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Brian Kipling Myers

Family Attorney at Scotts Valley, CA

5.0   18 reviews
Free consultation Virtual consultation available
Free consultation Virtual consultation available
  • Licensed for 21 years
    State CA
    Acquired 2002
    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.

IN FAMILY LAW NO TWO CASES ARE THE SAME. THE BEST SOLUTIONS REQUIRE CREATIVE THINKING AND FLEXIBILITY.

A graduate of UC Berkeley and USF Law School, Brian has practiced family law for the previous twelve years. He joined the practice with Brook Foster, JD, CFLR (now retired) in 2006. Prior to that, he spent three years in New Zealand where he was a member of the Law Faculty at the University of Auckland. Brian is highly respected by attorneys and judges alike and he currently serves as the president of the Santa Cruz Family Law Bar Association. He has published extensively and his articles have appeared in leading legal journals including those at UCLA and Georgetown as well as throughout Australia and New Zealand. Brian 's practice is dedicated exclusively to family law and he takes pride in working closely with clients so that they feel comfortable through all stages of the process. Brian began his career as a litigator and has succesfully tried hundreds of family law cases. In 2013 Brian expanded his practice to include mediation services and, after completeing the training and selection requirements, was admitted to the Santa Cruz Collaborative Practice Group in 2016. He also holds an LLM (post-graduate law degree) from the University of Auckland with a focus in conflict resolution.

Contact Brian

Brian Kipling Myers
5321 Scotts Valley Drive, Suite 205
Scotts Valley, CA, 95066-3530

Reviews

5.0 / 5.0
  18 customer reviews
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Posted by Michael | August 2, 2023
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Superb attorney, wonderful person
Brian Myers represented me in a divorce case that was extraordinarily contentious and difficult. Not only did Brian have to confront an opposing party that was unwilling to compromise on any matter great or small, but he also had to cope with my peculiar circumstances--when I first retained him I was living and working in Southeast Asia--and with the chaos and uncertainty that the pandemic brought to legal processes and the court. I am forever in his debt for his exceptional perseverance in surmounting these many challenges, for his stout advocacy, good judgment, his compassion, and for the deployment of his extraordinary legal capabilities on my behalf. Brian is among the most impressive people I have met in any field. Compassionate and non-judgmental, with an abundance of optimism and an unflappable disposition, Brian always responded quickly and trenchantly to the many emails I sent him. During these dark days that, as days do, accumulated to years, I had a tendency to write long, sprawling messages, only portions of which were legally relevant. Had Brian responded in full to every facet of these emails, I would have quickly been bankrupted. Instead, with an unerring capacity to separate the tangential from the essential, Brian unfailingly got to the legal heart of my messages, keeping us on task and saving me thousands of dollars. This is one small example among many of his superb judgment, his devotion to serving the best interests of his client even when the client in question (me!) could not see the forest for the trees. Brian has a real gift for explaining complex legal mechanisms and terms in a way that clarifies them to the uninitiated. He is generous, patient, and thoroughly decent. One of the reasons I chose to work with Brian has precisely to do with his decency and moral discernment. On occasion, what the law sanctions and what decency requires are at odds. Brian immediately understood--and I believe respected--my decision not to pursue a course of financial remedy that would have been in my self interest. And on other occasions, when I would ask about pursuing avenues that were legally legitimate but, under the circumstances, morally dubious, Brian would push back, and in so doing, made me a better person and a better parent. In short, Brian Myers possesses all of the traits that an outstanding attorney should have: he is decent, incredibly hardworking and responsive, compassionate, a wonderful communicator, with an incredibly sharp legal mind. It is my pleasure to recommend him wholeheartedly.
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Posted by Michelle | August 2, 2023
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Best Family Law Attorney in Santa Cruz County
Brian Myers is the best attorney anyone can hire in Santa Cruz County. He has been my attorney for six years. This man knows the law and will fight for you with honesty and integrity. That may not be important to everyone, but it was, and still is, important to me. There is a reason why he is the Santa Cruz County Family Law Bar Association President. They chose well. I met with Brian for a consultation 3 months before filing for divorce. I explained my dire circumstances and he listened. He didn't set a timer or watch the clock (like the others) and went well over the allotted time. Unlike some of the bottom feeders I met with, he showed compassion and I sensed this was a man who took his code of ethics seriously, which is very hard to come by with divorce attorneys. Let's face it, there's a special place in Hell for most of them. I told him I wasn't looking to hurt my soon-to-be ex-husband and he was okay with that. I thanked him for his time and left his office to consider what I would do. Three months later, I knew I had no choice but to file for divorce. I called and asked to speak with him. He was surprised I was calling him at that time; not because he thought it would work it out, but because it took me 3 more months before I finally walked away from an impossible situation. His compassion was palpable. He asked for a very reasonable retainer and had my divorce filed and served within a week. There wasn't one hiccup. My case inevitably became horribly ugly a few months later when an emergency custody request was necessary. He took care of everything and it was seamless. I then needed a Domestic Violence Restraining Order, which he secured for me for three years and then renewed for another five. I endured years of a custody/visitation battle with drug & alcohol testing, multiple reunification therapists, a move to a different county, etc. He's done it all for me. The bottom line: My kids are safe and I have Brian to thank for that. The one thing that was (and still is) most important to me while fighting this fight is this: I want to be able to come out of this someday with my head held high. I want my kids to know, someday when they're old enough, that I did everything right. I never lied. I never stooped to the lows the other side did. That's important to me. Kids figure out on their own at some point what's going on, so don't play dirty. That's my first bit of advice to anyone reading this. My second bit of advice is this: Hire Brian. He will be there for you every step of the way. He'll get the job done and he'll do it right. If you want an attorney who will represent you effectively, ethically and efficiently, Brian Myers is your guy.
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Posted by Andrea | May 16, 2023
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Excellent experience had!
I was referred to Brian Myers in April 2023 and was able to negotiate outside of court. We were able to get a settlement amount wrapped up with my spouse very quickly. Very happy with Brian's communication and expertise!
Posted by Laura | October 20, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Brian- an amazing lawyer!
Brian Myers is an amazing lawyer. He responds fast, is clear and concise with his communication, and is trustworthy. During a very difficult time, I knew that I could rely on him to take care of things and I felt comfortable with the process. Brian really did go above and beyond my expectations. I would go to him again for any of my legal needs in the future.
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Posted by Cornel | November 19, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Excellent service, highly recommend Mr. Myers
Mr. Myers went far beyond in helping me with a difficult case of collecting arrears from a 20 years old unpaid child support. His diligence and expertise paid off. Here was fair and professional. I highly recommend his services. Thank you Brian!
Posted by Jay | April 17, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Highly Recommend
Brian is a very professional, knowledgable and empathetic lawyer. He listened to what was important to my family. He then worked with me and the legal system to deliver the best outcome scenarios. I couldn't have had better Counsel.
Posted by anonymous | April 10, 2023
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Professional and prompt
I had a good experience with Brian Myers. He was very professional and prompt. He answered all questions with patience (and a smile) and I had quite a lot queries! Brian's knowledge & experience helped me and I would definitely recommend his services.
Posted by Karin | November 28, 2016
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
I highly recommend Brian Myers as a family law attorney.
Brian Myers is an excellent and compassionate and very bright lawyer. He is an outstanding legal advocate during a divorce. I found Brian to be very exceptionally intelligent, responsive, and kind. Since it is my first experience with a lawyer and with divorce, I was initially concerned about obtaining a lawyer for my divorce. But, Brian Myers genuine and approachable manner eased my concerns. I highly recommend Brian Myers as a family law attorney. I give him the highest possible recommendation. He goes the extra mile for you, and he does not charge you for every little thing (like faxes, short phone calls, etc.) - like I had heard some lawyers do. I also appreciated that he accommodated my lack of computer and emailing skills, so that we could still communicate in a timely manner. Brian Myers is the best, and I greatly appreciated him during a challenging and painful divorce.
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Posted by Justin | January 7, 2016
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Brian is a 1st class attorney that will help you resolve your case with great results, respect and true professionalism.
Going through a divorce is a nightmare process... no two ways about it, it's ugly most of the time. I initially represented myself, trying to avoid hiring an attorney due to costs, etc, and was overwhelmed with emotions and anxiety at the start of the process, not knowing what to do exactly with the countless forms involved and if I was checking the correct boxes etc. All the legal terminology can be very confusing and it's very easy to check the wrong box here and there and then you are hosed. It's especially challenging if there are kids and assets involved. I was fortunate to be informed about Brian from my Mom, who somehow seen his ad on Avvo or somewhere and liked his profile picture lol and told me he's the guy I should see for help. So I took her advice and called Brian and met with him for a free consult. I immediately felt very comfortable with Brian and knew I was going to hire him as I just felt he would fight for me, as I was in for a fight (initially). Once we agreed to a contract, Brian and I met on several occasions in his office, on the phone, email, etc. to start preparing for the motions ahead. Throughout the process Brian always remained very respectful and professional and truthful. What I really liked about his approach, was there were times when I submitted to him highly emotional, even harsh attacking statements from me, and he would take them and soften and tone them down into very professional and respectful responses to be submitted to court (or opposing counsel). He has a fantastic ability to respond in a respectful and professional tone, which isn't always the case on heated divorce proceedings. The judge also seemed to like Brian's style and approach and we always seemed to escape out of there with a 'W' at the end of the hearings. It felt good having Brian by my side. Not to mention, he's a sharp looking clean cut guy. In the end, after countless back and forth negotiations between Brian and my Ex's attorney, we were able to settle out of court. I feel it was in part due to Brian's true professionalism and class act that helps in person in court as well as with dealing with the opposing party's attorney. He's just a nice guy, and very well spoken, and seems to get along with the other attorneys too. I am so thankful I had Brian on my side during this process. It would be a mistake not to hire an attorney to help you during this process to help you navigate the maze of forms, hearings, and final settlement etc. if you have a battle on your hands and have kids and assets involved. I highly recommend anyone needing help in a divorce case to contact Brian Myers. He's absolutely outstanding! Thanks again Brian!
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Posted by Muhammad | September 29, 2015
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Caring Attorney
Brian Meyers has been helping me in my divorce case for over 4 months and I find him extremely helpful. professional and caring. I would recommend him to anyone who is looking for a family law attorney.
Posted by Erin | October 25, 2012
Very pleased!
I recently retained Brian for assistance in an already open child custody case and he has been a wonderful resource! He is kind, fair, and makes you feel as though he understands what you're going through. This has been a challenging situation and he has truly made me feel a little more at ease with what is going on. I appreciate what he's done for us so very much...
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Posted by anonymous | August 5, 2012
client review
From the first phone call with Brian I felt relieved. The information he provided was helpful. The professionalism outstanding. My case moved in a direction with results...not circles
Posted by Thomas | January 15, 2012
I highly recommend Mr. Myers
I've had Brian as my attorney for the past 2 and a half years. He has helped me so much, I couldn't have done it without him! He is very knowledgable. He always replies to my emails and returns my phone calls. My case has been very tough at times and yet Brian maintained a calm and professional attitude. I highly recommend him.
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Posted by Douglas | June 10, 2011
Trustworthy, Ethical and hard working Lawyer
Brian Myers has been working a very complex family law matter for the last 4 years. Brian has represented me in this case with the finest ethics, morals and knowledge of family law. I would highly recommend Brian Myers to anyone.
Posted by Alecia | December 7, 2010
MY Divorce Attorney
I hired Brian to help me with my painful divorce, he met with me right away... worked with me and responded to all my questions both by phone and email. I felt like I was in constant contact with him and always knew what was going on. A year after my divorce I needed a copy of paperwork and he was right there willing to help no delay in contacting me back. I hope I never need a divorce attorney again but would recommend him to anyone that needs a family law attorney.
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Posted by Frank | April 11, 2010
Satisfied Clients
Brian has done a Excellent job for us this year handling a Extremely sensitive matter. He has also handled the other parent With extreme professionalism although the other parent is very difficult and extremely irrational person to deal with. excelllent job Brian Thank you.
Posted by anonymous | March 21, 2010
Highly recommended legal service
I’m very pleased with Mr. Myers legal service during my divorce. He was knowledgeable, very professional, and supportive during this difficult time. I would recommend him to anyone looking for help in family related cases.
Posted by anonymous | November 30, 2009
Great Attorney
I highly recommend Brian. I have found Brian to be very responsive, highly ethical and knowledgeable. Having worked with different attorneys over the years for various needs Brian is the top in responsiveness and just getting things done that I have worked with and it is so refreshing. Divorce is difficult enough on its own merits yet with Brian’s help it has made the process easier to navigate and manage through. Brian’s flexibility in establishing our working client/attorney relationship made a huge impact for me which I am grateful. I am thrilled to have established a relationship with Brian and will recommend him to anyone that could use his services. _____________________________________________________________________________________Brian is very responsive and prompt clear and articulate. He
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Cost

Rates
  • Free Consultation 30 minutes
Payment methods
Cash, Check, Credit Card

Resume

AVVO RATING 9.9 (Superb)

Education

  • University of Auckland (New Zealand)
  • LL.M - Master of Laws
  • 2004
  • University of San Francisco School of Law
  • JD - Juris Doctor
  • 2001
  • University of California - Berkeley
  • BA - Bachelor of Arts
  • 1998

Associations

  • State Bar of California, Family Law Section
  • Attorney Member
  • 2006 - Present
  • Santa Cruz Family Law Bar Association
  • President
  • 2013 - 2020
  • Santa Cruz County Bar Association
  • Attorney Member
  • 2006 - 2020

Honors and Awards

  • 10 Best
  • American Institute of Family Law Attorneys
  • 2019

Publications

  • New Zealand Yearbook of International Law
  • The Right to Kill or the Obligation to Die: The Status of the Defense of Duress in International Law
  • 2005
  • Georgetown International Environmental Law Review
  • Book Review: Indigenenous Peop[les, the Environment and the Law: An Anthology
  • N/A
  • New Zealand Students' Law Journal
  • Back on Collision Course: The WTO's Decisions in British Steel and U.S. Countervailing Measures and the Consequences for the Civil Aircraft Dispute
  • N/A

Attorney endorsements

Received (2)
Given (1)
Endorse Brian
Family Attorney | Jul 18
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I know Brian as a fellow lawyer in Santa Cruz. He is well respected by both attorneys and the courts for his professional and reasonable approach to litigation while effectively advocating for his clients. Brian possesses high ethical standards, integrity, intelligence and passionately represents his clients, which makes him a great representative of the local legal profession in Santa Cruz. I endorse Brian for his skills as a Family Law attorney."
Family Attorney | Aug 07
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse Mr. Myers. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."
Scotts Valley Family Lawyer Brian Kipling Myers
Brian Kipling Myers
Family Attorney
Scotts Valley, CA
Licensed for 21 years
Free Consultation
Virtual consultation available