Top Best Family Lawyers | 21716 Available

Ann W. Jamieson first joined Higdon, Hardy and Zuflacht, LLP as a law clerk in 2011 while she was attending St. Mary's University School of Law. In addition to clerking at HHZ, Ann was an Associate Editor of The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice. She was also a member of Phi Delta Phi, the International Legal Honor Society, and she was the recipient of the Pro Bono Certificate for her dedication to community service. Ann graduated from St. Mary's University School of Law and joined HHZ as an Associate Attorney in 2013. Prior to attending law school, Ann participated in the Teach For America program where she taught elementary school to children for two years in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her experience working closely with families in need led her to pursue a career in family law. Ann has published articles and regularly speaks at seminars across the state regarding HIPAA in the practice of law and evidence and predicate issues.  In 2024, she became Board Certified in Family Law and Partner at Higdon, Hardy and Zuflacht, LLP.

Mr. Butler has been part of the Texas legal system for his entire life. From a family of attorneys and elected judges, Mr. Butler believes the practice of law is based on hard work, faith, and personal client relationships. Originally from Bonham, Texas, Mr. Butler is a former Bexar County Assistant District attorney, a former intern for the Honorable Emilio M. Garza of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and a former Staff Writer for the St. Mary’s University School of Law Journal.. Mr. Butler is an experienced courtroom advocate and trial attorney, trying numerous cases in front of Texas juries and jurists.. Awards & Accolades. Named one of S.A. Scene’s 2016 “Best S.A. Lawyers” – Family LawNamed one of S.A. Scene’s 2015 “Best S.A. Lawyers” – Family LawNamed one of S.A. Scene’s 2014 “Best S.A. Lawyers” – Criminal Law

I have the experience and judgment necessary to find practical solutions to meet your personal, financial, and emotional needs.  I will fight for you to get you the results you deserve.

I am a dedicated family law attorney with over two decades of experience serving client in Tennessee. Since beginning to practice in 2002 I have built a reputation for skilled courtroom litigation and a compassionate approach to guiding clients through life-changing legal matters. I have a deep commitment to provide my clients peace and clarity to their future. I help individuals and families navigate complex legal challenges and lay the groundwork for a stable future. I am passionate about advocacy and justice and take pride in helping clients start anew with confidence and a solid foundation.

I have been practicing law in Middle Tennessee since 1999. My middle Tennessee roots run deep. I am proud to say that I have lived in this region the past thirty-eight years and my family even longer. My father, Wayne Belcher was born on a tobacco farm on the northern part of Wilson County. The farm straddled the Wilson and Trousdale county line in the Providence community. The Belcher family lived on that farm for over 200 years. My father attended a one-room schoolhouse and graduated from Hartsville in 1965. My father has run a successful CPA practice in Mt. Juliet for the past 30 years.. My Mother, the former Darnell Russell was raised in the southeastern part of Wilson County in Watertown. Like my father, my Mother too lived on a tobacco farm. She cheered and played basketball for the Purple Tigers graduating from Watertown in 1968. My Great Aunts, Lou Alice Gwaltney and Minnie Belle Winfree ran the five and dime store in Watertown for many years. Both my uncles, Bill and Don Russell were newsboys when you still delivered newspapers on bicycles. Our family still maintains a cemetery in the Poplar Hill community that began just after the Civil War. My parents were married at Round Lick Baptist Church in 1969 where my Grandfather, Prentice Russell served as the Sunday School Superintendent and my Grandmother, Sarah Russell sang in the choir.. After my father graduated from Tennessee Tech in 1973, he obtained his first job at the accounting firm of Ernst and Ernst in Hermitage. My parents were looking to live in a town close to my father’s job and close to both my grandparents. Mt. Juliet was the perfect spot (in the middle). Mt. Juliet was a wonderful place to grow up. I am the oldest of three children who all graduated from Mt. Juliet High School. My brother, Travis Belcher graduated in 1993 and my sister, Sarah Beth Belcher (Blevins) graduated in 1998. The summers included swimming and playing tennis at Langford Farms Club. Sports were a huge part of my youth. I played Phil King football in the fall for the Mt. Juliet Bears; I played basketball in the winter in the West Wilson Basketball League; and I played baseball in the summer at the Mt. Juliet Little League.. For twelve years I attended Mt. Juliet public schools. I lived so close to school that I was able to walk to Mt. Juliet Elementary. Those were the days when you could safely cross Mt. Juliet Road without the threat of being run over. Mt. Juliet only had one red light located at the intersection of Mt. Juliet Road and Lebanon Road. Fast food meant the Superburger at the interstate; retail was the M&M’s Five and Dime; Dixie Drugs was were you filled your prescriptions; and Charlie Daniels Day was the event of the year.. My brother and I were very rambunctious children. My Mother’s solution for maintaining her sanity was for us to attend every vacation bible school that was offered in Mt. Juliet. We made the VBS circuit every summer. We attended Mt. Juliet First Baptist Church, Mt. Juliet Church of Christ, Cloyd’s Presbyterian Church, St. Paul’s United Methodist and any other church that would have us. I guess a fella can never have too much religion.. After High School, I attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. I always knew that I would return to Mt. Juliet, so for Law School I went on my three-year adventure to the northeast. I attended law school in Boston at New England Law. I even worked in the summers as an usher at Fenway Park for the Boston Red Sox.. My stint in New England was wonderful, but I missed my hometown. After law school, I immediately returned to Mt. Juliet. I had always wanted to own a farm. At that time the farms in Mt. Juliet were becoming scarce. After a diligent search I found a small farm on the north side of town that was perfect. I then constructed a log cabin that we still use today.. There was no doubt that I wanted to work in Wilson County. Establishing my law practice became my focus. In 2002, I purchased the former home of my elementary school principal, Paul and Carol Thomas. The home is a bungalow style residence built sometime in the mid 1920’s that sits right in the heart of Mt. Juliet. As a child I visited the home on numerous occasions and it felt like the perfect spot to house my law practice. Over the past 11 years at that location, I have had the pleasure of serving a community that has served me so well over the years.. Not too long after that, I met my wonderful wife, the former Susan Guthrie. She was raised in a small community on the Cumberland Plateau near Crossville, Tennessee called Big Lick (that really is the name). I have two stepchildren who both graduated from Mt. Juliet High School. Ryne Gipson was three-year letterman on the Mt. Juliet football team and is currently enrolled at Tennessee Tech University. This spring Katie Gipson will be graduating with honors from Mt. Juliet High School and will be attending the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. We have two children together, Atticus and Iris. Atticus will be entering 2nd grade at W.A. Wright Elementary and currently enjoys playing soccer and cub scouting. This fall Iris will be starting kindergarten at W.A. Wright Elementary. She enjoys playing softball and gymnastics.. I have been involved in many chartiable causes. I was privileged to serve as the chair for the West Wilson County/Mt. Juliet Senior Citizen board. I have served as the District Chair for the Boys Scouts in the Hermitage District. I am also a current member and past chairman of the Mt. Juliet YMCA. I am also a current representative on the Middle Tennessee Youth Council. I am a 3rd Degree Master Mason in Mt. Juliet Lodge 642. I have coached baseball and softball at the Mt. Juliet League. In addition, I have served as a Trustee at Providence United Methodist located in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. I believe that one should support the community in which one lives.. People are just discovering what us natives have known for a long time, Mt. Juliet is a great place to be. Mt. Juliet has changed dramatically in the past 40 years. We now have shopping malls, restaurants, and a movie theater, but some things remain the same. Mt. Juliet continues to be a great place to work and raise a family. I understand that people have many choices. Please consider our office.

Ariel Baniowski is a managing partner at Livesay & Myers, P.C., practicing exclusively family law. She is experienced in handling every type of family law matter in Virginia, including separation, divorce, custody and support cases. Ms. Baniowski works in the firm’s Ashburn office, and represents clients in Leesburg, Ashburn, Loudoun County, and all across Northern Virginia.. Ms. Baniowski is known as one of the more aggressive attorneys at Livesay & Myers, P.C., and has litigated every type of family law matter in Virginia, including custody, support, separation and high asset divorce cases.. Ms. Baniowski’s work ethic and drive are unmatched. To say that she is a hard worker is an understatement. Ms. Baniowski worked as a family law paralegal at a law firm in Fairfax for five years while she went through college and then law school. She also worked as a research assistant to a family law professor while completing her third year of law school and continuing to work in a law firm.. Ms. Baniowski’s proactive litigation style, work ethic and extensive knowledge of family law combine to serve her clients extremely well. Ms. Baniowski’s satisfied clients have written some truly exceptional and heartfelt reviews expressing their thanks for her work on their behalf (see Client Reviews below).. Ms. Baniowski was selected by her peers for inclusion in the 2024–2026 editions of The Best Lawyers in America for her work in Family Law. Prior to that, Ms. Baniowski was included in the 2021–2023 editions of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for her work in Family Law. She has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star every year since 2015. Ms. Baniowski currently holds a perfect 10.0 rating from both Avvo and Justia.. Ariel Baniowski resides with her husband and two children in Loudoun County.

Ryan Shellady is an attorney with a focus in family law. He has a strong background helping families navigate difficult circumstances and is passionate about connecting with his clients while providing quality legal advice.. Prior to joining Bray & Klockau, P.L.C, he served as a domestic relations attorney for a mid-sized firm in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and a mid-sized family law firm in Colorado. Additional experience came while serving as an associate for a Des Moines firm and as a law clerk at The Family Defense Center in Chicago, IL. Ryan has also volunteered for Kids First Law Clinic, providing workshops for children whose parents are going through divorce.. Ryan was raised in Washington and Johnson Counties. He earned his undergraduate degree, with high distinction, in ethics and public policy from the University of Iowa. He then went on to earn his JD, with distinction, from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2019.

Alissa L. Van Horn, Esq. is a Founding Member and Managing Partner of Van Horn & Friedman, P.C., a boutique family law firm, exclusively dedicated to handling family and matrimonial cases in the New York Metropolitan Area.. Prior to founding Van Horn & Friedman, P.C., Alissa opened the doors to her first solo practice in 2010, the Law Office of Alissa L. Van Horn, P.C. where she exclusively concentrated on matrimonial and family law matters.   Alissa was previously an associate of Rosin Steinhagen Mendel in New York, NY, a boutique family law firm, where she primarily focused on adoption and foster care litigation for more than three years.  Alissa began her career as an attorney in 2006, as an associate of Gildin, Zelenitz & Shapiro, P.C., where she engaged in general practice with a concentration in matrimonial and family law matters.. Alissa is a member of the New York State Bar Association, Family Law Chapter, the Suffolk County Bar Association, the Nassau County Bar Association, a former member of the Queens County Women’s Bar Association and the New York City Bar Association.. Alissa is licensed to practice law in New York, Connecticut and the United States Supreme Court.  Alissa has a juris doctor from Widener University School of Law, and obtained her undergraduate degree in Public Administration from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA.. In 2017, Alissa received Alissa received the Long Island Power Women in Business Award and the Long Island Business News Leadership in Law Award and has been selected as an honoree at the Long Island Business News 40 Under 40 Awards in 2018.  Alissa is also a 4-time recipient of the Rising Star Award and the Top Female Attorneys Award for NYC Metro by Super Lawyers Magazine. Alissa received the “10 Best” Award by the American Institute for Family Law Attorneys in 2016 and 2017, the Top 10 Under 40 Award by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys, the Top 100 Attorneys Award and the Top 40 under 40 Award for NYC by the National Advocates in the area of Divorce and Family Law, the Outstanding Women in the Law Award for 2016 by Hofstra Law School’s Center for Children and Families, and was featured by LI Pulse Magazine as a Top Legal Eagle in March 2017.. Van Horn & Friedman, P.C. was selected as a Top 10 Law Firm in New York in the area of Family Law 2 years in a row.. Alissa began teaching CLE’s in 2015 on family and matrimonial matters for Marino CLE, LawLine and the National Academy for CLE.  Alissa was also a Guest Speaker at Legaltech’s LegalWeek in 2018 on the topic of starting and succeeding in a small law firm.  Additionally, Alissa has presented on topics related to divorce and Family Law by the New York State Society of CPA’s and New York Presbyterian Hospital.  Throughout the year, Alissa offers free seminars to residents of Long Island on procedural and substantive matters they face in Family and Supreme Courts.  Alissa is also a member of , networking for a cause, and supports many local charities including the American Kidney Fund, Kids Clubhouse and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island, LIAFF.

Denise understands the importance of family law having experienced divorce herself and raising her child as a single mother. The impact that the process of divorce can have on peoples’ lives is profound. Her experience brings compassion, professionalism, and understanding to the table while guiding our clients through the process.. While in law school, she was a Juidical Law Clerk for the 18 Judicial District.  Upon passing the bar exam, she began working at the 4th Judicial District Attorneys Office as a Deputy D.A., Public Information Officer and liaison to the FBI. During her six years there she gained vast trial and litigation experience prosecuting high profile and complicated cases, arming her with the ability to take her clients’ cases confidently to court if the need arose. She then spent time representing the Colorado State Child Support Enforcement Unit, working with the State and courts to ensure that child support issues were resolved. This gives her valuable insight into the process of determining child support and enforcing payment. After her time working with the Child Support Enforcement Unit it was a natural transition into family law.. She is able to successfully arrive at amicable resolutions with opposing counsel, but is ready to go to court if an agreement couldn’t be reached. She has experience working with complex divorces involving multiple assets and businesses. Denise’s years of experience with trials, litigation, family law, and child support issues make her an attorney that you want on your side of the courtroom. She has experience working with opposing counsel to find common ground and an agreeable solution, while also being prepared to go to court if necessary. She understands how hard the process is, and will work to ensure that your divorce or family law issue is handled professionally and as smoothly as possible.. Denise is a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution section of the Colorado Bar Association and is an effective family law mediator.