude, in 1991 from St. Louis University School of Law, and has a B.A. in management, magna cum laude, from Webster University. She has had substantial experience serving as a guardian ad litem in cases in the Family Court of St. Louis County and in abuse, neglect, delinquency and adoption cases in the Juvenile Court. Ms. Carter served as chairperson for the Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board for the State of Missouri for 9 years. She currently serves on the Missouri Task Force on Children s Justice. She is a past President of the Women Lawyers Association of Greater St. Louis, a founding member of the Missouri Chapter of the AFCC, and a founding member of the Collaborative Family Law Association (CFLA), and currently serves on the CFLA Board. Ms. Carter has also served on the boards of the International Alliance of Holistic Lawyers, and Citizens for Missouri s Children. 4

5 Jack Cochran The Cochran Law Firm, LLC Blue Springs, Missouri Mr. Jack Cochran has practiced in the family law area since 1967 in Blue Springs, Missouri. He and his firm limit their practice to complex family law matters and handle cases in most counties in central and western Missouri. Jack was selected by Best Lawyers in America as the Kansas City Family Lawyer of Jack is a past chairperson of The Missouri Bar Family Law Section. He served for 11 years on The Missouri Bar Board of Governors. He is the co-author of Family Law in Missouri, Volume 21 and 21A, Missouri Practice Series, West Publishing. Jack is a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers since He is one of less than 1800 attorneys to have been selected by their peers in every edition of the Best Lawyers in America. He is one of three Missouri lawyers to be so recognized in Family Law. Jack is a member of the Collaborative Law Institute of Missouri. Jack is a recipient of The Missouri Bar President s Award. In 2004 Jack was named by the Business Journal as one of the three attorneys in listed as the Best of the Bar for Family Law. Jack has been named a Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyer every year this designation has been made. Jack is a frequent speaker for local, state and national legal organizations and law schools. Larry J. Cohen, Esq. Cohen Law Firm Phoenix, Arizona Mr. Larry J. Cohen is a certified specialist in injury and wrongful death litigation who has focused in his more than twenty-seven years of practice on serious medical injury and emotional damages cases, including especially brain injury claims. He received his J.D. from Northwestern University in 1985, and has been admitted to practice in Arizona since Mr. Cohen also has a Master s degree and a Ph.D. from Syracuse University, is currently participating in a postdoctoral program in clinical neuropsychology and looks ahead to starting a doctoral studies in clinical psychology when he completes the post-doc. He is Of Counsel to the Phoenix law firm of Meyer Hendricks, PLLC. He has taught and done research at the University of Michigan School of Law, has served on the adjunct faculty of the Arizona School of Professional Psychology, now Argosy University and Midwestern University, and currently teaches as a member of the adjunct faculty at the Sandra Day O Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. Mr. Cohen speaks nationally to groups of lawyers, other professionals, insurance companies, governmental entities, risk managers and other interest groups about litigation and trial practice matters, legal ethics, alternative dispute resolution, and issues in brain damage, law and medicine and law and psychology. He has received awards from the Maricopa County Bar Association, the State Bar of Arizona and the State Bar of New Mexico for excellence in continuing legal education. He also received a President s Award from the State Bar of Arizona for contributions in legal education. Mr. Cohen may be reached at the following address: Cohen Law Firm P.O. Box Phoenix, Arizona (telefax) ljc@ljcohen.com 5

6 Terri Clinton Dichiser, MA, JC, LCPC, NCC Take Charge, Inc. Overland Park Terri Clinton Dichiser, MA, JD, LCPC, NCC is in private practice as both a therapist and a mediator. Terri works with couples struggling in their relationship to either reconnect with one another or, if divorce is the only option to manage the divorce process. She provides therapy to individuals living with depression, anxiety and hopelessness. Terri believes healing and understanding go together and most problems can be helped if not solved. Terri s passion is collaborating with individual clients and couples to help them achieve their goals for a fulfilling life and relationship. She works with couples involved in divorce to help them through the divorce process and help them become successful co-parents to their children. Terri offers a wide variety of professional experience to her clients. She is a former attorney, professor and Executive Director of the Mediation Center. She is active in the legal community working with attorneys and other professionals in Collaborative Divorce cases and Co-Parenting cases as needed. Professor S. Rafe Foreman University of Missouri School of Law Rafe Foreman joined UMKC as the Douglas Stripp Dean s Distinguished Professor and Director of Advocacy in 2011 after a distinguished career as a trial lawyer, most recently as a partner at Foreman, Lewis & Hutchison P.C. in Grapevine, Texas. He served as a litigation specialist, including criminal defense, plaintiff s personal injury, civil rights, employment, discrimination, wrongful death, excessive force and 1983 actions. After receiving his bachelor s degree from Texas A&M University in agricultural education, Professor Foreman received his J.D. degree from Texas Tech University School of Law, where he was on the Moot Court championship team, regional co-chair of the Client Counseling Competition and a member of the Board of Barristers. He has advanced education in psychology at Fielding University and at the National Psychodrama Training Center. Professor Foreman is a graduate of the Trial Lawyers College and now serves as an instructor and board member. Professor Foreman is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He will teach Trial Advocacy and Evidence and coach the Trial Advocacy teams. He will also be developing the overall advocacy program to bring it to national prominence. Areas of expertise: Trial advocacy, criminal law, criminal procedure, evidence, civil rights. 6

7 Mercedes Fort The Fort Law Firm, LLC Cape Girardeau Ms. M. Mercedes Fort is a partner in The Fort Law Firm, LLC. She concentrates her practice in matters involving family law. She is a mediator and frequently serves as a guardian ad litem in high conflict cases and in the FIRST program. She earned her J.D. degree from Southern Illinois University where she served as Editor in Chief of the law review. She has a Master s Degree in Psychology from Florida State University and a B.A. degree in Psychology from Georgia Southwestern University. She teaches on an adjunct basis at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, provides GAL training and training for the local CASA volunteers. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Missouri Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts and Safe House for Women. She is Project Director for the SEMO Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition and Program Director for the ACE program which provides supervised visitation and custody exchange for families in the 32 nd Circuit. Douglas C. Fredrick Law Office of Doug Fredrick, LLC Springfield Mr. Douglas Fredrick received both his Bachelors in Business Administration and law degree from the University of Missouri. Before entering private practice, Mr. Fredrick had the opportunity to clerk for Commissioner Cheryl Rosen in Independence, Missouri, study comparative law at Peking University in Beijing, China, and work on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. In 2005, he entered the Army Reserves as a JAG officer, and graduated from the United States Army Judge Advocate General School in Charlottesville, Virginia. After practicing with Fredrick, Rogers, & Vaughn, P.C. in Springfield, Missouri for five years, Mr. Fredrick started his own solo practice in 2008 with an emphasis in family law, business transactions and litigation, and real estate law. He has successfully argued before the Southern District Court of Appeals and the Missouri Supreme Court. In 2011, Mr. Fredrick authored the Missouri Bar publication Military Issues in Family Law, which has become the definitive guide in that area of Missouri law. He is also part owner of two real estate investment/management companies involving both residential and commercial units. In February, 2013 his accession to the Air Force Reserve JAG Corps was approved and he is currently attached to the 509 Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base. In addition, he serves on the Missouri Bar Family Law Executive Council, the Family Law Conference Planning Committee, and the Special Committee on Veterans Issues. 7

8 Hon. Kenneth R. Garrett III Jackson County, Division 26 Judge Kenneth R. Garrett III is from. He earned his law degree, from the University of Missouri School of Law; Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and Master s Degree in Public Administration from UMKC. Has served as an instructor in strategic business planning and policy at Baker University, Overland Park, Kansas. Served as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Jackson County since Prior to joining the Jackson County prosecuting attorney s office, Judge Garrett worked as an assistant attorney general for the State of Missouri, representing various state agencies in civil matters. He is a member of The Missouri Bar; Kansas Bar Association; American Bar Association; Jackson County Bar Association and the Metropolitan Bar Association. Appointed associate circuit judge by Governor Jay Nixon in August Term expires December 31, Nancy Garris The Cochran Law Firm, LLC Blue Springs Ms. Nancy Garris is a native to this area having graduated from Blue Springs High School in She took her BA degree in zoology with a minor in botany. She later became an American Society of Clinical Pathologist registered medical technician and worked in the medical field for thirteen years. Nancy attended the University of Missouri at School of Law. She was accepted to Law Review after her first semester and published her first article in the University of Missouri School of Law at Law Journal as a first year law student. Her first publication analyzed Fourth Amendment search and seizure law as applied to random drug screen analysis in the workplace. Nancy is a member of the Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity and was a finalist in the Giles Sutherland Rich appellate competition. Nancy received her J.D. in And is presently license in Missouri, Kansas and South Carolina. Since graduation from law school, Nancy has limited her practice solely to family law. Nancy also does a lot of work in the appellate arena throughout the State. Beginning in 1990 and continuing to the present, Nancy co-authors, with Jack Cochran, West's Missouri Practice Series volumes 21 and 21A on Family Law. Nancy is a member of The Cochran Law Firm, LLC where she continues to focus her practice in family law and appellate practice. 8

9 Shannon D. Grisham Pratt & Jensen, LLC Springfield Ms. Shannon D. Grisham has been employed with Pratt & Jensen since May Her practice emphasizes a focus in the area of family and juvenile law which includes but is not limited to dissolutions, modifications, paternity actions, guardian ad litem work, adoptions, juvenile cases and guardianships. Shannon is a native of Memphis, Tennessee. She attended Evangel University, graduating in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree. She obtained her law degree at The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. While in law school, she was a Member Phi Alpha Delta, McKellar Chapter and recipient of University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law CALI Excellence for the Future Award in the Study of Copyright, Spring In 2005, Shannon was admitted to practice before Missouri state courts and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. Shannon is a member of The Missouri Bar, Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association along with the SMBA Family Law Committee and Juvenile Law Committee. She is also a member of the American Bar Association and the American Bar Association s Young Lawyer s Division Family Law Committee. She was the recipient of the Cambridge Who s Who. She is also a member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) as well as the Missouri chapter of the AFCC. Shannon is a frequent lecturer on family and juvenile law for The Missouri Bar and the local bar associations. She is currently serving as an editor of the Missouri Bar Family Law Section Newsletter and 2012 Chair of the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Family Law Committee. She is a member of the Missouri Bar Family Law Planning Committee for 2012 Guardian Ad Litem training and speaker for said training. In addition, she has served as board member of Cherish Kids since 2010, an organization that serves to raise awareness for the needs of foster children and adoption. 9

10 Sandra Grant Hessenflow Law Offices of Sandra Grant Hessenflow Ms. Sandra Grant Hessenflow is a graduate of the University of Missouri Columbia. While at Mizzou, Ms. Hessenflow attended the Arts and Sciences Honors College, which allowed her to obtain three major and two minor degrees in While at the University of Missouri, she was Activities Director for the campus-wide Student Government, on the Governing Board for the College of Arts and Sciences, and active in her sorority, Chi Omega. She was also selected by the University of Missouri Board of Governors as their student lobbyist at the Missouri Legislature in 1988 and In 1992, Ms. Hessenflow received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri Kansas City. While at law school, she received the American Jurisprudence Award for Appellate Advocacy, and she continues to participate in that program by judging local and regional moot court competitions. Ms. Hessenflow has been a speaker at more than twenty family law educational programs and events. She is a member of several legal associations and committees, and she currently serves as the President-Elect of the KCMBA Family and the Law Section. She is the past Chair of the KCMBA Domestic Law Committee (2011); she was the Co-chair of the KCMBA Domestic Law Committee (2010); and, she was the Vice Co-chair of the KCMBA Domestic Law Committee (2009). She has also served on: the Bench Bar Planning Committee (2011 and 2012) and on the Domestic Violence and Children s Interdisciplinary Conference Planning Committee ( ). In her spare time, she serves as a member of the Collector s Forum at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, where she also volunteers as an Educational Docent. She also enjoys wine tastings and is a Certified Level I Sommelier. Carla Holste Carson & Coil, P.C. Jefferson City Ms. Carla Holste received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice in 1980 from Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana. In 1985 she received her Juris Doctorate degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. While in law school, she became a member of the Jessup Moot Court team and received the Order of the Coif. From she was a staff attorney with Legal Aid of Western Missouri, Warrensburg office. From she was Assistant General Counsel with the Missouri Division of Transportation where she filed complaints of violations against motor carriers. In 1989 Carla became an associate in the law firm of Carson & Coil, P.C. and is now a partner with that law firm. Her practice deals primarily with family law cases and employment discrimination. She is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. District Courts for the Western District of Missouri and the District of Columbia. Ms. Holste has served as a member of the executive council for the Family Law Section of The Missouri Bar for several years, as vicechair for two years, and as Chair for two years. Ms. Holste 10

11 Susan S. Jensen Pratt & Jensen, LLC Springfield Ms. Susan S. Jensen, of Pratt & Jensen, LLC, practices in family law. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. She received a Women s Justice Award for Litigation Practitioner from Missouri Lawyer s Weekly in Ms. Jensen is named a SuperLawyer in the area of family law since 2009, and one of the top fifty women attorneys in Missouri and Kansas by KCMagazine. Ms. Jensen graduated from William Jewell College in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude in Communication. She attended the University Of Iowa College Of Law, where she graduated with distinction in Ms. Jensen clerked for the Honorable Paul M. Spinden at the Missouri Court of Appeals-Western District, for the Honorable John E. Parrish at the Missouri Court of Appeals-Southern District, and for the Honorable Nancy Steffen Rahmeyer at the Missouri Court of Appeals-Southern District. In 1999 she received from The Missouri Bar one of three David Dixon awards for appellate advocacy. Ms. Jensen is the Springfield representative on the Missouri Bar Family Law Section. Stephanie L. Jones Zerman Mogerman, LLC St. Louis Ms. Stephanie L. Jones is a 2005 graduate of the St. Louis University School of Law and a magna cum laude graduate, 1999, of Fontbonne University. Stephanie writes and speaks frequently on a variety of family law topics, but especially electronic evidence. She is one of the newest contributing authors to the Missouri Bar CLE deskbook for practitioners entitled Missouri Family Law, Seventh Edition and she has co-authored an article on technology and privacy issues in the family law context for the Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers published in the winter of Stephanie is a 2011 graduate of the Houston Family Law Trial Institute, an intensive trial training program conducted by some of the most prestigious family law attorneys and Judges in the country. Stephanie was selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star by Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers in 2010, 2011, and Anne E. Kern Carson & Coil Jefferson City Ms. Anne E. Kern practices family law, juvenile law, and adoption law throughout the state of Missouri. She is experienced with divorce, paternity, child custody, domestic violence, juvenile matters and adoptions. Ms. Kern currently resides in Columbia with her husband, Andy, and their children David and Lydia. She received her B.S. in Justice Systems, Magna Cum Laude, from Truman State University, Missouri, and her J.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, She has received the Thomas E. Deacy Jr. Trial Advocacy Award; CALI Excellence for the future Award for study of Child Protection and the Law; National Association of Women Lawyers Award; and the Moot Court Top Ten Oralist 11

12 Marsha Kline Pruett, Ph.D. Smith College School for Social Work Northampton, Massachusetts Marsha Pruett, Ph.D. joined the Smith faculty from the Department of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine. Her interests focus on family relationships and transitions, and the interactions between families and the primary systems of which they are a part. She is the recipient of numerous federal, state and private foundation grants and is known nationally for the development, implementation and evaluation of preventive interventions in schools and courts. Dr. Pruett s writings include scholarly articles, chapters, three co-edited books and two books, Your Divorce Advisor: An Attorney and Psychologist Lead You Through the Legal and Emotional Landscape of Divorce (2001 by Simon and Schuster); and Partnership Parenting (2009 by Perseus). Her current intervention and research areas include supporting father involvement to reduce incidence of child abuse and neglect, evaluation of parenting coordination and curriculum development for legal and health professionals to integrate new science into practice. She is also working with Smith College colleagues to develop a course on child trafficking and an undergraduate concentration on community-based learning that will include small groups facilitated by school for social work students. In addition to academic writings, Pruett disseminates her work through speaking engagements and consultations across North America and abroad and has served as commentator on numerous radio and television news. Mark A. Leverenz, CPA/ABV, CVA Brown Smith Wallace LLC St. Louis Mr. Mark Leverenz is a Director with Brown Smith Wallace ( BSW ) Financial Advisory Services ( FAS ) Group. BSW is a CPA firm in St. Louis, Missouri and its FAS group provides litigation support, forensic accounting and business valuation services. With a background in securities operations and accounting, he specializes in business valuation, damage/loss calculations, security tracing and security analysis. Mark has testified over 40 times in trial, arbitration and deposition settings in Missouri and Illinois. Prior to joining BSW, Mark was a principal with Edward Jones, where he managed various security processing departments. He played a key role in the company s expansion into Canada and the U.K., creation of a national trust company and intranet development. He also developed and implemented the firm s capability as custodian for self-directed retirement accounts. Mark also has served as a controller in industry and as a tax accountant for an international CPA firm. Mark earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting from University of Missouri - Columbia in 1977 and his Master of Accountancy from Saint Louis University in He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, the Missouri Society of CPAs and the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts. CONTACT MARK LEVERENZ DIRECTLY AT MLEVERENZ@BSWLLC.COM 12

13 Elizabeth Lynch Lynch Sharp & Associates, LLC Lee s Summit Ms. Elizabeth Lynch is originally from Sikeston, Missouri, a small town in the Bootheel of Missouri. Born and raised a Missourian, she graduated from Westminster College in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Finance. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri- in While clerking for the Honorable Robert L. Trout, an Associate Circuit Judge in Jackson County, she gained experience with landlord-tenant matters, collection suits, small claims matters, county ordinance violations, and civil trials. She left the clerkship in 2007 to practice bankruptcy law with the Wagoner Bankruptcy Group. In an effort to have more flexible working hours, she, like many of her clients, opened her own business where she now primarily practices bankruptcy law. In 2012, Betsy was named Best of the Bar by the Business Journal. She was named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers magazine in She serves on the Council for the Young Lawyers Section of the Missouri Bar Association. Betsy also enjoys volunteering for several philanthropic organizations and serves on the Board of Directors for the Association for Women Lawyers of Greater, the Bankruptcy Bar Association, and the Junior League of. She volunteers for the Young Professionals Board of Legal Aid of Western Missouri, Habitat for Humanity, Read Across America, the Volunteer Attorney Project, the Ask-A-Lawyer telethon, Hope House, Harvesters Food Pantry, and numerous other organizations that help improve the lives of the community. Betsy is married to James Q. Lynch, who is a salesman with Packaging Products Corporation. They live in the metro area with their two children and a dog. Rebecca T. Magruder Mediator, Attorney, Trainer St. Charles Rebecca T. Magruder, M.S.W., J.D., is an experienced mediator, facilitator, collaborative attorney, and conflict resolution advocate who also has a reputation as an excellent trainer. Rebecca focuses her private practice on mediation, collaborative law, and other non-adversarial methods for resolving family law disputes. Rebecca trains and mentors new mediators; is an adjunct assistant professor of mediation at St. Louis University School of Law; and is a frequent presenter at Association of Family and Conciliation Courts international and regional conferences, Association for Conflict Resolution international conferences, Missouri Bar state conferences, and local and regional professional seminars. Rebecca is listed in Best Lawyers in America under the areas of Collaborative Family Law and Family Law Mediation. 13

14 Simone Haberstock McCartney The McCartney Law Firm St. Louis Ms. Simone Haberstock McCartney graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law in 1991, cum laude, and is currently enrolled in the LLM program in Dispute Resolution at University of Missouri School of Law. Ms. McCartney has practiced in the area of divorce and family law for over twenty years. She is a member of The Missouri Bar; a former member of the Board of Governors-Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis; Former President- Collaborative Family Law Association; Member, Family Law Section-Missouri Bar; Association of Missouri Mediators; Approved Family Court Mediator-St. Louis County, St. Charles County, and Jefferson County; and co-author, "Retirement Chapter", Elder Law CLE, Missouri Bar. Amanda B. McNelley Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard, PC St. Louis Ms. Amanda B. McNelley is counsel with Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard, PC in their business litigation group. She has been practicing exclusively in the area of domestic relations for 11 years. McNelley has been named a Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyer Rising Star since She frequently lectures on the topic of family law and serves as a Guardian ad Litem in St. Louis County. McNelley was admitted to the Missouri Bar in 2002 and the Illinois Bar in 2003 after graduating from Washburn University School of Law with Dean's Honors. While at Washburn, McNelley was a member of the Moot Court Team and a student editor for Family Law Quarterly. Prior to attending law school, she graduated from Saint Louis University in 1998, with a degree in Business Administration. McNelley is a member of The Missouri Bar, Illinois State Bar Association, American Bar Association, Women's Lawyers Association of St. Louis, Lawyers for Equality- Founding Board Member and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. McNelley resides in St. Louis County with her husband, Rich and their three daughters. Commissioner Sara Miller 13 th Judicial Circuit Columbia Commissioner Sara Miller, Family Court Commissioner, Division VIII, was appointed commissioner in Division VIII hears family court cases, including juvenile court and domestic relations matters. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri - Columbia School of Law, with an undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri Columbia. Prior to appointment as commissioner, she was in private practice. 14

15 Mark J. Millsap Baird, Lightner, Millsap & Harpool, P.C. Springfield Mr. Mark J. Millsap is a shareholder in the firm Baird, Lightner, Millsap & Harpool, P.C. He was admitted to The Missouri Bar in He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science summa cum laude. Mark received his J.D. Degree with distinction from the University of Missouri in in He is a member of the Springfield Metropolitan Bar, the Missouri Bar, and the ABA. His areas of practice include Family Law, Insurance Defense and Appellate Practice. He has spoken on numerous occasions on behalf of The Missouri Bar and the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association on various topics pertaining to Domestic Relations issues. Mary E. Moffatt, M.D. Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Child Abuse Pediatrics Children s Mercy Hospitals Dr. Mary E. Moffatt received her B.Sc. Hons B. Sc. in Chemistry, Biochemistry from University of Western Ontario, London, Canada. She received her M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O., L.R.C.P.&S.I in Medicine from Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Medical School, Dublin, Ireland. Included in her area of scholarly interest are: Child Physical Abuse: Abusive Head Trauma, Injury Mechanism, Screening for Abuse by Healthcare Institution/Provider, Education of Healthcare Professionals. Child Sexual Abuse: Forensic Evidence Detection, Sexually Transmitted Infection Detection, Rapid Diagnosis of Viral Infections in the Pediatric Emergency Department Since 2005 she has been an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Medicine; Attending Physician, Emergency Medical Services and Section of Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN), Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics,, Missouri. 15

16 Sara G. Neill Capes, Sokol, Goodman & Sarachan, P.C. St. Louis Ms. Sara G. Neill is a shareholder with Capes, Sokol, Goodman & Sarachan, P.C., and the chair of the Civil and Criminal Tax Controversy practice group. Ms. Neill regularly defends individuals and businesses under investigation for or charged with tax and other white collar crimes. She represents clients through all stages of criminal tax investigations and litigation and handles sensitive IRS audits and appeals. Ms. Neill frequently advises clients in responding to grand jury subpoenas and IRS summonses. In addition to tax fraud defense, Ms. Neill handles civil tax controversy matters, including audits, appeals, litigation before the U.S. Tax Court and U.S. District Courts and significant tax collection cases. Ms. Neill advises and represents clients in voluntary disclosure matters, claims for innocent spouse relief, summons enforcement proceedings, claims for refund, trust fund recovery penalty matters and requests for penalty abatement. Ms. Neill is the Co-Chair of the ABA Tax Section s Civil and Criminal Penalties Committee s Sub Committee on Important Civil Developments and is the Chair of the Taxation Section of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL). She serves on the Advisory Board for the University of Missouri Columbia Tax Law Society. 16

17 Hugh F. O Donnell III Law Office of Hugh O Donnell Mr. Hugh O'Donnell has been practicing family law in the area for over twenty-five years. During that period of time he has handled countless family law cases and has had hundreds of trials involving a wide range of issues. Family law cases may involve issues of a complex financial nature such as the valuation of a small business, and at the same time emotionally personal issues such as access and time with children. Though his practice is now primarily family law, he has also tried numerous civil and criminal jury cases. It was his experiences in the courtroom in family law cases, though often successful, which has led him to collaborative law. In addition to his family law practice, in the past ten years Hugh O'Donnell has developed a significant mediation practice. He has taken over 100 hours of basic and advanced mediation training and has mediated hundreds of cases. He and Peter Schloss have conducted an advanced mediation training on behalf of the Jackson Family Court for its mediators; and as well as acting as a coach for mediation training conducted by the Johnson County Community College. Mr. O'Donnell has spoken on the subject of mediation on the Walt Bodine Show on KCUR radio. He is also a charter member of the Association of Missouri Mediators. Mr. O'Donnell's mediation training and practice is another contributing factor which led him to collaborative law. Mr. O'Donnell is active in The Missouri Bar and a member of the Family Law Committee. He is also the present Chairman of the Missouri Lawyer's Assistance Committee and has been the recipient of the Warren Welliver Award. Earlier in his legal career, Mr. O'Donnell worked as an assistant attorney general in the area of consumer protection for Missouri Attorney General, John Danforth. He's always felt that he should be making some positive contribution to society in his practice and believes that collaborative law is a great way of doing so. Collaborative law enables people to resolve their own problems in a non-adversarial atmosphere without intervention of a court. With the assistance of able legal counsel, couples can chart the course of their family's future. Collaborative law makes ending a marriage a problem to be solved rather than a fight to be won. Robert C. Paden, Jr. Law Office of Robert C. Paden, Jr. Independence Mr. Robert C. Paden, Jr. received his B.A. degree in 1984 and J.D. degree in 1987 from the University of Kansas. He is a solo practitioner and practices exclusively in the area of family law with an emphasis on complex litigated cases. He is a published author and lecturer on family law issues. 17

18 Hon. Lisa K. Page 23 rd Judicial Circuit Hillsboro Hon. Lisa K. Page is a Circuit Court Judge in the 23 rd Judicial Circuit. She was born September 12, 1966, in Festus. Judge Page graduated magna cum laude in 1988 from Southeast Missouri State University and cum laude from Saint Louis University School of Law in She has been married to Eddie Page since They have three children, Maggie, Joe and Anna-Lisa. Judge Page practiced law from with a strong emphasis in ADR and domestic relations. She was appointed family court commissioner on April 29, 2005, and, when the position was eliminated, was elected Jefferson County s first female circuit judge effective January 1, Chad N. Pfister Harris, Harris and Gilbert, L.L.C. Warrensburg Mr. Chad N. Pfister is a member of Harris, Harris and Gilbert, L.L.C. in Warrensburg. He is a graduate of Valparaiso University School of Law. While at Valparaiso he was an initial member of the Sports Law Clinic representing Amateur and Olympic athletes in contractual, eligibility and drug testing disputes. Prior to joining Harris, Harris and Gilbert he worked in the Division of Administrative Services at the University of Missouri. He practices in the areas of estate planning, probate, business planning and family law. He is Vice President of the Johnson County Bar Association and past National President of Beta Sigma Psi National Lutheran Fraternity. Dr. Kimberly Randell Children s Mercy Hospitals & Clinics Dr. Kimberly Randell graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, followed by a pediatrics residency at Children s Mercy Hospitals & Clinics in. She completed a fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine and a master s degree in clinical investigation sciences at the University of Louisville. She currently is an attending in pediatric emergency medicine at Children s Mercy Hospitals & Clinics and an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Missouri-. She serves on the hospital s Council on Violence Prevention and Intimate Partner Violence Work Group. Her research focuses on intimate partner violence, adverse childhood experiences and resiliency. 18

19 Erin Rathjen-Decker Green Cordonnier & House LLP St. Louis Ms. Erin Rathjen-Decker joined Green Cordonnier & House LLP as an associate in She received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Grinnell College in 1999 and her J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law, 2002, cum laude. She is a Missouri-Kansas Super Lawyers Rising Star and has previously lectured in the area of family law. She is a member of The Missouri Bar, the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and the Women Lawyer s Association. Hon. Sherrill P. Roberts Family Court Commissioner Clay County Sherrill P. Roberts currently serves as Family Court Commissioner in Clay County, Missouri. She was appointed to that position in August, Prior to her appointment as Family Court Commissioner, she was a partner in the firm of Kuhlman, Reddoch, Sullivan & Roberts, P.C., a small general practice firm, where she concentrated on family law litigation. Ms. Roberts also served from 1996 to 2004 in the Office of the Clay County Counselor. She received her bachelor s degree from William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, and her law degree from the University of Missouri at Columbia. Patricia Tricia M. Scaglia Scaglia Law Firm, LLC Independence Ms. Patricia Tricia M. Scaglia, received her Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri-. Ms. Scaglia received a Bachelor of Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She served as law clerk to the late Honorable Kelly J. Moorhouse, Sixteenth Judicial Circuit of Missouri and to the Honorable Robert E. Larsen, United States District Court Western District of Missouri. Ms. Scaglia practices primarily in the area of Family Law, frequently serving as a Guardian Ad Litem and mediator. Ms. Scaglia also handles family law appeals. She has appeared before the Western District of Missouri and Eastern District of Missouri. Ms. Scaglia serves on the Missouri Supreme Court Committee for Access to Family Courts. She is the President of the Metropolitan Bar Association (KCMBA) Family and the Law Section, Past Chair of the KCMBA Family Law Committee. She is a member of the Jackson County Circuit Court Family Court Committee. Ms. Scaglia is active in The Missouri Bar, serving on the Board of Governors, and on the Family Law Section Council as Vice-Chair of the Executive Council; Chair, Continuing Legal Education; and Chair, Family Law Conference Planning Committee. Ms. Scaglia serves as a Board Member for the Association of Women Lawyers of Greater and received the 2010 President s Award. She is the 2008 recipient of the KCMBA President s Award for her work as Chair of the KCMBA Family Law Committee. She has been honored by the Business Journal as Best of the Bar for 2009 and Ms. Scaglia is a life-long resident of, Missouri. She is licensed in Missouri and Kansas. 19

20 Michelle Feit Schwerin Capes Sokol Goodman & Sarachan, P.C. St. Louis Ms. Michelle Feit Schwerin is an attorney at Capes Sokol Goodman & Sarachan, P.C. Her practice includes a specific focus on tax controversy. Ms. Schwerin represents taxpayers in civil tax examinations, appeals and litigation before the U.S. Tax Court as well as taxpayers facing criminal tax investigations and prosecutions. Ms. Schwerin received a bachelor of science in business management magna cum laude from Tulane University, with majors in finance and accounting, and her law degree cum laude from Washington University in Saint Louis. Gary L. Stamper Walther, Antel, Stamper & Fisher, P.C. Columbia Mr. Gary L. Stamper is a partner in the Columbia law firm of Walther, Antel, Stamper & Fisher, P.C. A Fulton native, he received his B.S. in public administration from the University of Missouri in 1978 and his J.D. from the University of Missouri School of Law in While in law school, he received the Roscoe Anderson Award in Appellate Advocacy ( ), the Deacy & Deacy Award in Trial Practice ( ), and was a member of Order of the Barristers ( ). Before joining his current firm in 1990, he was a member of the firm of Bear, Hines, Thomas, Dierkes & Stamper. He has been active in Missouri Bar activities, including service as a member and current chairperson of the Fee Dispute Resolution Committee. In addition, he is a member and former secretary and treasurer of the Boone County Bar Association. He is a frequent author of continuing legal education publications, including Role of Misconduct in Domestic Litigation (2002), Marital Interest in Separate Property (2007), Private School Tuition and Form 14 (2010), Valuation of Closely Held Businesses in Domestic Litigation (2011) and Support for Disabled Adult Children (2011). He has 20 published opinions in the area of family law, and 10 published opinions in criminal law. In addition, Stamper is a three-time finisher of the Ironman Triathlon. 20