Richard Tejera

Firm Value Statement:  I will personally attend to your unique and special needs during this time in your life.  My office will assist you in the transition with gentle and compassionate care.  I will guide you with the experience and creativity to reach realistic goals.

Education and Degrees

  • University of Florida – Bachelor of Arts in Economics 1976 with High Honors
  • Boston College School of Law – Juris Doctor 1980

Professional Licenses   

  • Florida Bar
  • Florida Supreme Court Family Mediator

Other Professional Organizations           

  • First Family Law Inns of Court
  • Collaborative Family Law Institute – Member of Board of Directors

Carolyn West

Firm Value Statement:  “We put the ‘family’ back in family law,” and as attorneys with many years of litigation experience, Marks & West believes that the collaborative process is a significant development toward reducing the high emotional and financial cost of divorce.

Education and Degrees

  • 1985 Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Florida
  • 1989 Law Degree from Florida State University College of Law

Professional Licenses   

  • Member in good standing of the Florida Bar since 1989

Other Professional Organizations           

  • AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Member of the Collaborative Family Law Institute and American Bar Association
  • Former President and board member of her children’s’ schools’ various PTA’s

Brenda Shapiro

Firm Value Statement:  Our mission is to apply professionalism and a caring approach to the efficient resolution of our clients’ difficult family issues.

Education and Degrees

  • Pine Manor College, AA 1958
  • University of Miami, BA 1972
  • University of Miami School of the Law, JD 1990

Professional Licenses   

  • Florida Bar # 880401

Other Professional Organizations           

  • The Florida Bar
  • The Dade County Bar Association
  • The Collaborative Family Law Institute
  • Florida Association of Women Lawyers
  • American Bar Association

Helen Stein

Firm Value Statement:  Our attorneys are dedicated to a solution-based approach that helps clients resolve matters in a manner that minimizes stress and expense.  My practice is limited to out-of-court, non-adversarial methods of resolution, such as Pro-se, Pre-suit mediation, Mediation and Collaborative Process.

Education and Degrees

  • Ithaca College (B.S. 1982)
  • St. John’s University School of Law (J.D. 1985)

Professional Licenses   

  • The New York Bar- Member since 1985
  • The Florida Bar- Member since 1987

Other Professional Organizations           

  • Collaborative Family Law Institute (Member}
  • Certified Family Law Mediator, Certified Civil Law Mediator, Certified Dependency Law Mediator
  • Eleventh Judicial Circuit Parenting Coordinator
  • Florida Bar Family Law Section
  • Eleventh Judicial Guardian Ad Litem

Elizabeth Schwartz

Firm Value Statement:  I serve the unique legal needs of the modern Florida family and work with clients to explore their options and provide guidance through an unfamiliar legal landscape.  I value compassion, quality, and peace of mind.

Languages: English and Spanish

Education and Degrees:

  • Juris Doctorate,  University of Miami, 1997
  • B.A., University of Pennsylvania,  1993

Professional Licenses   

  • Member, Florida Bar
  • Family Law Mediator, Florida Supreme Court

Other Professional Organizations           

  • Board Member, Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders
  • Elected Fellow, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys
  • Elected Fellow,   American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys
  • Member,  Collaborative Family Law Institute
  • Member, Florida Adoption Council
  • Past President, Miami Beach Bar Association
  • Member,   National Family Law Advisory Council of the National Center for Lesbian Rights
  • Member, National LGBT Bar Association

Ana E. Schwarz

Education and Degrees

  • University of Miami School of Law cum laude, Juris Doctor, 2013
  • University of Maryland, B.A. Psychology, 2009

Professional Licenses   

  • Florida Bar, 2013

Other Professional Organizations           

  • Put Something Back, Dade Legal Aid, Guardian ad Litem
  • First Family Law American Inns of Court, Member
  • Business Network International, BNI Results, Miami-Dade, Vice President
  • The Florida Bar, Family Law Section, Member

Rachel K. Samek

Firm Value Statement: Our firm exclusively practices marital and family law and is committed to resolving family issues outside of court and through a negotiated and/or mediated approach.  I am a trained Collaborative Family Lawyer and have earned the Accredited Collaborative Professional distinction.  I am also a Certified Florida Family Mediator.  I assist clients with dissolution of marriage matters, paternity matters, parenting plans, and modifications of existing agreements through either collaborative law or mediation. I also assist clients with pre or post nuptial agreements.

Languages: English

Education and Degrees 

  • J.D., Nova Southeastern University – Shepard Broad Center, 2007
  • B.A., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 2002 (Psychology and Sociology)

Professional Licenses

  • Member of the Florida Bar
  • Certified FL Family Mediator

Other Professional Organizations 

  • Member, Collaborative Family Law Institute
  • Member, Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals
  • Member, Family Law Section of the Florida Bar
  • Greater Miami Jewish Federation

Enid Miller Ponn

Firm Value Statement:  I have been practicing law in Florida for 30 years, the first 15 of which I litigated divorce cases.  The last 15 years I have limited my practice exclusively to non-adversarial processes to include collaborative family law and family law mediation.  I am the Director of the Center for Collaborative Divorce and Mediation and have lectured on the topics of Collaborative Law and Mediation to state and national organization.

Languages: English and Spanish

Education and Degrees

  • Bachelor of Arts UNC/Chapel Hill – phi beta kappa
  • Masters Degree Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
  • Law degree University of Miami – cum laud

Professional Licenses   

  • Florida Bar attorney
  • Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator
  • Real estate sales associate

Other Professional Organizations           

  • International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
  • Collaborative Family Law Professionals of South Florida
  • Collaborative Family Law Institute
  • Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals
  • Mediation and Collaborative Law Committee, Family Law Section FL Bar

 

Bette Quiat

Firm Value Statement:  With more than 35 years of experience in complex family litigation, I have seen the destruction that the court system can do to a family.  It is our firm’s goal to assist families in resolving their differences in a collaborative manner and solving the problems which arise in divorce and other family matters though alternative means other than litigation, whenever possible.  With individual attention and a trained staff our firm seeks to inform and advise our clients as to the options available to them in family matters and then work with them to reach a resolution of their issues.

Languages: English and Spanish

Education and Degrees

  • B.A. Boston University. Spanish and Sociology
  • J.D. University of Miami

Professional Licenses   

  • Licensed to Practice Law, State of Florida
  • Certified Family Mediator , State of Florida

Other Professional Organizations           

  • Co-President  Collaborative Family Law Institute
  • President, Galloway Glen Homes Association
  • Board of Directors, Dave and Mary Alper JCC

Lizette Reboredo

Languages: English and Spanish

Education and Degrees

  • Bachelor Degree in Psychology –  University of Miami
  • Juris Doctorate Degree – University of Miami

Professional Licenses   

  • The Florida Bar;  Attorney
  • Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator
  • Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator

Other Professional Organizations           

  • Communications Director; Florida Lawyers Network
  • Florida Bar Family Law Section; member
  • Florida Academy of Professional Mediators; member
  • Coral Gables Bar Association;  member