Total Credits: 6 CLE, 6 Family Law Specialization
Attending the 2025 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.
The 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
Thursday, January 16, 2025
Agenda
Child Abuse Allegations and Investigations: A Peek Behind the Scenes
Honorable Brad Astrowsky, Maricopa County Superior Court
Jennifer Ingalls, ChildHelp
Moderator: Gregg Woodnick, Woodnick Law PLLC
Tips from an MHP – Improving Client Representation
David Weinstock, Forensic Counseling & Evaluations PLLC
Child Related Case Law Updates
Steve Everts, Udall Shumway PLC
Obtaining Medical and Mental Health Records
Lisa McNorton, McNorton Fox PLLC
Child Related Issues – The View from the Trial Court
Honorable Randi L. Burnett, Pima County Superior Court
Honorable Amy Kalman, Maricopa County Superior Court
Honorable James Knapp, Maricopa County Superior Court
Honorable Nathan Wade, Pima County Superior Court
Moderator: Steve Smith, Stillman Smith Gadow
From Creation to Graduation: Traps and Tips on Common and Not-So-Common Child Issues
Claudia Work, Scottsdale Family Law, PLLC
Planning Ahead with a Parenting Plan
Jennifer Manzi, Karp & Weiss PC
Hot Tips – Issues Relating to Children
David Horowitz, Warner Angle Hallam Jackson & Formanek
Erin Fox, McNorton Fox, PLLC
Kathleen Stillman, Stillman Smith Gadow
Erika Volpiano, Erika L. Cossitt Volpiano, P.C.
Moderator: Laura Belleau, Karp & Weiss, PC
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
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.
ROBERT L. SCHWARTZ has been practicing law for over 45 years, specializing in family law. He is admitted to practice in the federal courts of New York, Arizona, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Schwartz is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and former president of the Arizona chapter. He is a certified family law specialist by the State Bar of Arizona; is a frequent lecturer on family law and related matters; and was the co-chairman of the State Bar Family Law Advisory Commission. Mr. Schwartz was a member of the Arizona Supreme Court Committee on Rules of Procedure for Family Law. Mr. Schwartz has been previously listed and is currently listed in the publication "Best Lawyers in America" in the areas of family practice and mediation. For 2024 He has been named "Lawyer of the Year" in Family Law and "Lawyer of the Year" in Family Law Mediation by Best Lawyers in America. Mr. Schwartz is a member of the law firm of Dickinson Wright PLLC. He received his B.A. from the University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida and J.D. from Brooklyn Law School.
was appointed to the Maricopa County Superior Court in March, 2012. He currently is on a Family Department assignment, and has previously served in the Juvenile Department and Criminal Department. Prior to his appointment, Judge Astrowsky worked in the Maricopa County Attorney's Office in the Sex Crimes, Family Violence, and Homicide Bureaus. He also supervised the Computer and Technology Crime, Fraud and Identity Theft Enforcement, and the Special Crimes Bureaus. He also was a leader in Hate Crime prosecutions. Judge Astrowsky also worked as a Senior Attorney with the National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse in Alexandria, Virginia. Judge Astrowsky worked in private practice handling medical malpractice cases, vulnerable adult abuse matters, and general civil litigation. Judge Astrowsky serves on the executive boards of the Arizona Judges' Association and the Maricopa County Justice Museum and Learning Center, and also was appointed to serve on the Arizona Supreme Court's Disinformation Task Force. Judge Astrowsky obtained his undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at Binghamton and his law degree from the University of Arizona.
Gregg Woodnick is the managing attorney at Woodnick Law, PLLC in Phoenix, Arizona. Gregg is a former adjunct law professor, and has lectured for Yale University, Midwestern College of Osteopathic Medicine, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University. Gregg has also served as a faculty member, guest lecturer and trainer at forums throughout Arizona involving the Title 8 Registry, Safe-Haven, Court Appointed Advisors and polices impacting child abuse and neglect litigation. Gregg served as Cooperating Counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and was lead counsel in the first same-sex (second-parent) adoption case granted in Arizona. Gregg is currently the Chair of the Client Protection Fund for the State Bar of Arizona. He also served as an appointee to the Arizona Supreme Court's Task Force on the Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure. Gregg is a member of National Child Abuse Defense and Resource Center (NCADRC). In 2012 and 2015, Gregg was named "Mentor of the Year" by the Arizona Children's Law Center. In 2018 Gregg was also recognized by Defenders of Children. Gregg earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona and his law degree from the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University.
Steven H Everts is a Certified Family Law Specialist, Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and a board-certified Family Law Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He was designated as one of Arizona’s Top 100 Lawyers by Az Business Magazine in 2023. He has been selected for inclusion in Southwest Super Lawyers the last 12 years, The Best Lawyers in America, American Registry of Top Attorneys in Arizona, Arizona’s Top-Rated Lawyers, and as one of Arizona’s Finest Lawyers in Phoenix Magazine. He has an AVVO rating of 10.0. He has been retained on several occasions as an expert witness regarding lawyer performance and served as Judge Pro Tem of the Maricopa County Superior Court for over 24 years. He recently served as a member of the Income Issues Workgroup recommending revisions to the Arizona Child Support Guidelines. He has been AV rated (Pre-eminent 5.0 out of 5) by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory for 26 years. In 2019 and 2022 he served as critical observer/presenter at the AAML Trial Colleges in both Pima and Maricopa Counties. He has been lead counsel and/or written briefs for at least 71 appeals. He recently had published a comprehensive law review article, “Rule 69 and Family Law Settlement Agreements: When is a Deal a Deal,” 6 ACCORD, Prac. Legal J. 147 (2017) and re-published a PowerPoint presentation on the “15 Symptoms of an Unhealthy Marriage” in an effort to strengthen marriage relationships. A native of Utah, he received his B.A. Degree in English (1973) and J.D. Degree (1976) from the University of Utah College of Law. He is an equity Partner who has been in private practice with the East Valley law firm of Udall Shumway his entire 47-year career. He has presented 17 straight years at the Family Law Institute and has also presented for the Arizona Psychological Association (AzPA), National Business Institute, Arizona/Southwest Divorce Conferences, Maricopa County Bar Association, Halfmoon Education and Lormar Education Services. For the first 12-15 years of his career he practiced complex tort litigation, including products liability and medical malpractice cases, and was lead counsel in 12 jury trials. He authored, “Strict Liability: Recovery for Damage to the Defective Product Itself,” 18 Arizona Bar Journal 18 (1982). He assisted the Supreme Court Committee on Examinations as writer and grader of bar examination questions for 7 years. He is also an active member of the Utah State Bar and practices there as well as in Arizona.
Lisa C. McNorton is a partner with McNORTON FOX, PLLC, is a Certified Specialist in Family Law and a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Law (AAML). Lisa is the Immediate Past-President of the Arizona Chapter of the AAML, and current Chair for the State Bar of Arizona Family Law Executive Council. She is also a member of the State Bar of Arizona Family Law Advisory Committee.
Lisa has presented a variety of family law topics both in Arizona and nationally, including presentations for AAML/BVR, and has been a co-chair of Tucson’s annual Advanced Family Law seminar for over 10 years. As an advocate for continued education for family law attorneys, Lisa has assisted in trial colleges in both Pima and Maricopa Counties and co-chairs a mentoring program for family law attorneys aspiring to become certified specialists and Fellows of the AAML.
The Hon. Randi Burnett currently serves as the presiding judge of the family bench for the Pima County Superior Court. Prior to joining the bench in April 2021, Randi was a partner at Waterfall, Economidis, Caldwell, Hanshaw & Villamana, P.C. for several years and then spent her last two years of private practice at The McCarthy Law Firm. Her family law practice included a broad range of family law matters including divorce, legal separation, same-sex family law 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.
graduated from Western Washington University and Duke University Law School. After graduating, she relocated to Phoenix and worked for the Maricopa County Public Defender's Office for eleven years in felony trials and for the last five years, in capital defense. She was a member of the Arizona Supreme Court's Criminal Rules Task Force and Fair Justice Task Force Subcommittee on Restoration of Rights and Set-Asides, and the State Bar's Criminal Practices and Procedures Committee. In June 2018, Amy was appointed a Commissioner of the Maricopa County Superior Court in the Probate/Mental Health division. She handled Title 36 matters at the Desert Vista Behavioral Hospital, as well as a Probate calendar involving a combination of wills, trusts and estates, as well as protective procedures for minors and incapacitated adults. Then she rotated to a specialty criminal calendar for nine months, handling competency proceedings and drug, DUI, and mental health probation calendars. In March 2023 she was appointed as Judge and moved to the family department. In her free time, she nerds out on science fiction, cooking shows, and obstacle races.
HON. JAMES R. (JIM) KNAPP was appointed to the Superior Court in 2022. Before becoming a judge, Jim served as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for 16 years. There he handled 21 jury trials in U.S. district court, 15 appeals before the Ninth Circuit, and countless pretrial and post-conviction hearings. He also served as Chief of the General Crimes/Border Crimes Section and later as Chief of the Financial Crimes Section. Jim attended ASU for his undergraduate (philosophy) and law degrees and clerked for Judge Sheldon H. Weisberg at the Arizona Court of Appeals after law school. In his free time, Jim enjoys mountain biking, books, and music. Over the years he’s played drums in a touring indie rock band, an amateur jazz combo playing two office parties and one wedding, and a noise-punk duo with fans numbering in the high single digits.
CLAUDIA D. WORK is a 1992 graduate of the University of New Mexico School of Law and has practiced in Arizona and New Mexico. Her practice focuses primarily on civil litigation and all aspects of family law, including protecting and enforcing the rights of unmarried opposite and same sex couples and their children at all stages of their relationships, and family formation through Assisted Reproductive Technologies. Ms. Work frequently works as a Court Appointed Advisor and a Best Interests Attorney in Family Court.
A frequent local and national CLE presenter, Ms. Work is a Fellow with The Academy Of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (ART side), serves on the National Family Law Advisory Council for the National Center for Lesbian Rights and is a founding member of the Family Law Institute for the National LGBT Bar Association. She currently serves on the Executive Council of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Arizona, the Continuing Legal Education Committee of the State Bar of Arizona, is a former member and past Chair of the Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity of the State Bar of Arizona and a past member of the Committee on the Rules of Professional Conduct. Ms. Work is a member of the Arizona Bar Association, National and Arizona LGBT Bar Associations, the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts – Arizona Chapter and is currently admitted to practice in the State of Arizona and the Ninth Federal District Court.
Jennifer A. Manzi graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 1998 with a B.A. in political science and a B.A. in philosophy. She then attended Yeshiva University's Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York City and graduated in 2002. In May 2013, the State Bar of Arizona recognized her as a Certified Specialist in Family Law. In December 2018, Jennifer was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML). She presently is of counsel at Karp & Weiss, P.C., in Tucson, Arizona. Jennifer has extensive experience handling dissolution of marriage and legal separation cases, custody, parenting time, child support issues, termination of parental rights, paternity cases, and cases in a variety of other areas of family law. She also serves as a Judge Pro Tem in the Pima County Superior Court and sits on the State Bar of Arizona Family Law Section Executive Counsel.
David Horowitz has significant experience in all child-related issues, including step-parent adoption, grandparents' rights, parenting coordination, same-sex parenting, and guardianship/conservatorship. His practice also offers guidance with prenuptial and post-nuptial agreements, complex divorce (including business valuation and complex custody and child support issues), collaborative divorce, mediation, arbitration, and court-appointed special master services. He is also a respected mediator in family law disputes and serves as a judge pro tem for the Maricopa County Superior Court. David is a Certified Family Law Specialist (Arizona Board of Legal Specialization) and a Super Lawyers honoree. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, serves on the Academy's board of governors, and chairs its Mediation Committee. He is the current chair of the State Bar of Arizona's Board of Legal Specialization Family Law Advisory Commission and an officer of the State Bar's Family Law Executive Council. David teaches Family Law and Legal Studies at Phoenix College and has been an adjunct faculty member at the Phoenix School of Law and Arizona Summit Law School. He has been practicing in Arizona for over 30 years. He received his B.S.B.A. in Business Economics (1987) from the University of Arizona Eller College of Management and his J.D. (1990) from the University of Arizona College of Law.
Erin K. Fox is a partner with McNorton Fox PLLC in Tucson, Arizona. She is a fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and is certified as a Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of Arizona. Erin has been selected for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America for family law every year since 2021.
Erin serves as a judge pro tempore for Pima County Superior Court. She is certified to act as Best Interests Attorney for children and Court Appointed Advisor. Erin also acts as a mediator to assist parties in resolving family law disputes without resorting to litigation.
Erin has been recognized numerous times for her volunteer work with Step Up for Justice and Southern Arizona Legal Aid and was honored as one of Tucson’s “40 Under 40” by the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Erin is the incoming chair of the Family Law Section of the Pima County Bar Association.
Kathleen Stillman is a partner with the Phoenix law firm of Stillman Smith Gadow where her practice is dedicated solely to the area of family law, specifically the areas of complex divorce, premarital agreements, child-related matters, post-decree modifications, mediation, and appellate matters. Kathleen is a Certified Specialist in Family Law and brings thirteen years of teaching experience, advocating for children and working with families, to her practice. Admitted to the State Bar of Arizona in 2013, she graduated from Arizona State University with a B.A. in Elementary and Special Education in 1995 and the University of Wyoming Law School in 2001. Kathy serves on the Maricopa County Bar Association Family Law Board, is a Court Appointed Advisor, provides pro bono legal services through the CLS Volunteer Lawyers Program, and serves as a Judge Pro Tem.
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 currently serves 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.
J.D., Ph.D. Dr. Weinstock received his Ph.D. from the University of Arizona and his J.D. from the Boston University School of Law. He is a licensed psychologist in Arizona and a licensed and retired attorney in New York and Massachusetts. His focus is on family law, specifically family evaluations and family and individual counseling. He has conducted family law evaluations for over two decades, both privately and at the Pima County Conciliation Court. He has also provided treatment to adolescents, including experience working with the gifted population. Dr. Weinstock has experience working within the criminal justice system, which includes training at the Arizona State Hospital, conducting competency evaluations and risk assessments. Dr. Weinstock has experience with sexual offender and sex addiction evaluations and treatment. He is a board member of Arizona's Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AzAFCC) and notMYkid. He is an advisory member for Child Health & Resiliency Mastery (CHARM) and Defenders of Children . He is currently part-time faculty in the Graduate Psychology Department at Northern Arizona University (NAU) and assists with a forensic rotation for Creighton University School of Medicine-Phoenix. He participated with the Maricopa County Superior Court's Behavioral Health Committee. He is a former board member for the Arizona Psychological Foundation (AzPF), Arizona's Domestic Relations Committee and the Arizona Psychological Association (AzPA). He is also a former co-chair of the Arizona Psychological Association's forensic committee and Communications Representative for the Arizona Psychological Association (AzPA).
Stephen R. Smith is a partner in the Phoenix law firm of Fromm Smith & Gadow, P.C. where his practice is limited to complex family law litigation, mediation, and appellate matters. Mr. Smith has been a Certified Specialist in Family Law since 2000. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and is a past President of the Arizona Chapter. Mr. Smith is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® and Super Lawyers® in the field of family law and was recognized as Best Lawyer’s® “2017 Family Law Lawyer of the Year” in Phoenix. Mr. Smith received his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Arizona State University in 1991 and his law degree from Whittier College School of Law in 1994 where he was a member of the Whittier Law Review. He has been a member of the Family Law Advisory Commission to the Arizona State Bar Board of Legal Specialization since 2008 and was Chairman of the Commission from 2012-2016. Mr. Smith is a Judge Pro Tem of the Maricopa County Superior Court and is a frequent presenter at conferences and seminars on all aspects of family law.
Honorable Nate Wade is a Commissioner on the Family bench in Pima County and has served in this capacity since July of 2023. He currently serves as a Commissioner Representative on the Court’s Judicial Executive Committee. Prior to his appointment, Nate was a Deputy Public Defender in Pinal County and Co-Chair of the Legislative and Policy Committee for Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice. He also spent 7 years with the Pima County PD as a felony trial attorney. Nate also worked on criminal justice legislation at the Arizona state legislature both through AACJ and as a public defender. Nate authored the changes to the Class 6 open statute and developed the new record sealing statute, both of which went into effect in 2022. He is a 2013 graduate of the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law and currently serves as the Secretary for the Law College Association.
