1975   Licensed Marriage, Family and Child Therapist 1977   Mediator, Arbitrator, Mediator Trainer 1978   Attorney, State Bar of California 1984   State Bar Certified Specialist - Family Law 1986   Admitted to Practice before the United States Supreme Court

Experience

Mediator since 1977: Mediated over 1000 families cases involving divorce, custody, property settlements, child and spousal support, and premarital agreements, real estate, business and community organizations. Arbitrated and mediated in partnership dissolutions, real estate partnerships and monetary disputes. Pioneered the integration of mediation, counseling and family law disciplines with the establishment of Family Law Counseling Services. Provided mediation services through Marin Family Mediation Center. Resolved neighborhood disputes through the Community Boards.  Member , San Francisco Collaborative Law Group.

Family Law Attorney since 1978: Expertise and litigation experience in domestic relations, dissolutions of marriage, custody, visitation and adoptions, property division; child and spousal support; tax aspects of support and property division; premarital agreements; conservatorships and guardianships; juvenile law; probate; estate planning; will drafting.

Appellate Cases:  Marriage of Cademartori (1981); Woods v Superior Court (Jones) (1985) cert. Den. US Supreme Court; Marriage of Chan (1994).

Family Therapist since 1971: Counseled couples, children and families. Director of Community Drug Council, 24-hour youth crisis intervention program, 1971-75. Bereavement facilitator, Center for Attitudinal Healing since 1992 - 1997.

Education

1978   J.D.   University of San Francisco School of Law

American Jurisprudence Award - Community Property
Finalist - Western Regional Client Counseling Competition

1969   M.A.  Stanford University - Counseling

National Honor Society

1968   B.A.   Stanford University - History

Cum Laude

 

Professional Activities

San Francisco Superior Court Judge Pro Tempore
Settlement Conference Judge, 1983-present
Short Cause Calendar Judge, Family Law Department, 1985-present

Association of Certified Family Law Specialists (ACFLS)
President, 2000, Board of Directors, 1989-present, Director - North, Secretary, Parliamentarian, Historian, State Bar Program Coordinator, Amicus Curiae Committee, Seminar Instructor

San Francisco State University
Instructor in Family Law - Peer Legal Counseling Program, 1986-present

San Francisco Collaborative Law Group
Member, 2001- present

Barristers' Club
Speaker - Bay Area Elementary, Middle and High Schools, 1984-present

San Francisco Bar Association Volunteer Legal Services (VLSP)
Representation for indigent clients, 1978-present

California Pacific Medical Center, Women's Health Resource Center
Instructor - Taking the Stress Out of Divorce by Using Mediation, 1998

Radio Station KBPA
Talk Show Guest - Taking the Stress Out of Divorce by Using Mediation, 1998

Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB)
Instructor - Counseling Aspects of Dissolution, 1981

Mental Research Institute (MRI)
Mediator trainer - 1981
Instructor - Counseling Aspects of Dissolution, 1981