Skip to main content
 This program is not active.
Hybrid Conference

2023 Annual Family Law Conference


Total Credits: 16.7 MCLE, 4.9 Ethics, 12.4 GAL Credit, 16.5 Kansas Credit, 1 Kansas Ethics

Practice Area:
Ethics |  Family |  GAL |  Juvenile

Dates


Description

Join us virtually or in-person
Chateau on the Lake Resort Spa & Convention Center, Branson
2023 Annual Family Law Conference!

Presented by MoBarCLE and the Family Law Section

 

The Missouri Bar’s Annual Family Law Conference is an environment to gain knowledge and improve skills specific to the practice of family law. Plenary sessions will be offered each day as well as more than 35 breakout session, a Guardian ad Litem track, a basics track, and a paralegal track. 

Speaker

Susan Amato's Profile

Susan Amato Related Seminars and Products

Amato Family Law, LLC


Susan Amato received her B.A. from St. Lawrence University and her law degree from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis.

She has been named for many years by Saint Louis Magazine and by U.S. News as a “Best Lawyer” in the areas of Collaborative Family Law and Family Law Mediation, and has been named by Best Lawyers in America as 2015, 2019, and 2023 St. Louis Collaborative Law: Family Law “Lawyer of the Year" and in 2016 as Best Lawyers St. Louis Family Law Mediation “Lawyer of the Year”. She was awarded the Missouri Lawyer's Media 2009 Women in the Law Citizenship Award. Susan holds the Martindale Hubbell “AV” Peer Review Rating for achieving the highest level of professional excellence.

Susan was the founding President of the Collaborative Family Law Association in St. Louis, has served as treasurer and on the board, most recently serving as President of the association in 2017-2018. She is an Advanced Practitioner Member of the Family Section of the Association for Conflict Resolution and a Certified Advanced Practitioner member of the Academy of Professional Family Mediators. Susan is a member of and served on the board of the Association for Missouri Mediators, is a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. She is a member of The Missouri Bar, the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Missouri and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. She maintains membership in the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and the Women Lawyer’s Association.

Susan speaks regularly on mediation, collaborative law and family law issues.


Lundy Bancroft's Profile

Lundy Bancroft Related Seminars and Products


Lundy Bancroft has specialized for 30 years in interventions for abusive men. He wrote the best-seller Why Does He Do That? and the prizewinning professional book The Batterer as Parent. Lundy is the former Training Director of Emerge, the U.S.’s first batterer intervention program. His latest book is In Custody.


Ann Bauer's Profile

Ann Bauer Related Seminars and Products

The Center for Family Law, LLC


A past chair of The Missouri Bar Family Law Section, Ann served many years on the conference planning committee. She was honored with the Roger Krumm award in 2013. She provides many hours of volunteer service each year to Legal Services of Eastern Missouri and family law related committees. 




Lauren Bower's Profile

Lauren Bower Related Seminars and Products

Bower Law LLC


Lauren Bower graduated from UMKC Law with an emphasis in Family Law. Lauren opened her practice, Bower Law LLC, with office locations in Parkville and St. Joseph, Missouri. Bower Law offers family law and estate planning services throughout the Northwest Missouri region.



Carolyn Buschjost Related Seminars and Products

Williams, Robinson, Rigler & Buschjost, P.C.


Kevin Chafin's Profile

Kevin Chafin Related Seminars and Products

Kevin Chafin LPC Inc


Kevin Chafin is a Licensed Professional Counselor with more than 20 years experience with the Family and Domestic Court systems and the Missouri Children’s Division. He provides mediation and counseling services and has done so for more than 15 years and specializes in individual adults, adolescents, and children; co-parenting counseling; mediation and reunification counseling. Kevin has a Masters in Counseling degree from Webster University in Kansas City. Before becoming a counselor, he worked as a child abuse/neglect investigator for the Missouri Children’s Division, legal assistant to the attorneys at Family Court in Kansas City, and non-profit program director. 



Commissioner Lisa Dube's Profile

Commissioner Lisa Dube Related Seminars and Products

Jackson County Circuit Court-Division 43


Hon. Justin Evans's Profile

Hon. Justin Evans Related Seminars and Products

JUDICIARY - STATE OF MISSOURI


Justin Evans is an Associate Circuit Judge in Webster County. he is founder/former managing partner of Ozarks Family Law and a U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army veteran. 


Emile Flowers's Profile

Emile Flowers Related Seminars and Products

USA Mortgage


As a Certified Divorce Lending Professional, CDLP®, I focus my practice on helping divorcing homeowners make a more informed decision regarding their home equity solutions and the divorce team identify any potential conflicts between the divorce settlement, the mortgage, and the real property.


Douglas Fredrick's Profile

Douglas Fredrick Related Seminars and Products

Law Office of Doug Fredrick, LLC


Mr. Fredrick received both his Bachelors in Business Administration and Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Before entering private practice, Mr. Fredrick had the opportunity to clerk for the Honorable Cheryl Rosen in Independence, Missouri. In his second year of practice, he had the distinct opportunity to argue before the Southern District Court of Appeals and the Missouri Supreme Court. In 2005 he accepted a commission in the Army Reserves as a JAG officer and graduated from the United States Army Judge Advocate General School in Charlottesville, Virginia later that year. After practicing with Fredrick, Rogers, & Vaughn, P.C. in Springfield, Missouri for five years, Mr. Fredrick started a solo practice in 2008.


Bruce Galloway's Profile

Bruce Galloway Related Seminars and Products

Bruce Galloway LLC Trial Attorneys


Bruce Galloway is a trial and appellate attorney.  He tried cases throughout Southern Missouri, from the boot-heel to the Kansas county line.  He handled appeals in the Southern District Court of Missouri, the Eastern District, the Missouri Supreme Court and the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. He received the Adelman award for appellate advocacy for his work on a case that changed the law as to criminal contempt.  
He lives in Ozark, Missouri with his wife Sarah and his stepdaughter.   The both live in the historic center of Ozark.  He owns a law practice on the town square.  She owns a funeral home on a historic street lined with Ozark's remaining Victorian homes.  
Like his wife, Bruce is an active member of the community.  In 2020, the Ozark Chamber elected him Citizen of the year.  In 2020, he was elected to a third term to city council (Board of Alderpersons).  He is a member of Ozark's Rotary.  He previously served as President of the Christian County Bar, of which he is a member.  He is a former board member of the Ozark Chamber of Commerce.  He serves on the chamber legislative committee as a liaison with the city of Ozark.  While practicing criminal defense, he served on the Board of the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.  He earned the Robert Duncan award for excellence in appellate advocacy.  He is a present member of the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association and the Association of Missouri Mediators.  
Bruce graduated from Drury University magna cum laude with honors, receiving a degree in Religion and Communication.  At Drury, he was a member of the prelaw society Phi Alpha Delta, the academic societies of Phi Eta Sigma and Mortar Board, Drury Ambassadors, served as an officer in the Kappa Alpha Order and was elected to the student government.  
In 1988, he attended the nationally top ranked Washington University School of Law in St. Louis.  There he served as a member of Phi Alpha Delta, elected to student government and served on the school's Academic Committee.  He graduated law school in 1991.
He enjoys, hiking, biking, kayaking, the symphony, theater, opera.  Mostly he enjoys being with family.  He was raised by career military father, William Galloway, and his European mother, Carla Galloway.  They taught him the values of ethics, family, diligence and that effective advocacy requires a fair mind

 


Cynthia Garnholz's Profile

Cynthia Garnholz Related Seminars and Products

Garnholz Sparks


Cynthia is a member of Garnholz | Sparks in Clayton. Her practice is focused primarily on family law, including mediation and collaborative divorce. She frequently lectures in the area of family law, has served as Chair of the BAMSL Family Law Section and currently serves on BAMSL’s Board of Governors. 


Allison Gerli's Profile

Allison Gerli Related Seminars and Products

The Center For Family Law


Allison Gerli focuses her practice on complex divorce cases, motions to modify child support and child custody, child custody and child support matters between unmarried couples or third parties, adoptions, and guardianships. She is also a certified family law Mediator, and trained in Collaborative Divorce and as a Guardian ad Litem. 


Prof. Barbara Glesner Fines's Profile

Prof. Barbara Glesner Fines Related Seminars and Products

University of MO-Kansas City School of Law


Barbara Glesner Fines is the Rubey M. Hulen Professor of Law and Dean Emerita of the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law, where she has been a member of the faculty since 1986.  She served as Executive Associate Dean from 2008 to 2016 and as Dean from 2017 to 2023. Glesner Fines received her master of law degree from Yale University and her J.D. (cum laude) from the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Professor Glesner Fines is an expert on professional ethics, legal education and the professional identity formation of law students. She has authored numerous articles and books on these subjects and is a fellow in the Holloran Center for Ethical Leadership. She has created several innovative programs at the School of Law.  She helped to found the UMKC School of Law Child and Family Law Program, which is currently ranked as one of the top four programs of its kind in the United States.  She is also one of the founding faculty members of the School of Law’s Center for Law, Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Glesner Fines currently teaches Professional Responsibility, Client Interviewing, and Family Violence.  She also directs the Self-Help Legal Clinic.  Students in the clinic provide instruction, referral, brief advice, and limited scope representation to self-represented litigants in a variety of subject areas.  Students learn technology skills to build self-help resources and community education skills in pro se classes. 



Simone Haberstock's Profile

Simone Haberstock Related Seminars and Products

The Law Offices of Simone A. Haberstock, LLC


Simone Haberstock  has been a family law attorney for 30 years and a mediator for 20 years.  She acquired a Masters of Law in Dispute Resolution from University of Missouri School of Law in 2013 where she did IRB approved research on a mediation-arbitration process. Since graduating, she has founded a non-profit mediation service, Confluence Missouri, Inc.; served on the Mediation and Parenting Coordination Oversight Committee in St. Louis County Circuit Court; and worked on a number of court-connected ADR and problem-solving court projects across the state. She recently completed an interview research project of Missouri litigants who used mandatory mediation and has assisted in  the production of two videos for the public on ADR processes. She has mediated over 400 cases including family, small business, employment, landlord-tenant, and small claims matters. Ms. Haberstock has spoken and presented on  a variety mediation and ADR topics, including the decision- making process, at both national and statewide conferences. She also served on the Board of Governors for the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis for 10 years and is the immediate past-president of the Missouri Chapter of Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.


Robert Hamilton's Profile

Robert Hamilton Related Seminars and Products

Reinker, Hamilton & Fenley LLC


Robert Hamilton practices primarily in the area of family law. He received a communications degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and received his law degree from St. Louis University School of Law. He is regularly appointed as a GAL to represent children, and as a Commissioner to sell real estate. 


Christina Hammers's Profile

Christina Hammers Related Seminars and Products

Missouri Attorney General's Office


As an assistant attorney general, Christina Hammers represents the State of Missouri in child support enforcement cases out of the AGO's Springfield, MO, office. She is a three-time graduate of the University of Missouri, earning her Juris Doctorate in 2003.


Anne-Marie Hoecker's Profile

Anne-Marie Hoecker Related Seminars and Products


Anne-Marie Hoecker has been a member of attorney Craig D. Ritchie’s team for over 13 years. She graduated from Missouri Western State University with a BS in Criminal Justice, Legal Studies. As the Senior Paralegal for The Ritchie Law Group, she manages the family law caseload and trains other paralegals.


Ashley Irwin's Profile

Ashley Irwin Related Seminars and Products

Siegel & Irwin LLC


Ms. Irwin has over 20 years of experience working in the legal field; first as a paralegal, and then as an attorney. Her work history has exposed her to many different areas of law including personal injury, criminal defense, and family law.

As a young attorney, Ms. Irwin was appointed by the Court on behalf of children in custody and juvenile actions in which abuse or neglect was alleged. During this time, she realized how much of a need there was for zealous advocates in family law. This has become her main focus, and Ms. Irwin still serves as a Court-appointed Guardian ad Litem, since helping kids is truly where her passion lies.

Ms. Irwin has handled an appeal in the Western District Court of Appeals, including the oral argument which was held at the University of Central Missouri (UCM) in front of more than 100 audience members. 


Commissioner Susan Jensen's Profile

Commissioner Susan Jensen Related Seminars and Products

Greene County Circuit Court


The Honorable Susan S. Jensen practiced family law in Springfield before being appointed as Family Court Commissioner, Division II, for Greene County in 2016. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Commissioner Jensen graduated from William Jewell College and the University of Iowa College Of Law. 

 


Robert Kirkland's Profile

Robert Kirkland Related Seminars and Products

Kirkland Woods & Martinsen LLP


Bob Kirkland is the founding partner of Kirkland Woods & Martinsen LLP, with offices in Liberty, Missouri, Springfield, Missouri, Clayton, Missouri and Overland Park, Kansas. He works with a variety of individual clients in the areas of gifting techniques, asset protection, charitable planning and business succession planning. He also advises fiduciaries in estate and trust administration matters. 

Mr. Kirkland is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (“ACTEC”), is a past Missouri State Chair of ACTEC, and a past member of the ACTEC Board of Regents and ACTEC Executive Committee. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America.of Regents and ACTEC Executive Committee. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America.

 


Hon. Jason Lamb Related Seminars and Products

Circuit Judge 12th Circuit


Hon. Jason Lamb is the Presiding Judge of the 12th Circuit, comprised of Audrain, Montgomery and Warren counties.  He previously served as the Executive Director of the Missouri Office of Prosecution Services, the Audrain County Prosecuting Attorney, practiced law with the Seigfreid Law Firm, and clerked for Hon. Duane Benton at the Supreme Court of Missouri.  Judge Lamb currently serves on the Criminal Justice Task Force as chair of the Pre-Trial Risk Assessment Tool Working Group; the Presiding Judge Executive Committee; the Combatting Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence Commission; and the Trial Judge Education Committee.  He previously served as co-chair of the Missouri Bar Criminal Code Revision Committee, president of the National Association of Prosecutor Coordinators, a member of the Missouri Court Automation Committee, and a board member of the Missouri Association of Treatment Court Professionals.  Judge Lamb is a graduate of the University of Missouri (B.A. history, minor East Asian studies), and Tulane School of Law.  He resides in his hometown of Mexico, Missouri with his wife, Vanessa and their two sons, Jackson and Brooks, where is active with the First Presbyterian Church, the Mexico Rotary Club, and as a Scout leader.


Micki Lane's Profile

Micki Lane Related Seminars and Products

Child Advocacy Center


Micki has been with the CAC since 2000 interviewing nearly 3,000 youth as Forensic Interviewer/Training-Education Director. She's a Peer Review Moderator for Midwest Regional Child Advocacy Center, a long-time ChildFirst faculty and contracts with Zero Abuse Project. In 2021 Micki received the “Champion For Children Award” marking years of dedication.


Hon. Julia P. Lasater's Profile

Hon. Julia P. Lasater Related Seminars and Products

21st Judicial Circuit Court, St. Louis County, Division 32


Judge Julia Pusateri Lasater was appointed associate circuit judge for the 21st Judicial Circuit in 2020. She worked as an assistant prosecuting attorney and also practiced in the areas of civil and family law. Judge Lasater is a graduate of St. Louis University School of Law and Maryville University.


James Miller's Profile

James Miller Related Seminars and Products

J. Matthew Miller, Attorney at Law, LLC


J. Matthew Miller is an attorney and mediator in Springfield. His practice areas include family law, appellate practice (2014 recipient of The Missouri Bar David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Award,) and mediation. He is president of the Association of Missouri Mediators.

 


Hon. Mark Millsap's Profile

Hon. Mark Millsap Related Seminars and Products

Greene County Family Court Commissioner


Commissioner Mark J. Millsap was appointed by the 31st Circuit Court, en Banc, as Family Court Commissioner for Greene County Circuit Court, Family Court Division III, on November 23, 2020, effective February 1, 2021. Prior to taking the bench, Commissioner Millsap was a partner in the Springfield, Missouri law firm of Baird Lightner Millsap, PC., where he practiced family law for over thirty (30) years, in both trial and appellate courts in southwest Missouri. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri, magna cum laude, and the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, with distinction.


Mary O'Malley's Profile

Mary O'Malley Related Seminars and Products

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law


Andrea Pate's Profile

Andrea Pate Related Seminars and Products

Law Office of the Ozarks


Andrea Pate is owner of Law Office of the Ozarks. She is a Family Mediator, qualified Parenting Coordinator and trained Collaborative Law attorney. Andrea recognizes ensuring the best interest of children often requires reducing conflict and learning how to function effectively as a family during and after the legal process.


Jill Puertas Related Seminars and Products

The Law Offices of Jill Puertas LLC


Craig Ritchie's Profile

Craig Ritchie Related Seminars and Products

The Ritchie Law Group


Craig D. Ritchie has practiced law for over 26 years. His practice is limited almost exclusively to family law matters. He graduated in 1989 from the University of Missouri Law School. In addition to his family law practice, Mr. Ritchie has taught Domestic Relations in the legal studies program at Missouri Western State College. Mr. Ritchie is also a frequent speaker to Continuing Legal Education classes for Missouri lawyers practicing family law. Mr. Ritchie resides in Columbia, Missouri. His interests include sports, children’s activities, church, and historic preservation. Mr. Ritchie serves on the executive committee and is the former Director of the American Legion Missouri Boys State, a program which teaches citizenship and government to high school seniors. For over thirty years, Mr. Ritchie has volunteered his time to this outstanding program.


Commissioner Sherrill Rosen's Profile

Commissioner Sherrill Rosen Related Seminars and Products

16th Judicial Court


Commissioner Rosen was appointed in 1994. She helped to draft the adult abuse statute, and argued its constitutionality. She was often appointed as a GAL. She is a member of AAML. 
She has given numerous professional presentations. She has been honored by KCMBA and Mo. Lawyer's Weekly for her service. 

 


Pamela Roychaudhury's Profile

Pamela Roychaudhury Related Seminars and Products

Legal Aid of Western Missouri


Pamela was a staff attorney with Legal Aid of Western Missouri (LAWMO) for 14 years. In 2015, she became the managing attorney of the Joplin office, managing a staff of five attorneys, three paralegals and one support staff.

As a staff attorney, Pamela was a member of the domestic unit in the Kansas City office of LAWMO from 2001 to 2007, focusing on the representation of victims of abuse in divorce, paternity, custody, and orders of protection. She also served as Guardian ad Litem in child orders of protection. In 2007, she joined the Joplin office of LAWMO as their VAWA-STOP grant attorney representing victims of abuse in orders of protection. She continues to represent victims of abuse in family law matters and represents many clients in housing, consumer, probate, and income maintenance cases.

Pamela is the current chair of the Family Law Section of The Missouri Bar. She is licensed in Missouri and Kansas.

Pamela received her Juris Doctor in 2001 from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She received a B.A. in political science from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1998.


Hon. Kate Schaefer Related Seminars and Products

Circuit Judge


Circuit Judge Kate Schaefer is the Presiding Judge of the 5th Judicial Circuit. She currently presides over a variety of criminal and civil cases including domestic cases involving custody disputes. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Schaefer was an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney specializing in prosecuting crimes against children. 


Andrew Scholz's Profile

Andrew Scholz Related Seminars and Products

Rooney McBride and Smith, LLC


Andy Scholz is a Springfield, Missouri native. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Drury University in 1994 and attended law school at the University of Missouri-Columbia. During law school, he was honored to be an associate member of the Missouri Environmental Law & Policy Review. He earned his Juris Doctorate degree in 2001. In 2005, he became an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Boone County, Missouri. While there, he prosecuted sexual crimes and people accused of having perpetrated physical abuse against children. In 2010, Andy and his family chose to move back home to Springfield, where he could work to serve fellow Southwest Missourians by focusing his practice as a family law attorney. To continue his desire to assist families, he joined Rooney McBride and Smith in 2019, where he focuses on family law, guardianship law, and civil litigation. 


Rick Scott Related Seminars and Products


Rick Scott, Ph.D., a clinical psychology graduate of St. Louis University, spent 30 years with the Department of Mental Health, primarily as a forensic examiner. In private practice since 1995, he does court-related evaluations in criminal and family law cases, and he provides training for mental health professionals and attorneys.


Krista Shelton's Profile

Krista Shelton Related Seminars and Products

CFE, President + Examiner

Focused Forensic Solutions


Krista Shelton is the President of Focused Forensic Solutions, a forensic accounting and fraud investigation firm. Prior to forming FFS, Krista served as a Special Agent with the Internal Revenue Service, where she investigated financial crimes, including tax evasion and money laundering.


Kristin Siegel's Profile

Kristin Siegel Related Seminars and Products

Siegel and Irwin


Kristin Siegel practices family law with Leonard Rodarte Siegel LLC in Lee's Summit, Missouri. She graduated with honors from the University of Missouri – Kansas City and then obtained her law degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City Law School. 


Laurie Snell's Profile

Laurie Snell Related Seminars and Products

Attorney at Law and Truman Day CLE Committee Founder


Laurie's spent twenty five years in private practice representing parents in family court in Kansas City, Missouri. Prior to private practice, Laurie was an AJO (Attorney for Juvenile Officer) & Assistant Prosecutor. Her bachelor’s degree is from the University of Missouri-Columbia and law degree from University of Missouri, Kansas City.


Kristen Sparks's Profile

Kristen Sparks Related Seminars and Products

Garnholz Sparks


Kristen is a partner at Garnholz Sparks, a Family Law, Estate Planning and Probate firm in Clayton, Missouri. She regularly serves as a Guardian ad litem in family law and probate proceedings. She is a trained mediator, collaborative divorce professional, and former adjunct professor at Washington University School of Law. 


Michelle Spirn's Profile

Michelle Spirn Related Seminars and Products

Chapter President

Spirn Family Law


Michelle J. Spirn has over twenty years of experience in all facets of family law litigation. She is proud to be a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a national organization whose members are committed to practicing family law at the highest levels of skill, honesty, integrity, and professionalism. Michelle is on the executive committee of the Missouri Chapter and chairs the national Professionalism Committee. She has been recognized by Best Lawyers In America since 2019 and was named Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” for Family Law in 2021.

Michelle has also been designated a St. Louis “Super Lawyer” since 2014 by Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers, published by Thomson Reuters. Since 2015, the same publication listed her as one of the “Top 50 Women Lawyers” in Missouri and Kansas, and a “Top 50 St. Louis Super Lawyer” in 2021 . She holds the “AV” rating of the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory, the highest rating an attorney can achieve.  Between 2016 and 2021, Michelle served the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel on its Region X Disciplinary Committee, which investigates complaints against attorneys by the public.

Michelle graduated from Washington University School of Law in 1996 and George Washington University in 1992.

 


Larry Swall's Profile

Larry Swall Related Seminars and Products

Gates Shields Ferguson Swall Hammond, P.A.


Larry V. Swall is a family law attorney, licensed in Kansas and Missouri, with offices in Overland Park and Liberty. His private practice is concentrated in areas of family law and domestic mediation. Practicing for over 30 years, Mr. Swall was twice honored by the Missouri Bar.


Alexis Thompson's Profile

Alexis Thompson Related Seminars and Products

Bower Law LLC


Alexis graduated from Missouri Western State University in 2017 with a degree in Legal Studies. Alexis has worked as a paralegal for 6 years. Alexis has worked on a variety of cases, including, estate planning, probate and family law. Alexis resides in Kansas with her husband and son.Alexis graduated from Missouri Western State University in 2017 with a degree in Legal Studies. Alexis has worked as a paralegal for 6 years. Alexis has worked on a variety of cases, including, estate planning, probate and family law. Alexis resides in Kansas with her husband and son.



Lara Underwood Related Seminars and Products

Law Offices of Lara Underwood, LLC



Lara Underwood is a family and juvenile law attorney in Jefferson City, where she has been practicing since 2007. Lara attended Columbia College and earned a B.A. in Political Science, then attended law school at the University of Missouri- Columbia. After working in a Jefferson City firm for 10 years, she opened my own firm in 2016. Aside from being a member of The Missouri Bar, Lara is a member of the Cole County Bar, the Family Law section, the Family Law Conference planning committee, and the Cole County Prenger Center Advisory Board. She is also a member of the Missouri Association of Family Law Attorneys, a group that works with the Missouri legislature to support or oppose legislation regarding family law matters. Lara has previously served on the Jefferson City Arts Commission and as a board member for the Rape and Abuse Crisis Service. 


Hallie Van Duren's Profile

Hallie Van Duren Related Seminars and Products

The Center For Family Law


Hallie has been an attorney with The Center for Family Law since 2016, concentrating her practice in family law, probate, and estate planning. She also serves as a mediator, Guardian ad Litem, and collaborative practitioner. Hallie earned her J.D. from Boston University and her B.A. from Washington University. 


Commissioner Angela Vorhees's Profile

Commissioner Angela Vorhees Related Seminars and Products

Jasper Co. Family Ct. Division


Angela A. Vorhees was appointed Family Court Commissioner of the 29th Judicial Circuit in January 2019. In 1997, she received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University). She graduated from the University of Michigan, School of Law in 2000 and was admitted to the Missouri Bar in September, 2000. While in private practice, Commissioner Vorhees primarily practiced in the areas of family law, juvenile law and child advocacy. She also served as a Family law mediator as well as an adjunct Instructor for Missouri Southern State University. She is a member of the Missouri Bar Association and the Jasper County Bar Association.

 


Julia Weber's Profile

Julia Weber Related Seminars and Products


Julia F. Weber, JD, MSW, has spent her career developing innovative approaches to solving complex issues facing families, children, and communities. She is a policy consultant, frequent presenter, and serves as an expert witness in domestic violence and family law matters. Working nationally on firearms and domestic violence policies, she has trained judges, attorneys, mental health practitioners and others on developing and implementing violence prevention practices and procedures. Julia has collaborated on drafting and advocating for many key domestic violence and firearms policies including California's SB 320 (effective Jan. 1, 2022), a comprehensive approach to civil firearms relinquishment. For over 25 years, she has worked with organizations and policymakers on a variety of issues including firearm prohibitions, intimate partner violence prevention, best practices for preventing sexual assault on campus, sexual harassment interventions, and child custody and abuse issues; with families forming and transforming through divorce, separation, and adoption; and with judicial officers and court administrators on court reform and improving access to justice. Most recently, Julia served as the first Implementation Director for Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence and subsequently, as the director for the National Center on Gun Violence in Relationships. From 1999-2017, she worked for California's Judicial Council, where she served as co-counsel to the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee and supervised the Access to Justice Unit. She teaches domestic violence law each fall as an adjunct professor with Golden Gate University School of Law and previously taught on race, gender, and law at Washington University in St. Louis where she received her combined degrees in law and social work. Julia resides in San Francisco, California and is a mediator and member of the California Bar.


Molly Wilson's Profile

Molly Wilson Related Seminars and Products

Pratt & Grisham, LLC


After growing up in small farming community in Central Illinois, Molly attended Southern Illinois University, Carbondale where she graduated cum laude and received her Bachelor of Science and minor in Spanish. Molly then received her Juris Doctor from University of Missouri School of Law in 2014, and then became a licensed attorney after passing the Missouri Bar that same year. While in law school, Molly committed herself to helping families in need by participating in the Family Violence Clinic, which assisted families in the Columbia area with legal representation. She also served as an Editor of the Journal of Environmental and Sustainability Law.

After graduating law school, Molly moved to Hannibal, Missouri where she practiced family law, juvenile law, estate law and further, served as the city prosecutor. In 2017, Molly moved to Springfield, Missouri where she began representing families in their legal matters throughout Greene, Christian, Lawrence, Webster and Polk County. Molly was proud to join the law firm of Pratt & Grisham in 2019 where she handles divorce, custody, guardianship and adoption cases. She also acts as Guardian ad Litem for children involved in family law cases.

As a licensed foster parent, Molly is an advocate for children outside of work as well. She and her husband enjoy spending time serving their Church and community while raising their adorable children.


Catherine Zacharias's Profile

Catherine Zacharias Related Seminars and Products

National Center of State Courts


Catherine has been with the Missouri Office of State Courts Administrator since 1998 as legal counsel. Her duties have included several diverse areas such as staff for Missouri State Judicial Records Committee, Missouri Court Automation Committee, Family Court Committee, and other Supreme Court committees, working on electronic filing design and rules, reviewing contracts, advising on employment issues, reviewing and tracking legislation and legal research.
Prior to coming to OSCA, Catherine was an administrative hearing officer at DOR for DWI hearing and was a litigation attorney for the Dept. of Social Services. She worked for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri during and after law school.
Catherine received her bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Missouri, Columbia in 1989 and her J.D. from St. Louis University in 1993.

 


Agenda

August 2

6-8 p.m. | Registration 

 

August 3

7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. | Registration  

7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. | Exhibit Hall open

7:30-8:30 a.m. | Breakfast | Ticketed | Versailles/Windsor

8:30-9:45 a.m. | Plenary: What we can do to reduce risk of violence | Versailles/Windsor
Speaker: Julia F. Weber, San Francisco, CA 

9:45-10:10 a.m. | Network with exhibitors  

10:10-11 a.m. | Breakout session 1  
Practical approaches to reducing violence risks | Versailles/Windsor
Speaker: Julia F. Weber

Mysteries of Family Support Division | Vienna/Edinburgh
Speaker: Christina M. Hammers
, Missouri Attorney General's Office, Springfield

Uncovering the power of forensic accounting for family law attorneys | Innsbruck
Speaker: Krista Shelton
, Focused Forensic Solutions LLC, Maryville

GAL track: Overview of mental health evaluations and interventions in family law cases | Heidelberg/St. Moritz
Speaker: Rick Scott, Ph.D., Scott Psychological Associates, St. Louis  

Basics track: Initial consultations and managing client expectations | Munich 
Speakers: Allison R. Gerli
, The Center for Family Law, St. Louis and Andrea L. Pate, Law Office of the Ozarks, Springfield

11-11:10 a.m. | Break  

11:10 a.m.-noon | Judicial panel | Versailles/Windsor
Panelists: Hon. Jason H. Lamb, 12th Judicial Circuit, Mexico; Comm. Susan S. Jensen, Greene County Circuit Court, Springfield; Comm. Sherrill L. Rosen, 16th Judicial Court, Independence
Moderator: Lara M. Underwood, Law Offices of Lara Underwood, LLC, Jefferson City

Noon-1 p.m. | Lunch | Ticketed | Versailles/Windsor

1:10-2 p.m. | Breakout session 2  
Bringing and defending grandparent rights actions, part 1 | Vienna/Edinburgh    
Speakers: Kristen L. Sparks, Garnholz Sparks, St. Louis; 
Hallie M. Van Duren, The Center for Family Law, St. Louis 

Integrating divorce mortgage planning into your case management | Innsbruck    
Speaker: Emile Flowers
, USA Mortgage, Glen Carbon, IL

GAL track: Issues in family law matters involving children with non-normative needs and unique considerations | Heidelberg/St. Moritz
Speaker: Jill M. Puertas
, The Law Offices of Jill Puertas LLC, St. Louis (joining live virtually)  

Basics track: Overview of child custody, support, maintenance, and property division | Munich
Speakers: Cynthia Garnholz
, Garnholz Sparks, St. Louis; Susan L. Amato, Amato Family Law LLC, Clayton

2-2:10 p.m. | Break

2:10-3 p.m. | Breakout session 3 
QDROs and cocktails:  How to handcraft your order for a smooth transfer of assets | Versailles/Windsor
Speaker: Carolyn G.  Buschjost
, Williams, Robinson, Rigler & Buschjost PC, Rolla 

Bringing and defending grandparent rights actions, part 2 | Vienna/Edinburgh     
Speaker: Kristen L. Sparks
and Hallie M. Van Duren

The various roles and matters that can be handled by the Commissioner, Special Master or Receiver to more effectively resolve issues | Innsbruck
Speaker: Robert N. Hamilton
, Reinker, Hamilton & Fenley LLC, St. Louis 

GAL track: Hearsay evidence and children's statements, wishes, abuse/neglect |  Heidelberg/St. Moritz
Speaker: Allison Clyne Tschannen,
Kranitz, Sadoun & Carpenter, PC, St. Joseph

Basics track: Tips for file organization and drafting pleadings | Munich      
Speakers: Ann E. Bauer
, The Center for Family Law, St. Louis; and Kristin D. Siegel, Leonard Rodarte Siegel LLC, Lee’s Summit  

3-3:20 p.m. | Network with exhibitors  

3:20-4:10 p.m. | Breakout session 4  
Do's, and mainly don'ts, of service by publication in family law cases | Vienna/Edinburgh   
Speaker: Bruce H. Galloway, Bruce Galloway LLC Trial Attorneys, Ozark 

Military issues in family law | Innsbruck
Speaker: Douglas C. Fredrick
, Law Office of Doug Fredrick LLC, Springfield

GAL track: Judicial panel: What to expect from a GAL | Heidelberg/St. Moritz
Panelists: Comm. Mark J. Millsap
, Greene County Family Court, Springfield; Hon. Kate H. Schaefer, 5th Judicial Circuit, St. Joseph; Comm. Angela A. Vorhees, Jasper County Family Court Division, Carthage      

4:10-4:20 p.m. | Break  

4:20-5:30 p.m. | Popcorn plenary: Children navigating divorce | Versailles/Windsor
Speaker: Barbara A. Glesner Fines, Dean, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Kansas City 

5:30-7 p.m. | Networking reception | Ticketed | Versailles/Windsor

 

August 4

7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. | Registration  

7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | Exhibit Hall open  

7:30-8:30 a.m. | Breakfast | Ticketed | Versailles/Windsor

8:30-10:10 a.m. | Plenary: The domestic batterer as parent | Versailles/Windsor
Speaker: Lundy Bancroft
, author, Northampton, MA 

10:10-10:30 a.m. | Network with exhibitors      

10:30-11:20 a.m. | Breakout session 5   
Effective orders for mental health interventions in parenting plans | Vienna/Edinburgh
Speakers: Simone A. Haberstock
, The Law Offices of Simone A. Haberstock LLC, St. Louis; Kevin J. Chafin, Kevin Chafin LPC Inc., Kansas City

Duty to become self-supporting, what does that mean? | Innsbruck    
Speaker: Michelle J. Spirn
, Spirn Family Law LLC, St. Louis  

GAL track: Injury and recovery in children exposed to domestic violence | Heidelberg/St. Moritz
Speaker: Lundy Bancroft

The Exceptional Paralegal: A course for lawyers and paralegals, part 1 | Munich
Speakers: Craig D. Ritchie
, The Ritchie Law Group, St. Joseph; Lauren D. Bower, Bower Law LLC, Parkville; Anne-Marie Hoecker, paralegal, St. Joseph; Alexis Thompson, paralegal, Parkville  

11:20 a.m.-12:50 p.m. | Lunch | Ticketed | Roger Krumm Award presentation | Versailles/Windsor  

1-1:50 p.m. | Breakout session 6  
College child support: General developments and the specific challenge of vocational education | Vienna/Edinburgh
Speaker: Hon. Megan B. Benton
, Associate Circuit Judge, Platte City 

Hearsay law, problems and strategies | Innsbruck
Speaker: J. Matthew Miller
, J. Matthew Miller, Attorney at Law LLC, Springfield

GAL track: Language matters - Learning proper questioning of children and teens | Heidelberg/St. Moritz   
Speaker: Micki Lane
, Child Advocacy Center, Springfield 

The Exceptional Paralegal: A course for lawyers and paralegals, part 2 | Munich
Speakers: Craig D. Ritchie
; Lauren D. Bower; Anne-Marie Hoecker; Alexis Thompson

1:50-2 p.m. | Break      

2-2:50 p.m. | Breakout session 7 
Judicial panel: Child support issues | Vienna/Edinburgh
Panelists: Hon. Julia Pusateri Lasater
, 21st Judicial Circuit, St. Louis; Comm. Lisa M. Dubé, 16th Judicial Circuit, Kansas City; Hon. Justin M. Evans, Associate Circuit Judge, Marshfield

Paternity presumptions | Innsbruck
Speaker: Larry V. Swall II, Gates Shields Ferguson Swall Hammond PA, Liberty

GAL track: Drug testing | Heidelberg/St. Moritz
Speaker: Rebecca Gorham
, Hassle Free Testing LLC, Joplin 

The Exceptional Paralegal: A course for lawyers and paralegals, part 3 | Munich
Speakers: Craig D. Ritchie
; Lauren D. Bower; Anne-Marie Hoecker; Alexis Thompson

2:50-3:10 p.m. | Network with exhibitors  

3:10-4 p.m. | Breakout session 8  
Still on the fence: The Missouri Arbitration Act and parenting coordination | Vienna/Edinburgh      
Speaker: Simone A. Haberstock

Remote public access, part 1 | Versailles/Windsor
Speakers: Pamela Roychaudhury
, Legal Aid of Western Missouri, Joplin; Molly R. Wilson, Pratt & Grisham LLC, Springfield; Catherine N. Zacharias, Office of State Courts Administrator, Jefferson City 

GAL track: Drug treatment/abuse post-legalization of marijuana and ideas for parenting plans | Heidelberg/St. Moritz
Speakers: Abey Douglass; Amanda Burkdoll

The Exceptional Paralegal: A course for lawyers and paralegals, part 4 | Munich     
Speakers: Craig D. Ritchie
; Lauren D. Bower; Anne-Marie Hoecker; Alexis Thompson 

Quicksand! The perils of ignoring estate planning implications for your divorce client | Innsbruck     
Speakers: Robert K. Kirkland,
Kirkland Woods & Martinsen LLP, Liberty;  Ashley N. Irwin, Siegel & Irwin LLC, Lee's Summit 

4-4:10 p.m. | Break      

4:10-5 p.m. | Breakout session 9 
Tackling the tough cases in family court | Vienna/Edinburgh
Speaker: Laurie V. Snell, Attorney at Law, Kansas City  

Remote public access, part 2 | Versailles/Windsor
Speakers: Pamela Roychaudhury
; Molly R. Wilson; Catherine N. Zacharias

GAL track: Permanency planning | Heidelberg/St. Moritz      
Speaker: Mary Kay O'Malley
, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Kansas City

 

August 5

7:30-10:30 a.m. | Registration   

7:30-9 a.m. | Breakfast | Ticketed | Versailles/Windsor

9-10:30 a.m. | Plenary: Case law update  | Versailles/Windsor
Speaker: Andrew C. Scholz
, Rooney McBride and Smith, LLC, Springfield

Pass Details

Standard Pass
Section Member Early: $360* | Regular: $415

  • Access to CLE sessions, panel discussions, and plenaries
  • Provided meals:
    • Thursday: Breakfast, lunch, reception
    • Friday: Breakfast, lunch
    • Saturday: Breakfast

Standard Pass
Non-Section Member Early: $400* | Regular: $455

  • Access to CLE sessions, panel discussions, and plenaries
  • Provided meals:
    • Thursday: Breakfast, lunch, reception
    • Friday: Breakfast, lunch
    • Saturday: Breakfast

Recording add-on for in-person participants: $60

  • Program recording access for 90 days. NOTE: Program recordings viewed after the event can only be reported for self-study. Pursuant to Regulation 15.04.5, a lawyer may receive up to six hours of self-study credit in a reporting year. Self-study programs do not qualify for GAL Certification, ethics, elimination of bias or Kansas credit.

Virtual Pass 
Section Member: $360* | Non-Member: $400

  • Virtual access to CLE sessions, panel discussions, and plenaries
  • Program recording access for 90 days. NOTE: Program recordings viewed after the event can only be reported for self-study. Pursuant to Regulation 15.04.5, a lawyer may receive up to six hours of self-study credit in a reporting year. Self-study programs do not qualify for GAL Certification, ethics, elimination of bias or Kansas credit.

Law Student/Paralegal/Legal Aid Attorney or Paralegal/State Public Defender/Prosecutor/MO Protection & Advocacy Services
In-person Pass | $230

  • Access to CLE sessions, panel discussions, and plenaries
  • Provided meals:
    • Thursday: Breakfast, lunch, reception
    • Friday: Breakfast, lunch
    • Saturday: Breakfast

Law Student/Paralegal/Legal Aid Attorney or Paralegal/State Public Defender/Prosecutor/MO Protection & Advocacy Services
Virtual Pass | $230
 

  • Virtual access to CLE sessions, panel discussions, and plenaries
  • Program recording access for 90 days. NOTE: Program recordings viewed after the event can only be reported for self-study. Pursuant to Regulation 15.04.5, a lawyer may receive up to six hours of self-study credit in a reporting year. Self-study programs do not qualify for GAL Certification, ethics, elimination of bias or Kansas credit.

* Early rates end 7/7/23

Conference Lodging Rates

        

 

Chateau on the Lake Resort Spa & Convention Center
415 North State Highway 265 | Branson, MO

Rates are per night, plus tax, and resort fee:
King or Double Queen $155

Click on this link to reserve your sleeping room: http://bookings.ihotelier.com/bookings.jsp?groupID=3567974&hotelID=11529

Those wishing to make reservations by phone should call 1-888-333-5253 and use group code: “082022BAR” or mention “The Missouri Bar”.

Conference lodging rates end July 7, 2023, or when the block is filled, whichever occurs first.

Additional Meal Ticket Information

Additional meal ticket pricing:

All meals for children 5 and under are free.

Thursday breakfast - child 6-12 years - $15

Thursday breakfast - adult 13 and over - $30 

Thursday lunch - child 6-12 years - $15

Thursday lunch -  adult 13 and over - $30 

Thursday reception - $25 per person (all ages)

Friday breakfast - child 6-12 years - $15

Friday breakfast - adult 13 and over - $30 

Friday lunch - child 6-12 years - $15

Friday lunch - adult 13 and over - $30 

Saturday breakfast - child 6-12 years - $15

Saturday breakfast - adult 13 and over - $30 

If you would like to purchase additional meal tickets at a later date once you have completed the registration process, login to your MoBarCLE account, locate the 2023 Annual Family Law Conference, and click on the blue "Buy the Add-On" button. 

If any of your additional meal tickets require dietary restrictions, please contact us at mobarcle@mobar.org.

Join the Family Law Section

Membership dues for the Family Law Section are $20 per year.

If you are not a current Family Law Section and would like to join, you may do so HERE. If you choose to submit payment by check, your membership will not be valid until payment is received.

Cancellation Policy

2023 Family Law Conference Registration Cancellation & Refund Policy

  • All cancellation and refund requests must be in writing to mobarcle@mobar.org
     
  • A FULL REFUND of the registration fee will be issued if we receive your written cancellation by July 27, 2023. You will not have access to electronic course materials.
     
  • NO REFUND of the registration fee will be issued if we receive your written cancellation after July 27, 2023.  You will have access to electronic course materials.

Photo/Video/Comments Permission

MoBarCLE may take photos and video at this program. By attending, you give The Missouri Bar permission to use images or audio captured at these programs, as well as any written comment on evaluation forms, in any electronic or printed communications by The Missouri Bar and for any educational, advertising, and promotional purposes. You agree to release The Missouri Bar, its employees, agents, and designees from liability for any violation of any personal or proprietary right you may have in connection with such use.

Health and Safety Information

The Missouri Bar takes the safety and well-being of its members, the public, and its employees very seriously. We continue to monitor the latest public health updates. We will inform you of any changes to events that affect you. This includes any cancellation notices or changes to venue, format, or safety guidelines.

We encourage all attendees of Missouri Bar events to be aware of and follow public health guidelines for large gatherings. Help us keep everyone in attendance safe by not attending an event if you are ill or believe you may be contagious. Be respectful of the personal comfort level of other attendees when it comes to physical distancing, including shaking hands or other gestures common in networking environments.

By registering for and attending a Missouri Bar event, you agree to take reasonable health and safety precautions and to abide by The Missouri Bar’s posted meeting guidelines.

Please also be advised that, pursuant to RSMo. 537.1005, effective Aug. 28, 2021, “under Missouri law, any individual entering the premises or engaging the services of the business waives all civil liability against the individual or entity for any damages based on inherent risks associated with an exposure or potential exposure to COVID-19, except for recklessness or willful misconduct.”

Please contact The Missouri Bar with any questions or concerns.