Firm History

19 93

1995

In November 1995, the Admissions Committee proposed the following recommendations for admission to the College.....

In November 1995, the Admissions Committee proposed the following recommendations for admission to the College: good standing in the AAML; must be a trial lawyer; the number of Diplomates from each state shall be limited to a maximum of 10% of the number of fellows in good standing in that state’s chapter of the AAML. At this time there is also a structure for the names of all future Diplomates to be shared and voted on by all then Diplomates of the College. When the College first started, if any two Diplomates of the general membership of the College voted NO to a proposed new Diplomate, that proposed Diplomate would not be approved for membership.

1999

In March of 1999, Sandy again told all Diplomates "If you miss two meeting meetings in a.....

In March of 1999, Sandy again told all Diplomates. If you miss two meeting meetings in a three-year period without being excused, you may be subject to removal. As you are aware the number of rooms rented at the resort venue determines the overall cost of the benefits that we receive during our stay. We expect you to attend the place of venue unless you live in the area of the meeting. As you were previously informed the only valid excuses for missing a meeting are illness, family obligations and court trials (actual trial). Attendance at another organization’s meeting or speaking engagements will not be deemed an excusable reason for not attending the meeting unless you are the President of such organization or State Bar. We try every year to pick a date that is not in conflict with any other organization, and you then have one year’s notice to make proper arrangements”.

2003

In 2003 Sandy Dranoff was of the opinion the By-Laws that had......

In 2003 Sandy Dranoff was of the opinion the By-Laws that had been drafted did not need to be implemented (so they were not implemented). Also, for the first time the concept of and Emeritus status was discussed. During the early years, the Admissions Committee acted as the Executive Committee.

After the College became established, the method of inviting new Diplomates to the College moved exclusively to the Executive Committee. Also, during this time the Executive Committee began meeting two times per year; once in October and again at the April meeting. The October meeting is in New York. The annual April meeting alternated between the East Coast and the West Coast.

2011

the College had 98 active Diplomats and 13 Emeritus Diplomats.

In October 2011, the College had 98 active Diplomates and 13 Emeritus Diplomates. The Executive Committee reaffirmed the “no two members from the same firm” and “new Diplomates were limited to 1/2 the then open slots”.

2012

Emeritus attendance and costs to attend the annual meetings was discussed....

In April 2012, Emeritus attendance and costs to attend the annual meetings was discussed. It was decided Emeritus Diplomates of the Executive Committee could maintain their position on the Executive Committee but without voting status and Emeritus Executive Committee members will pay their own expenses for their costs in New York at the October executive committee meeting but will be invited to the Friday night dinner.

2013

To this day, we endeavor to fulfill Sandy Dranoff's plan for "an organization trial lawyers operating without rules". Sandy was the visionary.

By-Laws were approved in 2013.

To this day, we endeavor to fulfill Sandy Dranoff’s plan for “an of organization trial lawyers operating without rules”. Sandy was the visionary. He started the College and ruled all aspects of the College during his lifetime. Sandy passed on April 29, 2012. Steve Kolodny and then Ron Anteau took over as Executive Vice-President’s after Sandy became ill until 2018. John Slowiaczek became President in 2018 and continues in that position.

About ACFTL

The American College of Family Trial Lawyers is a select group of 100 of the top family law trial lawyers from across the United States.

The American College was formed in 1993 to bring together some of the best trial lawyers in America practicing sophisticated and complex family law and matrimonial matters both domestically and abroad, ranging from dissolution of marriage (divorce), paternity, palimony, child abduction and domestic torts. Diplomates, all members of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, are chosen based upon their recognized litigation skills and courtroom abilities.

Read More

100+

Of The Top Family Law
Attorneys In The United States

Executive Committee

View all
John S. Slowiaczek

John S. Slowiaczek

President

Cary J. Mogerman

Cary J. Mogerman

Vice President

Marlene Eskind Moses

Marlene Eskind Moses

Secretary

Eleanor Breitel Alter

Eleanor B. Alter

Counsel

Elizabeth-Green-Lindsey

Elizabeth Green Lindsey

Treasurer

David H. Lee

Board Member

James T. McLaren

James T. McLaren

Board Member

robert-e-blevans

Robert E. Blevans

Board Member

Dues

Dues

Events

Events

Past Retreats

Past Retreats

Alton Abramowitz

New York, New York

Joan Casilio Adams

Williamsville, New York

Sanford K. Ain

Washington, District Of Columbia

David Ainley

Chicago, Illinois

Eleanor B. Alter

New York, New York

2000

Kenneth P. Altshuler

Portland, Maine

Amy J. Amundsen

Memphis, Tennessee

Sherri M. Anderson

Bellevue, Washington

David Aronson

New York, New York

Linda S. Balisle

Madison, Wisconsin

Mark A. Bank

Birmingham, Michigan

Amber Barber

Burlington, Vermont

Jonathan J. Bates

Dallas, Texas

Roberta S. Batley

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Laura C. Belleau

Tuscon, Arizona

Nancy Zalusky Berg

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Robert E. Blevans

Santa Rosa, California

2002

Brandon R. Blevans

Santa Rosa, California

Phyllis G. Bossin

Cincinnati, Ohio

Robert C. Brandt

Los Angeles, California

Jerold A. Bressel

Overland Park, Kansas

Peter E. Bronstein

New York, New York

Peter Buchbauer

Winchester, Virginia

Wendy S. Burgower

Houston, Texas

Lynn P. Burleson

Raleigh, North Carolina

Brent Cashatt

Des Moines, Iowa

Jorge M. Cestero

West Palm Beach, Florida

Cary B. Cheifetz

Summit, New Jersey

Cassandra M. Chin

Woodbridge, Virginia

Robert Stephan Cohen

New York, New York

Gary I. Cohen

Stamford, Connecticut

Wynter Reneaux Collins

Louisville, Kentucky

Wendy B. Crew

Birmingham, Alabama

Gordon D. Cruse

San Diego, California

Jerry S. D’Aniello

Bridgewater, New Jersey

Garrett C. Dailey

Oakland, California

Helen R. Davis

Phoenix, Arizona

Kiilu Davis

Scottsdale, Arizona

Joy M. Feinberg

Chicago, Illinois

Saul M. Gelbart

Irvine, California

Andrew S. Grossman

columbus, Ohio

Meighan A. Harmon

Chicago, Illinois

Cheryl Lynn Hepfer

Bethesda, Maryland

Margaret W. Hickey

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Wendy Hickey

Needham, Massachusetts

Charles Hodges

Dallas, Texas

James M. Hunnicutt

Salt Lake City, Utah

Daniel J. Jaffe

Los Angeles, California

James J. Jimmerson

Las Vegas, Nevada

Elena Karabatos

Garden City, New York

David H. Lee

Boston, Massachusetts

Madeline Marzano Lesnevich

Hackensack, New Jersey

Elizabeth Green Lindsey

Atlanta, Georgia

Frank A. Louis

Red Bank, New Jersey

Katharine W. Maddox

Falls Church, Virginia

Andrew C. Mallor

Indianapolis, Indiana

Allan E. Mayefsky

New York, New York

John O. McDougall

Columbia, South Carolina

James T. McLaren

Columbia, South Carolina

2022

Christopher Melcher

Woodland Hills, California

Charles J. Meyer

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Kelly Anne Miles

Gainesville, Georgia

Cary J. Mogerman

St. Louis, Missouri

Marlene Eskind Moses

Nashville, Tennessee

Jim Mueller

Dallas, Texas

Kathryn J. Murphy

Plano, Texas

Jason Naimi

Las Vegas, Nevada

Gary L. Nickelson

Fort Worth, Texas

John P Paone Jr

Red Bank, New Jersey

Thomas Parrino

Westport, Connecticut

Steven M. Peskind

Chicago, Illinois

2023

James M. Quigley

Chicago, Illinois

Stephanie A. Rezents

Honolulu, Hawaii

Richard A. Roane

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Elizabeth A. Rosenbaum

Sioux City, Iowa

Thomas J. Sasser

West Palm Beach, Florida

Kurt E. Schnelz

Birmingham, Michigan

Philip G. Seastrom

Newport Beach, California

Caroline Black Sikorske

Tampa, Florida

John S. Slowiaczek

Omaha, Nebraska

Brian L. Sobol

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Andrew Z. Soshnick

Indianapolis, Indiana

Lisa Spencer

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Farrah L. Spencer

Park City, Utah

Todd A. Stahly

Boulder, Colorado

David B. Starks

Seattle,, Washington

Julia Swain

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Deborah M. Tate

Providence, Rhode Island

Edward J. Thomas

Bakersfield, California

Fred (Rick) R. Van Pelt

Springfield, Missouri

G. Thomas Vick, Jr.

Weatherford, Texas

Stephen James Wagner

Sacramento, California

Richard A. Wagner, II

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Richard D. West

Orlando, Florida

Randall Wilhite

Houston, Texas

Jeffrey M. Williams

Doylestown, Pennsylvania

Kimberly R. Willoughby

Golden, Colorado

Natalia Wilson

Washington, District Of Columbia

Home

Wendy B. Crew

Birmingham, Alabama

Sorry, no attorney matched your criteria.

Home

Laura C. Belleau

Tuscon, Arizona

Home

Kiilu Davis

Scottsdale, Arizona

Home

Helen R. Davis

Phoenix, Arizona

Sorry, no attorney matched your criteria.

Home

Brandon R. Blevans

Santa Rosa, California

Home

Robert E. Blevans

Santa Rosa, California

2002

Home

Robert C. Brandt

Los Angeles, California

Home

Gordon D. Cruse

San Diego, California

Home

Garrett C. Dailey

Oakland, California

Home

Saul M. Gelbart

Irvine, California

Home

Daniel J. Jaffe

Los Angeles, California

Home

Christopher Melcher

Woodland Hills, California

Home

Philip G. Seastrom

Newport Beach, California

Home

Edward J. Thomas

Bakersfield, California

Home

Stephen James Wagner

Sacramento, California

Home

Todd A. Stahly

Boulder, Colorado

Home

Kimberly R. Willoughby

Golden, Colorado

Home

Gary I. Cohen

Stamford, Connecticut

Home

Thomas Parrino

Westport, Connecticut

Sorry, no attorney matched your criteria.

Home

Sanford K. Ain

Washington, District Of Columbia

Home

Natalia Wilson

Washington, District Of Columbia

Home

Jorge M. Cestero

West Palm Beach, Florida

Home

Thomas J. Sasser

West Palm Beach, Florida

Home

Caroline Black Sikorske

Tampa, Florida

Home

Richard D. West

Orlando, Florida

Home

Elizabeth Green Lindsey

Atlanta, Georgia

Home

Kelly Anne Miles

Gainesville, Georgia

Home

Stephanie A. Rezents

Honolulu, Hawaii

Sorry, no attorney matched your criteria.

Home

David Ainley

Chicago, Illinois

Home

Joy M. Feinberg

Chicago, Illinois

Home

Meighan A. Harmon

Chicago, Illinois

Home

Steven M. Peskind

Chicago, Illinois

2023

Home

James M. Quigley

Chicago, Illinois

Home

Andrew C. Mallor

Indianapolis, Indiana

Home

Andrew Z. Soshnick

Indianapolis, Indiana

Home

Brent Cashatt

Des Moines, Iowa

Home

Elizabeth A. Rosenbaum

Sioux City, Iowa

Home

Jerold A. Bressel

Overland Park, Kansas

Home

Wynter Reneaux Collins

Louisville, Kentucky

Sorry, no attorney matched your criteria.

Home

Kenneth P. Altshuler

Portland, Maine

Home

Cheryl Lynn Hepfer

Bethesda, Maryland

Home

Wendy Hickey

Needham, Massachusetts

Home

David H. Lee

Boston, Massachusetts

Home

Mark A. Bank

Birmingham, Michigan

Home

Richard A. Roane

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Home

Kurt E. Schnelz

Birmingham, Michigan

Home

Nancy Zalusky Berg

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Home

Brian L. Sobol

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Home

Lisa Spencer

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Sorry, no attorney matched your criteria.

Home

Cary J. Mogerman

St. Louis, Missouri

Home

Fred (Rick) R. Van Pelt

Springfield, Missouri

Sorry, no attorney matched your criteria.

Home

John S. Slowiaczek

Omaha, Nebraska

Home

James J. Jimmerson

Las Vegas, Nevada

Home

Jason Naimi

Las Vegas, Nevada

Sorry, no attorney matched your criteria.

Home

Cary B. Cheifetz

Summit, New Jersey

Home

Jerry S. D’Aniello

Bridgewater, New Jersey

Home

Madeline Marzano Lesnevich

Hackensack, New Jersey

Home

Frank A. Louis

Red Bank, New Jersey

Home

John P Paone Jr

Red Bank, New Jersey

Home

Roberta S. Batley

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Home

Alton Abramowitz

New York, New York

Home

Joan Casilio Adams

Williamsville, New York

Home

Eleanor B. Alter

New York, New York

2000

Home

David Aronson

New York, New York

Home

Peter E. Bronstein

New York, New York

Home

Robert Stephan Cohen

New York, New York

Home

Elena Karabatos

Garden City, New York

Home

Allan E. Mayefsky

New York, New York

Home

Lynn P. Burleson

Raleigh, North Carolina

Sorry, no attorney matched your criteria.

Home

Phyllis G. Bossin

Cincinnati, Ohio

Home

Andrew S. Grossman

columbus, Ohio

Home

Richard A. Wagner, II

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Sorry, no attorney matched your criteria.

Home

Charles J. Meyer

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Home

Julia Swain

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Home

Jeffrey M. Williams

Doylestown, Pennsylvania

Home

Deborah M. Tate

Providence, Rhode Island

Home

John O. McDougall

Columbia, South Carolina

Home

James T. McLaren

Columbia, South Carolina

2022

Sorry, no attorney matched your criteria.

Home

Amy J. Amundsen

Memphis, Tennessee

Home

Marlene Eskind Moses

Nashville, Tennessee

Home

Jonathan J. Bates

Dallas, Texas

Home

Wendy S. Burgower

Houston, Texas

Home

Charles Hodges

Dallas, Texas

Home

Jim Mueller

Dallas, Texas

Home

Kathryn J. Murphy

Plano, Texas

Home

Gary L. Nickelson

Fort Worth, Texas

Home

G. Thomas Vick, Jr.

Weatherford, Texas

Home

Randall Wilhite

Houston, Texas

Home

James M. Hunnicutt

Salt Lake City, Utah

Home

Farrah L. Spencer

Park City, Utah

Home

Amber Barber

Burlington, Vermont

Home

Peter Buchbauer

Winchester, Virginia

Home

Cassandra M. Chin

Woodbridge, Virginia

Home

Katharine W. Maddox

Falls Church, Virginia

Home

Sherri M. Anderson

Bellevue, Washington

Home

David B. Starks

Seattle,, Washington

Sorry, no attorney matched your criteria.

Home

Linda S. Balisle

Madison, Wisconsin

Home

Margaret W. Hickey

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Sorry, no attorney matched your criteria.