Total Credits: 7.6 MCLE, 7.5 Kansas Credit-General
7:45-8:15 a.m. | Registration and continental breakfast
8:15-8:30 a.m. | Welcome message from the President of the AAML, Missouri Chapter
Speaker: R. Scott Richart, Albano, Richart, Welch & Bajackson, LLC, Kansas City
8:30-9:30 a.m. | Michael Albano memorial lecture: Dealing with trusts and existing estate plans in your divorce practice
The existence of an irrevocable trust or estate plan can complicate a divorce case and make it more challenging to resolve, or try to the court. Different types of trusts have different attributes, and understanding what they are and how to deal with them is critical to understanding your client's economic status or exposure, and can present planning opportunities as well. The speakers will begin by de-mystifying trusts and identifying some basic concepts and then identify some common practical scenarios and discuss different approaches and remedies.
Learning objectives:
Speakers: Cary J. Mogerman, Carmody MacDonald PC, St. Louis; Brad D. Zimmerman, Carmody MacDonald PC, St. Louis
9:30-9:40 a.m. | Break
9:40-10:30 a.m. | The Goldilocks dilemma: When 50/50 is just right... or just wrong
Effective August 28, 2023, Missouri law established a rebuttable presumption that equal parenting time is in the best interest of the child. Now, nearly two years into its implementation, a developing body of case law is beginning to clarify how courts interpret, apply, and at times reject this presumption. This session provides a comprehensive analysis of both longstanding custody precedent and emerging post-2023 decisions. Attendees will gain a practical framework for identifying the factual and evidentiary conditions under which the presumption may be rebutted—or strategically embraced—in modern custody litigation.
Speakers: Kristin D. Siegel, Siegel Family Law, Lees Summit; Anita I. Rodarte, Siegel Family Law, Lees Summit
10:30-10:40 a.m. | Break
10:40-11:30 a.m. | Challenging findings of abuse or neglect: Practical strategies for trial de novo
When the Children's Division issues a finding of abuse or neglect, a trial de novo in circuit court is often the next step. This session will offer practitioners practical guidance on obtaining records and information from the Children's Division, identifying third parties with relevant information to support your case, and developing effective strategies to protect and advocate for your client at trial.
Speakers: Allison S. Lee, Sandberg Phoenix & Von Gontard, PC, St. Louis; Joseph A. Lambson, Margulis Gelfand, LLC, Clayton
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Lunch (included)
12:30-1:30 p.m. | 10 best practices in my courtroom
Beginning with Case Management and Efficiency through Child-Focused Practice and Thoughtful Questions, this judicial panel will bring a unique prospective on best practices in their courtroom.
Learning objectives:
Speakers: Hon. Jeffrey P. Medler, St. Louis County Circuit Judge, St. Louis; Hon. Susan S. Jensen, Greene County Circuit Court, Springfield; Hon. Robert E. Gordon, Circuit Court of Jackson County, Independence
Moderators: Michelle J. Spirn, Spirn Family Law, St. Louis; R. Scott Richart, Albano, Richart, Welch & Bajackson, LLC, Kansas City
1:30-1:40 p.m. | Break
1:40-2:40 p.m. | Moving from second chair to first chair
Family law trials are among the most consequential proceedings in our justice system. They determine children’s futures, protect vulnerable families, and test an attorney’s judgment under intense emotional and ethical pressure. For AAML Fellows and experienced family law practitioners, the challenge is not simply knowing the law but stepping fully into the role of trusted trial advocate. This program highlights the professional transition from skilled supporting counsel to confident first chair trial attorney.
Grounded in the values of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, this program approaches trial advocacy through a practitioner-driven lens. It focuses on the real decisions first chair attorneys face: owning case strategy, exercising discretion in high-stakes moments, and balancing zealous advocacy with professionalism and credibility before the court. Through practical instruction and experienced insight, participants develop the judgment required to lead trials with clarity, confidence, and ethical integrity.
Designed for family law trial attorneys preparing to assume or strengthen the first chair role, this advanced program delivers focused education on trial strategy, courtroom leadership, and professional responsibility unique to family law. Attendees gain immediately applicable tools for framing persuasive narratives, managing evidentiary challenges, and leading clients and cases from start to finish. The result is stronger trial performance and more intentional advocacy that reflects the highest standards of the family law bar.
Learning objectives:
Speakers: Amanda S. Trigg, Cohn Lifland Pearlman Herrmann & Knopf LLP, Saddle Brook, NJ; Cassandra Chin, Nichols Zauzig, Woodbridge, VA
2:40-2:50 p.m. | Break
2:50-3:40 p.m. | Robots don’t do divorces: Using AI the smart way in family law
Artificial intelligence is rapidly entering the legal profession, and family law is no exception. From drafting assistance to document summarization and trial preparation support, AI tools offer new efficiencies for busy practitioners. At the same time, they raise important ethical and professional responsibility considerations.
This practical program introduces family law attorneys to generative AI in clear, accessible terms and focuses on real-world applications in domestic relations practice. Attendees will learn where AI can save time, where caution is required, and how to use these tools without compromising professional duties.
This session is designed for attorneys with any level of technical familiarity. No prior experience with AI tools is required.
Learning objectives:
Speaker: Stephanie L. Jones, Jones Family Law Group, LLC, St. Louis
3:40-3:50 p.m. | Break
3:50-4:40 p.m. | Navigating psychological testing in family law: Insights on the PAI and MMPI
Psychological assessments are increasingly central to child custody evaluations, yet many family law practitioners find the technical aspects of tests like the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) challenging to interpret and apply. This session will demystify these widely used instruments, offering practical guidance on understanding test results, recognizing limitations, and effectively addressing psychological evidence in custody disputes. Attendees will gain insights into best practices for working with evaluators, cross-examining experts, and advocating for their clients when psychological testing is at issue.
Learning objectives:
Speaker: Dr. Gabriel Cline, Psych Associates LLC, Springfield
4:40 p.m. | Adjourn
Opinions and positions stated by presenters of MoBarCLE programs are those of the presenters and not necessarily those of The Missouri Bar. This program is intended as information for lawyers in Missouri, in conjunction with other research they deem necessary, in the exercise of their independent judgment.
Cassandra Chin is First Vice President and Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML). She is a Diplomate to the American College of Family Trial Lawyers, has been recognized by Virginia and D.C. Super Lawyers since 2016, and has been listed in Best Lawyers in America since 2020.
Gabriel Cline, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist specializing in therapeutic assessment and evaluation. He chairs the Missouri State Committee of Psychologists and serves on the Board of Directors for ASPPB. Dr. Cline owns Psych Associates, testifies as an expert witness, and lectures nationally on ethics and psychological practice.
Robert E. Gordon was appointed Family Court Commissioner for the 16th Judicial Circuit in 2025. A UMKC Law alumnus and military veteran, he previously specialized in family law litigation and mediation. He received the 2024 Hon. Kelly J. Moorhouse Dedication to Children Award for his distinguished service.
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.
Stephanie L. Jones is owns Jones Family Law Group, a St. Louis-based firm specializing in complex domestic relations cases. Stephanie speaks frequently, especially those topics relating to electronic evidence and technology. She has been a Fellow with the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers since 2022.
Allison Schreiber Lee, a former child abuse prosecutor, is a seasoned trial attorney who focuses her practice on family law and domestic relations. Allison has extensive experience in representing men and women in high conflict custody and high asset property division matters, including matters involving mental health and addiction concerns.
Hon. Jeffrey P. Medler was appointed Associate Circuit Court Judge in October, 2020 by Governor Michael Parson. He was retained by St. Louis County voters in 2022. He was then elevated to Circuit Court Judge in July 2023 and again retained by St. Louis County voters in 2024. He received his B.A. in Economics and Philosophy from Boston College in 1991 and his law degree from St. Louis University School of Law in 1994. Before his appointment to the bench, Judge Medler was the founding partner of his law firm, Medler & Roither, LLC, then Medler, Karsten & Bridges LLC. His firm handled many different areas of the law including domestic, criminal, civil litigation and estate planning. He was frequently appointed by the Court to be a Guardian ad Litem representing children in domestic/family law matters. He was awarded the Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year in 2004 by the St. Louis County Bar Association. Judge Medler lives in St. Louis County with his family.
Cary J. Mogerman is a shareholder of the St. Louis firm of Carmody MacDonald, P.C. and chairs its family law practice group. Cary is a past President of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (2022), a Diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers, and a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. He obtained his JD from Washington University School of Law (1985) and his BA from Drake University (1982). He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, for Family Law, since 1999 and as its “Lawyer of the Year” for Family Law in St. Louis in 2009, 2019, and 2024. He is also listed by the Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers publication as a Missouri/Kansas “Super Lawyer”, a “Missouri/Kansas Top 100 Super Lawyer”, a “St. Louis Top 50 Super Lawyer”, and a Missouri/Kansas “Top 10 Super Lawyer”.
Cary served as a faculty member of the ABA Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute from 2012-2018, and a faculty member and mentor for the AAML Institute for Family Law Associates for 18 years. He has taken advanced training courses in Negotiation (2015-2021), Arbitration (2020), and Mediation (2025) conducted by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. A frequent speaker, Cary has also written articles for legal journals including the ABA’s Family Advocate; the Academy’s Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers; and BAMSL’s St. Louis Bar Journal. He is a contributing author to the two-volume practice guide called Missouri Family Law, and co-authored, with Joseph Kodner, a book entitled A Guide to Divorce in Missouri: Simple Answers to Complex Questions (Addicus Publishing 2017).
Cary is married to Dee Mogerman and they are the parents of three adult sons.
R. Scott Richart is a senior partner and currently the managing partner at Albano, Richart, Welch & Bajackson, LLC (f/k/a Welch, Martin & Albano), where he has practiced since joining the firm in 1997. He received his Juris Doctorate degree from Creighton University School of Law in 1992.
Mr. Richart practices exclusively in the area of Family Law. In that regard, he assists people who are going through a dissolution proceeding or a modification of a prior dissolution action and has extensive experience in advocating for his clients in the courtroom when litigation is necessary.
In addition to his matrimonial work, Mr. Richart has lectured extensively on family law matters to include prenuptial and postnuptial agreements; paternity establishment actions; complex high asset property divisions; the initial establishment and subsequent modifications of maintenance and child support orders; and contested guardianship and adoption actions.
Many of Mr. Richart's professional affiliations reflect his practice area, and they have included being listed as a Super Lawyer in the State of Missouri as well as becoming a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He is also a member of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, where he has served as President of the Family Law Committee, and the Eastern Jackson County Bar Association.
Anita Rodarte is the current President of Missouri Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and Past President of the AAML Foundation (2016-2017). She has practiced Family Law in the Kansas City metropolitan area since 1984 and is a frequent lecturer on Missouri Family Law topics.
Kristin Siegel is a partner at Siegel & Irwin LLC in Lee's Summit, Missouri. With a practice exclusively focused on family law matters, Kristin has dedicated her career to navigating the complexities of divorce, child custody, and other family-related legal issues.
Michelle J. Spirn has over 25 years of experience in all facets of family law litigation. She is a Fellow and the past-president of the Missouri Chapter 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. In 2025, she was honored to receive the Roger E. Krumm Family Law Award, which honors a family law lawyer who has demonstrated an exceptional degree of competence, skill, integrity, commitment, and dedication toward the improvement and advancement of the practice of family law.
Michelle has been recognized by Best Lawyers In America every year since 2019 and was named Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” for Family Law in 2021. In 2023, Michelle was elected as one of the attorneys on the Judicial Commission of the 21st Judicial Circuit, which helps fill judicial vacancies in Saint Louis County pursuant to the Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan.
Michelle has also been designated a St. Louis “Super Lawyer” since 2014 by Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers. The same publication listed her as a “Top 50 St. Louis Super Lawyer” since 2021, and as one of the “Top 50 Women Lawyers” in Missouri and Kansas in 2015 and 2016, and every year since 2018. 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. She holds the “AV” rating of the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory, the highest rating an attorney can achieve.
Michelle graduated from Washington University School of Law in 1996 and George Washington University in 1992. Michelle loves to read and bake anything from the New York Times cooking section.
Amanda S. Trigg, Certified by the Supreme Court of NJ as a Matrimonial Law Attorney, has over thirty years of family law experience. AAML Vice President and 2024 “Fellow of the Year,” she excels in complex litigation and high-net-worth matters, offering nationally recognized expertise in family law advocacy and education.
Brad Zimmerman is a principal at Carmody MacDonald and focuses his practice in the areas of business law, estate planning, and tax. Brad is a former Certified Public Accountant and uses his accounting background and experience as the foundation of his legal practice.
He advises business clients of all sizes on issues concerning formation and development planning, corporate governance, acquisitions, sales and the negotiation and documentation of business transactions.
Brad also counsels a variety of individual and business clients regarding estate and tax planning, estate and trust administration, wealth preservation and business succession planning. He prioritizes meeting clients’ non-tax objectives while minimizing their tax impact, including income, estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes.
Prior to joining the firm, Brad worked in the tax department of a large public accounting firm in St. Louis. He assisted corporations and partnerships with a variety of tax issues, including federal and state compliance, international restructurings and sales and use tax consulting.
Brad is a cum laude graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law where he was a member of the Order of the Coif. He received the Bernard T. Hurwitz Memorial Award for work in Taxation. He received his B.S.B.A. cum laude from Valparaiso University. He has been recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers, and as “One to Watch” by Best Lawyers. He is a board member of Christ Community Lutheran School and the Iota Sigma Housing Corporation.
We have a room block reserved at Hilton St. Louis Frontenac for April 9, 2026 through April 11, 2026 at a special rate of $169 + tax.
The room block expires when filled or on March 19, 2026.
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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.
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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.”
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