Lawdragon 500 Leading Family Lawyers

The Lawdragon selection process has been created over 30 years of researching and reporting on the legal profession and creating lists and guides to the most effective legal professionals. Our team brings more than 100 years in the lawyer reporting and information business.

The foundation of our selection is in journalism. We research each guide extensively, studying which lawyers and law practices have had significant impact, including an emphasis on recent matters handled. We review cutting-edge litigation, as well as trends in family law and review the lawyers consistently turned to for guidance in those matters. We encourage submissions and review them alongside thousands of candidates we independently identify and consider for each guide. We also work with editorial advisors who specialize in family law to identify and vet candidates.

To make a Lawdragon guide, a lawyer will have been in practice 10 years, with extremely rare exceptions. Similarly, virtually all will be partners in their law practice or hold a designation that indicates the regard of those with whom they practice. Leadership within their practice in a firm and or in relevant bar organizations is considered. We aim to include those lawyers who aspire to be and who are admired for their intellect and wisdom as well as conduct and leadership.

This is the 2nd edition of our guide to leading U.S. Family Lawyers. The first edition was published in February 2020; much has changed since. This guide initially was almost exclusively focused on matrimonial and similar matters. With this edition, we’ve included as well those who represent children and family members; trust and estate as well as probate litigators. As with all guides in their infancy, we’ve honed our focus a bit to focus mostly on those lawyers advocating largely in courtrooms and disputed situations. Obviously mediators and the increasing numbers of former family lawyers now providing collaborative services in non-judicial proceedings are to be commended, though they are not the focus of this guide.

Lawdragon is an advocate for inclusion in the legal profession and searches extensively for female and inclusive candidates who represent diversity.