Yvonne Seeley

H. Yvonne Seeley is a Certified Specialist in Family Law by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization. Her practice focuses on dissolution cases involving high asset and complex financial issues such as the division of interests in closely-held businesses, real estate, and equity compensation, including stock options and RSU’s. She also has extensive experience with high-conflict custody matters and relocation/move-away cases.

Ms. Seeley brings over 35 years of civil litigation experience to the firm and represents clients through all phases of family law litigation before private judges and in public courthouses. She is also certified in and practices collaborative law. For clients who choose mediation to resolve their issues, Ms. Seeley acts both as a mediator and as a consulting attorney in the mediation setting.

Her style of advocacy and personal approach to her cases results in favorable outcomes for her clients. When necessary, she engages the expertise of professionals such as forensic accountants, appraisers and psychologists to assist.

Before founding Seeley Family Law Practice, Ms. Seeley worked at Hersh Family Law (San Francisco), the Law Offices of John A. Guthrie (Pleasanton), the Seeley Law Firm (San Mateo), and Seeley & Madigan (San Mateo). In her previous association with civil and family law firms she was lead attorney in bench and jury trials. She has also appeared and argued before the First District Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

Education

MS, Business, Notre Dame De Namur University (2001)

JD, San Francisco Law School (1980)

BA, San Jose State University (1976)

Publications, Writings, Media

Fox 2 TV News (KTVU San Francisco) interview about the COVID-19 pandemic and divorce rates
(2021)

Your Legal Rights (KALW FM San Francisco) guest appearance on “Using or Resisting Restraining Orders” (2020)

“The Impact of the Budget Cutbacks on California Family Law Courts” in Strategies for Family Law in California, 2014 ed.: Leading Lawyers on Understanding Developments in California Family Law, published by Thompson Reuters.

“Division of Stock Options and Restricted Stock Units Education” (2012)

ABC 7 TV News (KGO San Francisco) interview regarding the implications of the Facebook IPO in the dissolution setting (2012)

Distinctions

Board of Directors, CORA (Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse) (2013-2014)

Board of Directors, San Mateo County Women Lawyers Educational Foundation (2014)

Palo Alto Bar Association, Co-Chair Family Law Section (2014)

Honored as California Women Leader by California Consumer Attorneys of California (2007)

President, San Mateo County Trial Lawyers Association (2002)

Board of Directors, San Mateo County Bar Association (2018-2019, 1996-2002)

Who’s Who Top Attorneys of North America

Professional Memberships

State Bar of California

Association of Certified Family Law Specialists

Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC)

International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP)

San Mateo County Bar Association

Santa Clara County Bar Association

Palo Alto Area Bar Association

San Mateo County Trial Lawyers Association