Direct Examination with Dan and Lauren

Hon. Susan Lopez-Giss (Ret.) served 15 years as a Judge for the Los Angeles Superior Court, with the entirety of her time on the bench devoted to Family Law. Judge Lopez-Giss presided over thousands of cases involving all types of contested and complex Family Law matters, including parentage cases, custody and visitation issues, child and spousal support, business valuation, and property division. In addition to issuing thousands of rulings, Judge Lopez-Giss became known for actively and successfully settling her cases. Her strong legal mind, coupled with an emphasis on collaboration to resolve family disputes, has resulted in her reputation as an effective problem solver and adjudicator. Prior to her judicial career, Judge Lopez-Giss served 30 years in the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, where she developed a groundbreaking domestic violence diversion and counseling program that was implemented statewide — only one of such programs in the country at the time. She was instrumental in drafting a domestic violence prosecution manual, filing guidelines, and restraining order statutes, and helped train law enforcement and medical personnel across the country. Judge Lopez-Giss also developed guidelines for the handling of child abuse and child sexual abuse and served on interagency councils that addressed child abuse and neglect. For her pioneering work developing these programs, Judge Lopez-Giss was presented with a Resolution by the Mayor and the Los Angeles City Council. Presented by UBS 📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AKaZ3WlDH06yUk1xtmW36_VL5N4159BG/view?usp=share_link No CLE is provided for this program.

Raymond Hekmat's practice of law has been devoted exclusively to areas of family law, including divorce, paternity, custody, support issues as well as prenuptial agreements, since earning his Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola Law School in 2009. Since 2018, Raymond's practice shifted from divorce litigation to specializing in marital agreements, divorce consulting, and divorce mediation, where he educates and empowers people on the financial and legal implications of entering or dissolving a marriage and advises his clients based on their rights, priorities and best options. He is admitted to practice law in California and is a member of the Los Angeles County and Beverly Hills Bar Associations. Raymond received his Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies, with honors, and a minor in Business Management from the University of California at Irvine, with study at the London School of Economics. He graduated from Loyola Law School in 2009. Presented by UBS 📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1biX6aHYIDc99HmnEpeCoTheYL0UGwWpC/view?usp=sharing No CLE is provided for this program.

With four decades of trial and appellate experience, Ronald F. Brot, Founding and Senior Partner at Brot Gross Fishbein LLP, has successfully handled high conflict and complex cases from inception through settlement or trial involving all aspects of family law, including child custody, relocation, domestic violence, support, property, complex financial issues, and paternity. As a highly experienced family law attorney with a strong litigation background, he is tenacious in the representation of clients both in the courtroom and at the negotiating table. Mr. Brot has held a variety of leadership positions within the organized Bar, including President of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Chair of the Trial Lawyers Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and Chair of the Family Law Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has served as a Trustee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association since 2016, and as a member of the LACBA Counsel for Justice Board of Directors. Presented by UBS 📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ra-plFxAKnjISBxniIdithLwZwyyxgbv/view No CLE is provided for this program.

David J. Glass is an exceptional high-stakes family law litigator with a unique background. Not only is he well-versed in law, but he also holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology, making him one of the few attorneys with this dual expertise. His focus is on divorce, child custody litigation, and complex asset division, providing his clients with an invaluable inside look into the procedures utilized by court-appointed mental health and psychological professionals. He serves as Chair of the Firm's Family Law Department. While child custody litigation is his specialty, Glass's practice extends to cover a wide range of family law and probate matters, including dissolution/divorce, separation, asset characterization, valuation and division, child and spousal support, relocations, attorneys fees and costs, parentage actions, same-sex marriages, and pre- and post-nuptial agreements. Glass is particularly skilled in handling the affairs of affluent clients and working with their management teams. Certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization as a Family Law Specialist, Glass maintains a perfect "10" rating on Avvo.com , based on reviews from both peers and clients. He has been recognized as a Rising Star or Super Lawyer in Los Angeles magazine on fifteen occasions between 2004 and 2020, and has dedicated 24 years exclusively to family law practice. Presented by UBS 📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LWhTSbP6StB7ABqCOqoDi1BxHYYYthNIFIDqKd/view?usp=sharing No CLE is provided for this program.

Robert C. Brandt, Certified Family Law Specialist, was named the head of Feinberg Mindel Brandt & Klein LLP’s Family Law Department nearly 20 years ago. Through his dedication to mentorship, integrity, and education, internally amongst team members and externally in the family law community, Mr. Brandt ensured the excellence and steady growth of FMBK’s family law department. Today, FMBK stands as one of the nation’s largest and most esteemed family law firms. Presented by UBS 📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GpTRS46pXtvG9rfK8Hw4yRupj0VCGOLk/view?usp=sharing No CLE is provided for this program.

Presented by UBS 📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GpTRS46pXtvG9rfK8Hw4yRupj0VCGOLk/view?usp=sharing No CLE is provided for this program.

Peter represents people in complex divorce cases. He skillfully negotiates marital agreements. His cases involve people with "out of the ordinary" personal and financial issues. He handles international issues from premarital agreements to custody disputes. His clients include entertainers, business owners, inventors, entrepreneurs, real estate investors, athletes, and financiers. Peter has written numerous articles on family law issues and he is a sought after speaker. Peter was Chair of the State Bar Family Law Section and the Los Angeles County Bar Association Family Law Section. He was president of the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists. He was president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, as well as the Southern California Chapter of the AAML. He served on the Elkins Task Force, a statewide panel whose charge is to propose measures to improve efficiency and fairness in family law proceedings and ensure access to justice for family law litigants. Peter was named Family Law Person of the Year in 2009 by the Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and Fellow of the Year by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers in 2010. He received the Hall of Fame award from the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists in 2020 and the Southwestern Law School Max A. Goodman Family Law Legacy Award in 2017. He is listed in Chambers & Partners Tier 1 for their individually ranked attorneys, 2018–2022. Presented by UBS 📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VyOT3JFffjhO691FHDIAGzZN9_FmObGX/view?usp=share_link No CLE is provided for this program.

Lance S. Spiegel is a graduate of the University of Southern California School of Law and was a member of the Law Review. He is admitted to practice before the Courts of the State of California and has also been admitted pro hac vice in several other jurisdictions. Mr. Spiegel has been a panelist and speaker at numerous advanced professional programs and is the author of articles included in Continuing Education of the Bar, Beverly Hills Bar Association, and Los Angeles County Bar Association publications. Mr. Spiegel has been honored nationally by his inclusion in Worth Magazine's "Top 100" Attorneys list in 2007 and 2008. He has also been repeatedly included in Southern California's Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America. He is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Spiegel has been involved in many high-profile and complex family law matters, representing prominent professional athletes and members of the entertainment industry. Presented by UBS 📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_uOgnOaShTSpKP96_k5YU_5kfq9d13ZS/view No CLE is provided for this program.

Judge Silberman has dedicated his career to public service, demonstrating a strong commitment throughout. Originally from New York City and a graduate of Wesleyan University, he relocated to Los Angeles to work as a television writer, contributing to popular shows like Charles in Charge. However, the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s motivated him to shift his focus. Upon obtaining his law degree from USC in 1992, Judge Silberman became the inaugural staff attorney hired by AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), where he provided representation to terminally ill patients in various end-of-life matters and emerged as an early advocate for compassionate legal assistance for AIDS patients. After dedicating several years to APLA, Judge Silberman joined a family law firm, where he refined his litigation skills. The allure of public service led him to join Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County in 1998 as the director of its Family Law/Domestic Violence Program. Concurrently, he held a position as a Professor of Law at USC. In 2004, Judge Silberman's election as Commissioner of the Los Angeles Superior Court marked another milestone in his career, a role he served until his election to the bench in 2008. Presented by UBS 📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JFuv4_3UMe_yhXoSZn-lCGiV7mx1e14f/view?usp=sharing No CLE is provided for this program.

Hon. Anne C. Kiley has served as a Judge of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County since 2023. Prior to taking the bench, she was a Family Law attorney for nearly three decades and a Certified Family Law Specialist since 2001. Anne recognized the unique dynamics presented by every family law case, and had the ability to counsel clients through the complex and emotionally charged issues that arise during the proceeding. Her meticulous dedication to understanding and studying family law earned her a position as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, where she taught since 2007. Presented by UBS 📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12tuUmRHrYyd7NZp-3p1/view?usp=sharing No CLE is provided for this program.

Hon. Amy M. Pellman (Ret.) is a highly regarded retired judge, renowned for her unwavering commitment to family law and children's rights. Her legal career has been marked by groundbreaking advocacy, public service, and a relentless pursuit of fairness. Now, as a mediator and private judge, Judge Pellman proudly joins Signature Resolution, drawn to its reputation for attracting top family law judges and fostering a sense of community. Presented by UBS 📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/17u3aODQTuXAvCpoDi1BxHYYYthNIFIDqKd/view?usp=sharing No CLE is provided for this program.

Keith M. Clemens, Commissioner of the Superior Court (Ret.), celebrates 50 years as an attorney this year. He became a Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner in 1991, serving in family law judicial assignments, initially in the North Valley District in San Fernando and then in Department 9 in what is now the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. Commissioner Clemens has been a private judge for the past 26 years, limiting his practice as a neutral solely to adjudicating and mediating family law matters. He works through ARC (Alternative Resolution Centers). Bruce Clemens is a prominent figure in family law, now in his 49th year of private practice as a family law lawyer, including 46 years representing clients in family law matters, teaching, writing, and finally combining all of this experience in his current work as a neutral/mediator. He started his family law career in 1974 at Loeb and Loeb and soon co-founded the esteemed Beverly Hills family law firm of Jaffe and Clemens in 1977, where he served the next 42 years as the managing partner. Today, Bruce Clemens dedicates his expertise exclusively through ARC (Alternative Resolution Centers), where he excels as a Family Law Settlement Specialist and Early-Stage Dialogue Facilitator. Presented by UBS 📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mS0McNKIEA0VDkcQC2hWSZqbwW4AfTAv/view?usp=sharing No CLE is provided for this program.

Glen H. Schwartz is the principal of the Beverly Hills law firm of Glen H. Schwartz A Law Corporation. Glen is a Certified Family Law Specialist, a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. A former Chair of the LACBA Family Law Section and Chair of seven Child Custody Colloquiums as well as other professional appointments, Glen is also recognized as a knowledgeable and passionate advocate of legal issues pertaining to all aspects of family law, and has been the recipient of the prestigious AFCC Joseph Drown Award, given in recognition of contributions to the betterment of children and families going through the divorce process. Glen's accomplishments have been profiled in numerous publications and periodicals, including the front page of The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, and The Los Angeles Daily Journal, and he was even depicted in a movie of the week based upon one of his many interesting cases. Presented by UBS 📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bNaloYhoARNdrZEDdqaHIGqZDbdiiYN2/view?usp=share_link No CLE is provided for this program.

Judge Gordon served on the Los Angeles Superior Court for 17 years and spent nine years in leadership positions as the Assistant Supervising and Supervising Judge of the Family Law and Criminal Divisions. He was appointed by the Chief Justice of California as a voting member on the Judicial Council of California, the policy-making body for the Judicial Branch. During his tenure in the Family Law Division, he handled thousands of cases, many of which were complex, high-profile business, sports and entertainment cases. He presided over trials and settled cases involving the most complex property, business, and child custody issues. Judge Gordon has unique experience handling international child custody disputes and child abduction cases. He was appointed by the Chief Justice of California to provide technical assistance to California judges regarding the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and was named by the United States Department of State to be one of the four judges in the United States to serve on the International Network of Hague Convention Judges. Judge Gordon has extensive experience in issues dealing with law enforcement and police misconduct cases. He previously served as a police officer and detective for the Santa Monica Police Department and as an Instructor for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Los Angeles Police Department, and the FBI. As a deputy district attorney, he was the first former law enforcement officer selected to serve in the Special Investigations Division responsible for the investigation and prosecution of officer-involved shootings and police misconduct. Presented by UBS No CLE is provided for this program.

From 2016 until his retirement, Judge Lewis served as the supervising judge for the Los Angeles County Family Law Division where he oversaw the operations of nearly 70 family law departments in the county. From 2014 to 2016 he served in a long cause family law trial department in Los Angeles; he was Assistant Supervising Judge of the Family Law Division from 2011 to 2014. Judge Lewis served in a regular family law department from 2006 until 2014. He became a Certified Family Law Specialist in 1985, was inducted into the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) in 1987, and was inducted as a fellow of the International Academy of Family Law in 2016. Judge Lewis is a past president of the California Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. He is also a contributing author of The Rutter Group's California Practice Guide: Family Law and serves as Program Director for CFLR for the update program, the advanced family law program, the basic training program, the evidence programs, and the expert series programs. Presented by UBS 📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ut7RvlfRXS9l77U2zQrrN3rdPCRrWmzz/view?usp=sharing No CLE is provided for this program.

Presented by UBS 📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HBv9zKVtfqoCXRHYtJUVOKpBfknptKY4/view?usp=sharing No CLE is provided for this program.

Presented by UBS 📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TlKfcq57iM72aGP5WpZ9FYAobpFgiY70/view?usp=sharing No CLE is provided for this program.

Evan C. Itzkowitz has dedicated his career to the practice of family law, exclusively focusing on this area since 2001. As a partner at Blevans Itzkowitz Cantrell LLP, Mr. Itzkowitz provides his clients with a deep well of knowledge and experience, guiding them through some of the most challenging times in their lives. Presented by UBS 📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BloH_P5SwbNtMZ9YDawxR2H8LI_VwicW/view?usp=sharing No CLE is provided for this program.

Kimia Klein is a distinguished professional renowned for her unwavering dedication to navigating the complexities of family law. With a focus on high net worth clients, including athletes, artists, entrepreneurs, and professionals, Kimia has consistently achieved favorable results in resolving intricate family law issues. Specializing in complex marital property matters, she brings a wealth of experience to the forefront, regularly demonstrating her proficiency in drafting prenuptial agreements, postnuptial agreements, and cohabitation agreements. Beyond traditional dispute resolution methods, Kimia's commitment extends to both trial advocacy and discreet settlement strategies. Her comprehensive approach ensures that clients receive the best possible outcomes, solidifying her reputation as a trusted ally for those navigating the intricate landscape of high-stakes legal matters. Presented by UBS 📂 Access materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O_P3tSmnaPrsgG7MqNanppwJAYX79Ls_/view?usp=sharing No CLE is provided for this program.

Presented by UBS No CLE is provided for this program.