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Many
years ago, I elected to limit my practice to primarily family
law. This was a conscious decision on my part and not one
born of necessity. At the time we narrowed our practice to
family law, Gary Silverman and I enjoyed a thriving general
practice. We handled a diverse assortment of civil matters
including personal injury, medical malpractice, contracts,
mechanic's liens, construction law, collection law, wills,
estates, guardianships and the like.
Family law, however, holds special appeal and
I find it to be the most personally satisfying area of practice
for two reasons. First, I enjoy working closely with people.
It is the one area of law where I may be a positive influence
at one of the most emotionally trying events in a person's
life: The end of a marriage.
A good lawyer will zealously represent her client's
interests without unnecessarily increasing or engendering
animosity. A poor lawyer will mistake aggression for effective
advocacy. Intelligent representation, thorough understanding
of the applicable law and of the facts of the case, combined
with common sense and compassion are what make a good family
lawyer. Those are the qualities I strive for.
The second reason I chose family practice is
because of the diversity of issues presented. My cases require
of me a broad range of expertise and are always interesting.
In any given case, besides needing a complete understanding
of community property, custody and support law, I must know
accounting and valuation principles, the law of real property,
pensions, liens, notes and security, tort, contract, collections,
conflicts of laws, jurisdiction, evidence, procedure, discovery
and the like. I work with a variety of professionals such
as appraisers, accountants, physicians, psychologists, and
valuators.
I formerly served as Chair of the State Bar
of Nevada Northern Disciplinary Board overseeing the discipline
of attorneys in northern Nevada. I am an arbitrator in the
Court Appointed Arbitration program in Washoe, Carson and
Douglas Counties, hearing many types of cases, and I previously
served as a member of the State Bar of Nevada Northern Fee
Dispute Panel. I am a mediator.
My bar related efforts have focused on improving
the standards of family practice in this state. For six years,
I served on the Executive Council of the State Bar of Nevada
Family Law Section. I served as Course Director of the Annual
Family Law Seminar the section conducts each spring. Under
my tutelage, the seminar grew tremendously and now enjoys
a statewide and national reputation for providing the highest
quality family law education. On a smaller scale, I have organized
and moderated quarterly brown bag lunches in Washoe County,
offering continuing legal education and interaction between
bench and bar, all of which enhances the services to the public
provided by court and counsel.
I write a monthly column in the Washoe County
Bar Association publication, the "Writ," educating
the local bar as to the recent cases and developments in family
law. I have contributed articles to the Family Law Section
publication, the "Nevada Family Law Report" and
have lectured on family law issues. I act as mentor to lawyers,
new and old, who have family law questions.
Pro Bono work is a privilege, not an obligation,
so I routinely handle Pro Bono cases. Silverman, Decaria &
Kattelman was honored as the 1996, 1997 and 2005 firm of the
year by Washoe County Legal Services. I also help dispense
legal advice on "Make a Difference Day" and speak
at training sessions. I served as President on the Board of
Directors of Volunteer Lawyers of Washoe County.
I was a member of the Family Court Rules Committee
and the 1992 and 1996 Child Support Statute Review Committees.
I am a fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial
Lawyers and a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial
Lawyers, where I serve on the editorial board of the AAML
Journal.
I grew up in Ogden, Utah and attended the University
of Utah, where I graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in
English. I went to law school at Gonzaga University School
of Law in Spokane, Washington, graduating cum laude in 1981.
I moved to Reno, where I worked as a law clerk for the Hon.
John W. Barrett, a district court judge in the Second Judicial
District Court, Washoe County, Nevada. Gary Silverman and
I have practiced law together since 1982.
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