Ms. Smart helped me to navigate through a contentious and gratuitously lengthy divorce. I needed an…read moreadvocate who would protect my child and protect my assets. From the initial consultation through the final judgment, Ms. Smart treated my case as though it were her own experience. She set realistic expectations with me about possible outcomes and made a diligent effort to have a solution or game plan for each possible outcome. I felt prepared every step of the way. The outcome was ultimately the best possible one. I credit that to Ms. Smart's excellent strategy, prowess in the courtroom, and her unfailing commitment to the best interest of my child. For this I am very grateful. I unwaveringly recommend Ms. Smart.

I didn't feel listened to, sometimes didn't feel respected (such as when she said I sounded like a…read moredomestic violence victim) and often felt pressured. I hired her because I thought I might need an aggressive lawyer. But when my divorce went amicably and I decided that I was financially secure enough not to need spousal support, this very quality worked against our ability to collaborate. The firm "fired" me as a client after 13 months and $42,000 in lawyer fees. I think she is competent, very good about replying quickly, and a good person. However, I found her too rigid in her thinking and overly reliant on protocol. If you are a "Intuitive" personality on the Meyer-Briggs personality test, look for a different lawyer.

Jessica was referred to me by another attorney. I was first apprehensive due to her lack of…read moreratings, but after consulting with her about my issue, I felt comfortable dealing with her. We worked together for 6 months before I officially fired her. During our early phone calls, I felt she was nice, honest, and hardworking. I had the impression that she would be able to assist me whether or not we won the lawsuit. During the first few months as we tried to learn more about my case, she was incredibly attentive and responsive. But everything changed. I decided to fire her for the following reasons: 1. She stopped replying promptly, and I had to send follow-up emails to receive a response. 2. She made excuses for her tardiness in responding. 3. A lack of organization and communication. She said her team went to the courts to get more court documents on my ex. After a month of no communication, I requested for an update, and she stated they're working on it again. After another month, she eventually informs me that they have retrieved the documents and have submitted them for my perusal. I opened the files and noticed the exact ones I'd supplied her in connection with my divorce case. NOTHING HAD CHANGED. We argued about the materials they posted until she comprehended what I was saying. The documents they had been waiting for for two months were irrelevant to the case because I had previously given them!!! 4. During this process, we discovered some evidence that could have aided my case, but she did not proceed. I requested that she deliver the initial letter saying that she will be representing me, but she did not. Keep in mind that we've been working together for 6 months and she has never sent anything. 5. After I sent her an email expressing my concerns about us "dropping the ball," she responded with more excuses and claims that this is what I committed to, despite the fact that the email chain plainly does not indicate any of that. She lacks accountability. During these six months, I felt like I was wasting my time. I would absolutely do my homework before committing and handing her a retainer fee.

Jessica is an amazing attorney and is great at what she does. She is professional, dedicated,…read moresupportive, and able to give her clients superior counsel. I interacted with her on a custody case involving my nephew. The situation at hand was painful for my family and she not only advocated for our position in court, but the empathy and care that she gave went above and beyond her call of duty. She is a compassionate individual that uses her intelligence and legal expertise to win! I worked with her on another family law dispute that appeared to be an open and close case, but turned out to be a little more tricky. She was well equipped to handle all of the challenges that arose. It was a great day when the judge ruled in my favor. Thank you Jessica!

If you are checking this page, you are already in a bad marriage situation, contemplating a…read moredivorce. My guardian angel was looking out for me when I found Jessica. She was professional, knowledgeable, and responsive. She has kindness and patience and explained all the legal terms and proceedings. She gave me time when I needed it. She answered all my questions. Jessica made this process digestible. I hope you won't ever need her services, but she comes highly recommended.

Jessica is an absolute professional. Her services as a mediator were exemplary. She is highly…read moreknowledgeable about the legal process and made our situation much easier than it could have been had we seeked going straight through a battle in the court system. She is fair, empathetic and truly cares about her clients. Her supportive manner with her clients, (us) helped diffuse many a situation which could have easily gone south. I wholeheartedly recommend her.

I don't use the term "life saver" lightly -- Lauren truly is one…read more I was devastated when my husband walked out. I could barely get out of bed, was deep in depression, and after a terrible experience with an overly aggressive lawyer a friend had recommended, I felt completely lost. Finding Lauren from Wanderman Family Law changed everything. Lauren is smart, savvy, compassionate, and absolutely dedicated to her clients. From the first meeting, she was 100% on my side. She explained everything in clear, gentle language at a time when I was in no shape to process anything complicated. My husband hired a so-called "ball-buster," but Lauren handled every step with fairness, strength, strategy, and integrity. I always felt supported, protected, and respected. She negotiated a complex but fair divorce settlement in which my spousal support covered my mortgage -- something that truly saved me. Two years later, I'm back on my feet emotionally and financially, and that is entirely thanks to her. She's still helping me buy out my ex and secure full ownership of my home. Lauren consistently goes above and beyond. One example: late on a Friday, my loan company told me I needed a legal letter by first thing Monday morning. Lauren stayed late, wrote a beautifully crafted letter, and quite literally made it possible for me to keep moving forward. I owe her my stability, my home, and the wonderful new life I have now. My mental and financial health are solid again, and I couldn't have done it without her. To any woman going through a difficult divorce: Lauren is the one you want in your corner. I recommend her wholeheartedly and with immense gratitude.

I am so glad Lauren was recommended by another firm. The mediation she provided for my ex-wife and…read moreI through the divorce was the best. She was thorough, efficient with time, and communicated very well with both of us through the filing process and zoom meetings. I shopped around with many firms from SF and down the peninsula, and she had very reasonable hourly rates. I would absolutely recommend Lauren!

If you need a divorce attorney, hire Deborah Dubroff…read more My divorce was a difficult time for my entire family, not unlike the death of a loved one. I was very fortunate to have an old family friend, a lawyer, refer me to Deborah Dubroff . The first time I met Deborah, I knew I was in good hands and I felt a wave of relief wash over me. My first impression of Deborah was that she was knowledgeable, a hard worker, ethical, respectful, professional, patient, nonjudgmental and empathic. During our first meeting Deborah went thru the entire process, told me how to make the best use of our time, kept me focused, reassured me that I was not going to lose custody of my children and that things were going to be ok. My impression has not changed. After our initial meeting Deborah requested information and forms to be filed out, which I sent her, appeared in court as required and throughout the divorce process provided me timely updates until my cases conclusion. I am eternally grateful to Deborah for getting me thru those dark days. Roger Freeman

If you are a mother who is getting a divorce, do NOT hire this firm…read more After working with them for a year, they encouraged me to relinquish all child support and more. They did not advocate for me. They were very unresponsive to emails and failed to file or send paperwork on time. Unfortunately, my experience showed that these attorneys do not have one's children's best interest at heart. Read more

Michelle has guided me through an extremely complex custody case and made progress at every step…read more She has an amazing memory, recalling details from months earlier and using them when they mattered most. She's also excellent on the spot, quick to adapt and make strong decisions in court. She is the most empathetic lawyer I've ever met - and is so safe to reveal anything to. Another outstanding trait is her integrity -- when she had a medical procedure, she made sure my child was protected by referring me to the best lawyer to stand in for her. Michelle is both ethical and effective, and she turned my case around 100%.

I worked with Paul Thorndal and wholeheartedly recommend him…read more I received surprise contact from my ex and was overwhelmed with how to handle our assets. Paul was understanding, calm, and kind and gave me such confidence that we could figure out a solution. We were able to resolve matters quickly and my stress melted away knowing I had someone great on my side.

My divorce really started years ago when I first consulted with Tracey to see what my options were,…read moreand how my children would fare in the CA family court system, if I were to proceed with filing for divorce. I'm a lawyer as well and at the time, I was a civil litigator. It was definitely an odd experience finding myself on the client side of the equation and I knew I wanted a strong person to represent me in court. I was immediately impressed, and put at ease, when I met Tracey all those years ago. Although I wasn't ready to file just then, I knew that I would have strong counsel when I did. Fast forward to two years ago when I finally decided it was time to leave my marriage. I reached out to Tracey and started this legal journey with her and her firm and haven't looked back. There were countless times when I thought I was losing my mind as I began the process of unwinding my marriage to a narcissist and Tracey's advice was always grounding. She is realistic about the prospects of success in litigation and as a former litigator myself, I knew her advice was spot on. Even though you can be the party that is in the right, the courts often don't get their rulings right and there is always a risk (and financial cost) to litigation. At the same time, Tracey never shied away from a fight even if that meant going to court. She has fought aggressively for me and she has done so always with both my mental and financial health at top of mind. I didn't get everything I wanted and neither did my ex. As a lawyer, I know that is as close to fair as the law can be. I have practiced law for almost 20 years now, and I continue to do so. I have worked with some fantastic lawyers for whom I have a great deal of respect and trust. I put Tracey in that category. She sometimes told me things I didn't want to hear and that is also the mark of a great lawyer. My divorce is now finalized after almost two years. I am so grateful to have had Tracey, and her wonderful team at the firm, on my side as a loyal warrior for both me and my children.

I worked with Tracey through a complex divorce that lasted more than two years. She is incredibly…read moreknowledgeable and patient, and she took the time to explain legal terms and processes clearly so I always understood what was happening. Rather than dictating decisions, she brought me along in the process and made sure I felt informed and involved. Tracey never sugarcoated issues -- she stayed grounded, realistic, and strategic, always advocating for my best interests. Even through psychological evaluations, failed mediations, and difficult negotiations, she remained consistent and kept me focused. In the end, she secured the best possible settlement for me. I highly recommend Tracey to anyone looking for a skilled, steady, and dedicated advocate.

I had a very productive, hourlong online consultation with Laura Owen about a case that's…read morepotentially very complex. What struck me was the ease and confidence with which she answered my questions, taking time to walk me through thorny issues and citing case law and statutory law to support her analysis. She shows real grace and thoughtfulness and is never impatient or judgmental. I would consider her and her firm very strongly for my own case, should it ever come to that, and I recommend her highly for anyone considering divorce. I would definitely want her in my corner in a family law case. Of note, Laura Owen chairs the family law section of the Alameda County Bar Association, which is how I found her.

I found Laura Owen on Super Lawyer site. I had a consultation with her. She listened and took notes…read moreand she suggested to see the mediation first. I was ok to try that first. After I came home and thoght about it and decided not to do the mediation now. I wanted to file the divorce and then I am willing to do the mediation. In the worst case, I need the lawyer represent in the court for me. I called the office to explain that my thoughts. Then, the secretary told me that Laura doesn't represent at the court. I felt like I throw money in the drain. They could tell me that from the beginning. I have to start all over again to find the lawyer who can represnt me at the court.