Licensed for 21 years

State IL

Acquired 2002

Status
Active and Authorized to Practice Law No misconduct found

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

Jonathan Brian Merel

Family Attorney at Chicago, IL

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great attorneys!

I highly recommend Jonathan Merel law office. Divorce is a stressful and emotional time of life and you need great attorneys to support and to help you navigate through this storm. I have a complicated case that went through GAL and evaluation process, difficult opposing counsel, and a long process over 3 years (partially due to pandemic delay). During this period, I’ve been working closely with Jonathan Merel and David Zwaska. They are fast in response (usually within hours and even over weekends for urgent issues), explain legal matters and procedure in simple terms for me to understand, detail orientated in each circumstance and accurate in financial calculation, bring crystal clarity and bold solutions to complicated matters. While Jonathan takes leadership, oversees and brings goal and visions to the case, David Zwaska works directly with me on routine basis, and both of them are great attorneys that are capable of presenting each issue in logical manner in court and fighting for our best interests and rights. And in my opinion, all these qualities have differentiated Jonathan and David as great attorneys from good attorneys. Now, the divorce is vanishing in my rear view mirror as I am moving into the next chapter of my life, I will definitely go back to Jonathan's office for any future legal assistance.

Fathers Rights/Custody Success

I was referred to Jonathan and his firm from one of my close friends. I was already divorced and did not want to use my attorney who worked me through my initial divorce proceedings for many reasons. From the initial meeting, I knew Jonathan was the attorney I wanted to work with. He listened to my journey of how I got to this place in my divorce and provided great insight and perspective on how we could work together to get more time with my child. He worked with me and helped me understand the process that was ahead and was responsive to me and all my questions throughout the process. He represented me and my position well and believed in me and my cause to get more time with my child. I now have more time with my child because of Jonathan and his hard, tireless work to help a single father get what was right: more time with his child. THANK YOU Jonathan for all that you do and I recommend Jonathan to all my friends.

About Jonathan

Learn Jonathan’s areas of practice.

Practice areas

Jonathan Merel is an experienced attorney who advocates for his clients in all divorce and family law proceedings, including settlement negotiations and trials. Jonathan founded the Law Offices of Jonathan Merel, P.C. in early 2009 after working for many years at another family law firm in Chicago. Through his hard work and unwavering dedication to his clients, Jonathan has quickly grown the firm to become one of the premier divorce and family law firms in the Chicagoland area.

Jonathan has a great deal of experience in obtaining favorable outcomes for his clients in multi-million dollar marital estates and contested custody suits (custody is now known as the allocation of parental responsibilities in the State of Illinois). His ability to settle heated divorces and custody disputes has gained him a great deal of respect from fellow attorneys and judges within the Chicagoland legal community. When settlement is not a viable or reasonable option, Jonathan’s experience as a zealous litigator in the courtroom has produced outstanding results for his clients.

Always committed to his clients and their causes, Jonathan’s philosophy is to build strong, trusting relationships with his clients, founded on compassion, sound legal strategy, and open and frequent communication. Known as a skillful and aggressive negotiator with strong tenacity, Jonathan has an impressive track record of protecting his clients’ best interests and helping them meet their legal goals.

EDUCATION

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1999, Jonathan received a Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2002.

AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS

Jonathan has received numerous awards and achievements as a result of his success. Jonathan has been consistently named as to the Illinois Super Lawyers® lists since 2012. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations.

Since 2015, Jonathan has been annually selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® in the field of Family Law. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey.
In all years since 2015, Jonathan has received the prestigious honor of being selected as a Leading Lawyer in Illinois by the Leading Lawyers Network; an award bestowed upon less than 5% of all lawyers licensed in each state.

Jonathan has also been honored by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys annually since 2016, being named as one of the 10 Best Lawyers in Illinois based on Client Satisfaction. The American Institute of Family Law Attorneys is a third-party attorney rating organization that publishes an annual list of the Top 10 Family Law Attorneys in each state.

Commencing in 2017 and in each year thereafter, Jonathan has received the Nation’s Top One Percent designation by The National Association of Distinguished Counsel; an award received exclusively by the top 1% of attorneys in the United States.

Jonathan has also provided his legal skill to prominent national media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal and NBC’s Today Show.

MEMBERSHIPS

Jonathan is a member of the American Bar Association, American Bar Association Family Law Committee, Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, North Suburban Bar Association, and Lake County Bar Association.

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Law Offices of Jonathan Merel, P.C.

180 N. Stetson Avenue

Suite 1300

Chicago, IL, 60601

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Law Offices of Jonathan Merel, P.C. (suburban location)

5225 Old Orchard Road

Suite 50

Skokie, IL, 60077

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Law Offices of Jonathan Merel, P.C.

595 Elm Place

Suite 225

Highland Park, IL, 60035

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Reviews

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4.8 / 5.0

49 customer reviews

3 Star

Posted by HW | June 6, 2021

great attorneys!

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Posted by John | November 25, 2019

Fathers Rights/Custody Success

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Posted by anonymous | October 30, 2019

Thanks Jonathan

Jonathan was caring and kind throughout the entire process. He was able to Understand my desires and needs while taking into account what my children and ex would want as well. He was able to keep a tense situation calm through his demeanor and expertise. Thanks again Mr. Merel.

Posted by anonymous | July 2, 2019

Grateful

Jonathan and team helped me make some sense of what was going on. The court system is ridiculous and having someone with a clear head, who understands and represents your best interest is invaluable!

Posted by anonymous | April 16, 2019

Great attorney

Jonathan represented me for 7 years , he is a great litigator and will fight for you . I will recommend to anyone who is going thru a child custody or child support battle . His team was great to me and I can’t be thankful enough .

Posted by Faruk | January 4, 2019

Experienced attorney, sound legal strategy, and favorable results

I had initial consults with three other attorneys before my initial consult with Jonathan. I have decided to work with Jonathan because, in our initial meeting, he was very professional, knowledgeable, approachable, and he explained the process very clearly answering all my questions satisfactorily. Looking back now, I have made the correct decision to work with Jonathan in this dissolution of marriage case. Having Jonathan on my side was the pleasant part of this unpleasant process. During the whole process, Jonathan was always very professional and very responsive, Jonathan is excellent about returning texts (to his cell phone), emails and phone calls. He responded promptly to texts, emails and phone calls. He was always available when I needed him and always offered great legal advice. More importantly, he is very professional, well prepared, supportive, and looks at the long term benefit of the client and the children. I was impressed by his knowledge, his patience, and his experience. At the end, the dissolution of marriage resulted with a nice settlement. I am very satisfied with the services of Jonathan. Everyone in the Law Offices of Jonathan Merel was very helpful, organized, and professional. I was also very fortunate to have Aurelija Fitzpatrick, Jonathan’s Associate, working on my case together with Jonathan. She too is very knowledgeable, professional, and responsive. I highly recommend Jonathan and the Law Offices of Jonathan Merel to anyone in need of legal services. Thanks.

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Posted by anonymous | January 3, 2019

The best to have on your side

Always responsive, always available to you, patient, tough on the opposing team. Responsible, very involved - this is the man you want in your corner during this rough time. Thank you Jonathan.

Posted by Nina | June 20, 2018

Gives honest opinion and feedback on case

I hired Jonathan's law firm to represent me during my divorce. Jonathan was very honest about what he thought may or may not be the outcome for my personal situation. He didn't waste time or money fighting for things he didn't believe would resolve my case. He has lots of experience and didn't mislead me simply to drag things on.

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Posted by Alexander | April 13, 2018

divorce case

Getting divorced was a painful, difficult experience. I was lucky to have Merel’s firm to navigate through the process. Jonathan Merel has a fantastic team, including Melissa Caballero and Stephen Lincoln, who led the charge in my divorce settlement. They fought for my rights and kept me well informed as the case progressed. I highly recommend them if you are looking for an experienced law firm.

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Posted by Marzena Grzelak | March 5, 2018

IF YOU NEED A DIVORCE ATTORNEY, HIRE JONATHAN MEREL... YOU'LL THANK ME LATER!

Jonathan Merel and his colleague Bradley R. Kaye, Law Offices of Jonathan Merel ARE the BEST divorce/family law attorneys you can hire to help you with your divorce process...They get things done in a speedy way to finish, be done, so you can be HAPPY again! They are extremely experienced, dedicated, and right on top of things at all times to make sure you get the BEST results possible during and in the finale of your divorce! They achieve and complete things very thoroughly in an extraordinary professional way! Jonathan M. and Brad K. handle arising matters asap, reply to your emails, texts and phone calls immediately with truthful answers, strategies, plans of resolution and even attack (if needed) in an ugly disagreements, conflicts, and disputes with your ex, who just don't wanna do what's right for your children! Jonathan Merel will not treat you like a number in his law firm's client statistics. HE WILL make sure your case is NOT put on a back burner until the end of completion of your case, giving you best legal attention at all times when you need him! He will not take your hard earned money and promise you pears on apple trees! Both, Jonathan & Brad are very truthful, straightforward, trustworthy and mostly right on point with what they can accomplish, and what the results in the finale of your divorce will be! Jonathan Merel gets things done with a 100% satisfaction guaranteed for his client, who is going thru a repulsive, unpleasant divorce. I highly recommend Jonathan Merel as your divorce attorney! I had to fire 2 attorneys BEFORE I hired Jonathan M and wasted a lot of money & time making that mistake... Jonathan Merel as my divorce attorney delivered FAST the BEST results I needed for my two wonderful children an I with a 110% satisfaction as his client in the finale! thanks so much!

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Posted by Tom | February 7, 2018

Get ready to rumble.....

First if you are reading this review know that: 1. You are in a bad place in your marriage. 2. It is about to get ALOT worse. Divorce sucks. Divorce in Cook County sucks worse. That is why you need a shrewd attorney to fight the invariable nonsense you are about to see. Jonathan is just that guy. Shrewd, efficient and relentless. Like it or not you are about to enter combat. Go in with the best weapons you can find and follow their advice. I would endorse Jonathan highly based on all the above criteria as he knows the fight well. He will make sure that you are covered and that you get what you deserve regardless of the issues that your soon to be ex raises.

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Posted by Praiya horlerttham | December 7, 2017

star only review

I didn’t end up hire him but since I emailed him that I want to consult with my case he immediately responded me back and took time to listen. He cares my case even though I was not his client yet. I recommended you to choose him and try out.

Posted by Tiffany | August 17, 2017

Efficient and kind

Jonathan Merel was an excellent advisor who had my best interest in mind 100% of the time. Not only was he proactive and efficient, but compassionate at the same time. I highly recommend Jonathan Merel to anyone seeking a divorce attorney.

Posted by John | July 22, 2017

Excellent service

Jonathan and his assistants provided excellent service to me. First of all he gave me his personal phone number, I can call and text anytime, he listens and follows up on my divorce case very carefully, he writes up excellent defense reports and smart reasoning, he is in court on time. I got everything I need from Jonathan and his team.

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Posted by Eryk | April 7, 2017

A Great Attorney

Your avvo review: My divorce case was not technically difficult, but I needed help immediately and Jonathan Merel and his associate Brad Kaye were able to leap in and help me with custody issues right away. Both men were aware my divorce was very difficult for me emotionally and their professionalism didn't just extend to legal analysis and representation; they also encouraged me and helped me through an awful period of my life, carefully explaining what was going on all the time. Jonathan was always prompt about getting back in touch with me when issues arose. And while Jonathan and Brad are both smart and affable, they were also dogged in defending my interests. Once, in court, faced with opposing counsel mocking me directly, Brad responded aggressively in my defense — something that deeply impressed me, and for which I am still very grateful. Additionally, I quickly came to prize Jonathan's astute legal analysis and vision for where he wanted my case to go. I'd highly recommend The Law Offices of Jonathan Merel to those looking for competent, kind, and candid divorce attorneys. They know the law. They helped me get a result I can live with and which is helping me move on with my life. And, maybe more importantly, it's clear they actually give a damn about their clients. That last bit is worth its weight in gold.

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Posted by anonymous | January 17, 2017

Best decision made

Jonathan was initially referred to me by a friend. Upon my initial consultation, I liked his no nonsense approach but since I was concerned with costs since I had been recently laid off at the time, I didn't initially hire him. Worst decision made! I ended up having to go through two lawyers who unfortunately didn't accomplish anything and only delayed the process. I came running back as my divorce became more complicated. He quickly setup a consultation as I needed to bring him up to speed and I hired him on the spot. Jonathan and Melissa were extremely helpful and were straight to the point. After all the divorce drama with my ex husband, the divorce is now over and I thank them both for finally giving me my freedom.

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Posted by Sathya | November 13, 2016

Exceptional experience

My experience with Merel has been truly unique and exceptional. I was amazed at his knowledge and expertise in solving a complicated international divorce case like mine. He was extremely professional - The promises were strictly adhered to and exceeded in terms of timeliness and the speed with which the case was resolved. The cost was much lower than estimated. Billing was very professional and at no point in time I had a second thought of doing business with Merel. Even after two years after the settlement when I had a question about the case, Merel replied to me immediately and set up a meeting to provide answers to my questions. This support has been exceptional. Last but not least - on the day of judgement, I had walked into the court forgetting my wallet at home and had no cash or card to pay for the parking too . Merel generously helped me with cash. This goes a long way in telling me that he truly cares for his clients. In short, I would recommend Merel for a stress-free and fair experience.

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Posted by Catherine | October 11, 2016

~ Attentive ~ Professional ~ Brilliant ~ Relentless ~

After my first lawyer floundered on numerous occasions and basically did nothing the first 3 months of my divorce (besides keep my retainer), I contacted Jonathan Merel via AVVO on a Sunday morning. He called me back that same day and we met first thing on Monday morning. He and Stefani Radist went work immediately. They did their best to get my case back on track and keep it moving forward. My ex-husband was unreasonable and delayed the proceedings at ever chance that he could until he was laid off from his job. He then expected an obnoxious maintenance payment. What should have been a simple divorce turned into a more complicated chess match. Jonathan and Stefani were knowledge, organized and resourceful. They kept my best interest in mind and fought rigorously on my behalf. As my ex-husband pushed for trial, they prepared me and my case for the long haul. They had an arsenal of experts to support my case. Fortunately, my ex-husband was hired back by his company less than a month before trial. A settlement was then agreed upon. I had felt like my life was in purgatory for 16 months. I couldn’t have asked for more compassionate and supportive lawyers than Jonathan and Stefani. They pulled me out of my despair on many occasions. Every penny spent was worth the outcome. I can’t thank them enough for helping me reclaim my life. I will absolutely refer anyone seeking a divorce attorney to The Law Offices of Jonathan Merel P.C.

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Posted by Clyde | August 25, 2016

Out of State Legal Assistance Needed

Recently I needed to secure an Out-of-State Lawyer and had absolutely no idea how to even begin. I needed someone who would not only represent me but who would have the tenacity and skillset to ensure that this un-just filing was dismissed. Fortunately, with the help of Avvo and testaments from other individuals like myself, I found Jonathan Merel. Jonathan and his team were direct, to the point and thorough in their requests for accurate and truthful details of my case. They acknowledged the emotional distress and anxiety of having to go through this process while showing great diligence to effectively communicate with me without incurring exorbitant costs and without impacting the excellence of their service. Thanks to Jonathan and his team my case was dismissed. I am truly grateful to Jonathan for his services and definitely advise you to reach out to him if you find yourself in need of true representation.

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Posted by Carol | April 12, 2016

Excellent. committed family law attorney

Jonathan is a smart, dedicated, compassionate person. He is understanding, approachable and trust worthy. He works to get the best solutions possible and definitely looks at the long term benefit of the client. Easy to work with and ensures high quality service. His staff is professional and efficient. He got the job done and had my best interest in mind when things got difficult. In the end we prevailed and were able to finalize the divorce without spending unnecessary money and time. Highly recommended!!!

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Cost

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

Attorney/Managing Principal
Law Offices of Jonathan Merel, P.C.
2009 - Present

Attorney
Kamerlink, Stark, McCormack & Powers, L.L.C.
2002 - 2009

Education

Chicago-Kent College of Law Illinois Institute of Technology
JD - Juris Doctor
2002

University of Wisconsin, Madison
BA - Bachelor of Arts
1999

Associations

American Bar Association
Member
2002 - Present

Illinois State Bar Association
Member
2002 - Present

Chicago Bar Association
Member
2002 - Present

American Bar Association, Family Law Section
Member
N/A

North Suburban Bar Association
Member
N/A

Lake County Bar Association
Member
N/A

View all associations

Languages Spoken

Spanish

English

Honors and Awards

Nation's Top One Percent
National Association of Distinguished Counsel
2019

Leading Lawyer in Family Law
Leading Lawyers Network
2019

10 Best Lawyers in Illinois
American Institute of Family Law Attorneys
2019

Super Lawyer
Super Lawyers
2019

10 Best Attorneys in Illinois - Family Law
American Institute of Family Law Attorneys
2018

Best Lawyer
Best Lawyers
2018

Leading Lawyer in Family Law
Leading Lawyers Network
2018

Nation's Top One Percent
National Association of Distinguished Counsel
2018

10 Best Attorneys in Illinois - Family Law
American Institute of Family Law Attorneys
2017

Nation's Top One Percent
National Association of Distinguished Counsel
2017

Leading Lawyer in Family Law
Leading Lawyers Network
2017

Super Lawyer
SuperLawyers
2017

Best Lawyer
Best Lawyers
2017

Leading Lawyer in Family Law
Leading Lawyers Network
2016

Best Lawyer
Best Lawyers
2016

SuperLawyer
Super Lawyers
2016

Leading Lawyer in Family Law
Leading Lawyers Network
2015

Best Lawyer
Best Lawyers
2015

Super Lawyer
SuperLawyers
2015

Super Lawyer
SuperLawyers
2013

Super Lawyer
Super Lawyers
2012

View all awards

Publications

Wall Street Journal
Obesity Fuels Custody Fights
2011

Speaking Engagements

The Today Show
Family Law/Divorce/Child Custody
2012

Wall Street Journal
Family Law/Divorce/Child Custody
2011

Attorney endorsements

Received (18)

Given (13)

Endorse Jonathan

Michael Lodermeier

Divorce and separation Attorney | May 20
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"Jonathan is professional, tenacious and highly competent. He strikes the right balance between fighting for his clients and maintaining an effective relationship with his opposing counsel. When I have a conflict with a potential client, Jonathan is one of the first people I recommend."

John Conniff

Family Attorney | Sep 02
Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"Jonathan is one of the finest family law attorneys I know. We worked together on many complex cases during my time with his firm. Jonathan's knowledge of the law and the legal system are invaluable assets to his clients. I would not hesitate to recommend Jonathan to anyone in need of a family law attorney."

Barry Doyle

Divorce and separation Attorney | Jan 03
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I was a client of Jonathan and his firm while going through my divorce. They handled the matter efficiently, explained the law clearly, and listened to what my goals were and got me on the right path to achieving my goals. I was really pleased with the work that they did."

Michelle Perkins

Divorce and separation Attorney | Jul 19
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Jonathan is a seasoned and experienced litigator who is forward thinking and quick on his feet."

Neal Simon

Divorce and separation Attorney | Jul 06
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Johnathan is a very good attorney."

Lyn Conniff

Unknown Attorney | Apr 06
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I have been opposing counsel on cases with Jonathan. He is hard working, moves his cases along, and is a skilled advocate for his clients. Jonathan looks for creative ways to solve family problems in divorce, and really knows what he is doing to get the best result for families."

Mark Clay

Family Attorney | Aug 29
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I highly endorse Mr. Merel. Truly exceptional and caring attorney who gets great results in representing clients! I want all people with legal problems to contact him first."

James Keleher

Divorce and separation Attorney | Jan 28
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have known Jonathon for some time now, and have worked/consulted with him on a number of family law issues. Jonathan is an excellent attorney. He's knowledgeable, well-prepared, and is a zealous advocate for his clients."

Michael Waddington

Family Attorney | May 21
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Jonathan. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."

Jeannie Ridings

Divorce and separation Attorney | Jan 13
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I worked with Mr. Merel on a very difficult divorce matter, and although we were on opposing sides, we were able to make great progress on behalf of both of our clients."

Fedor Kozlov

Unknown Attorney | Dec 07
Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer."

Elleni Kalouris

Unknown Attorney | Nov 20
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. He was professional and courteous."

Jeremy Geller

Divorce and separation Attorney | Aug 09
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Jonathan is an aggressive advocate for his clients in all divorce and family law matters. I have known Jonathan for years and he has a proven track record of success for his clients and their families. His firm is very professional and thorough in how they handle a case. I strongly endorse him."

Andrew Engle

Divorce and separation Attorney | Jul 23
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I highly endorse this lawyer. Jon is a smart and skilled negotiator, who is extremely talented in the court room. In the cases where I have been against Jon, we have worked hard to peacefully negotiate settlements which were in the client’s best interests and tremendous savings to all involved. Jon was a pleasure to work with."

Evan Moscov

Divorce and separation Attorney | Feb 22
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Jonathan is simply the most talented family law attorney that I know. He is entrepreneurial, aggressive and results oriented. You will not find a more impressive advocate."

Tania Harvey

Family Attorney | Feb 21
Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I have worked with Jonathan on numerous cases and he is very knowledgeable and a "go-getter" and will fight for his client's rights when needed. Although, when necessary, he will tell his clients "how it is" and that it is not worth the fight or worth spending the legal fees. Good to know he will not fight for the sake of increasing attorney fees and that is great integrity and honor!"

Michael Delrahim

Divorce and separation Attorney | Feb 21
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Jon is an excellent family law attorney. He is tenacious in court and a true client advocate. I endorse him."

Michael Goldberg

Family Attorney | Feb 21
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

View more endorsements

David Zwaska

Family

Max Hanson

Family

Michelle Perkins

Divorce and separation

Michael Doman

Divorce and separation

Lyn Conniff

Family

John Conniff

Divorce and separation

Family

Family

Family

Divorce and separation

Brian Blitz

Divorce and separation

Andrew Engle

Divorce and separation

Jeremy Geller

Personal injury

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Jonathan Brian Merel

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