Shepherd Family Lawyers

Upon Graduation from Law School in 1997, Attorney Chefalo worked in Lansing Michigan for the 30 th Judicial Circuit Court as a law clerk for the Honorable Thomas L. Brown. While there, he researched complicated legal issues and drafted proposed opinions on all civil and criminal matter that came before the court. In 1999, Attorney Chefalo moved to Traverse City Michigan to work in private practice. When asked why he picked Traverse City, Attorney Chefalo stated: “if you are going to start a law office from scratch, you might as well do it in a beautiful place.” His goal...

Ray's practice is mainly involved with divorce, custody, alimony and collections. Raymond Pater was born in the Netherlands and is one of eight children. After his family immigrated to the United States, and although of modest means, six of his siblings attended college and two went on to obtain PhDs, later becoming college professors. An older sister never attended high school, but was admitted to college because of a nearly illegible transcript and ironically went on to become a high school teacher. While attending grade school and high school, Ray worked in the family business selling eggs and chickens...

Lise Spresser focuses her entire practice on all aspects of family law, with over a decade of practice before the Circuit Court Family bench in Oakland, Lapeer, Macomb, Genesee, Wayne and St. Clair. Her goal is to educate, support and passionately advocate for her clients while helping them navigate through the difficult legal process. Lise earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and graduated from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, where she received top accolades in the Legal Studies Program. Lise is a member of the Family Law Section of the State Bar...

Anthony "Tony" Donoho is a US Air Force veteran. He attended Thomas M. Cooley Law School graduating in 2012. While in law school, Tony also worked 3rd shirt at the U.S. Postal Service as an electronic technician, and represented fellow Postal employees as their union steward and vice president of the American Postal Workers Union Local 273. He was also a local business owner with Byte-Wise Computers.

Shawn Coppins is an aggressive litigation attorney and is one of the firm’s founding partners. Mr. Coppins was born and raised in the Metro-Detroit area. Prior to establishing Coppins Law Group, he was a litigation attorney at one of Michigan‘s largest law firms. Mr. Coppins also worked as a litigation attorney with one of Michigan's most well renowned Civil Rights Firms. Since his admission to the State Bar of Michigan, Shawn Coppins has represented clients in both State and Federal Court. Although many seem quick to criticize trial attorneys, their criticism ends when they find themselves...

Jennifer Zeleznik is a devoted advocate, empathetic counselor, and experienced family law attorney who is passionate about guiding her clients through challenging transitions. A natural advocate with a strong desire to help others, Jennifer takes pride in helping people navigate the legal system and supporting them as they embark on new chapters in their lives. Originally from Burr Ridge, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, Jennifer always knew she wanted to become a lawyer, a dream she pursued with unwavering dedication. She moved to Michigan to attend law school and has made it her home ever since. Jennifer earned her Bachelor’s degree from...

Gail Towne has worked almost exclusively in the area of family law for over thirteen years throughout the state of Michigan. She is now a partner with the Kalamazoo law firm of Lennon, Miller, O'Connor & Bartosiewicz, PLC where she commits her practice to helping individuals and families traverse through the family courts or facilitate private settlements related to family law issues. Specifically, Gail's practice focuses on domestic relations law including divorce, paternity, child custody, child support, and other family law matters. She is an experienced litigator, but also committed to alternative dispute resolution, particularly collaborative law,...

Don’t take a risk in court. Roberto Bihar and his skilled, dedicated team will fight for you. Whether you need criminal defense, have a probate issue, or are facing a DUI charge, we are ready to protect your rights. With over 1,000 criminal cases in 10 years, we have the knowledge and experience to successfully represent you. We are proud to serve clients in communities throughout Holly, Clarkston, White Lake, and Waterford Township, MI, and beyond.

Mark Reina was admitted to practice law by the Michigan State Bar in 1984.He has handled all types of Criminal cases, such as: drug offenses, CSC, larceny, OUIL/DWLS, etc. Mr Reina also handles all forms of family matters law, including: Divorce, Custody and Support. His office handles Bankruptcy (usually Chapter 7 individual). His office is conveniently located on Dixie Hwy in Clarkston, He can be reached at his cell phone (248) 390-3464.

We offer a full suite of legal services including: Criminal, Family, Divorce, Child Support/Visitation, Bankruptcy, Civil and Litigation. We cover primarily Oakland County but...

Practicing law has been a long-term goal for me ever since participating in a mock trial exercise in middle school. With that goal in mind, I pursued a degree in political science at Grand Valley State University with the intent of going to law school immediately following my undergraduate studies. I graduated cum laude from Michigan State University College of Law and joined the team at Kraayeveld Law.

I have always had a passion for working with kids. Throughout my time in college and law school, I worked as a high school marching band instructor and as a recreational gymnastics coach....

Ms. Breen specializes in family law which includes divorce, child custody disputes, child support, spousal support, and prenuptial agreements. She also prepares estate plans which includes the preparation of trusts, wills, powers of attorneys for finance and medical care, and setting up guardianships/conservatorships. Ms. Breen has litigated hundreds of cases and has the experience to represent her clients in court.

My practice focuses on criminal defense including misdemeanors and felonies in both the trial and appellant courts. He has a strong interest in complex constitutional law issues and their applicability in the criminal justice system. I am an active member of the Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System commonly known as the MAACS; an organization responsibly for nearly 84% of all assigned criminal appeals cases in Michigan. My practice also includes a strong emphasis in family and estate law including: parent’s rights, divorce litigation, custody, parenting time, child support, guardianships, estate planning, probate litigation and juvenile matters. I...

Ivan is a dedicated Divorce and Family Law attorney that works diligently to fight for fairness for Men and Fathers. He is proud of his affiliation with the American Divorce Association for Men (ADAM).

Joe has been practicing law for over 20 years. He serves the greater Grand Rapids area and has worked with the majority of the courts in Kent and the surrounding counties. He is well known to other attorneys in the area and has a positive working relationship with court officers and law enforcement agencies.

Ashley graduated from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2019, and went on to pass the bar as a first-time test taker. Ashley has a strong passion for Family and Criminal law and began her legal career as an intern at the Genesee County Courthouse in the Criminal/Civil Division, before moving on to become a Judicial Law Clerk for the Family Division – after which she entered practice and went on to establish Birka Law PLLC.

Christopher has lived in Grand Rapids since 1st grade, He graduated from City High School, and then moved on to Grand Valley State University, where he met his wife, Devon. After receiving his Bachelor's in English and Political Science, Christopher moved on to complete his legal education at Thomas M. cooley Law School, and was admitted to the bar in 2011. His practice at The Grand Rapids Law Group handles criminal defense, divorce & child custody, business law, drunk driving defense, social security & disability, and other legal matters.

I am a licensed attorney in the state of Michigan, who practices criminal and family law in Genesee County and Metro Detroit. I am an experienced attorney that consistently wins favorable outcomes for clients across southeast and mid-Michigan.

Eden J. Allyn is an ardent advocate for her clients. Practicing since 1996, Ms. Allyn has dedicated herself to helping her clients by staying abreast of the latest issues and developments in the law. She has furthered her education in the family law arena by earning a Certificate of Completion of the Family Law Certificate program through the Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education, by obtaining a collaborative law certificate and by training and working as a domestic family law mediator and attorney. Ms. Allyn has zealously represented clients in all levels of courts in Michigan, including appellate actions at...

Blake Lipman has been a practicing attorney in Michigan since 1995. He worked as a real estate lawyer for a number of title companies for approximately 5 years. He is a graduate of Wayne State University Business School and Wayne State University Law School. Mr. Lipman practices in the greater tri-county area, which includes Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, Washtenaw, and Monroe counties. Mr. Lipman has a reputation as a tough, fair, and experienced litigator.

Sabrina Cronin is the Founder and President of The Cronin Law Firm. Following Sabrina’s lead, the breadth and depth of knowledge at The Cronin Law Firm is quite expansive. She and her team handle family law, business law, criminal defense, estate planning, entertainment law, personal injury, real estate, bankruptcy, civil litigation, employment law and immigration. In more than two decades as an attorney, Sabrina has fed her curiosity and challenged herself to become intimately involved in multiple areas of the law. Her professional experience is distinctive and varied. She began as an associate attorney for Sullivan, Ward, Bone, Tyler,...

Metro Detroit Divorce Attorney Simone R. Sprague grew up in Macomb County, Michigan, where she lived with her parents, grandfather, and three younger siblings. Growing up in her grandfather’s home gave Simone a true appreciation of what it means to be “family,” as she was often surrounded by Aunties, Uncles, and multitudes of cousins (think My Big Fat Greek Wedding). She credits her passion for helping people to these experiences, and to her mother who never turns down a person in need. Simone received her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the Lee Honors College at Western Michigan University, where she played...

Shelley Kester is an award-winning attorney, a community leader, a dynamic communicator and a caring individual. She is Chair of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. Her practice includes nearly all aspects of family law, including divorce law and child custody. She was among the first in Northern Michigan to complete the Family Law Certificate Program through the Institute of Continuing Education and the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. She is President of wilson Kester, the Empowered Divorce Source. A frequent contributor to the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Ms. Kester is...

I have been practicing law for 25 years. My practice focuses on family law including divorce, custody, parenting time, asset division and support.

Associate Attorney

I am Erika S. Shadowens, a family law attorney with a strong reputation for my tenacious advocacy and strategic approach to litigation. As a partner at Varnum LLP, I have dedicated over 28 years to representing clients in complex divorce, child custody, and high-asset family law cases. Known for my unwavering dedication, I am a formidable presence in the courtroom, where I advocate relentlessly to protect my clients' rights and interests. My litigation experience covers all levels of the legal system, including the Michigan Supreme Court, where I have successfully argued challenging cases. Whether it's high-conflict custody disputes or intricate financial...

I am passionate about helping people with their family law problems. I help my clients with issues of divorce, child custody, parenting time, child support, and family abuse protection orders. As a parent myself, I understand how important these issues are to my clients. I view my job as a compassionate guide through a complex legal system that can be difficult for non-lawyers to navigate on their own. I try to resolve these issues as amicably as possible, although I have taken many cases to trial when it is necessary and appropriate to do so. I...

Brandon Gardner founded Brandon Gardner & Associates, PLC on the principle that every client deserves zealous, high-quality legal representation, especially those facing the most serious crimes and complex family disputes. Brandon has over twenty years' experience in multiple aspects of the court system from small claims dispute resolution to appeals to the Michigan Supreme Court and utilizes this breadth of knowledge to develop custom solutions to every case at the firm, no matter the complexity. Mr. Gardner’s practice areas include serious felonies and federal crimes, complex domestic litigation, and personal injury litigation. Additionally, he is an approved domestic relations mediator on...

I know that each family dynamic is unique, so I work side-by- side with clients to navigate challenging family law matters or the confusion of probate or trust settlement following the death of a loved one. As for my qualifications, I have a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Michigan University where I double majored in both Public Law and Journalism. I went on to get a law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School where I was a Dean's List student with an academic scholarship award, a member of the school's Access to Justice Clinic, and a founding board member...

Beth A. Striegle grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After graduating from West Catholic High School, she attended Ferris State University where she obtained an Associate’s Degree in Commercial Art. Prior to attending law school, she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Calvin College where she graduated with honors. While attending Thomas Cooley Law School she raised two young boys. Beth completed her law school internship at the Sixty-Plus Elder Law Clinic. She considers the experience she gained while working for the clinic to be very valuable because it gave her a better understanding of the various issues...