I’ve been a litigator, with a focus on family law, for the last eleven years. In that time I’ve had an opportunity to represent a number of clients in complex and highly contested family law disputes. In June of 2017, I attained Board Certification in Marital and Family Law from the Florida Bar. Board Certification is the Florida Bar’s highest level of evaluation of the competency and experience of an attorney. Presently there are only 275 attorneys in Florida who are Board Certified in Marital and Family Law and considered by the Florida Bar to be experts specializing in that area of practice. While my practice focus is on family law, I also enjoy representing clients in contract disputes, business disputes, and contested probate and estate litigation.
My favorite part of practicing family law, and litigation in general, is the opportunity to help people going through a tough time. When clients hire me to represent them in a contested family law matter, they are often upset, angry, and focused on the past. My greatest strength as an attorney is my ability to help my clients make sound decisions based on what is in their best interests moving forward, rather than an emotional desire to hurt or punish the other side.
While I relish the opportunity to present my clients’ cases in court, ultimately my favorite aspect of being an attorney is having the opportunity to provide my clients with sound advice and counsel, and to be a calm and objective voice of reason for people involved in difficult and emotional legal disputes. I also enjoy engaging in settlement negotiations and pride myself on my ability to come up with creative solutions to legal disputes that help the parties avoid going to court.
My love of reading, writing, arguing, and helping people made the law a natural career path for me. I was inspired to become a lawyer by my aunt and uncle, who were both attorneys in California. I can’t imagine having a career other than as an attorney. That said, I believe I would have enjoyed a career as an English Literature professor, hopefully at the University of Florida.
I enjoy being active in the local bar and my community. I’ve been on the board of directors and executive committee of Keep Alachua County Beautiful since 2008. I’m also a member of the Eighth Judicial Circuit Bar Association, and previously sat on the Eighth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee.