Top best L Lawyers in ZIP 94611 | 100 available

Ms. Donnell is a Partner at Christy, Keith & Donnell Family Law Group and is a Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization. Prior to joining Christy, Keith & Donnell Family Law Group, she was a Partner with the San Francisco-based family law firm of Winter & Ross. Ms. Donnell obtained her law degree from U.C. Berkeley (Berkeley Law) and her bachelor's degree, summa cum laude, from UCLA. She has also completed Harvard Law School's Executive Program on Negotiation and Leadership.. Ms. Donnell has received numerous awards recognizing her legal acumen and contributions to the law. She was named Litigator of the Year by the American Institute of Trial Lawyers in 2023, designated one of the 10 Best Attorneys in Client Satisfaction by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys in 2023, named a Northern California Rising Star by Thomson Reuters SuperLawyers' Magazine in 2019 and 2020, received the America's Most Honored Professionals Award each year from 2020 through 2023, and included by San Francisco Magazine in their list of Top Young Rising Women Attorneys in Northern California in 2019 and 2020 and Top Young Rising Attorneys in Northern California in 2020.. While in law school, Ms. Donnell studied family law under esteemed Professor Herma Hill Kay, who co-authored California's no-fault divorce legislation. She was also an editor of the Berkeley Journal of Gender, Law & Justice and a member of the Boalt Hall Women's Association as well as the Berkeley Youth & Education Law Society. She also served as a Judicial Extern for Judge Carlos Bea on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, clerked for the international law firm of Jones Day, and was a recipient of the Boalt Hall Fellowship for her work in public interest law.. Ms. Donnell represents clients throughout the Bay Area and specializes in all aspects of family law, including complex community property issues, separate property claims, child and spousal support matters, high conflict custody disputes, domestic violence issues, and post-judgment custody and support modification proceedings. She has extensive experience with the complicated financial aspects of divorce, including apportionment of stock options and RSUs, equitable apportionment of business interests, and tracing of separate property claims. When needed for a particular case, she utilizes her extensive contacts with leading professionals throughout California, such as forensic accountants, financial advisors, business valuation experts, co-parent counselors, and the like. She successfully settles the majority of cases. However, she will not hesitate to litigate her clients' matters in court when necessary. Ms. Donnell regularly appears before public and private judges throughout the Bay Area and has established a stellar reputation in the family law community as a skilled litigator and unwavering advocate for her clients.. Ms. Donnell is also committed to Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods when feasible. She holds a certificate in Mediation and Conflict Resolution and represents clients through the collaborative law process as well as provides consulting services to individuals in mediation. In addition, she is available to serve as a neutral mediator to facilitate the resolution of disputes between parties outside of litigation. Where strategic premarital or pre-divorce legal counseling is needed, her advice is invaluable to her clients.. Ms. Donnell is committed to giving back to the community and has served as a volunteer attorney and mediator for the Marin and San Francisco Superior Courts.

I do NOT provide traditional legal services to the public.. I provide help on special projects that require a bit of extra attention to narrative and message-crafting. I can help you get your thoughts, ideas, & arguments across to just about anyone—from judges, to journalists, to clients, to social media audiences.. I work primarily with other lawyers and law firms.. I also work with non-lawyers, but only on NON-legal projects (e.g., copywriting, editing, design). I will NOT give you legal advice or edit/draft legal documents for you if you are not a licensed attorney. And regardless of what services I provide, I will not be acting as your lawyer unless we have an explicit written agreement of representation.

Caring for my clients comes naturally for me, and I take pleasure in developing new legal arguments to change the inequities of employee benefits law, resulting in a top reputation and amazing results for my clients. Making a difference in people’s lives and in the legal landscape is the reason I became a lawyer to begin with. I am proud of the work we do at Springer Ayeni, and proud to be a woman-owned firm in a field still dominated by men. I take pleasure in setting a new definition of what it means to be a successful woman litigator when I bring my baby to a conference or along with me for a meeting with a colleague. I aim to show that women can both practice in a rigorous field and be dedicated parents at the same time.. Outside of work, I relax by arranging flowers for non-profits such as the March of Dimes, playing the piano (I’m thrilled that my two oldest girls are loving their piano lessons as much as I did as a girl!), and enjoying time with my wonderful family. I have three beautiful daughters and it is truly joyous for me to spend time with them. Having lost one of my twin girls in 2008 due to consequences of prematurity, I am acutely aware of how precious kids are, and I am grateful for my daughters’ good health. Such a tragedy gave me the fortitude not just to survive, but to thrive and to better the lives of others, especially my clients

BoostCounsel helps companies that need legal assitance in getting their next commercial deal negotiated, working on their products and digital marketing footprint with an eye toward legal compliance, and receiving legal and business counseling in other matters that come up as their businesses grow.. I came to the practice of law with a background in business and a desire to problem solve. My clients' businesses thrive through my business advice, contract negotiation and legal counseling skills.. Outside of work, I love to hike, do science experiments with my kids, teach our dog new tricks and watch films (particularly foreign ones).

Benjamin Zicherman was raised in Berkeley, California.. He attaneded Tulane University in Louisiana, and then Pace School of Law in New York.. When Benjamin is not in Court defending his clients, he enjoys cooking and glass blowing.