PARTNERS
Robert P. Des Jardins (Partner) born Hartford, Connecticut, September 29, 1940; admitted to bar, 1974, California; 1977, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of Connecticut (B.S., 1962); Pepperdine University (J.D., cum laude, 1974). Former Editorial Consultant, California Family Law Monthly. Speaker, Continuing Education of the Bar, Drafting of Marital Settlement Agreements, Negotiating and Drafting Marital Contracts, CEB on Recent Developments in Family Law, Developments in Family Law, Rutter Group. Member: Orange County (Former President, Family Law Section) and American (Member: Family Law Section; Marital Torts Committee; Marital Property Committee; Trial Techniques Committee and Senior Lawyers Division) Bar Associations; State Bar of California; American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (Fellow; Trial Advocacy, 1998; Cash Flow Analysis; Member, Board of Directors, Southern California Chapter); Orange County Trial Attorneys Family Law Attorney of the Year. [Army 1962-1963]. (Certified Specialist, Family Law, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization). Reported Cases: In Re Marriage of Padilla (1995), 38 CA4th 1212 Languages: French. Practice Areas: Family Law.
Michael J. Haapala (Partner) born Ashtabula, Ohio, May 30, 1971; admitted to bar, 1996, California; 1999, U.S. District Court, Central District of California. Education: California State Polytechnic University (B.S., Business Administration, Finance and Real Estate Law, cum laude, 1993); Western State University (J.D., with scholastic merit, 1996). Recipient, American Jurisprudence Awards. Member, Western State University Law Review. Author: "Premarital Agreements and the Waiver of Spousal Support," Orange County Lawyer, December, 1998. Member: Orange County (Member, Family Law Section/Former Director at Large, Executive Committee) 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.Email: Michael J. Haapala
ASSOCIATE
Ariel A. Tello (Associate) born Fontana, California, February 15, 1976; admitted to bar, 2002, California. Education: University of California at Los Angeles (B.A., 1998); Whittier College School of Law (J.D., 2001). Phi Alpha Delta. Trial Advocacy Honors Board. Member: Orange County Bar Association (Family Law Section). Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Family Law.Email: Ariel A. Tello