Michelle Katz

Family Attorney at Los Angeles, CA

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Hire her

Mickey was a great help during a trying time

About Michelle

Learn Michelle’s areas of practice.

Practice areas

Family

50%
Divorce and separation

25%

My practice is devoted exclusively to mediation, mediation-related services, and collabortaive law in family law cases. This includes divorce and post-judgment cases involving the full range of family law issues as well as pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements and domestic issues of same-sex relationships.
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45 years
Child custody

15%
Child support

5%
Marriage and prenuptials

5%

HELPING FAMILIES RESOLVE DISPUTES WITH COMPASSION AND EXPERIENCE IN DIVORCE AND FAMILY LAW.

After years of advocacy work, I now devote my practice exclusively to non-litigation conflict resolution services in family law. These include mediation, consulting services to clients in mediation with other mediators, and collaborative law. I also draft relationship agreements, such as pre-nuptial, post-nuptial, and cohabitation agreements, for couples seeking to memorialize their understandings regarding property, support and custody. I have had hundreds of hours of training in alternative dispute resolution processes, including training with Gary Friedman at the Center for Mediation in Law and with Roger Fisher and Robert Mnookin at Harvard Law School.

Photos and videos

Licensed for 44 years

State CA

Status Active

Acquired 1978

Updated 12/02/2022

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

Contact Michelle

Michelle Katz

(310) 906-4865 Office

(310) 477-6328 Fax

11400 West Olympic Blvd

Suite 600

Los Angeles, CA, 90064

michelle-katz.com/

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Reviews

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4.0 / 5.0

4 customer reviews

5 Star

75%

4 Star

3 Star

2 Star

1 Star

25%

Posted by Tom | December 12, 2015

Hire her

Hired her as mediator, did an excellent job. Definitely worth meeting her to see if she fits your situation. Appreciated how much she seemed to care and how she prioritized the well-being of our child in everything.

Posted by Ralph | December 1, 2015

Mickey was a great help during a trying time

Getting divorced was the hardest time in my life, but luckily we found Mickey who helped my ex-wife and I figure everything out through mediation. We have kids and we didn't want them seeing us "fighting" during this process. She is incredibly knowledgeable and professional, but is also a genuinely nice, warm person who I felt I could really talk to. I can't even imagine going through this incredibly difficult time without someone like Mickey, and I would recommend her to anyone.

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Posted by Jen | February 6, 2016

Warm and compassionate

When I was going through a tough transition, Mickey was a warm and compassionate listener to direct me to appropriate resources to help me. Mickey's mediator consultation helped me see that there is hope and various options to get through a painful process.

Posted by anonymous | August 19, 2015

AVOID HIRIING THIS ATTORNEY

My wife and I hired "Mickey" Katz to mediate our divorce. We paid her up front a retainer and expected a competent and professional lawyer to help us -- but her services were incompetent and her behavior was NOT professional. She suggested a monthly child/spousal support amount that was outrageously inaccurate. She also wrote us sarcastic emails that showed NO sensitivity to the challenge and stress of getting divorced. With many choices of highly competent and kind mediation attorneys to choose from in the Los Angeles area, Michelle Katz is not among them. Avoid her at all costs. .

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Response from Michelle Katz December 30, 2015

After practicing family law for over thirty years - first as a litigator, and now with almost 20 years experience as a mediator, as a consulting attorney to clients in mediation with other mediators, and as a collaborative attorney - I understand how painful the process of divorce can be. Additionally, I've had my own painful personal experience. It's very difficult, especially after a long-term marriage, to get through the disappointment, the hurt, and the anger that the process often triggers. Acknowledging the failure of old expectations can be so painful. I'm happy that in so many cases I've been able to help clients navigate the pitfalls of marriage dissolution and enable them to embark on a new chapter of their lives with a positive outlook. I believe I've done a good job. However, I welcome feedback from my clients; feel free to contact me through my profile or otherwise to continue the discussion.

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Cost

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

Principal
Law & Mediation Offices of Michelle Katz
1983 - Present

Education

San Fernando Valley College of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1977

Cornell University
M.Ed
1965

Cornell University
BA - Bachelor of Arts
1964

Associations

American Bar Foundation
Fellow
2009 - Present

ABA Section of Dispute Resolution
Membership Chair and Council member
2008 - Present

California Dispute Resolution Council
Past President and current Board of Directors member
1999 - Present

State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization
Certified Family Law Specialist
1984 - Present

Los Angeles Collaborative Family Law Association
Co-founder
2005 - 2007

State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization
Member, ADR Consulting Group
2004 - 2005

State Bar of California
Chair, Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution
2003 - 2004

Beverly Hills Bar Foundation
Member, Board of Governors
1998 - 2001

Beverly Hills Bar Association
Member, Board of Governors
1996 - 1999

State Bar of California, Family Law Section
Executive Committee
1994 - 1997

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Languages Spoken

English

Honors and Awards

Southern California Super Lawyer in Family Law
Super Lawyers
2016

Southern California Super Lawyer in Family Law
Super Lawyers
2015

Best Lawyers in America - Family Law Mediation
Best Lawyers in America
2014

2015 Lawyer of the Year in Family Law Mediation
Best Lawyers in America
2014

Southern California Super Lawyer in Family Law
Super Lawyers
2014

Southern California Super Lawyer in Family Law
Super Lawyers
2013

Southern California Super Lawyer in Family Law
Super Lawyers
2012

Souther California Super Lawyer in Family Law
Super Lawyers
2011

Southern California Super Lawyers in Family Law
Super Lawyers
2010

Southern California Super Lawyers in Family Law Mediation
Super Lawyers
2009

AV Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
2009

Southern California Super Lawyers
Los Angeles Magazine
2006

View all awards

Publications

Family Law News (California State Bar Family Law Section)
A Lesson From the Titanic or Staying Afloat on the Rough Seas of Mediation, Co-author with Judith C. Nesburn
1998

Speaking Engagements

Collaborative Family Law Basic Interdisciplinary Two-Day Inspirational Training
Collaborative Law
2009

ABA Section of Dispute Resolution 11th Annual Spring Conference
Alternative Dispute Resolution Options Available in Family Law
2009

ABA Midyear Conference
Successfully Transitioning to or Starting an ADR Practice
2009

Attorney endorsements

Received (5)

Given (2)

Endorse Michelle

Diane Wolf

Family Attorney | Jan 26
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer without hesitation."

Link Schwartz

Divorce and separation Attorney | Dec 06
Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I sincerely endorse this lawyer as one of the most amazing, smart, dedicated, and caring lawyers I know. She is a joy to work with as opposing counsel. She provides zealous advocacy for her clients and works to resolve matters expeditiously."