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Brian Christopher Vertz

Child custody Attorney at Pittsburgh, PA

5.0   1 review
  • State Years
    Georgia - GA 17 years
    Pennsylvania - PA 31 years
  • Licensed for 17 years
    State GA
    Acquired 2006
    Status
    Active Member in Good Standing No misconduct found
  • Licensed for 31 years
    State PA
    Acquired 1992
    Status
    Active No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

About Brian

Learn Brian’s areas of practice.

5
Practice areas
  1. Child custody
    20%
    International custody disputes; relocation cases; grandparent custody; UCCJEA interstate cases; appeals; modification

    30 years

  2. Child support
    20%
    Routine and complex child support; modification; contempt; enforcement; post-18 child support; complicated executive compensation; bonuses and incentive compensation; budget analysis; guidelines

    30 years

  3. Divorce and separation
    20%
    Division of marital property; equitable distribution; preservation of separate assets; high net worth divorce; business valuation; family trusts; medical and dental practices; divorce taxation

    30 years

  4. Marriage and prenuptials
    20%
    Skilled drafting and negotiation; estate planning; business succession; prenup enforcement; cohabitation agreements; same-sex marriages

    30 years

  5. Alimony
    10%
    Income and budgetary analysis; tax strategy and planning; negotiation and courtroom advocacy; appeals; enforcement; modification

    30 years

  6. Appeals
    10%
    Well-recognized advocate in Pennsylvania Superior Court and Supreme Court; experience in federal appeals court and U.S. Supreme Court; experience in "friend-of-court" amicus briefs

    30 years

As a partner at Pittsburgh-based Pollock Begg, Brian C. Vertz is a reliable problem solver who masters domestic and international custody litigation, spousal and child support, traditional and collaborative divorces, confidential settlements, prenuptial agreements, and family law appeals. Brian devises efficient solutions to resolve each aspect of his family law engagements. With an MBA degree and business valuation credentials, Brian is uniquely equipped for cases involving valuation of closely held businesses, executive compensation, medical and dental practices, double dipping, asset tracing, and family trusts. Brian translates facts and figures into a narrative that judges and clients can connect with and respect.

Brian is at his best when telling a client’s story, in or out of court. He’s a tenacious advocate who is also proficient in collaborative divorce and custody mediation. He speaks the special language of clients in the financial services, insurance, and health care industries. He is a persuasive writer with a successful track record in the trial and appellate courts. As co-author of the legal reference, “Divorce Taxation,” Brian is recognized in the legal and accounting fields as an authority on divorce taxation issues.

Blending compassion with practical know-how, Brian brings order to the emotional process of divorce. Brian’s diverse experience provides clients with strategic options to meet their unique family situations. Brian is respected locally and nationally by his professional colleagues, who have selected him annually as a Top 50 Pittsburgh Super Lawyer, and 2019 Lawyer of the Year for family lawyer in Pittsburgh (Best Lawyers in America).

Outside of the courtroom, Brian is an influential leader in local and national organizations that focus on improving the practice of family law. He has been active as an elected Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Family Lawyers. He is proud of his achievements as an officer of the AAML Foundation, a national non-profit serving families and children adversely affected by marital dissolution. He is deeply invested as a 30-year transplant from Michigan who loves Western Pennsylvania and has learned to navigate all the back roads.

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Pollock Begg
525 William Penn Place
Suite 3501
Pittsburgh, PA, 15219

Reviews

5.0 / 5.0
  1 customer review
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Posted by anonymous | May 24, 2014
Excellent Custody Attorney
We hired Brian after having a bad experience with another lawyer in the Pittsburgh area. Brian was very responsive and answered all our questions to put us at ease during this very stressful situation. I felt very confident in his abilities and he was always very approachable. Costs were a concern and he was always looking for ways to balance that without compromising the outcome. I would hire Brian again in a heartbeat.
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Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • Partner
  • Pollock Begg Komar Glasser & Vertz LLC
  • 2001 - Present
  • Senior Associate
  • Reed Smith Shaw & McClay
  • 1994 - 1999

Education

  • University of Pittsburgh School of Law
  • Juris Doctor
  • 1992
  • University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh
  • Master of Business Administration
  • 1991
  • University of Michigan
  • Bachelor of arts
  • 1988

Legal Cases

  • Mackay v. Mackay
  • Parent Held Not Liable to Pay for College

Associations

  • American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Foundation
  • Board Member, Officer
  • 2019 - Present
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association, Family Law Section
  • Executive Committee Member
  • 2017 - Present
  • American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
  • Fellow
  • N/A
  • National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts
  • Certified Valuation Analyst
  • N/A
  • American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Pennsylvania chapter
  • Treasurer and Immediate Past President
  • 2019 - 2020
  • American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers committee
  • Co-chair, Amicus Committee
  • 2012 - 2019
  • Toastmasters International
  • Area Governor
  • 2009 - 2010
  • Mellon Toastmasters
  • Vice President
  • 2008 - 2009
View all associations

Honors and Awards

  • 2019 Family Lawyer of the Year - Pennsylvania
  • Best Lawyers in America
  • 2019
  • 2019 Top 50 Lawyers - Pittsburgh
  • Super Lawyers
  • 2019
  • AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2019
  • Top 50 in Pittsburgh
  • Super Lawyers
  • 2017
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyer
  • Super Lawyers
  • 2017
  • Best Lawyers - Family Law
  • Best Lawyers in America
  • 2017
  • Top 50 in Pittsburgh
  • Super Lawyers
  • 2016
  • Best Lawyers - Family Law
  • Best Lawyers in America
  • 2016
  • Pennsylvania SuperLawyer
  • Super Lawyers
  • 2016
View all awards

Publications

  • Drafting Marital Settlement Agreements
  • Child Support
  • 2009
  • Fundamentals of Family Law
  • Equitable Distribution of Marital Property
  • 2006
View all publications

Speaking Engagements

  • PBA Family Law Section Summer meeting
  • Complex Financial Discovery in Divorce
  • 2017
  • American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
  • Ethical Considerations in Family Law
  • 2012
  • Penna. Conference of State Trial Judges
  • Creating Custody Orders that Meet the Developmental Needs of Children
  • 2011
  • Family Law Update 2008
  • Child Support, Spousal Support and APL
  • 2008
  • Business Valuation
  • Business Valuation and Divorce
  • N/A
View all speaking engagements

Attorney endorsements

Received (4)
Given (0)
Endorse Brian
Child custody Attorney | Nov 28
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. Brian is an amazing attorney who has earned the respect of his fellow lawyers as well as the judiciary."
Divorce and separation Attorney | Aug 19
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Brian is a true professional in and out of the courtroom. He has a very patient manner and his knowledge of family law is exemplary. He has treated every matter that I have referred to him with dignity, respect and excellent service."
Divorce and separation Attorney | Dec 24
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Family Attorney | Jul 14
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I have had the pleasure of working with Brian on several matters. His legal skills are top notch and he is an outstanding advocate in the courtroom. I regularly recommend Brian to my clients seeking advice on family and divorce law."
This attorney hasn't created any attorney endorsements recently on Avvo.