Attorney Profile

Family law cases are unlike any other types of litigation. Most people feel as though their world is falling apart. The issues involved are so personal, so intensely emotional, that an attorney needs to have an entirely different set of skills to properly represent a family law client.

As a skilled San Jose/ Los Gatos Family Law Attorney, I offer 27 years of experience, determined and aggressive advocacy, and a compassionate and supportive understanding of the very personal issues involved in your case.

A good family law attorney has to be patient, a good listener, supportive, and willing to let their client vent all the tumultuous emotions they're experiencing as a result of a divorce, child custody dispute, or in actions involving restraining orders. In my opinion, an excellent family law attorney needs to be an amateur psychologist who can appropriately understand and support their clients. It's not just about filling out forms and doing paperwork. You need to listen to your client, you need to understand your client, and you need to be able to competently address your client's needs.

As an experienced San Jose/ Los Gatos Family Law Attorney, I have handled extremely complicated cases involving valuation of professional practices and start-up corporations, stock option divisions, insurance claims, cases involving both family law and bankruptcy proceedings, and dozens of cases involving multi-million dollar estates. I have the expertise and knowledge to handle the most complex and intricate financial issues that can arise in a dissolution proceeding.

If you have any of the following issues, you would do well to retain my services to competently and aggressively represent your interests:

• Divorce/Separation
• Custody/Visitation
• Child and Spousal Support
• Restraining Orders
• Property Claims and Division
• Prenuptial Agreements
• Jurisdictional Issues (Alimony)
• Divorce Mediation

My office provides something you can't find with most attorneys: personalized, attentive, and responsive service. The number one complaint clients make about their attorneys is that they are unable to reach them. Attorneys don't return their phone calls and they go weeks or months without knowing what is going on with their case. I pride myself on returning phone calls and keeping my clients informed.

Areas of Practice

• Family Law
• Child Support
• Custody & Visitation
• Divorce
• Restraining Orders/Domestic Violence
• Property Claims and Property Division
• Prenuptial Agreements
• Jurisdictional Issues
• Divorce Mediation

Bar Admissions

• California, 1979
• U.S. District Court Central District of California
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of California
• U.S. District Court Northern District of California
• U.S. District Court Southern District of California
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court Central District of California
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of California
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court Northern District of California
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court Southern District of California
• U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit

Education

• Santa Clara University School of Law, Santa Clara, California, 1979
  J.D.
  
  
• Occidental College, 1976
  B.A.
  Honors: Cum Laude
  
  

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Santa Clara County Superior Court
  Judge Pro-Tem
  
  
• Town of Los Gatos
  Former Mayor
  
  
• Santa Clara County Planning Office
  Commissioner