PARTNERS OF FIRM
Sorrell Trope (Founding Partner) born Albany, New York, June 9, 1927; admitted to bar, 1949, California, U.S. District Court, Southern District of California; 1952, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; 1952, U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals; 1954, U.S. Supreme Court; 1958, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit. Education: University of Southern California (A.B., 1947; J.D., 1949). Phi Kappa Phi. Bencher Emeritus of American Inns of Court, University of Southern California Legion Lex Chapter, 1985. Recipient: Los Angeles County Bar Spencer Brandeis Award for outstanding contribution to the practice of family law, 1998; Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law Ramsey Award for commitment to justice for all people, 1998. Author: "Preparing for Trial and Trials," California Marital Dissolve Practice, 1983; "California Family Law Trial Technique," LA County Family Law Bar Symposium, 1984-1989. Co-Author: "Initial Order to Show Cause," 1991-2000 Family Law Reference Book, LA County Family Law Bar; Selected Topics in Divorce and Real Estate (Chapter 18, from proceedings of the University of Southern California Law Center 47th Annual Institute on Federal Taxation); California Evidence For The Family Law Lawyer, A New Approach, 1998; California Evidence For The Family Law Lawyer, 2001. Adjunct Professor of Law, University of Southern California School of Law. Dividing Property on Dissolution of Marriage, University of California Continuing Education of the Bar, August, 1980; Family Law Litigation, University of California Continuing Education of the Bar, November, 1981; Advanced Domestic Relations Practice, University of Southern California Law School, March, 1982; The Masters Series, Advanced Family Law, Pepperdine School of Law, 1983, Banff, Canada; Advanced Family Law Program, Pepperdine University School of Law, 1983-1984; The Masters Series, Advanced Family Law, Pepperdine University School of Law, 1984, London, England; Family Law Litigation, University of California Continuing Education of the Bar, January, 1986; Family Law Litigation, University of Southern California, 1989; University of Southern California School of Law, Settlement Litigation and Family Law, Spring Semester, 1989. Lecturer: Continuing Education of the Bar, Legal Seminars, University of California, 1970; Family Law, The Rutter Group; Family Law Litigation, University of California Continuing Education of the Bar, January, 1986; University of Southern California School of Law, The High Asset Celebrity Divorce, Spring Semester, 1989; University of Southern California School of Law, Advanced Professional Program, The Management and Marketing of a Family Practice, Fall Semester, 1991; Beverly Hills Bar Association Family Law Symposium-Cash Available and Unreported or Hidden Assets, November, 1992; University of Southern California Family Law Institute-The Ethical Limits of Advocacy, June, 1993; University of Southern California Family Law Institute-The Ethics of Running a Law Practice, September, 1994; University of Southern California School of Law-The Management and Marketing of a Family Law Practice, April, 1994; The Ethics of Custody Litigation, University of Southern California Family Law Institute, 1995; Divorce Trial By the Masters, University of Southern California Law Center Continuing Legal Education Program, 1995; The Ethics of Presenting Evidence in Family Law Cases, University of Southern California Family Law Institute, 1996; The Management and Marketing of a Law Practice to Financial Success, University of Southern California Law School, 1996; Fourth Annual Family Law Ethics Institute-Ethical Issues Unique to Family Law, 1997; Fifth Annual Family Law Ethics Institute-The Ethics of Settlement, 1998; "Lawyers, Loyalty, Lies, and Liability," Los Angeles County Bar Ethics Institute, April 2002. Panelist: Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Symposium-Goodwill, Retirement Plans, Family Residence, May, 1981; Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Symposium-Tax Considerations, May. 1982; Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Symposium, May, 1981, May 1982, April, 1983; Dividing Property on Dissolution of Marriage, University of California Continuing Education of the Bar, February, 1983; Evidentiary Problems in Family Law Trial Tactics and Techniques, Beverly Hills Bar Association and University of Southern California Family Law Symposium, October, 1983; The Rutter Group- Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Workshop, November, 1983; Family Law Litigation and Enforcement of Orders, University of California Continuing Education of the Bar, January, 1984; Family Law Practice-Major 1984 Legislation, The Rutter Group, Los Angeles County Bar, April, 1984; Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Symposium Special Issues, May, 1984; The Rutter Group- Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Workshop, December, 1984; The Rutter Group, Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Workshop, November, 1985; Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Symposium, Presentation of Post-Judgment Order to Show Cause for Modification of Spousal and Child Support, April, 1989; University of California Continuing Education of the Bar, Dividing Property on Dissolution of Marriage, October, 1994; University of Southern California 47th Annual Institute on Federal Taxation, 1995; Consequences, Fiduciary Obligations, Disclosure and Set Asides-Los Angeles County Bar Association Family Law Symposium, 1995; Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Symposium, Fiduciary Obligations, Disclosure and Set Asides, 1995; American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers-Lawyer to Lawyer Ethical Responsibility of Academy Fellows, 1996; American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Fourth Annual Institute of Trial Advocacy: Ethical Issues Unique to Family Law Cases, 1997; Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Symposium, The Trial-Secrets of Trial Preparation, May 1998; American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Institute of Trial Advocacy-Litigating Complex Family Law Issues, 1999; Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Symposium, Apportionment-Analyzing Increases Re The Value of Separate Property, May 2001; Apportionment, Analyzing Increase in Value of Separate Property-Los Angeles County Bar Association Family Law Symposium, 2001; Lawyers, Loyalty, Lies and Liability-Los Angeles County Bar Association Family Law, 2002; La Musga-Landmark ruling on child custody relocation-Los Angeles County Bar Association Family Law, 2004; Family Law Over the Years: A Historical Perspective-Los Angeles County Bar Association Family Law, 2005; Breaking Up Is Hard To Do-AAML Symposium, April 2007. Judge Pro Tem, Los Angeles Superior Court, 1970-1972. Chairperson, Southern California Committee Family Law Commission of State Senate Judicial Committee, 1983. Member, State Assembly Family Law Advisory Committee, 1984. Member: Los Angeles County (Member, Executive Committee, Family Law Section, 1980-1996, 2000) and American Bar Associations. Fellow: American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers; International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. (Certified Specialist, Family Law, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization). Reported Cases: Sokolow v. City of Hope (1953) 41 Cal. App. 2d 556; Arsenian v. Meketarian (1956) 138 Cal. App. 2d 627; Wunch v. Wunch (1960) 184 Cal. App. 2d 527; Rheuban v. Rheuban (1965) 238 Cal. App. 2d 552; Buck v. Superior Court of Orange (1965) 232 Cal. App. 2d 153; Buck v. Superior Court of Ventura (1966) 245 Cal. App. 2d 431; Escrow Owners v. Taft Allen, Inc. (1967) 252 Cal. App. 2d 506; People v. Superior Court (1970) 3 Cal. App. 3d 648; Alonso Investment Corporation v. Doff (1976) 17 Cal. App. 3d 539; Care Construction v. Century Convalescent Centers (1976) 54 Cal. App. 3d 701; Marriage of Keeva (1977) 66 Cal. App. 3d 512; Marriage, of Clark (1978) 80 Cal. App. 3d 417; Marriage of Marx (1979) 97 Cal. App. 3d 552; Marriage of Marx (1979) 92 Cal. App. 3d 984; Marriage of Koppleman (1984) 159 Cal. App. 3d 627; Marriage of Garrity/Bishton (1986) 181 Cal. App. 3d 675; Marriage of Segal (1986) 179 Cal. App. 3d 602; Marriage of Segal (1986) 177 Cal. App. 3d 1030; Marriage of Okum (1987) 195 Cal. App. 3d 176; Marriage of Dick (1993) 15 Cal. App. 4th 144; Estevez v. Superior Court (1994) 22 Cal. App. 4th 423; Marriage of Armato (2001) 88 Cal. App. 4th 1030; Eisendrath v. Superior Court (2003) 109 Cal. App. 4th 351; Marriage of Kreiss (2004) 122 Cal. App. 4th 1092; Marriage of Sherman (2005) 133 Cal. App. 4th 795. Practice Areas: Family Law(100%).Email: Sorrell Trope
Eugene L. Trope (Co-founding Partner) born Albany, New York, December 4, 1916; admitted to bar, 1946, California; U.S. District Court, Southern District of California; 1954, U.S. Supreme Court; 1958, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; 1961, U.S. District Court, District of Hawaii; 1978, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; 1980, U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals; 1982, U.S. Court of International Trade; 1988, U.S. Claims Court. Education: University of Southern California (A.B., 1939); University of Southern California Law School (1939-1940); Pacific Coast Law (LL.B., 1941). Author: "Recent Developments in California Law of Adoption," Los Angeles Daily Journal, May 14, 1996; "Move Away Law Untangled," Los Angeles Daily Journal, June 10, 1996; "The Legality of Taking Pictures In Public Places," Los Angeles Daily Journal, September 30, 1997; "Pay Checks - The Heady Days of Sky High Executive Salaries May Soon Come to An End," Los Angeles Daily Journal, June 15, 1998. Co-Founder, Trope and Trope. Served as Chairman of the Board of several acute hospitals in Southern California. Pro bono work with, "Habitat for Humanity," which organization was founded by former President Jimmy Carter. Judge Pro Tem, Los Angeles Municipal and Superior Courts, 1993-2001. Involved in Alternative Dispute Resolution, American Bar Association and Beverly Hills Bar Association, 1994-2001. He gained nation wide attention in his year long defense of the pilot (Doresy Wingo) in the well publicized manslaughter case known as the "Twilight Zone". This case was prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office and resulted in an acquittal that Mr. Trope obtained for the pilot. Of interest, Mr. Trope learned how to fly a helicopter, taking his lessons from a Navy instructor, and flew for training between the area of Rialto, California, and Palm Springs, California. Mr. Trope also served as Judge Pro Tem, Los Angeles Municipal and Superior Courts, 1993-2001. Member: Beverly Hills Bar Association; Los Angeles County Bar Association; National Health Lawyers Association; International Bar Association. [1st Lt., U.S. Infantry, 1942, 1943]. Special Agencies: Masons Shriners Town Hall of Los Angeles; Los Angeles World Affairs Council Learning Annex (Speaker). Reported Cases: Sokolow v. City of Hope (1953) 41 Cal. App. 2d 556; Arsenian v. Meketarian (1956) 138 Cal. App. 2d 627; Care Construction v. Century Convalescent Centers (1976) 54 Cal. App. 3d 701.Email: Eugene L. Trope
Steven Knowles (Partner) born Los Angeles, January 19, 1951; admitted to bar, 1977, California; 1978, U.S. District Court, Central District of California; 1979, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Education: University of Southern California (B.A., summa cum laude, 1973); Harvard Law School (J.D., cum laude, 1976). Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Kappa Phi. Member, Harvard Journal of Legislative Review, 1975-1976. Co-Author: "Enforcement of Foreign Judgments," LA County Family Law Bar Symposium Handbook, 1985-1986; "Initial Order to Show Cause," 1991-2002, Family Law Reference Book, LA County Family Law Bar. Adjunct Professor: San Fernando Valley College of Law, 1978-1979; Western States College of Law, 1980-1981. Designee: "The Best Lawyers in America," 2003-2004; "Southern California is Top 100 Super Lawyers, 2004," Los Angeles Magazine. Member: State Bar of California (Member, Family Law Section) American Bar Association (Family Law Section). (Certified Specialist, Family Law, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization). Practice Areas: Family Law; Civil Litigation.Email: Steven Knowles
Mark S. Patt (Partner) born Chicago, Illinois, December 13, 1948; admitted to bar, 1974, California and U.S. District Court, Northern District of California; 1978, U.S. District Court, Central District of California and U.S. District Court, Ninth Circuit. Education: University of California, Los Angeles (B.A., Political Science, cum laude, 1970); University of Michigan Law School (J.D., 1974). Author: "Practical Considerations Concerning California Child Support Guidelines-Rule 1274 and S.B. 101," California Law Monthly, Matthew Bender, 1992. Co-Author: "Initial Order to Show Cause," 1991-2008, Family Law Reference Book, LA County Family Law Bar; Articles for the Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Section Symposium. Panelist: Law Office Management Seminar, State Bar of California, 1993; California State Bar Convention Law Office Management Seminar. Consultant: various California State Legislatures with regard to Child Support and other Family Law Legislation; Family Law/Divorce Resource Website. Participant, Court Mediation Program. Adjunct Professor, Family Law, University of Southern California School of Law, 2007 and 2008. Partner, Trope and Trope, March, 1978. Member: State Bar of California (Member, Family Law Section); Los Angeles County Bar Association (Member, Family Law Section). Practice Areas: Family Law(100%).Email: Mark S. Patt
Thomas Paine Dunlap (Partner) born Oroville, California, June 4, 1949; admitted to bar, 1974, California and U.S. District Court, Central District of California; 1975, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California; 1980, U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Customs Court; U.S. Court of International Trade; 1989, U.S. District Court, Southern District of California. Education: University of California at Berkeley (B.A., 1971); University of California at Los Angeles (J.D., 1974). Phi Beta Kappa. Order of the Coif. Author: "Is The Minor's Counsel Statute Unconstitutional?" Family Law News and Review, Feb. 1, 2008; "Children of Fortune," Los Angeles Lawyer, April 2000, Vol. 23, No. 2 and Family Law Reference Book, LACB Association and Los Angeles Superior Court; "Marshallese Property Law...," California State Bar Journal November-December 1977, Vol. 52, #6; "Property Law of the Marshall Islands," Hawaii Bar Journal, Spring 1977. Lecturer: Appellate Review in Family Law, AAML Trial Advocacy Institute, 1996; Records, Briefs, Sanctions and Fees, Beverly Hills Bar Association Annual Symposium, 1996; OSC High Earners, California Society of CPA's and State Bar 2000 Family Law Conference. Member: Los Angeles County Bar Association (Member, Appellate Courts Committee, 1996); State Bar of California. (Certified Specialist, Appellate Law, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization). Reported Cases: In Re Marriage of Templeton (1993) 14 Cal. App. 4th 607; In Re Marriage of Dick (1993) 15 Cal. App. 4th 144; In Re Marriage of Quay (1993) 18 Cal. App. 4th 961; Estevez v. Superior Court (1994) 22 Cal. App. 4th 423; In Re Marriage of Gigliotti (1995) 33 Cal. App. 4th 518; In Re Marriage of Lurie-Marino (1995) 33 Cal. App. 4th 658; Trope & Trope v. Katz (1995) 11 Cal. App. 4th 274; Glade v. Glade (1995) 38 Cal. App. 4th 1441; Elden v. Superior Court (1997) 53 Cal. App. 4th 148; In Re Marriage of Drake (1997) 53 Cal. App. 4th 1139; Punsly v. Ho (2001) 87 Cal. App. 4th 1099; In re Marriage of Armato (2001) 88 Cal. App. 4th 1030; Eisendrath v. Superior Court (2003) 109 Cal. App. 4th 351; In Re Marriage of Kreiss (2004) 122 Cal. App. 4th 1082; In Re Marriage of Sherman (2005) 133 Cal. App. 4th 795. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Family Law; Family and Civil Appeals.Email: Thomas Paine Dunlap
Anne Campbell Kiley (Partner) born Kalamazoo, Michigan, July 2, 1964; admitted to bar, 1990, California. Education: University of Michigan (B.A., with high honors, 1986; J.D., cum laude, 1989). Order of the Coif. Associate Editor, Michigan Law Review. Associate Clinical Professor of Law, USC Law School, Fall term 2003; Adjunct Professor of Law, USC Law School, Spring term 2007 and 2008. Partner, Trope and Trope. Served as Judge Pro Tem panel for the Los Angeles Superior Court Family Law Departments. Member: Los Angeles County and American Bar Associations; State Bar of California. (Certified Specialist, Family Law, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization). Practice Areas: Family Law(100%).Email: Anne Campbell Kiley
John A. Ellis (Partner) born Amarillo, Texas, December 28, 1937; admitted to bar, 1965, California; 1995, Colorado. Education: University of California at Los Angeles (B.A., 1960); Hastings College of the Law, University of California (LL.B., 1964). Author: "Quasi-Estoppel: Black Letter Rule of Law in Family Law Cases?" Beverly Hills Bar Assn. Journal, 1986, State Bar Convention Issue; Family Law News, California State Bar Publication; "Is the Psychotherapist-Patient Privilege Alive and Well in Child Custody Cases?" Beverly Hills Bar Assn. Journal, 1988; Los Angeles County Bar Assn. Family Law News and Review, Child Custody Colloquium Issue, 1988; "I'll Sign Anything.. I Just Want to Make You Happy Or How Valid Are Ante-Nuptial Agreements?" "Search and Seizure Incident to Traffic Violations," Hastings Law Journal, 1964. Contributing Author: "Bifurcation of Issue of Validity or Invalidity of Antenuptial Agreements." Lecturer on: Attorneys Fees in Family Law Matters; Antenuptial Agreements. Judge Pro Tem Panel, Los Angeles and Beverly Hills Municipal Courts. Mediation Panel for Family Departments for Central and West Districts, Los Angeles Superior Court. Team Mediation Panelist, Family Law Department, Los Angeles, Superior Court, Central District. Arbitration Panelist, Los Angeles County Bar Association. Member: Los Angeles County (Member, Family Law Section) and Beverly Hills County (Member, Family Law Section) Bar Associations. Reported Cases: Gaspard-Michel v. Gaspard-Michel, 2 C.A.3d 11, 81 CR 914. Practice Areas: Family Law(100%).Email: John A. Ellis
Lori A. Howe (Partner) born Belleville, New Jersey, November 5, 1965; admitted to bar, 1990, California. Education: State University of New York at Binghamton (B.S., 1987); Pepperdine University (J.D., 1990). Member: State Bar of California; Los Angeles County Bar Association; Beverly Hills County Bar Association. Practice Areas: Family Law(100%).Email: Lori A. Howe
James A. Durant (Partner) born Massena, New York, October 27, 1964; admitted to bar, 1990, Connecticut; 1991, New York and California. Education: Cornell University (B.S., with distinction, 1986); New York University (J.D., 1990). Member: Phi Kappa Phi; Omicron Nu; Red Key Society; Sphinx Head Honorary. Member, Inns of Court (Los Angeles County-Family Law Chapter). Contributor: Corporate Sentencing: A Current Perspective by E.A. Abramowitz and A.P. Williamson (1991); various articles on family law issues. Participant, management training program, Marine Midland Bank, N.A. Member: Los Angeles County Bar Association (Member, Family Law Section); State Bars of California, New York and Connecticut. Reported Cases: Foothill Properties v. Lyon/Copley Corona Associates 46 Cal. App. 4th 1542 (1996). Practice Areas: Family Law(80%); Civil Litigation(20%).Email: James A. Durant
Ronald A. Rale (Partner) born Los Angeles, California, February 6, 1962; admitted to bar, 1988, California; 1998, U.S. Tax Court; 1999, U.S. District Court, Central District of California and U.S. District Court, District of Arizona. Education: University of California, Los Angeles (B.A., 1985); Loyola Law School (J.D., 1988); University of San Diego (LL.M., Taxation, 1992). Estate Planning Lecturer at Shearson Lehman, Beverly Hills. Co-Author: "U.S. Taxation of Athletes in U.S. and Abroad," published in the Journal of International Taxation. Personal Counsel for Anna Nicole Smith in estate litigation which resulted in the largest judgment in the United States in September of 2000, as well as in the highly publicized paternity battle with respect to Ms. Smith's infant daughter. Joined Trope and Trope, February, 2001. Appeared as commentator on special programs, including Court TV, Larry King Live and the Today Show with Matt Lauer. Member: State Bar of California; Los Angeles County Bar Association. Practice Areas: Family Law(100%).Email: Ronald A. Rale
ASSOCIATES
Joseph P. Koenig (Associate) born Detroit, Michigan, September 2, 1961; admitted to bar, 1991, California. Education: University of Southern California (B.A., 1984); Southwestern University School of Law (J.D., 1990). Mr. Koenig has been admitted to the practice of law in the State of California since 1991. His practice has included family law matters for over 14 years, and has been devoted almost exclusively to the area of family law for the pas t 4 ½ years. During this time, he has been involved in literally dozens of family law matters, and has been the trial attorney in numerous cases. He has participated in the Los Angeles County Superior Court Mediation Program in family law and has served as a mediator. Mr. Koenig was a Regional Finalist in the NATL National Trial Competition. Member: Beverly Hills Bar Association Los Angeles County Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Family Law.Email: Joseph P. Koenig
Jennifer M. Leong (Associate) born Honolulu, Hawaii, 1983; admitted to bar, 2008, California and U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; U.S. District Court, Central District of California. Education: University of Southern California (B.A., 2005; J.D., 2008). Phi Alpha Delta. Extern at Los Angeles Superior Court, Family Law Division, Public Counsel Children's Rights Project, and the Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law. Associate, Trope and Trope, 2008. Member: Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and American (Member: Family Law) Bar Associations; State Bar of California.Email: Jennifer M. Leong
Brian P. Lepak (Associate) born Green Bay, Wisconsin, September 9, 1962; admitted to bar, 1987, Wisconsin; 1989, California. Education: University of Wisconsin-Madison (B.A., 1984; J.D., 1987). Member: Los Angeles County (Member, Family Law Section), and Beverly Hills (Member, Family Law Section) Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Family Law.
Bret H. Hunter (Associate) admitted to bar, 1995, Texas; 2000, Georgia; 2002, California. Education: University of Michigan (B.A., with distinction, 1989); Southern Methodist University (J.D., 1992); Emory University (M.A., 2000). Selected as Rising Star, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Member: Beverly Hills, Atlanta and Dallas Bar Associations; State Bar of Georgia; State Bar of Texas; State Bar of California. Practice Areas: Family Law.Email: Bret H. Hunter
Mary Dinius White (Associate) born Los Angeles, California, May 18, 1955; admitted to bar, 1991, California and U.S. District Court, Central District of California. Education: Loyola Marymount University (B.S., magna cum laude, 1977); Loyola Law School (J.D., 1991) Order of the Coif. Phi Delta Phi; Order of the Coif; St Thomas More Honor Society. Recipient, American Jurisprudence Awards in: Trial Advocacy, Estate Planning, Remedies. Member: Los Angeles County Bar Association (Member, Family Law Section); State Bar of California (Member, Family Law Section). (Certified Specialist, Family Law, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization). Practice Areas: Family Law; Trusts and Estates.Email: Mary Dinius White
Mirka Royston (Associate) born Toronto, Canada; admitted to bar, 1996, Ontario; 1997, California; 1998, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California. Education: York University (B.A., Psychology, 1991); Osgoode Hall (LL.B., 1994). Phi Delta Phi. Recipient, Merit Award, York University. Named, Southern California Super Lawyer Rising Star for 2005-2008. Listed, Madison and America's Who's Who. Volunteer, Break the Cycle, a nonprofit organization providing preventive domestic violence education and free legal services to teens throughout Los Angeles County. Several appearances as a family law advisor on legal news programs. Volunteer mediator for Los Angeles Superior Court. Member: State Bar of California. Practice Areas: Family Law; Divorce; Separation Agreements; Child Custody; Child Support; Spousal Support; Restraining Orders; Marital Property Distribution; Complex Business Litigation; Insurance; Professional Negligence.Email: Mirka Royston
Tara Lyn Scott (Associate) born Walnut Creek, California, July 14, 1976; admitted to bar, 2001, California. Education: Loyola Marymount University (B.A., 1998); Pepperdine University (J.D., 2001). Joined the firm in August 2001. Member: State Bar of California. Practice Areas: Family Law.Email: Tara Lyn Scott
Hillary Slevin (Associate) born Ballwin, Missouri, July 29, 1974; admitted to bar, 2000, California. Education: Hampshire College (B.A., 1992); University of California, Los Angeles (J.D., 2000). Joined Trope and Trope in 2003. Judicial Research Attorney, Los Angeles Superior Court, Family Law Department. Member: State Bar of California (Family Law Section); Beverly Hills Bar Association; Los Angeles County Bar Association. Practice Areas: Family Law.Email: Hillary Slevin
Erin Gardiner (Associate) born Michigan, September 30, 1976; admitted to bar, 2004, New York and California. Education: University of Michigan (B.A., 1998); University of Southern California (J.D., 2003). Associate, Trope and Trope, 2004. Interned: Alliance for Children's Rights; ACLU of Southern California; USC Family Violence Clinic. Member: State Bar of California; New York State Bar Association; Los Angeles County Bar Association. Practice Areas: Family Law(100%).Email: Erin Gardiner
Jonathan Pakravan (Associate) born Los Angeles, California, August 26, 1980; admitted to bar, 2005, California. Education: University of California at Los Angeles (B.A., 2002); University of Southern California (J.D., 2005). Extern, Family Law Division, Los Angeles Superior Court. Member: Beverly Hills and Los Angeles County Bar Associations; State Bar of California. Languages: English and Farsi. Practice Areas: Family Law(100%).Email: Jonathan Pakravan
Melanie Shornick (Associate) admitted to bar, 2002, California. Education: University of California at Los Angeles (B.A., 1997); Southwestern University School of Law (J.D., 2002). Member, Moot Court Board of Governors, 2001-2002. Finalist, Rendigs Moot Court Competition. Former Associate with Reback, McAndrews & Kjar. Selected as a Rising Star for Southern California Super Lawyers, 2009. Member: State Bar of California. Reported Cases: Simmons V. Ghaderi (2008) 44 Cal. 4th 570; Quintanilla v. Dunkelman (2005) 133 Cal. App. 4th 95, 42 Cal. Rptr. 3d 557. Practice Areas: Family Law(100%).Email: Melanie Shornick
Sophie C. Bidet (Associate) born Birmingham, Alabama, May 6, 1977; admitted to bar, 2005, California. Education: University of California, San Diego (B.A., Economics, with dean's honors, 1999); University of San Francisco Law School (J.D., 2003). Named, California Rising Star in 2008. Recipient, CALI Awards for Evidence and for Real Estate Transactions. Formerly with: Department of Labor, Clifford Chance in Paris, France. Former Associate at Buter, Buzard, Dunaetz & Fishbein LLP. State Bar Representative, 2001. Member: State Bar of California; Consulate General de France a Los Angeles. Languages: French. Practice Areas: Family Law(100%).Email: Sophie C. Bidet
Meghann M. Bonvie (Associate) born Elyria, Ohio, February 20, 1979; admitted to bar, 2005, California. Education: Bowling Green State University (B.A., 2000); West Virginia University College of Law (J.D., 2004). Formerly with Law Office of Charlene S. Baron. Practice Areas: Family Law.Email: Meghann M. Bonvie
Elizabeth Stuart Perry (Associate) born New York, N.Y., June 21, 1975; admitted to bar, 2006, California and U.S. District Court, Central District of California. Education: University of Chicago (A.B., Biological Sciences, 1995); Duke University School of Law (J.D., 2003). Recipient: Duke Law merit-based scholarship, visiting semester at UCLA Law, 2003; National Merit Scholar, University of Chicago. Resident Honors Program year, University of Southern California, 1992-1993. Executive Editor: Duke Environmental Law and Policy Forum, 2001; Hardt Cup Moot Court Competition, 1999. Author: "Integrating Evaluation into a Technology Education Program" Stuart Perry, H.E. and Carol D. Saunders, 1997. Volunteer Income Tax Assistant; Student Mediator; Pro Bono Project; North Carolina IOLTA. Grant Recipient; International Law Study, Geneva, Switzerland, 1999. Classical High School, Providence, Rhode Island (1989-1993). Intern, The White House, 1997. Former Associate, Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP (business litigation), 2003-2004. Summer Associate, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld LLP, 2002. Attorney Volunteer, Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law, 2006. Joined Trope and Trope as an associate in 2007. Member: Los Angeles County Bar Association (Member, Family Law Section); State Bar of California (Member, Family Law Section); American Bar Association (Member, Family Law Section). Practice Areas: Family Law(100%).Email: Elizabeth Stuart Perry
Michelle Fay (Associate) born Oakland, California, September 21, 1974; admitted to bar, 2000, California. Education: University of California at Los Angeles (B.A., 1996); Loyola Law School (J.D., 2000). Pro Bono Attorney-Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles' Family Law and Domestic Violence Clinic. Former Associate with Hamrick & Evans, LLP. Member: State Bar of California. Practice Areas: Family Law.Email: Michelle Fay
Sarah M. Engelbert (Associate) born Michigan; admitted to bar, 2005, California and U.S. District Court, Central District of California; 2006, Illinois. Education: Valparaiso University (B.S., Business Administration, 2002); Pepperdine University (J.D., 2005); Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University (Certificate, 2005). Recipient, Certificate in Dispute Resolution by Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University, 2005. Alumni, Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution. Languages: English. Practice Areas: Family Law.Email: Sarah M. Engelbert