Speaker Biographies

P. Lindley Bain is a partner at Goranson Bain Ausley, PLLC, and has been the managing partner since 2021. She has been board-certified in family law in Texas since 2012. She received her MBA and JD from Southern Methodist University. She has been a Fellow of AAML since 2021.  Lindley has consistently earned recognition in the field of family law, being named to The Best Lawyers in America© since 2015 and included in the Texas Super Lawyers list since 2020.

Ronique Bastine Robinson has been licensed for more than 30 years. She is board-certified in family law and is a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a member of the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, a board member in Gulf Coast Family Law Specialist, a board member and prior team leader in the Burta Rhoads Raborn Inn of Court and a multi-year member in the Texas State Bar College. Bastine Robinson is a board member of the Texas Family Law Foundation where they advocate for family law matters across the state. She is a proud graduate of Howard University in Washington, D.C., Thurgood Marshall School of Law, on the campus of Texas Southern University, and additionally she received an LL.M. from the Bates Law Center at the University of Houston. Bastine Robinson is the founding member of the Bastine Law Group, PLLC where she is developing young lawyers to be fierce advocates who share her passion for family law. In addition to practicing law, she has been an adjunct professor at TMSL and a municipal judge with the City of Stafford where she served for over 20 years.

Bastine Robinson has been featured on her local ABC news channel in the community awareness program, Crossroads and was a legal consultant with the local affiliate for Fox News regarding parenting and family law concerns.  She has been a frequent continuing legal education presenter for the State Bar of Texas, local bar associations and local law schools on topics concerning family law trial related topics. Bastine Robinson is very active in AAML, serving as chair of the Race Ethnic and Religious Considerations in Family Law Committee, as well as being a member of a host of committees — including the fund-raising committee of the AAML Foundation of which she is also a lifetime member. Bastine Robinson is a wife, a mother of three and author of the book "From Divorce to Deliverance," during her time on the bench.

Meghan Clary, managing partner of Chorowski Clary Saoji Epstein, P.A., is a Florida Bar board certified specialist in marital and family law and a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML). Ms. Clary has been practicing exclusively in the area of marital and family law for 18 years. She has been named in Super Lawyers, America’s Most Honored Lawyers by The American Registry and is rated AV Preeminent Judicial Edition by Martindale-Hubbell® — the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards based upon the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and judiciary.  Ms. Clary is a frequent lecturer on a variety of family law issues, including evidence, trial skills, alimony, parenting plans, agreements, attorney’s fees and the intersection of trusts and family law. She has lectured for variety of legal organizations, including the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar, the RPPTL Section of the Florida Bar, the Broward County Bar Association, the Palm Beach County Bar Association and the Association of Florida Magistrates and Hearing Officers. In 2002, Ms. Clary earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Florida State University, where she double majored in psychology and criminology. After her undergraduate education, Ms. Clary attended Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center, where she was an articles editor for Nova Law Review and earned her Juris Doctor degree. Ms. Clary has a black belt in Taekwondo and is fluent in American Sign Language.

Kristal Thomson practices family law at the firm of Langley & Banack, Inc. She is board certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (2009), and her practice focuses on divorces with high net-worth estates and complicated custody matters. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin and her juris doctorate from St. Mary’s University School of Law. Ms. Thomson is listed as a “Super Lawyer” (Thomson Reuters) and “Best Lawyers in America, Family Law” — including “Lawyer of the Year” (Family Law, San Antonio) listings in 2021 and 2023 (Woodward White). She is one of only nine lawyers in San Antonio elected as a Fellow to the prestigious American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Ms. Thomson has received many professional awards, including “40 Under 40” (published by the San Antonio Business Journal), the 2018 Standing Ovation Award (presented by TexasBarCLE staff) and the 2006 “San Antonio Outstanding Young Lawyer” (awarded by the San Antonio Young Lawyers Association). She is a past chair of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas (2020-2021) and remains active with the Family Law Section. She also serves as the Legislative Committee Co-Chair for the Texas Family Law Foundation. Ms. Thomson's favorite job is as a frequent alternative dispute resolution specialist to her three children.

Daniel (Dan) L. Gray received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia in 1993, and his J.D. from the George Mason University School of Law in 1996.  He began practicing family law after his state court clerkship in 1997. For the last 20 years he has practiced as a founding member with Cooper Ginsberg Gray, PLLC in Fairfax Virginia. Gray is a former AAML Virginia Chapter president and is currently the Virginia Chapter representative to the AAML Board of Governors. He currently serves on the Board of Governors of the Virginia Bar Association and is the chairman of the Committee on Nominations to Virginia Commissions & Appellate Courts. Gray is immediate past chairman of the Virginia Family Law Coalition, providing guidance and testimony on family law matters to the Virginia General Assembly. He is former chair of the Virginia State Bar Family Law Section, former president of the Virginia State Bar Young Lawyers Conference, former chair of the Fairfax County Bar Family Law Section, former member of the Virginia Child Support Guidelines Commission, and the 2022 Recipient of the VSB Family Law Service Award. He also served on the faculties of the VSB Carrico Professionalism Course and Law School Professionalism Course. He is a member of the Virginia, Washington D.C. and Maryland bars, and lectures extensively on family law and ethics matters in all three jurisdictions. He is a contributing author to The Virginia Lawyer: A Textbook for Practitioners. He is a current chairman of the Board for Pathway Homes Florida, a non-profit that provides non-time-limited housing and services for persons with mental illness, and is former chairman of the Board of Pathway Homes Virginia.

Caryn M. Green, board certified marital and family law specialist, is the founder and managing principal of Green Family Law, P.A. With over 20 years of experience dealing exclusively with marital and family law matters since her admission to the Florida Bar in 1996, Green is renowned for her expertise in complex matters, including divorce, paternity, relocation, modification and enforcement actions and preparing prenuptial/postnuptial agreements.  A distinguished member of several prestigious legal organizations, Green is board-certified by the Florida Bar, a member of the District of Columbia Bar Association, a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers, a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America Trial Lawyer Honorary Society and a member of the Trial Law Institute and the Diversity Law Institute. Additionally, Green is the immediate past president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Florida Chapter, serving from 2023-2024. She frequently lectures on a range of family law topics like parenting, prenuptial agreements and ethics. Most recently, she co-presented with Dr. Deborah O. Day on mental health and parenting at the 2023 AAML Marital and Family Law Review Course. Green's exceptional legal skills and contributions to the field have earned her significant recognition. She’s been listed in Orlando Magazine as a “Best Lawyer" since 2010, recognized as one of National Advocates’ “Top 30 Lawyers in Matrimonial and Family Law," and designated as one of Florida Super Lawyers' “Top 50 Women." Furthermore, she has been featured on Florida Trend’s “Legal Elite" list for the past 12 years.

David W. Griffin is partner at Rutkin, Oldham & Griffin, L.L.C. and is one of Connecticut’s and the region’s most highly respected family trial lawyers. He has dedicated much of his career to representing clients in divorce, custody, relocation and income and asset distribution cases — including alimony and support issues arising from complicated compensation structures and high net worth families — and has represented some of the region’s and nation’s most high profile and wealthy individuals. He has extensive experience with business valuation issues across a variety of industries, including closely-held companies, private equity, hedge fund and related holdings.

Griffin regularly interacts with family office representatives throughout all stages of a case. He is an experienced litigator in cases involving complex finances, electronically stored information (ESI) and manipulation of data files and recordings. He has negotiated to settlement — and litigated when necessary — complex financial and custody cases, including provisions for confidentiality, in various courts throughout Connecticut. Griffin was named American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) National Fellow of the Year in 2016. He is a very active Fellow of AAML on the national and state levels, having chaired or co-chaired, among other committees, the National Test Committee and the National Continuing Legal Education Committee in two separate years. He currently chairs the AAML Communications Initiative and serves or has served on the Budget and Finance Committee, the Institute for Family Law Associates Training Committee, AAML-BVR National Divorce Financial Conference Planning Committee, the Education/Programming Committee, and the AAML Journal Board of Editors. Griffin is also a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers and represents high net worth individuals in the negotiation of multinational prenuptial agreements and international marital dissolutions and relocations. He lectures and writes extensively on both financial and custody topics in the area of matrimonial and family law.

Cheryl Hepfer is a highly-regarded attorney who has practiced family law for more than 40 years. She has been rated by her peers and is listed in Best Lawyers in America and as a top lawyer in the Washingtonian, Bethesda Magazine, and Super Lawyers. She is past president of both the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and the International Academy of Family Lawyers. Her practice consists primarily of domestic litigation involving significant assets and business interests. She has a wealth of experience in complex cases involving significant assets and property distribution, alimony, child custody and access. Hepfer has significant experience representing owners of businesses and their spouses and those with significant assets. She works with business valuation experts and forensic accountants to maximize the benefits to her clients. Although Hepfer frequently appears before trial and appellate courts, she is often able to resolve cases through negotiation, settling most of her cases out of court through exploring settlement options early, hoping to limit client costs and enhance the opportunity for an amicable resolution.  Her decades of experience as a trial lawyer provide her with the ability to evaluate her cases, and to determine when settlement is or is not in the client's best interest. In the event that settlement is not the best option, her skills allow her to proceed to trial.

As a mentor to other family lawyers, Hepfer teaches at the Institute of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers every year and provides guidance to local family lawyers who aspire to become Fellows of the AAML. Hepfer is certified by the AAML as a family law arbitrator. Additional practice areas include divorce, custody and visitation and collaborative law. Hepfer is a frequent lecturer on matters of family law, including issues of the valuation and division of marital assets, custody, access and general divorce related topics, such as divorce litigation. She also has been quoted by several national and regional media outlets such as CNN, ABC's Nightline, The New York Times, WBAL Radio and National Public Radio.

Thomas J. Sasser is the managing partner of the law firm of Sasser, Cestero & Roy, P.A., which is located in West Palm Beach, Florida. He is board certified in marital and family law. Mr. Sasser is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL). He is a diplomate of the American College of Family Law Trial Lawyers. He received his J.D. in 1995 from The University of Florida and his B.A. in 1992 from The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. He is a past chair of the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar. In addition, he is a four-time past chair of the Florida Bar Marital and Family Law Board Certification Review Course. Mr. Sasser is a past president of the Florida Chapter of the AAML and serves as a national vice president of the AAML. He also is currently president-elect of the IAFL and has served on the Board of the United States Chapter of the IAFL. He served as the chair of the Palm Beach County Bar Association Family Law Practice Committee from 2003-2008. Mr. Sasser is the author of numerous articles for the Family Law Section Commentator and The Florida Bar Journal. He often lectures for the Palm Beach County Bar Association, The Florida Bar Family Law Section, the AAML and the IAFL. He currently presents the Annual Caselaw Update on Florida Family Law during both The Florida Bar Family Law Section Review Course and the AAML Florida Chapter Institute.

John F. Schutz is a distinguished attorney who has been practicing law in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, since 1995. With nearly three decades of experience, Schitz has established himself as a preeminent figure in marital and family law. His dedication to his practice is evidenced by his board-certification in marital and family law. Schutz is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Family Lawyers, associations that recognize his professional achievements and ethical standards. His entire legal career has been devoted exclusively to family law. Schutz is listed among the best lawyers in America and was honored as the best lawyer in the greater West Palm Beach area in marital and family law in 2023. Beyond his professional achievements, Schutz is devoted to his family. He is happily married to his wife, Lisa Schutz, and they reside together in Palm Beach Gardens with daughters Madeleine, who is 15, and Hartley, who is 13, and John’s mother, Madeleine (85).

Robert L. Schwartz has been practicing law for over 45 years, specializing in family law. He is a member of the American, Arizona and Maricopa County Bar Associations. He is admitted to practice in the federal courts of New York, Arizona,  the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Schwartz is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and former president of the Arizona chapter. He is a certified family law specialist by the State Bar of Arizona, is a frequent lecturer on family law and related matters and was the co-chairman of the State Bar Family Law Advisory Commission. Mr. Schwartz was a member of the Arizona Supreme Court Committee on Rules of Procedure for Family Law. Mr. Schwartz has been previously listed and is currently listed in the publication “Best Lawyers in America" in the areas of family practice and mediation. He has been named “Lawyer of the Year" in Family Law and “Lawyer of the Year" in Family Law Mediation by Best Lawyers in America. Mr. Schwartz is a member of the law firm of Dickinson Wright PLLC.  He received his B.A. from the University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida and J.D. from Brooklyn Law School.

Dr. Mark C. Smith, Psy.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist who has worked in many settings including private practice. He has an extensive background working with the university student body population in student counseling center and residential life settings. Dr. Smith has also worked in psychiatric and forensic hospitals, at a correctional institute, and numerous mental health clinics. Dr. Smith holds a position as university psychologist at Florida International University (FIU) at the Counseling and Psychological Services Center, where he conducts intellectual and academic evaluations to assess challenges such as learning disabilities, ADHD, memory functioning and transition issues. He also has the privilege of running a process group with these students.

Dr. Smith earned his doctoral degree from Nova Southwestern University in Davie, Florida. A portion of Dr. Smith’s academic training was completed in the Child and Adolescent Depression Clinic at Nova Southeastern University. Similarly, he devoted his internship year to Crestwood Center for children in Rochester, New York. As a result, Dr. Smith was able to gain more broad-based experience in the treatment of children, adolescents and their families. He is especially proficient in facilitating change in individuals who are coping with anger, anxiety, depression and attention deficit disorders. His post-doctoral training was at Homestead Correctional Institution and at the South Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center, where Dr. Smith became experienced in the area of modern forensic psychology. He believes that it takes strength and courage to seek therapy and provides a safe, non-judgmental space to explore attitudes and beliefs/patterns that get in the way of accomplishing your full potential and engaging fully in your life. Entering therapy is a bold, brave step. Most people who have been struggling have tried everything they know to feel better. Asking for support from a therapist marks a turning point.

Lisa Spencer is the current secretary of the AAML’s Executive Committee. Her career is marked by significant leadership roles: Spencer is president of the Minneapolis law firm of Henson Efron, P.A.; a former president of the AAML- Minnesota Chapter; former chair of the 4th District Ethics Committee (the committee that investigates ethics complaints against lawyers in her district) and has held numerous other leadership roles in her state and county bar associations. Spencer has received a number of honors as well, including 2018 and 2020 Minneapolis Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in America; a 2020 Notable Women in Law by Twin Cities Business; and a 2020 Women in Business Honoree in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.

Ben Stevens is the senior partner at The Stevens Law Group, LLC, a boutique family law firm based in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He handles complex divorce, child custody, and other domestic matters statewide. Mr. Stevens currently serves as president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and has held numerous other positions in the past. He is also a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers and a board-bertified family trial advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. 

Mr. Stevens has been designated as a “Super Lawyer” in family law for multiple years, and he is listed in The Best Lawyers in America©. He has held an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell for many years. Mr. Stevens previously served on the Board of Governors of the South Carolina Bar, as well as chair of both the South Carolina Bar’s Family Law Council and the Family Law Section of the South Carolina Association for Justice. Mr. Stevens co-authored "Family Law Essentials: A Primer for the Private Practice Before the Family Court in South Carolina", which was published in 2018 by the South Carolina Bar. This comprehensive book not only explains the substantive law and procedure, but also provides tips and pointers for a more efficient and effective family law practice. He has planned, moderated and given presentations on family law topics locally, nationally and internationally. Mr. Stevens graduated with honors from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science in financial management with a minor in Accounting. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Carolina. Mr. Stevens is happily married to his law partner, Jenny Stevens, and they are the proud parents of six children, one grandchild, and four cats. In his (sparse and infrequent) spare time, he enjoys painting as a hobby.

As a senior partner of Schiller DuCanto and Fleck LLP, Ventrelli's passion lies in working with people to improve their lives and not just by representing them in legal proceedings. Ventrelli uses what she learned in over 30 years of family law practice to raise consciousness to the long-term effects of decisions people often make without her advice that negatively affect their business, investments and other important life choices. Many realize too late that those decisions have future consequences they didn’t expect. No matter what questions Ventrelli answers for her clients, her joy comes from helping people avoid regrets. She did her undergraduate work at the University of Michigan and graduated from the College of Law at DePaul University. A Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Ventrelli currently serves as Counsel. She serves on the Board of the American Bar Association Family Law Section Trial Advocacy Institute having been Section Chair in 2008/09, and also sits on the American Bar Association Board of Governors on behalf of the Section of Family Law having served multiple terms as section delegate. Ventrelli is also a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. She served as adjunct faculty for family law legal writing at DePaul University College of Law. She’s been consistently named in Best Lawyers in America, Illinois Super Lawyers and the Leading Attorneys Network and various “top" lists in several publications, and DePaul University College of Law selected Ventrelli as their outstanding Law School Alumni in 2019.

As a partner at Pittsburgh-based Pollock Begg, Brian C. Vertz is a reliable problem solver who prevails in domestic and international custody litigation, spousal and child support, traditional and collaborative divorces, confidential settlements, prenuptial agreements and family law appeals. Vertz devises efficient solutions to resolve each aspect of his family law engagements. With an MBA degree and business valuation credentials, Vertz is uniquely equipped for cases involving valuation of closely held businesses, executive compensation, medical and dental practices, double dipping, asset tracing and family trusts. Vertz translates facts and figures into a narrative that judges and clients can comprehend and respect. He is a tenacious advocate who is also proficient in collaborative divorce and custody mediation. He speaks the special language of clients in the financial services, insurance and health care industries. He is a persuasive writer with a successful track record in the trial and appellate courts.  As a co-author of the legal reference book, “Divorce Taxation," Vertz is recognized in the legal and accounting fields as an authority on divorce taxation issues. Blending compassion with practical know-how, he brings order to the emotional process of divorce. Vertz’s diverse experience provides clients with strategic options to meet their unique family situations. He is respected locally and nationally by his professional colleagues, who have selected him annually as a Top 50 Pittsburgh “Super Lawyer” and 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” for Pittsburgh (Best Lawyers in America). Outside of the courtroom, Vertz is an influential leader in local and national organizations that focus on improving the practice of family law. As president of the AAML Foundation, he oversees a national grant-making nonprofit that helps children and families who are underserved within the family law profession. For many years, Vertz has been active as an elected Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Family Lawyers. He has led and served on the AAML’s Chapter Leaders, Amicus, Law Practice Management, and Technology committees.

Louis I. Waterman is a Louisville, Kentucky native, a former Judge of Jefferson Circuit Court, Family Division Four (4), and a leading Family Law attorney in Kentucky. He is a graduate of the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law (1986), a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys, and certified in Family Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is a past President of the Kentucky Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

Mr. Waterman is also an influential civic activist in Louisville. He serves as a Trustee and Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of the University of Louisville Healthcare. He is the past Board Chair of Jewish Hospital St. Mary’s Healthcare, a non-profit corporation that operated 40 medical-related affiliates in Louisville and Southern Indiana. He is also The Chair-Elect of the Executive Board of Directors of the Kentucky Derby Festival, Inc. and member of the Louisville Zoo Board of Trustees. Mr. Waterman served as the Past Board Chair of the Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence, The Bingham Clinic; the Vice-Chair of the Louisville Zoo Board of Directors, where he also served as the General Counsel; and the Official Host Program for Churchill Downs. Mr. Waterman is a graduate of Leadership Louisville (1990), Bingham Fellows III (1994), Bingham Fellows 2002, and a participant of Harvard Business School’s Governing for Non-profit Excellence, Executive Education Program (2002).

Mr. Waterman has been recognized for his commitment to Louisville by being recognized as one of the Business First’s 40 Under 40 (1997), The Kentucky Chapter of the America Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Raising the Bar Award (2022), the Richard Revell Family Lawyer of the Year (2019), the recipient of the Louisville Bar Association’s Distinguished Service Award (2002), the Legal Aide Society’s Outstanding Volunteer Lawyer (2017 and 2000); the Louisville Bar Association’s Outstanding Committee of the Year (Public Service 1998); Ballard High School Alumnus of the Year (2004), and, the 2003 Excellence in Community Leadership Award. Mr. Waterman is 63 years old. He is married to Leah Waterman and the father and stepfather of four children, Mark JD, Kate, and Shane.