Total Credits: 5 including 5 CLE, 2 Ethics, 3.0 Family Law Specialization
Attending the 2023 Family Law Institute is the best way to ensure you are completely up to date on the latest cases, legislation and other new developments in Arizona family law.
The program provides practical instruction on many important topics along with engaging Hot Tips and Judges’ Panels. The Institute has become the annual gathering place for the Arizona family law community; this is your opportunity to share collective wisdom and to discuss cutting-edge legal strategies. Full agenda can be accessed through the materials tab.
Chairs:
Barry L. Brody, Law Offices of Barry L. Brody
Dana M. Levy, Dickinson Wright PLLC
Robert L. Schwartz, Dickinson Wright PLLC
To see speakers and the full agenda, please click on the materials tab to download the PDF.
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2023 Family Law Institute Agenda
(98.8 KB)
To see speakers and the full agenda, please click on the materials to download the PDF.
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3 Pages | Download |
| FLI Day 2 Materials (17.4 MB) | 423 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| Berkshire Materials - Corrected Version (293.8 KB) | 24 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| Top Child Related Cases 2023 Slides Handout (679.5 KB) | 22 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| Bishop Hot Tips Slides (776.2 KB) | 11 Pages | Available after Purchase |
| 2023 Family Law Institute Agenda (98.8 KB) | 3 Pages | Download |
Patricia Sallen is a lawyer in private practice focusing on professional responsibility issues. She represents lawyers in discipline and admission matters, provides ethics advice to lawyers, serves as an expert witness on professional-responsibility issues, and consults on a myriad of other law-related topics. She regularly presents at CLE seminars and publishes articles about professional responsibility and writes the Eye on Ethics column for Arizona Attorney. She also has taught professional responsibility as an adjunct professor at the Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law for more than a decade. In addition to practicing in private law firms, she spent more than 15 years working for the State Bar of Arizona as both a bar counsel and ethics counsel and supervised programs such as the Fee Arbitration Program and Client Protection Fund. She served as expert consultant to the Arizona Supreme Court's 2014-15 comprehensive ethical rules review effort and to the Court's 2019-20 Task Force on the Delivery of Legal Services, which resulted in the groundbreaking rule changes allowing non-lawyer firm ownership and legal paraprofessionals. She currently serves on the State Bar's Ethics Advisory Group and the Supreme Court's Task Force on Ethics Rules Governing the State Attorney General, County Attorneys, and Other Public Lawyers.
is a Certified Family Law Specialist by the Arizona Board of Legal Specialization and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL). Mr. Ellsworth is also an AAML Certified Family Law Arbitrator and previously served on the Board of Governors for the AAML and is the current President of the Arizona Chapter of the AAML. Mr. Ellsworth has been designated as a Southwest Super Lawyer for Family Law in Arizona for 2010-2020. Mr. Ellsworth is a frequent lecturer on family law issues and has been practicing law in Arizona for over thirty-one years. Mr. Ellsworth is the managing partner of Ellsworth Family Law, P.C., a law firm devoted solely to handling family law matters. Mr. Ellsworth received his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University.
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Honorable Stasy Avelar was appointed as a Superior Court Judge in March of 2021. Before her appointment to the bench, Judge Avelar practiced law in Arizona for 28 years. She is a former prosecutor and law school instructor and ran her own family law practice for 12 years. In 2001, she started the Victim's Legal Assistance Project at the ASU College of Law, which allowed Law Students and volunteer attorneys to represent victims in criminal law proceedings to asset their victim's rights, including one appeal to the United States Supreme Court. She was an active volunteer for Community Legal Services as well as Wills for Heroes, receiving the 2010 President's Volunteer Service Award and was recognized by her peers as a Super Lawyer for ten years. Judge Avelar has participated extensively in bar activities, particularly those involving family law. In 2021 Judge Avelar received the Bridging the Gap award from the Maricopa County Bar Association for her work with the bar and the bench. Judge Avelar received her Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa in 1990. She received her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona in 1993.
Keith Berkshire is a certified specialist in Family Law, and a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, at the Berkshire Law Office, PLLC. Keith practices in all areas of family law, with a focus on complex litigation. Keith has a significant appellate practice with more published Family Law Opinions than another other attorney in Arizona, including 33 Opinions at the Arizona Court of Appeals and Arizona Supreme Court. Keith is the author of the Family Law section of the Arizona Appellate Handbook, and his Opinions include major cases such as Saba v. Khoury, Volk v. Brame, McLaughlin v. Jones, Woyton v. Ward, Gonzalez-Gunter v. Gunter, and Barron v. Barron. Keith also successfully litigated the case Howell v. Howell, 137 S. Ct. 1400 (2017) at the Supreme Court of the United States. Keith was a member of the Arizona Supreme Court Task Force on the Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure, which restyled and rewrote the Family Law Rules in 2018; he previously served on the Family Law Practice and Procedure Committee of the State Bar of Arizona, the Civil Rules Committee, as well as the State Bar of Arizona’s Family Law Section Executive Committee. Keith was also a member of the Court Procedures Workgroup for the Domestic Relations Committee of the State Legislature as part of the 2013 changes to the custody statutes, and has authored numerous other family law rules and statutes. Keith is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell since 2012, is listed in Best Lawyers in America, and has been in the Super Lawyers Listing since 2012, including a selection as one of the Top 50 Lawyers in Arizona in all areas of practice, in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Keith was also named Family Law Lawyer of the Year in Phoenix by Best Lawyers for 2022. Keith is a frequent lecturer at CLEs on all areas of family law and appellate practice, and has served as an expert witness on variously family law issues.
ANNALISA MOORE MASUNAS is a partner in the Tucson firm of MOORE, MASUNAS & MOORE, P.L.L.C., and she practices with her sister, Angela C. Moore. Annalisa is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (since 2004), and is a certified specialist in family law (since 2002). She has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America since 2018. Annalisa handles divorce, parenting time and legal decision making issues, complex property and debt division, paternity, spousal maintenance, child support, post decree matters, and premarital agreements. The firm also handles estate planning matters. Annalisa is a past president of the Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Annalisa is the immediate past co-chair of the Executive Council of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Arizona (she has been on the Council since 2001, and has served as a member and in every officer position twice). She has served on the State Bar of Arizona, Family Law Advisory Commission since 2018 and is currently the Vice Chair. Annalisa also served on the 2017 Child Support Guidelines Interim Review Committee. She serves as a Judge Pro Tem of the Pima County Superior Court, and as an attorney for minor children in various capacities. Annalisa co-chairs the annual Advanced Family Law CLE program in Tucson each November (since 2005), and is a regular speaker on family law topics. Annalisa is married to Mike, and they have three young adult children in college (Alanna, Michael, and Tyler). She graduated from Rincon High School and attended the University of Arizona for her undergrad and law school. Annalisa enjoys time with her family, travel, and sports photography.
is a Senior Member and the past President and Chair of The Cavanagh Law Firm in Phoenix, Arizona, where she has practiced exclusively in the area of family law for 25 years. Helen is
Adjunct Faculty at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. Helen is certified as a Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of Arizona, is a Fellow of The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers, and is a Diplomate of The American College of Family Law Trial Lawyers. Helen has been AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell since 2007, is listed in Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers in Arizona (since 2013), is a Southwest SuperLawyer (since 2015), was named
by SuperLawyers as one of the top 25 women attorneys in Arizona (2021 and 2022) and one of the top 50 lawyers in Arizona in 2022, has been honored as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in
Arizona by AZBusiness (2021 and 2022), and is named as one of Arizona's Finest Lawyers. Helen has given back to the community by writing and publishing articles on family law topics
and to the Bar by lecturing on all manner of complex financial, custody and ethical topics, serves and has served on numerous Bar and Supreme Court Committees, and was appointed by former Governor Janet Napolitano to a legislative committee.
William D. Bishop (Bill) is the managing partner of Bishop, Del Vecchio and Beeks Law Office, PC. Bill has transitioned to primarily providing mediation services through his affiliated company AZ Premier Mediation. Bill’s credentials and associations include: Certified Family Law Specialist; Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML); Best Lawyers in America; Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Lawyer Judicial Edition; Southwest Super Lawyers Top 50 Attorneys (all areas of practice); Arizona Business Magazine Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona (all areas of practice); Executive Counsel State Bar of Arizona Family Law Section; former Chair State Bar of Arizona Family Law Section; former Chair Maricopa County Family Law Section. Author: A Long & Winding Road (business valuation separate property / community lien apportionment cases). Bill frequently volunteers for the Fresh Start Women’s Center. B.S. Willamette University. J.D. Arizona State University College of Law.
Laura Belleau is a shareholder in the law firm of Karp & Weiss, P.C. where she limits her practice to family law cases, concentrating on those involving complex financial and children's issues. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), and currently serves as the National President Elect and will serve as the National President in 2024/25. She is a past President of Arizona's Chapter of AAML and has previously served as the both the National and Arizona Chapter Treasurer. She is a Diplomate in the American College of Family Trial Lawyers, a select group of the top 100 family trial lawyers from across the country known for excellence in family law trial practice. She is certified as a Family Law Specialist by the State of Arizona's Board of Legal Specialization. She serves on the State Bar's Family Law Executive Council, served on both the Supreme Court's Child Support Guidelines Review Committee and Spousal Maintenance Guidelines Committee, and will serve on the Supreme Court’s Parenting Time Guide Workgroup. She is a current member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), and a past-president of Arizona's chapter. She is a Judge Pro Tempore for the Arizona Superior Court, Pima County, volunteers as child’s counsel/court appointed advisor in complex parenting time cases and frequently speaks and writes on family law topics.
Honorable Randi Burnett has served as a commissioner of the Superior Court in Pima County since April 2021 and is currently assigned to the family law bench. Prior to joining the bench, Randi was a partner at Waterfall, Economidis, Caldwell, Hanshaw & Villamana, P.C. for several years and then spent her last two years of practice at The McCarthy Law Firm. Her family law practice included a broad range of family law matters including divorce, legal separation, same-sex issues, multi-state jurisdictional issues, high conflict custody issues, grandparent visitation, minor child guardianships, child support, spousal maintenance, paternity, and appellate matters. Randi has presented at multiple legal seminars on numerous topics, including complex financial issues, ethical issues, high conflict custody concerns, and the unique concerns involving autistic children in custody matters. Outside of work, Randi enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors with her husband and two children.
Kiilu Davis is the owner and founder of kdlaw, P.C., a law firm in Scottsdale, Arizona, that practices exclusively in family law matters. Mr. Davis is a Certified Family Law Specialist, Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers, Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and Diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers. Mr. Davis also serves as a Parenting Coordinator and Special Master for the Maricopa County Superior Court. In addition, Mr. Davis serves on the Executive Council for the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Arizona (past Chair) and is a past board member of the Arizona Association of Family & Conciliation Courts (AZ AFCC) (2006-2012). Mr. Davis also served on the 2017 Child Support Guidelines Interim Review Committee and was a member of the Arizona Supreme Court Task Force on the Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure, which restyled and rewrote the Family Law Rules in 2018. Mr. Davis is recognized as one of the leading family law attorneys in the State of Arizona and is a frequent speaker and contributor at Continuing Legal Education seminars. Mr. Davis is a member of the State Bar of Arizona, Maricopa County Bar Association, American Bar Association, National Bar Association and Scottsdale Bar Association. Mr. Davis was named Family Lawyers Assistance Project Advocate of the Year and is recognized as a Southwest Super Lawyer. Mr. Davis received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1993 from Brown University and his Juris Doctorate in 2000 from Arizona State University. Mr. Davis is also trained in Mediation via Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law.
Roberta Tepper, Chief Member Services Officer for the State Bar of Arizona, has been with the State Bar since 2004. Roberta leads the Member Services Division team which supports numerous programs and departments, including Continuing Legal Education; Lawyer Assistance Programs (Practice 2.0 and MAP); Legal Specialization; Mandatory CLE and Compliance; the Bar’s Resource Center, and more. Roberta served as the Lawyer Assistance Programs Director, from 2013 until September 2021, which included responsibility for Practice 2.0, the State Bar of Arizona’s practice management advice program, the Bar’s Member Assistance Program, and support for the Bar’s 30 Sections as well as the Young Lawyer and Senior Lawyer Divisions. Roberta previously served as a prosecutor in North Carolina; worked in court administration in Delaware; and served as Bar Counsel and then Senior Bar Counsel in the Lawyer Regulation Office at the State Bar of Arizona.
Ms. Tepper is an active member of the Law Practice Division of the American Bar Association, serves as the Division’s Secretary, is the Feature Editor for Law Practice Magazine, a member of the Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committee, Lawyer Wellbeing Committee, Women Rainmakers, and the Strategy and Planning Committee, and served as the co-Chair of ABA TECHSHOW 2021. She is a frequent author of articles on practice management, best practices and lawyer wellness and well-being for the ABA’s Law Practice Magazine and Law Practice Today. She also co-authored Tech From the Trenches, a column for Law Practice magazine that addresses best practices and the use of technology in the practice of law.
Roberta is a Fastcase 50 honoree (2019), an award that recognizes innovators, visionaries and leaders in law and was selected as one of the 2021 Women of Legal Tech honorees by the ABA’s Legal Technology Resource Center. She chairs the Practice Management Advisors of North America, is a Past President and an ex officio member of the Arizona Women Lawyers Association Board of Directors and, as a past chapter President, is an ex officio member of the AWLA, Maricopa Chapter, Steering Committee. A graduate of the University of Arizona College of Law, Ms. Tepper is admitted to practice in Arizona and is an inactive member of the North Carolina and Delaware Bars.
Dana M. Levy has been a shareholder at Dickinson Wright PLLC (fka Mariscal Weeks, P.A.) since 2003. She is a Certified Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of Arizona and a fellow of the Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys. Ms. Levy concentrates her practice on complex dissolution, post-dissolution, paternity, child custody and child support matters. She is a member of the State Bar of Arizona and the Maricopa County Family Law Section. She serves as a pro tem judge and mediator in family law for the Maricopa County Superior Court and as an arbitrator for the State Bar of Arizona Fee Arbitration Program. She has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers in Arizona (since 2013), including named Family Lawyer of the Year in Phoenix for 2023, Southwest Super Lawyers since 2011, including named as one of the top 25 women attorneys in Arizona in 2016, has been honored by Arizona Business Magazine in 2017 and in Arizona Business Leaders Magazine for 2024. Ms. Levy received her B.A. from Brandeis University and her J.D. from the Arizona State University School of Law.
Barry L. Brody is a sole practitioner in the Phoenix area. Mr. Brody is a Certified Family Law Specialist, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, including two terms as past-President of the Arizona Chapter. His practice is limited to the areas of complex family law litigation, and alternative dispute resolution. Mr. Brody received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting, with high distinction, from Arizona State University in 1975, his Juris Doctor Degree from Pepperdine University-School of Law in 1977, and was admitted to the Arizona State Bar in 1978. Mr. Brody was a Judge Pro Tempore in the Maricopa County Superior Court Family Court Division, and was a Member of the Judges and Commissioners Family Law Study Committee. He is a Past-Chair of the Executive Council of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Arizona, is a Past President of the Maricopa County Bar Association Family Law Section and is a Member of the Family Law Certification Advisory Commission. Mr. Brody is also a contributing author to Arizona Guide for Family Practice and Editor of The Divorce and Children Handbook. Mr. Brody is listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the practice areas of Family Law, including two years as Lawyer of the Year, and Family Law Mediation, Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, Super Lawyers of the Southwest in both Family Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution, AVVO as a “Superb” member, Ten Leaders, Marquis Who's Who in American Law, and he has spoken at numerous seminars. Mr. Brody’s website is located at: www.divorceaz.com
Honorable John J. Assini (Jack) practiced law beginning in 1994 and was in private practice, handling family law matters until he was appointed to the bench as a Commissioner for the Pima County Superior Court in March of 2015. He is currently doing a family law trial rotation. He received his BA from the University of Arizona in Elementary Education, taught 1st grade for four years, could not find a rich wife, so he returned to University of Arizona for his J.D. degree. Jack is the Past Chair of the Executive Council of Family Law Section of the State Bar of Arizona, a current board member for AZ- AFCC (Arizona- Association of Family and Conciliation Courts) and currently continues to be a member at large with the Executive Council of Family Law Section of the State Bar of Arizona. Jack was frequently appointed as a Parenting Coordinator for high conflict family law matters, and as an attorney or best interest attorney for children. Jack also practiced in the area of collaborative law and was a member of the Southern Arizona Collaborative Law Group. As a Judge Pro Tem, Jack participated in hundreds of successful settlement conferences and mediations and continues to bring that style and technique to the bench.
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