Overall Rating
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.
4.8 /5.0
9 Client Reviews
$ 375-400 per hour
PRO
Mark A. Shields
also known as Mark Shields
Virtual Consultation Available
About Mark
Biography
Pain is inevitable; misery is optional. That is the philosophy that governs Mark Shields’ approach to legal problems, particularly in family law. While many legal issues deal with contracts, bills or dented fenders, a family law situation is thicker because it deals directly with people. What’s more, those people comprise the family, which Mark believes to be the fundamental unit of society. Because a family law issue is so important and so personal, it should be handled by someone who understands humans and someone who cares. Mark believes that being down to earth and an honest, approachable guy is just as important in the practice of law as it is in life in general.
Mark Shields has been married for over seventeen years and is the proud father of five daughters. He is a native of Phoenix and has deep Arizona roots, going back four generations. He is also a third-generation Arizona lawyer. Mark graduated from Washington High School in Phoenix and graduated from Brigham Young University in 1993 with a degree in sociology. Before earning his bachelor’s degree, Mark also spent two years in Portugal as a missionary for his church and working with people of varied backgrounds, ethnicities, and cultures. After working for a year or two while his wife finished up her degree, Mark entered the J. Reuben Clark Law School, where he graduated in 1997. Mark’s law school class was ranked seventh in the nation for average GPA and LSAT scores, so he was immediately initiated into a highly competitive environment.
Mark began with Gillespie, Shields & Durrant back when it was Gillespie & Associates in 1996, prior to his last year of law school. Since that time, Mark has practiced heavily in the area of family law and has also had extensive experience in civil litigation, employment law, juvenile law, and insurance disputes.
Mark is happy to report that his approach to practicing law has changed remarkably little during this recession because he has always sought to deliver true value to his clients. Whether the case involves millions of dollars or no dollars, Mark has consistently sought to provide his clients the best service for the most accessible price.
In his spare time, if there is such a thing, Mark enjoys spending time with his family (especially when it’s in the White Mountains), listening to fine music of many genres, building high quality stereo speakers, home improvement projects, and, more recently writing. Mark has published two religious books and hopes to publish more in the years to come. Mark speaks Portuguese and has also studied Spanish, German, and a few other languages through the years.
Family is important to me. Let me help yours.
Practice Areas
7
Practice Areas
Alimony
16%
Appeals
16%
Child Custody
16%
Family
16%
Fees and Rates
Cost
Hourly Rates
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
Licenses
Licensed in Arizona for 28 years
State: Arizona
Acquired: 1997
No misconduct found
Location
Gillespie, Shields & Taylorb
1630 S. Stapley Rd., Suite #212, Mesa, AZ, 85204
gillespieshields.com/meet-our-team/mark-shields/GillespieShields
7319 North 16th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85020
gillespieshields.com/meet-our-team/mark-shields/Gallery
Online Presence
Other places you can find Mark online.
Mark A. Shields's Reviews
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Practice Areas
Showing 1 - 3 of 3 reviews | Child Custody
Posted by Zeppelin | June 13, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Child Custody
Absolutely amazing
I had one consultation with Mark and before he was even my lawyer he looked at the case and acted as my lawyer and called the opposing lawyer right away to get more details about a ridiculous acquisition i was up against. That moment I Hired Mark as my attorney for a custody/divorce settlement. I was...
Posted by Brian | March 15, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Child Custody
Wouldn't consider referring anyone else.
As a divorced father, I found myself in an emergency situation, fighting for custody of my kids. My original attorney, with another firm, was not able to accurately convey my case to the judge, resulting in an unfavorable ruling against me. After hiring Mark, he entered my case fighting an uph...
Posted by Paul | October 11, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Child Custody
Best Family Attorney, Hands Down
Going through a divorce was by far the most emotionally taxing and painful process I ever experienced but I owe a HUGE debt of gratitude to Mark Shields for helping me achieve the best possible outcome. I experienced what I consider to be an incredible win, in that Mark Shields protected my rights a...
Mark A. Shields's Lawyer Endorsements
"Without reservation I endorse Mark Shields for any family law case. He is a brilliant attorney and wonderful person. I have referred numerous cases to him because I trust him to take care of people."
"I endorse this lawyer."
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"I endorse this lawyer."
"Mark is an exceptional attorney who works diligently for his clients. I would recommend his services to anyone."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"Mark is a brilliant person, an exceptional strategist, and a cunning tactician. He is a wonderful mentor. His depth of knowledge is astounding. I recommend Mark as an attorney for complex matters. I am fortunate to work with Mark on appellate matters."
"I endorse this lawyer. Mark has always been a pleasure to work with on family law related matters."
"Mark is undoubtedly one of the finest family law attorneys practicing in the valley today. He effectively utilizes his encyclopedic knowledge of the law to capitalize on opportunities that other attorneys would simply miss. He is dependable, trustworthy and caring. He has earned the respect of attorneys and judges alike and is a truly exceptional attorney."
"Mark is one of the best appeals attorneys in the State. He has more published cases than anyone I have ever heard of. Mark knows the law. Period."
David Goldfarb
Divorce and separation lawyer
Robert Smith
Litigation lawyer
Wayne Taylor
Probate lawyer
Monica Donaldson Stewart
Family lawyer
Jared Everton
Personal injury lawyer
Jeremy Geigle
Criminal defense lawyer
Gregory Riebesehl
Family lawyer
Robert Newell
Family lawyer
Jeffrey McCombs
Family lawyer
Experience
Honors
2023
Nominated Member, Super Lawyers
2019
Nationally Ranked Top 10 Attorney Award, National Academy of Family Law Attorneys
2015
Client Distinction Award, Martindale Hubbell / Lawyers.com
Work Experience
1996 - Present
Attorney, Gillespie, Shields & Durrant
1900 - Present
Partner, GillespieShields
Associations
2012 - Present
Supreme Court of the United States of AmericaMember
1997 - Present
State Bar of ArizonaMember
1997 - Present
U.S. District Court of ArizonaMember
Sample of Legal Cases
Schlaefer v. Financial Management, 196 Ariz. 336 (App. 2000)
We won.
Buencamino v. Noftsinger, 223 Ariz. 162 (App. 2009)
We won.
In re Marriage of Waldren, 212 Ariz. 337 (App.2006); 217 Ariz. 173 (2007)
Won in Court of Appeals and lost in Supreme Court
McNeil v. Hoskyns, 236 Ariz. 173 (App. 2014)
We won.
Greenbank v. Vanzant, 250 Ariz 644 (App. 2021)
We won.
Barnett v. Jedynak, 219 Ariz. 550 (App. 2009)
New law established and clarified
Education
1997
Brigham Young University - J. Reuben Clark Law School
JD - Juris Doctor
1993
Brigham Young University
BS - Bachelor of Science
Publications
2023
Gillespie Shields website
Your Guide to Appellate Law in Arizona
Languages
English
Portuguese