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Ann Bauer recognized as the Best Lawyers® 2024 "Lawyer of the Year" for Collaborative Family Law in St. Louis

Aug 17, 2023

The Center for Family Law is proud to share that Ann Bauer has been named the 2024 "Lawyer of the Year" in the area of Collaborative Law--Family Law in St. Louis by Best Lawyers in America.  This is Ann's second time receiving this recognition.  "Lawyer of the Year" honors are awarded annually to only one lawyer per practice area in each region with extremely high overall feedback from their peers, making it an exceptional distinction.


This is Ann's 10th year being recognized on the Best Lawyers list. For 2024, she was included for her work in family law, family law mediation, and collaborative law. 


Ann is a proud member of the St. Louis Collaborative Family Law Association. Ann values her work in collaborative divorce and the positive impact it has on her clients and families.   


About Collaborative Divorce Process. Collaborative divorce is a legal divorce process that allows couples to negotiate all the terms of a divorce, without the need for mud-slinging or the stress of court. Couples will use a combination of mediation and negotiation to reach an agreement on the critical terms of divorce, like property and debt division, child custody and child support, and spousal support. You have a professional team there to support you--attorneys for each spouse, financial neutral, and mental health professional. For more information about the collaborative divorce process, click here or read more on St. Louis Collaborative Family Law Association's website at this link.


About Best Lawyers. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become regarded as one of the most respected guides to legal excellence.  Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise, and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.


About The Center for Family Law. Since 2013, The Center for Family Law has offered expertise in all areas of family law and a culture of collaboration with clients and other professionals. The Firm has earned national recognition, earning U.S. News and Best Lawyers highest Tier 1 Best Law Firms" ranking in the area of family law. 




02 Jan, 2024
Ready to start anew but feeling lost? Look no further than the Second Saturday Divorce Workshop, hosted by The Center for Family Law. This workshop will offer tools and resources for every step of the process, providing guidance on important topics such as child custody, support, and property division. Register for second Saturday 2024 now!
17 Nov, 2023
Once again, The Center for Family Law has been ranked as a 2024 "Best Law Firm" by U.S. News & World Reports in the area of family law in St. Louis.
By Allison Gerli 21 Aug, 2023
Navigating family law can be a complex and daunting process. That's why the recent Missouri Bar Family Law Conference brought together Missouri attorneys in the field to share insights and best practices. Attorneys at The Center for Family Law were among the presenters and in attendance at the 23rd annual conference held in Branson, Missouri. Their presentations focused on managing client expectations, initial consultation, drafting documents, case management, and grandparent visitation, third-party custody, and guardianships. Initial Consultation & Managing Client Expectations To ensure a positive attorney-client relationship, it is crucial to establish clear expectations from the very beginning. This was the focus of Allison Gerli's presentation at the conference. Allison co-presented with Andrea Pate, a family law attorney and partner at The Law Office of the Ozarks. It is crucial for attorneys to establish a solid foundation of trust and communication with their clients from day one, as this sets the tone for the entire legal process. Allison stressed the significance of active listening and open dialogue during these initial meetings, allowing clients to express their concerns and goals. Allison's presentation also highlighted the importance of transparency in managing client expectations. Attorneys should provide honest assessments of their clients' cases, outlining both the strengths and potential challenges they may face. By setting realistic expectations from the outset, attorneys can help clients navigate the legal process with confidence and a clear understanding of what lies ahead. The presentation then shifted to the importance of talking to clients about process options. Often practitioners focus on the substance and overlook the process. Clients have options on how to resolve their disputes and this should be presented and supported by practitioners. The Center for Family Law prides itself on process options and educating clients on their options, whether that by an uncontested "kitchen table" style divorce, collaborative divorce process, mediation, or a semi-litigated case resolved through cooperative attorneys sitting down to work through issues. Case Management Case management is critical to providing quality services to family law clients. Ann Bauer's presentation at the conference provided valuable insights and best practices in this area. Ann co-presented with Kristen Siegel, a family law attorney and partner at Siegal & Irwin, LLC based in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Kristin covered the importance of carefully drafting court pleadings. In terms of case management, Ann highlighted the importance of document organization, keeping track of deadlines, and timely communication with clients. Attorneys must keep track of deadlines, court appearances, and client meetings to ensure cases progress smoothly. Clear and frequent communication with clients is crucial. Clients want to know what is going on, and not to be left wondering. It is important to provide updates, address concerns, and gather necessary information for the client’s case. Ann also discussed the significance of effective document management as a part of case management. Maintaining well-organized and easily accessible files can streamline the legal process and ensure important documents and information are readily available. F.amily law cases are often document-heavy. Keeping documents organized in a systematic way can enable the attorney to prepare for settlement and trial Grandparent Visitation, Third-Party Custody, and Guardianships Hallie Van Duren delivered a two-part presentation on the complex legal issues surrounding grandparent visitation rights, third-party custody, and guardianships. Hallie co-presented with attorney Kristen Sparks, partner at Garnholz Sparks. Typically, guardianship cases involve neglect, abuse, or the inability of the biological parents to provide a suitable environment for a child. A guardian who is appointed by the Court steps into the role of a parent in all respects. A third-party custody action can similarly result in a third-party custodian stepping completely into the role of a parent, but, unlike in guardianship cases, third-party custody can in some circumstances result in a shared custody arrangement between biological parents and non-parents. Grandparent visitation involves much more limited court-ordered contact between a grandparent and a child or children while preserving the parental right to custody. Hallie outlined the legal standards and procedures for a non-parent to seek custody or visitation of a child in each of these types of cases, emphasizing the paramount concern of establishing and preserving the child's best interests. By exploring statutes, caselaw, and examples, Hallie’s presentation analyzed which type of action would be most appropriate in different circumstances. Over the course of her two-hour presentation, Hallie examined the complex legal balance of preserving relationships between children and grandparents or other third parties while respecting parental rights. Hallie offered practical guidance for Missouri attorneys in advising clients who are either seeking to establish grandparent visitation rights, guardianship, or third-party-custody or defend against such actions.
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