2026 AAML Midyear Meeting

Speaker Biographies

Click a speaker name or headshot to read their bio. To learn more about the speaker's session, view the CLE Program page. To read the facilitator and keynote speaker biographies, view the Facilitator and Keynote Speaker Biographies page. To view the entire Midyear Meeting schedule, view the Schedule page.

Thomson

Kiilu Davis

Owner, kdlaw, P.C. (Arizona)
Pricing & Profitability: How Innovation, Automation, and Client Value Influence the Future of Legal Fees

Kiilu Davis is an experienced trial lawyer with a broad background.  Kiilu’s practice is exclusively focused in family law and primarily involves complex matrimonial litigation, trial work and appeals.  Kiilu also devotes a portion of his practice to mediation, special master work and as a court appointed Parenting Coordinator. Kiilu is recognized as one of the leading family law attorneys in the state and is a frequent speaker and contributor at Continuing Legal Education seminars. 

While being very business minded, Kiilu has a thoughtful understanding of the complexities of legal decision making and parenting time and how those issues weigh heavily on his clients.  Kiilu prides himself on being able to help guide his clients through the various issues encountered during litigation with the understanding that his job is to help craft or obtain a resolution which is not only beneficial today but in the future as well.

Thomson

Charles DeLacey

Partner, Higdon, Hardy & Zuflacht LLP (Texas)
Pricing & Profitability: How Innovation, Automation, and Client Value Influence the Future of Legal Fees

Charles provides discreet and skillful advocacy for clients facing divorce or post-divorce litigation throughout Northern California. Charles represents clients in cases involving business ownership interests, private equity, venture capital, real estate, complex executive compensation and other sophisticated financial issues. Such cases often involve complex asset valuation and division issues coupled with more complicated spousal and child support issues. Charles frequently coordinates teams of forensic accountants, business and real estate valuation to achieve his clients' financial objectives.

Charles regularly represents clients negotiating pre- and post-marital agreements to protect and divide estates for marital or estate planning purposes.

Charles is a talented trial attorney and completed his first jury trial in 1994. He has represented clients through judgment each year since.  However, like most dissolution attorneys, Charles settles most of his cases, but his willingness and ability to take issues to trial greatly benefits his clients while in the settlement stage of cases.

Charles represents clients in mediations, arbitrations, private judge proceedings, and court trials in all Bay Area counties.

Gray

Charles Hardy

Partner, Higdon, Hardy & Zuflacht LLC (Texas)
60 Tips in 60 Minutes to Supercharge Your Practice

Charles E. Hardy is a partner at Higdon, Hardy & Zuflacht, L.L.P. in San Antonio, Texas, and is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a distinction he has held since 1989. He earned his B.F.A. in Journalism (1980) and B.B.A. in Business (1981) from Southern Methodist University before receiving his J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 1983. 

Over the course of more than four decades in practice, Mr. Hardy has built a reputation as a leader in family law, known for his deep expertise, dedication to the profession, and innovative approaches to both litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Mr. Hardy is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and a member of its Texas Chapter, where he served as President from 2010–2011. He is also a Fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and has long been active with the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, serving as a Board Member and President. He served as a member of the State Bar of Texas Family Law Council for 8 years and is currently President of the Texas Family Law Foundation. Locally, he twice served as President of the San Antonio Family Lawyers Association, where he has been an active member since 1989. 

His leadership has extended into public service as well, including membership on the Bexar County Domestic Relations Office Advisory Board and his mentorship through the Bexar County Community Justice Program. Recognized consistently for his professional excellence, Mr. Hardy has been named a Texas Monthly “Super Lawyer" multiple times (2006–2025) and maintains an “AV" rating by Martindale-Hubbell. He is the recipient of the American Bar Association’s Family Law Pro Bono Award (2005) and the San Antonio Bar Association President’s Award (2004, 2005). An accomplished author and lecturer, Mr. Hardy has presented across Texas and nationally on a wide range of family law topics for more than 25 years. His programs have addressed discovery and evidence, valuation and property division, child custody litigation, mediation strategies, attorney’s fees, billing practices, office management, and, most recently, the use of artificial intelligence in law practice. He has served as course director, panelist, and moderator at many of the state’s premier family law seminars, including the State Bar of Texas Advanced Family Law Course, the Marriage Dissolution Institute, and the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists Trial Institute. His ability to combine substantive expertise with practical insight has made him a sought-after speaker for both legal and paralegal audiences. 
Mr. Hardy is fluent in English and Spanish. Outside of his professional commitments, he is married to Karen Maxham Hardy and is the proud father of two children—his son, Chase, an attorney in San Antonio, and his daughter, Paige, who lives in Nashville with her husband.
 

Green

Meighan Harmon 

Managing Partner, Schiller, DuCanto and Fleck LLP (Illinois)
Pricing & Profitability: How Innovation, Automation, and Client Value Influence the Future of Legal Fees

Meighan Harmon is a versatile attorney who offers her clients a wide range of dispute resolution options. With extensive experience as a litigator and a fierce advocate in the courtroom, she is also a trained in collaborative law and mediation. Meighan strives to create thoughtful, creative solutions to amicably settle even the most challenging cases.  While she assists her clients in dissolving their marriages, she encourages them to focus on the future. Her goal is to reduce feelings of vulnerability and increase a sense of empowerment during a challenging time. She believes that divorce can present a unique opportunity for clients to build a positive future for themselves, complete with financial and emotional security. To support this process, Meighan provides her clients with essential tools to construct a solid foundation to navigate their new lives. She sees divorce as a chance for clients to reinvent themselves.  Meighan specializes in complex family law cases involving the distribution of "multimillion dollar" high-net-worth estates, representing successful business professionals and their spouses across various industries and individuals with multi-generational family wealth.
 
She is part of an elite group of leaders in family law and has been recognized as a “Lawyer of the Year" in Family Law by The Best Lawyers in America for two years—2021 and 2024. In 2011, Meighan was elected by her peers to serve as President of the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and continues to be an active member of the American Academy, the International Academy of Family Lawyers, and the American College of Family Trial Lawyers, which is limited to the top 100 family law trial lawyers in the country. In 2020 and each subsequent year, Meighan earned international recognition from Chambers and Partners USA, which ranked her in the top tier (Band 1) for Family/Matrimonial Law: High Net Worth. For many years, Super Lawyers has recognized Meighan as one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers the Top 100 Lawyers in Illinois, across all practice areas. She has consistently received accolades from the Leading Lawyers Network and Illinois Super Lawyers since 2006.

In addition to her legal practice, Meighan is a frequent lecturer on family law topics and a published author. She has contributed to the research and drafting of numerous books and articles covering a variety of family law subjects, including litigation and mediation strategy, executive compensation, pre- and post-marital agreements, international family law, trust and estates in family law cases, and much more.
 

Griffin

Taylor House

Managing Partner, Reardon House Colton PLC (Arizona)
Leading from the Inside Out: Authenticity, Effective Communication, and High-Performance in High-Stress Environments

Taylor S. House is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and a Board-Certified Specialist in Family Law by the State Bar of Arizona. A partner at Reardon House Colton PLC, he focuses on complex divorce and custody matters, including business valuations, financial disputes, and estate planning issues. Taylor is AV Preeminent-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers (2022 - 2025), and served on the Family Law Section Board of the Maricopa County Bar Association. Taylor frequently presents at legal seminars and has authored numerous articles, including contributions to Arizona Attorney Magazine.

Hepfer

Ed Kainen 

Senior and Managing Partner, Kainen Law Group, PLLC (Nevada)
Tracking What Matters: How to Use Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to Drive Smarter Decisions 

Ed Kainen is the senior and managing partner of the Las Vegas law firm Kainen Law Group, PLLC, which is an 'AV' rated firm and featured in the Bar Register of Preeminent Attorneys.  Kainen Law Group is the largest group of most-credentialed family lawyers in Nevada, and it is where he leads of team of seven dedicated and talented family lawyers, three of whom are Board Certified Specialists and Fellows of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML). Mr. Kainen, himself, is an elected Fellow of the AAML and the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL). 

He is a Nevada Board Certified Specialist in Family Law and is also Nationally Board Certified in Family Trial Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.  He has achieved the highest rating available by the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. Mr. Kainen was the first Chair of the Nevada Board of Certified Family Law Specialists and held that position for five years. He is a Past President of the Nevada Chapter of the AAML and has served on the National Organization’s Board of Governors.  He is admitted to the practice of law in the state and federal courts of Nevada, Florida and Kansas.
 

Sasser

Adam Kibort

Partner, Grund & Leavitt P.C. (Illinois)
Leading from the Inside Out: Authenticity, Effective Communication, and High-Performance in High-Stress Environments

Adam C. Kibort (JD/MBA) is a Partner with Grund & Leavitt, P.C. in Chicago, Illinois. He is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL), and a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and Past-President of the Illinois Chapter (2020-2021). 

Mr. Kibort practices exclusively family law, representing clients in the litigation and resolution of matrimonial and family-related matters. His work spans a wide range of issues, including custody disputes, complex financial analysis, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, and the characterization and disposition of marital and non-marital assets. He has successfully litigated matters involving maintenance and child support, fraudulent transfer and dissipation claims, asset valuation and division, as well as compensation disputes. His experience also extends to international and multi-jurisdictional family law, including actions under the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and the International Child Abduction Remedies Act (ICARA). In addition, Mr. Kibort has represented clients in cases under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), the Stored Communications Act, and in spoliation of evidence claims. He has also successfully guided parties through mediation and arbitration, including proceedings before the Beth Din Zedek.  

His peers and colleagues recognize him as a leading advocate for his clients. He has been named “Lawyer of the Year" in Family Law by Best Lawyers in America® (2026) and was selected as one of Illinois’ “40 Under 40 Attorneys to Watch" by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company (2016).

Schutz

Rob McAngus 

Partner, Verner Brumley Mueller Parker, P.C. (Texas)
Pricing & Profitability: How Innovation, Automation, and Client Value Influence the Future of Legal Fees

Rob McAngus is a partner at Mueller Family Law Group and is board certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Family Lawyers.  Rob’s practice centers on complex and high-conflict divorce, high-asset property division, custody disputes, and marital property agreements. He is frequently appointed by courts as an amicus attorney and is also an AAML Certified Mediator.

In addition to his practice, Rob serves on the Advisory Board for the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, the Texas Family Law Foundation Board, and the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists. As chair of the Texas Family Law Foundation Bill Review Committee, he reviews every family-law-related bill filed with the Texas Legislature, helping ensure sound policy for Texas families.  A frequent speaker at CLE programs across Texas and nationally, Rob is committed to equipping attorneys with the tools to better serve their clients. Drawing on his own experiences as an adopted child and member of a blended family, he brings a unique personal perspective to the practice of family law.
 

Schwartz

Kathryn Mickelson 

Equity Partner, Beermann LLP (Illinois)
60 Tips in 60 Minutes to Supercharge Your Practice


Katy Mickelson is an Equity Partner at Beermann LLP, a 50+ attorney family law firm founded in 1958. After transitioning from a lucrative career in consumer public relations, Katy began her family law career with Beermann as a clerk during law school. Since she joined Beermann as an attorney in 2005, Katy has helped grow the firm to be one of the largest and most well-respected family law firms in the United States.  

Katy's trial and courtroom experience is extensive, and she believes that each family law client has a story to tell, whether it is related to complex financial matters or parenting issues. However, she also subscribes to the philosophy that public disputes in court should only be a last resort to resolve family law conflict. When costly litigation can be avoided, Katy will draw on her experience as a certified mediator to settle cases efficiently and expeditiously. It is this commitment to practical, no-nonsense problem-solving that has clients entrusting their most complicated, sensitive and nuanced family law issues to Katy.

Katy’s unique background in business and marketing, and her understanding of the importance of effective storytelling and messaging in family law, set her apart from her peers. Katy considers her audience – whether it is the client, judge or opposing counsel – carefully. She listens and then speaks, which allows her to come up with creative solutions that are uniquely tailored to that specific case or client.  

In addition to her support as a Fellow of both the IAFL and AAML, including serving on the Board of Governors for the Illinois Chapter, Katy gives back to the family law community in other ways.  She serves as a faculty member for the National Family Law Trial Institute in Fort Worth, Texas; as a mentor for younger family law attorneys; as chair of Beermann’s Law Clerk and Externship Program; and as a frequent panelist, author and lecturer.  

Katy is also an avid supporter of and mouthpiece for her native Chicago. A University of Michigan alumnus and graduate of Chicago-Kent College of Law, Katy is a Midwest girl at heart. She is an active member of the Economic Club of Chicago and the newest member of the Board of Trustees for the Tony award-winning Court Theatre, a professional theatre in residence at the University of Chicago.  Katy has been consistently recognized for her contributions to family law by Super Lawyers, Leading Lawyers, and Best Lawyers, was selected as one of the 40 Under 40 Attorneys to Watch in 2012 by Law Bulletin Media and has been honored with awards and recognition from Crain’s Chicago Business and other local publications and media outlets.
 

Smith

Susan Moss 

Partner, Chemtob Moss Forman & Beyda, LLP (New York)
Leading from the Inside Out: Authenticity, Effective Communication, and High-Performance in High-Stress Environments

Susan M. Moss is a partner of CMFB and a duly licensed and practicing attorney in the State of New York.  Sue is a graduate of the University of Chicago Law School and the Wharton School of Business. Sue is a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a Fellow in the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (and the First Vice President of the American Chapter of this organization) and the former Chairperson of the Matrimonial Committee of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York.  Sue is also an ex officio member of the Board of Directors of the New York City Women’s Bar Association and the former Chairperson of the Small Firms and Solo Practitioners Committee of this organization. Sue is the past Secretary of the Matrimonial Law Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and a four (4) year member of the Committee. Sue is also the former co-chairperson of the Forensic Psychologist Sub-Committee of this organization. Sue is also a member of the New York State Bar Association Family Law Section, a former member of the Publicity Subcommittee and Membership Subcommittee and a member of the New York County Lawyer’s Association Matrimonial Law Section. Sue is currently a member of the Legal Advisory Board of Sanctuary for Families, a non-profit organization devoted to helping survivors of domestic violence. Sue is also listed in the Madison Who’s Who Directory. Sue is a recipient of the Ivan Berg Award from the Wharton School of Business, the Brownlee Award from the University of Pennsylvania, and the Ann Watson Barber Award from the University of Chicago Law School. Sue was also the Managing Editor of the University of Chicago Roundtable Law Journal and was listed on the 2008 Crain’s “40 Under 40" List.  Sue is listed in Superlawyers as one of the “100 Top Attorneys in the New York Area," and one of the “Top 50 Women Attorneys in the New York Metro Area."  She has primarily practiced in matrimonial matters since graduating from law school and has lectured numerous times on matrimonial issues. She has also been appointed on numerous occasions as an Attorney for the Child in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County.

Spencer

Jennifer M. Riemer 

Partner, Wasser, Cooperman & Mandles (California)
60 Tips in 60 Minutes to Supercharge Your Practice

Jennifer has practiced family law exclusively since 2008 and is a Certified Family Law Specialist. She was recently admitted to the Southern California AAML chapter.  She has extensive experience representing high net worth individuals, as well as their spouses, in all types of family law issues including child custody and support, spousal support, property valuation and division of property, post-divorce issues/support and custody modifications. Jennifer has authored articles on a variety of complex family law topics as well as lectured for the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, State Bar of California, American Bar Association, Beverly Hills Bar Association, and other organizations.

Stevens

Robert Russell

Business Manager, Cage & Miles (California)
Tracking What Matters: How to Use Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to Drive Smarter Decisions 

Following a five-year active duty tour in the United States Air Force, Robert graduated from Willamette University College of Law in 2006. He passed the Oregon bar that same year and spent six years as a civil-litigation associate in Eugene, Oregon. He then founded and successfully expanded a railroad construction and maintenance company with projects across the western United States, including the lines between San Diego and the Mexican border and between downtown Denver and the airport. 

After selling the business, Robert collaborated with his wife, Shannon Miles—an AAML and IAFL fellow—and her partner, Jaime Cage, to transform their firm, Cage & Miles, from a practice into an enterprise. Since 2018, Cage & Miles has grown from nine to more than one-hundred employees, with four offices serving all of Southern California. It is now the largest family-law firm in California and among the largest family-law–specific firms in the United States.

Ventrelli

Lynn Slaathaug Moen 

Attorney/Owner, Nilson Brand Law (North Dakota)
60 Tips in 60 Minutes to Supercharge Your Practice

Lynn is a partner of Nilson Brand Law, where she embraces all aspects of family law in her practice.  From divorces, custody proceedings, adoptions, gestational carriers, to parenting investigations, guardian ad litem work, and more, Lynn has seen nearly every single side of any family law scenario.  Lynn has a reputation for relentlessly digging through complicated financial matters and child support calculations to ensure her clients are being treated fairly.  Clients have described Lynn as the type of lawyer who is "compassionate, knowledgeable, and determined."  Her business partners know that if you want to threaten Lynn with a good time, you can show her a scrupulously prepared spreadsheet.

Outside of her family law practice, Lynn is actively engaged in the legal community.  She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, member of the American Bar Association, and member of the State Bar Association of North Dakota.  As an active member in her local community, Lynn is also Vice President of the Mayville Public Library Board.  She has worked with several local and international agencies in representation of gestational carriers or prospective intended parents.

Lynn is always eager to learn and improve on her skill set, attending numerous family law related events across the country.  She also thoroughly enjoys sharing what she has learned with others through presentations at state and local bar events, or anywhere else she’s allowed to speak.  When Lynn is not working on her legal craft, she enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and dog.  If they are not going from one extracurricular event to another in support of their children, Lynn and her family enjoy spending time at the lake together.  A native of Thompson, North Dakota, Lynn was instilled with a firm North Dakota belief that hard work, along with a little compassion, can go a long way, especially in matters of family law.
 

Vertz

Aidan Welsh 

Partner, Schoonmaker, George, Bloomberg, Bryniczka & Welsh P.C. (Connecticut)
Leading from the Inside Out: Authenticity, Effective Communication, and High-Performance in High-Stress Environments

Aidan Welsh is a partner at Schoonmaker George, where she has practiced for nearly two decades. She has built a reputation for handling the most complex financial and custody matters with both precision and compassion. Aidan represents a wide range of clients, including business owners, executives, professionals in finance and private equity, and stay-at-home parents. She also has deep experience in cases involving domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental health issues—areas that demand empathy, patience, and strategic judgment. In addition, she serves as a court-appointed Guardian ad Litem, where she advocates for the best interests of children involved in family disputes. 
Elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers in 2019, Aidan is recognized among the nation’s leading family law attorneys. She has also served in top leadership roles within the Connecticut Bar Association, including as Chair of the Family Law Section for the 2023–2024 bar year. Aidan is a frequent lecturer and author on emerging issues in family law. Known for her ability to explain complex financial and legal concepts clearly, she provides valuable insights to colleagues and empowers clients to make informed decisions during uncertain times. 
What sets Aidan apart is her ability to form meaningful and trusted relationships—with clients, judges, and even opposing counsel. She is a tenacious advocate, a skilled negotiator, and a respected litigator, but also someone who listens closely and tailors her approach to each case. Every client receives her dedicated, individualized attention.  Beyond her practice, Aidan is committed to giving back to her community. She previously served as Board Chair of the YWCA Darien-Norwalk and continues to lend her leadership skills to causes that support families.