Leslie Soley
Attorney
907 Santa Fe Ave Ste 101
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: 559-265-4292
E-mail: office@soleylaw.com
Leslie Soley is a dedicated and committed convert to the collaborative law process. Instead of a traditional court battle, Ms. Soley prefers thoughtful communication and problem solving so that the entire family benefits. She has found that when couples maintain control over the process and results of divorce they are able to restructure their family and achieve a more positive outcome. This is especially true when married couples with children divorce.
The most difficult "hot button" issue in many divorce cases is child custody. Children of a contentious relationship are regularly caught in the middle, with their needs often ignored. The collaborative approach is especially effective in resolving child custody matters where attorneys and mental health professionals assess the needs of the children first. Ms. Soley considers the greatest benefit of a collaborative divorce to be the increased focus on the needs and long term well being of children.
Matthew E. Fletcher
Attorney
5 River Park Place East
Fresno, CA 93720
Phone: 559-433-1300
E-mail: matt.fletcher@mccormickbarstow.com
http://mccormickbarstow.com
Matt Fletcher is an ardent champion for the many advantages of collaborative law when people decide to divorce. With his background in civil litigation, he is battle tested from many cases fought out in court. He is now focused on family law and utilizing the collaborative process to assist families in resolving their issues with dignity and respect.
Mr. Fletcher believes that a collaborative lawyer can still be a strong advocate for his client without being adversarial. He is focused on empowering his clients with knowledge and guidance so they have the information they need to resolve their own issues. He believes that when divorcing couples maintain control over the process and work together, they achieve a fair result that affords peace of mind to all involved, especially children.
Gerald M. Tomassian
Attorney
3419 W. Shaw Ave.
Fresno, CA 93711
Phone: 559-277-7300
E-mail: gmtlaw@aol.com
http://tpslawfirm.com
For the past 22 years I have practiced family law in Fresno and other nearby counties. I have also been appointed to act as a Judicial Arbitrator by both the Fresno and Madera County Superior Courts. For the last 12 years I have sat as a Judge Pro Tempore for the Family Law Department of the Fresno County Superior Court. All this experience has taught me that there should be a more dignified process for people to use to dissolve their marriage. I have watched as husbands and wives have used the traditional “In Court” divorce process to hurt one another and ultimately causing emotional damage to their children. My colleagues and I founded our Collaborative Law Practice Group knowing that a Collaborative Divorce does offer parties an opportunity to end their marriage with the proper dignity and respect that they and their children deserve. If you have no other choice but to dissolve your marriage, choose the Collaborative process for yourself and your family.
Zepure "Zeppy" Attashian
Attorney
907 Santa Fe Ave., Ste. 102
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: 559-908-8706
E-mail: zeppya@gmail.com
Zeppy Attashian has been an active member of CVCLA since 2008. Zeppy is a strong advocate of the collaborative process as she recognizes that divorce and family issues have long-lasting consequences on each family member. Zeppy believes that each individual going through a life transition (i.e. divorce, separation) deserves honest answers, guidance and peace of mind. Zeppy promotes the principles of collaborative law and strives to help you move forward in your life without being embroiled in a bitter, emotionally draining dispute. When couples take a less adversarial approach, the entire family benefits, and children are protected from the harm that a court battle can inflict.
Charles H. Soley
Attorney
906 N Street, Ste. 110
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: 559-489-0906
E-mail: chsoley@yahoo.com
Megan Hager
Attorney
Mayfield & Leath
1500 W. Shaw, Ste. 204
Fresno, CA 93711
Phone: 559-222-1005 x 119
E-mail: mhager@fresno-law.com
Katherine Donovan
Attorney
907 Santa Fe, suite 102
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: 559-228-6655
E-mail: cathi@kdonovanlaw.com
Katherine has been an attorney specializing in Family Law for 20+ years, receiving her certification as a specialist in 1994. She is a founding member of CVCLA and has been active in the legal community since 1989. Focusing on her collaborative process Katherine’s philosophy is to assist families with the restructuring of their lives in a manner that allows them to maintain not only their own dignity and respect, but their respect for the other party as well.
With a B.A. in Communication and a M.A. in Rhetoric and Communication Katherine offers a unique ability in helping the participants in navigating their way through the dissolution process. Katherine takes great pride in being part of a process that allows people to determine for themselves how they choose to restructure their families by maximizing the financial and emotional resources available to them.
Julia A. Brungess
Attorney
5250 N. Palm Ave., Ste 430
Fresno, CA 93704
Phone: 559-226-4008
E-mail: brungess@attitude.com
Julia has been practicing family law in the Fresno area for twenty-seven years, including litigating difficult family law issues. She has been a certified family law specialist by the California Board of Legal Specialization/State Bar of California since 1993. She is a past chair of the Fresno County Bar Association Family Law Section and is currently the chair of CVCLA. It was her extensive experience in the courtroom that led Julia to explore a better, family-centered means of resolving disputes that arise between separating couples.
Her search led her to collaborative practice as it allows each party to focus on the best long-term outcome for his/her immediate and extended family members, to preserve the positive aspects of the human relationships involved and improve the communication and cooperation between the two individuals who are transitioning from one family structure to another. Julia encourages all who see separation or legal changes in their family’s future to first seek guidance from a trained collaborative professional before engaging in damaging and destructive litigation: do not cut what can be untied.
Kathleen Bakergumprecht-Davies
Attorney
906 N Street, Ste. 110
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: 559-489-0906
E-mail: kbgdlaw@hotmail.com
Sheri Rich Mount
Attorney
1221 Van Ness Ave., Ste 501
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: 559-497-7999
E-mail: srmount@srmount.com
Steven R. Mortimer
Attorney
110 N. D St.
Madera, CA 93638
Phone: 559-674-8712
E-mail: mortimersr@yahoo.com
Steven R. Mortimer has been an active member of CVCLA since its founding and has over 36 years of experience in family law. Steven has a general civil practice in Madera and accepts collaborative cases in both Fresno and Madera counties. Having litigated hundreds of divorces over the years, he believes that the collaborative process is a far better way to resolve divorce issues between divorcing spouses.
Judith L. Lund
Attorney
5200 N. Palm Avenue, Suite #211
Fresno, CA 93704
Phone: 559-261-4595
Fax: 559-261-4598
E-mail: judylund@aol.com
Judy Lund has been a family law attorney for over 30 years and a Certified Specialist in Family Law by the State Bar of California for 23 years. She is an active member of CVCLA, and a substantial portion of her practice is mediation and collaborative cases. This experience has illustrated that it is much better, both emotionally and financially, for people who have shared their lives as a married couple to end their marital relationship through the collaborative process rather than court intervention. Judy's hobbies include flying (private pilot with instrument and multi-engine ratings) and gourmet cooking.
Duane Ruth-Heffelbower
Mediation Associates
Attorney
1717 S. Chestnut Ave. #2202
Fresno, CA 93702
Phone: 559-453-3421
Fax: 559-252-4800
E-mail: duanerh@peacemaking.com
http://peace.fresno.edu/mediate/duanerhmediator.php
Duane Ruth-Heffelbower is one of the founding members of CVCLA and has been handling family law matters in Fresno since 1975. His family law practice has been limited to mediation since 1986. His M.Div. in counseling helps him to work through difficult issues with spouses, and his broad experience with families allows him to help people find the right path for them.
An Advanced Practitioner member of the Association for Conflict Resolution Family Section, he chairs the section's training committee and directs the graduate academic programs in peacemaking at Fresno Pacific University. He and his wife of over forty years have three grandchildren, and recently climbed Mt. Whitney.
Erin Rhames-Childs
Childs Law Group, PLC
Attorney
7522 N. Colonial Ave., Ste. 111
Fresno, CA 93711
Phone: 559-225-6769
Fax: 559-225-6759
E-mail: echilds@childslawgroup.com
http://www.childslawgroup.com
Erin Rhames-Childs has been an active member of CVCLA since 2006 and is the incoming Chairperson for the Family Law Section of the Fresno County Bar. Erin believes that collaborative practice will one day be the first choice for people dealing with family law issues and frequently speaks to the public about it. When not working or spending time with her children, Erin trains for half marathons throughout California, bikes, and swims competitively.
John McDaniel
Helon & Manfredo, LLP
Attorney
735 West Alluvial Ave., No. 102
Fresno, CA 93711
Phone: 559-226-4420
Fax: 559-226-1524
E-mail: jmcdaniel@helonmanfredo.com
http://www.helonmanfredo.com
John has practiced family law for over thirty years, and is certified as a family law specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. He is a founding member of Central Valley Collaborative Law Affiliates, and offers collaborative practice representation and divorce mediation services.
John believes the most compelling feature of collaborative practice is the ability for the parties to retain control over the outcome. Collaborative practice affords the divorcing couple with a unique opportunity to utilize the collective energy and resources of a team of professionals skilled in helping the parties maximize the options for them and their children. By engaging in a process centered on the concerns, needs, and goals of the family members, an outcome acceptable to the parties and suitable to the needs of the family is more likely to be achieved than typically would be realized in a court-based solution.