Committee Chairs

AAML/ABA-FLSThis is a special committee appointed by the President and consisting of the President-‐Elect of the AAML, its First Vice President, the current AAML CLE Chair and the incoming CLE Chair, plus delegates from the ABA Family Law Section, including its CLE Chairs. The committee’s purpose is to keep the two organizations abreast of plans and issues that each of them are focusing on, as well as providing coordination and cooperation between them.
Officer(s)
Maria Cognetti, Chair

AAML/NBTAThe AAML/NBTA Committee is exploring the possibility of offering certification in Family Law Trial Advocacy through the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) for our Fellows. The Committee is working to have the ABA approve our AAML Exam as substantially equivalent to the NBTA Exam so that the AAML Exam will satisfy the ABA requirement for certification. There are other requirements for certification with the NBTA which will be examined closely so as to streamline the requirements for AAML Fellows so they can have the benefits of both organizations and the certification if they so choose.
Officer(s)
Brent Cashatt, Co-Chair
Marlene Eskind Moses, Co-Chair
Linda Lea Viken, Co-Chair

AAML/AFCC Joint Seminar (2013)This committee is organizing the second joint AAML/AFCC seminar scheduled for September 2013. It is an advanced program about all aspects of child custody.
Officer(s)
Kenneth Altshuler, Chair Emeritus
Maria Cognetti, Co-Chair
Gaetano Ferro, Co-Chair
Harold Mayerson, Vice Chair

AAML/AICPA Joint Seminar (2014)The AICPA/AAML joint conference committee is responsible for creating and producing the joint AICPA/AAML National Conference on the state of divorce as it relates to financial issues held every other year in Las Vegas. Tasks include selecting topics and programs, picking speakers and following through to insure that the program materials are of the highest caliber and submitted on time. The next conference is scheduled for 2014. The committee is limited to no more than 6 members from the Academy.
Officer(s)
Carole Gailor, Co-Chair
David Levy, Chair Emeritus

Admissions ProceduresThis is a special committee that is reviewing the admissions process, including the qualifications for membership, forms utilized in the admission process, and the review of the applications themselves.
Officer(s)
Thomas Parrino, Chair
Mary Vidas, Vice Chair

Admission Process
Officer(s)
Maria Cognetti, Vice Chair
Gaetano Ferro, Co-Chair
Cheryl Hepfer, Co-Chair

AmicusThe Amicus Committee reviews requests for national AAML amicus participation in matters under the guidance of the amicus policies of the AAML and offers its recommendation as to AAML amicus participation to the AAML Executive Committee and/or Board of Governors.
Officer(s)
Henry Finesilver, Chair
Marcia Maddox, Vice Chair

ArbitrationThe Arbitration Committee is responsible for producing basic and advanced mediation training programs in response to membership demand. In addition, the committee provides updates to Fellows on various arbitration topics including confidentiality, conflict of interest, practice techniques, etc. and serves as a resource for addressing issues relevant to Fellows providing arbitration services as a form of consensual dispute resolution. Membership on the arbitration committee should be limited to Fellows actually providing arbitration services as a form of consensual dispute resolution.
Officer(s)
Lynn Burleson, Co-Chair
Laurence Cutler, Vice Chair
Carl Murway, Co-Chair

Budget & FinanceChaired by the AAML Treasurer, this committee addresses budgetary issues and makes recommendations to the Executive Committee and the Board of Governors regarding the budget and finances of the AAML, including the dues structure.
Officer(s)
Cary Mogerman, Chair
David Pollock, Vice Chair

By-LawsThe By-‐laws Committee recommends to the Executive Committee and the Board of Governors changes and improvements to the Academy’s By-‐laws.
Officer(s)
Linda Lea Viken, Chair

Chapter Leaders CoordinationThe Chapter Leaders Committee meets at the annual and spring meetings of the Academy. At these meetings we encourage the chapter leader to improve their chapter's ability to draw new Fellows, inspire their current members, and to generate more revenue for their chapters. We create an atmosphere where chapter leaders can learn from each other and get new ideas. We discuss education, networking, charitable ventures, and others ideas to expand the services that the chapters provide their Fellows and the community at large.
Officer(s)
Mary Doherty, Co-Chair
Ronald Granberg, Co-Chair

Collaborative LawThe Collaborative Law Committee seeks to raise awareness and use of Collaborative Practice as a means to assist families in resolving their disputes in a respectful, amicable and constructive manner, focusing, in particular, on the needs of the children. Membership in this committee is not limited, though training in mediation or collaborative practice is recommended.
Officer(s)
Sylvia Goldschmidt, Chair
J. Mark Weiss, Vice Chair

Continuing Legal EducationThe CLE Committee produces the Continuing Legal Education seminars at the Chicago and Spring meetings. Typically, the CLE Chair appoints one person from the Committee to act as the Program Chair for each day of the seminars, or to manage other appointed Program Chairs. The CLE Committee members assist in formulating the subject matters to be covered in each of the two primary meetings by use of telephone conferences or as an adjunct to the main meetings.
Officer(s)
David Hofstein, Chair
Louise Truax, Ex Officio

Council of Committee ChairsThe Council is the AAML body that coordinates and controls all committee activities. It is tasked with ensuring each committee works in concert with the other committees in order to achieve its goals and complete its projects each year.
Officer(s)
Gordon Cruse, Secretary
Joslin Davis, Liaison
Sarah Eldrich, Liaison
James Hennenhoefer, Co-Chair
Elizabeth Lindsey, Liaison
Madeline Marzano-Lesnevich, Liaison
James McLaren, Co-Chair
Cary Mogerman, Liaison
Susan Myres, Liaison
John Slowiaczek, Liaison
Peter Walzer, Liaison

DiversityThe mission of the Racial, Ethnic and Other Diversity Committee is to promote the principles of diversity and inclusion within the AAML membership and the family law legal system. The Committee’s goal is to implement programs and educate the fellowship in promoting these principles.
Officer(s)
Jorge Cestero, Chair
Ronald Tweel, Chair

E-Discovery/ESIThis committee works to advance the Fellows’ awareness of the changing law concerning ESI and E-‐Discovery, to give the membership tools to use to meet the new responsibilities placed upon us by the law and provide a knowledge resource for the members.
Officer(s)
Joel Bernbaum, Vice Chair
Gordon Cruse, Chair

Family PrivacyThis is a special committee established to study the issue of Family Privacy in the court system. The committee will research the status of rules and/or statutes around the country and will address issues that would be of concern to state legislatures and the judiciary in considering proposed rules/statutes that would seal all or portions of family division files in order to meet the goal of ensuring that family privacy is protected with respect to children and finances.
Officer(s)
Sarah Eldrich, Chair
Sandra Meilton, Vice Chair

Guidelines for Child-Centered Residential SchedulesThe Committee is working on the development of a publication designed for use by parents, judges and lawyers in making appropriate decisions for access by parents of children who are no longer living together.
Officer(s)
Laura Belleau, Chair
Louise Truax, Vice Chair

HistoryThe History Committee is charged with preserving the records, and history of the Academy from its inception.
Officer(s)
Bernard Rinella, Chair

Institute For Family Law AssociatesThe Institute for Family Law Associates Committee plans and presents a four day comprehensive training program which is specifically designed for associates of AAML Fellows. Each June, Fellows from throughout the country teach and mentor the family law practice skills of associate attorneys on a variety of topics, including client and file management; understanding read 1040s and financial statements; divorce tax issues; evidentiary issues; basics of business valuation in divorce; and other practice hot tips. Appointment to the Committee is limited.
Officer(s)
Richard Jacobs, Co-Chair
Thomas Ries, Co-Chair

JEB, NCCUSLThe representatives of JEB, NCCUSL represents the Academy at the Uniform Laws Commission meetings and related meetings.
Officer(s)
Catherine Petersen, Representative
Linda Lea Viken, Representative

Journal Editorial BoardThe Journal Editorial Board is responsible for publishing the AAML Journal. The Board meets three times a year to plan upcoming issues. Individual editors are assigned to a specific issue and are responsible for obtaining authors and supervising the editorial process. Participation on the Journal Editorial Board is a major time commitment.
Officer(s)
David Levy, Editor

Law Office ManagementThe Committee collects, analyzes and recommends ways to efficiently operate a law office. We provide articles and are a resource to other committees for lecture topics.
Officer(s)
Charles Matison, Co-Chair
Amanda Trigg, Co-Chair
Stacey Warren, Vice Chair

LegislationThe Legislation Committee monitors legislative initiatives in Congress and, to the degree possible, all fifty States, and either supports or opposes them depending on their compatibility with the Academy mission statement, its resolutions, and tasks assigned to the Committee. The Committee proposes appropriate subjects for new legislation, uniform laws, and treaties, in keeping with Academy positions and programs.
Officer(s)
Peter Buchbauer, Vice Chair
Mary Doherty, Chair

LGBTFocusing its energies on issues involving same sex couples and parents, married and not, with all of the complexities that family lawyers face as our society continues to struggle with issues of enormous significance in this area of our practices. The Academy has been a leader in the effort to enable same sex couples to enjoy all of the privileges of heterosexual couples and it is timely for us to now have a committee that focuses on those issues, which assuredly will have an impact on all of us and our clients in the years to come.
Officer(s)
Richard Roane, Co-Chair
Connie Thacker, Co-Chair
Sam (Trey) Yates, Vice Chair

MediationThe Mediation Committee is responsible for producing basic and advanced mediation training programs in response to membership demand. In addition, the committee provides updates to Fellows on various mediation topics including confidentiality, conflict of interest, practice techniques, etc. and serves as a resource for addressing issues relevant to Fellows providing mediation services as a form of consensual dispute resolution. Membership on the mediation committee should be limited to Fellows actually providing mediation services as a form of consensual dispute resolution.
Officer(s)
Ronald Bookholder, Vice Chair
Nancy Chausow Shafer, Chair

MembershipThe Membership Committee works with the Executive Committee, the Chapters and the Board of Governors in their efforts to attract new members to the Academy and to make the Fellowship experience as meaningful as possible for new and old members alike.
Officer(s)
Nancy Kellman, Chair
Lee Rosenberg, Vice Chair

National TestThe National Test Committee is responsible for administering and scoring the National admissions exam three times each year. Each year it reviews and updates questions as necessary to insure that the exam is relevant, accurate and appropriately difficult. The committee is responsible for coordinating with the Admissions committee on issues relating to the notification of examination topics to applicants and the contents of the online bibliography of study materials.
Officer(s)
Brent Cashatt, Chair
Charles Meyer, Vice Chair

Negotiation SeminarThe Negotiation Committee works closely with the Project on Negotiation at Harvard (PON) to put on a seminar every other year. We also submit issues to the Harvard Law School class on negotiation and collaborate with them to produce a paper that will assist family law lawyers. Our two previous papers, which are available on our website, address the issues of custody and access and renegotiating child support when one of the parents is affected by the economic downturn.
Officer(s)
Elizabeth Lindsey, Chair
Anthony Piazza, Vice Chair

NewsletterProduces the AAML’s newsletter.
Officer(s)
Kenneth Altshuler, Co-Editor
Cheryl Hepfer, Co-Editor

NominationsThis committee, required under the bylaws of the AAML, nominates a slate of candidates to fill open officer positions, positions vacated by resignations or unexpired terms, and two at large governors. The committee consists of five members, including the president elect, who serves as the chair of the committee, one past president, one fellow nominated and elected by the Board of Governors, and two additional fellows, one whom is not currently a member of the Board of Governors. The committee is required to submit its report to the President no later than June 15 of each year.
Officer(s)
Maria Cognetti, Chair

Past Presidents CommitteeThe Past Presidents Committee (f/k/a Best Practices Committee) began as the AAML Commission on the American Law Institute’s Principles of Family Law drafted by ALI in lieu of a Restatement of Family Law. The AAML Commission evolved into a “think tank” to suggest the creation and publication of materials that enhance public awareness of the Academy and advance Fellows’ practices. BPC productions include the Model Parenting Plan, Alimony Guidelines, and the Educational Videos (posted on the Academy website) designed for use in law schools and for continuing legal education.
Officer(s)
Kenneth Altshuler, Co-Chair
Linda Lea Viken, Co-Chair

PoliciesChaired by the First Vice President and includes the President Elect and Counsel, as well as one of the six vice presidents, the policies committee provides written descriptions of the policies that govern the operations and work of the Academy, and makes proposals to the Executive Committee and Board of Governors for new policies and revisions to existing policies.
Officer(s)
James McLaren, Chair

Post Nuptial and Cohabitation AgreementsThis Committee is examining issues pertinent to cohabitation relationships. The work product of the Committee will be a model agreement. The Cohabitation Agreement is currently in draft form and is scheduled to be finalized before the November, 2013 AAML annual meeting
Officer(s)
Marlene Eskind Moses, Chair

Public Service & EducationProvides materials, such as videos posted on the AAML website that give the public basic, essential information about the law and process of family law matters.
Officer(s)
Carol McCarthy, Vice Chair
Frederic Siegel, Chair

Publications ReviewThe Publications Review Committee is charged with the responsibility of reviewing and approving outside requests to reprint Academy publications, and to act on calendar posting requests.
Officer(s)
James McLaren, Chair

Review Hotel ContractsThe Contracts Committee is charged with the responsibility of reviewing Academy contracts, such as hotel and vendor contracts, and making recommendations to the Academy President, Executive Committee and Executive Director. The Contracts Committee also formulates general contract templates and provisions and makes recommendations if outside consultants or attorney should be engaged.
Officer(s)
Alton Abramowitz, Ex Officio
Maria Cognetti, Ex Officio
James McLaren, Chair

Senior FellowsFocusing on issues that impact those among us who are in the later stages of our careers. The genesis of this Committee is founded upon the fact that roughly 500 of our more than 1,600 Fellows are over the age of 65 and that we want them to remain productive and involved members of our organization by recognizing their accomplishments and their evolving needs.
Officer(s)
Edward Gold, Co-Chair
Dorene Marcus, Co-Chair
Edward Snyder, Co-Chair

Sponsorship, Sales & MarketingThe sales and marketing committee develops and implements ideas that generate revenue for the AAML (e.g., logo items, educational materials and pamphlets, etc.).
Officer(s)
Bruce Christensen, Vice Chair
Madeline Marzano-Lesnevich, Chair

Spousal Maintenance/Alimony StudyThis committee is investigating alimony reform across the country. It will serve as a resource and information bank on the subject of alimony reform.
Officer(s)
Arnold Rutkin, Co-Chair
Thomas Sasser, Co-Chair

Spring Meeting Golf Tournament
Officer(s)
Kenneth Altshuler, Chair

Strategic Plan ImplementationThe Strategic Plan Implementation Committee is charged with the responsibility to periodically review and make recommendations concerning the implementation of the Strategic Plan adopted by the Board Of Governors.
Officer(s)
James McLaren, Chair

TechnologyThe Technology Committee manages the AAML’s presence in social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn), in addition to developing programs to train Fellows in the use of this media, as well as the use of technology in individual practices.
Officer(s)
Michael Koenigsberger, Vice Chair
Melissa Brown, Chair

WebinarThe Webinar Committee is responsible for producing continuing education programs for viewing online either "live" or on demand. The committee is also responsible for the videotaping AAML seminars at our annual and spring meetings for web production. The committee's purpose is to brand the Academy as the premier continuing education provider in the United States and to generate revenue for the Academy.
Officer(s)
Norman Ruber, Chair
John Harding, Vice Chair

WebsiteOversees the operations and continued development and evolution of the Academy’s website.
Officer(s)
Charles Hardy, Chair
Larry Martin, Vice Chair