Author: Greg Herring

Herring Law Group Welcomes Taylor Fuller

HLG is pleased to welcome our fifth attorney, Taylor Fuller.  When establishing ourselves in 2015 as a new family law firm in the 805, we never imagined growing so much and so quickly.  That has never been the goal.  Arriving at this point reflects how our unique “concierge level” service and excellent legal work have resonated with families in need.

Born and raised in Santa Barbara County, Taylor is a graduate of Cabrillo High School in Lompoc.  At San Diego State University, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a minor in Sociology.  Taylor spent her undergraduate summers interning for the Office of the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney.  She then returned to Santa Barbara County for law school. 

Taylor attended law school at the Santa Barbara College of Law.  She earned the Witkin Awards for outstanding academic achievements in Community Property and Criminal Law courses.  While in law school, Taylor held positions interning for the Office of the Santa Barbara County District Attorney.  She also worked at a local firm offering law services in family, criminal defense and estate planning. 

Immediately prior to joining HLG, Taylor worked at a boutique Santa Barbara law firm representing clients in divorce, legal separation, support, parentage and custody proceedings.  She has represented family law clients across Santa Barbara County and also the broader Central Coast. 

Taylor currently serves as a Director on the Board of Directors for Santa Barbara Women Lawyers as well as the Santa Barbara Barristers.  She is passionate about community service.  We applaud her active volunteer work for long distance run training with visually-impaired students.  During her spare time, Taylor enjoys being outdoors, visiting Jalama Beach or Lake Nacimiento, with friends and family.  

Cassandra Glanville is a “Rising Star”!

The popular “Super Lawyers” publication periodically lists selected “Rising Star” attorneys who are acknowledged throughout the legal community as having particular promise. 

We are proud to announce that one of Herring Law Group’s attorneys, Cassandra Glanville, was recently named as one!

Super Lawyers uses a patented multiphase selection process. Its objective is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel. The selection process involves (1) nominations by attorney peers, (2) evaluations by third-party research across twelve key categories, (3) reviews by a highly-credentialed “Blue Ribbon” panel of attorneys and (4) final selections. Only 2.5% of all attorneys are selected as “Rising Stars,” and only 5% of all attorneys are selected as Super Lawyers.

I have been named a Super Lawyer in each consecutive year since 2006. But neither HLG nor I influenced the independent selection of Cassandra. We do not particularly advertise in Super Lawyer publications, and so there was no actual or tacit quid pro quo. Contrarily, she accomplished this all on her own!

Cassandra has focused her career on complex, high-conflict family law matters. Prior to joining HLG, she worked with a prominent San Francisco firm, working closely with sophisticated and high-income individuals facing difficult and complicated issues. Her attention to detail, use of technology, and strong research and writing skills are particular strengths. 

Cassandra is originally from Silicon Valley and attended the UC Santa Barbara for her undergraduate degree. She attended law school at the UC Hastings College of the Law. While there, she worked as a judicial extern at the San Francisco County Superior Court Unified Family Court. Cassandra also worked at the Alameda County Superior Court, focusing on family law and domestic violence matters.

Prior to practicing in San Francisco, she pursued her family law career in Santa Barbara, working for a solo practitioner. In 2012, Cassandra was awarded the McLafferty Scholarship, provided by the Santa Barbara Women Lawyer’s Foundation in part for her service to the Santa Barbara community.

She is an active member of the Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee, (2018 – present) and has served as Treasurer for the Santa Barbara Women Lawyers Foundation since 2017. Cassandra is a member of Women Lawyers of Ventura County and is a particularly active member of Santa Barbara Women Lawyers. Her published family law articles include: (1) “Mediation Practice Twenty Years Later: A Cautionary Story and Proposed Reforms,” (assisting me) (ACFLS Family Law Specialist, Winter 2017), and (2) “Mediation Twenty Years Later Part 2: The LRC Considers Alternative Reforms,” (assisted by me) (ACFLS Family Law Specialist, Spring 2017).

Super Lawyers now rightly recognizes what we, at HLG, our clients, our opponents and courts throughout the 805 already well know! Congratulations, Cassandra, and let this merely be one of many important recognitions-to-come along your most-promising career!

Herring Law Group Celebrates another Successful Family Law Trial Basics Seminar

Our AAML Southern California Chapter presented its fifth annual Family Law Trial Basics Seminar in Costa Mesa on April 26, 2019. As always, it was free to all 100 attendees, who came from all corners of Southern California – and beyond. This year’s TBS was better than ever. I am honored to remain its Dean.

The AAML presents the TBS to reach out to our community, improve the skills of less-experienced family law lawyers and give back to our profession.

Each family law case has different needs. Our Fellows recognize the availability of various alternative courses of resolution. But we believe that if a case cannot be settled, then the consequence is that the courts are there to decide the issues. Our job is to be prepared to expertly litigate those cases to their logical ends.

Sharon Blanchet opened with an overview of pre-trial discovery planning and later spoke on refreshing recollections and judicial notice. Chris Melcher was clear and direct concerning the introduction of evidence, examination of witnesses, opening statements and other topics. Saul Gelbart handled order of proof and closing arguments. Bob Benavente taught cross-examination and introduction of written discovery into evidence. Jim Schaefer, CPA, discussed “Selling Your Case with Demonstratives.”

Gordon Cruse discussed motions in limine and electronic evidence. Sandy Mayberry spoke regarding hearsay and objections. Claudia Ribet spoke on post-trial motions and protecting the appellate record. I presented on expert witness management, direct examination and cross-examination.

California family law guru, Garrett Dailey, was his usual gracious and insightful self as our moderator. He also presented an in-depth overview regarding the use of deposition transcripts.

Justice Sheila Sonenshine (ret.) shared her great wisdom. It is earned from years trailblazing as a woman family law attorney, then Superior Court judge, then Appellate Court Justice. Judge Glen M. Reiser (ret.) joined us for his first TBS. At the day’s end, he gave his own comments and advice “from a judge’s perspective.”

A unique aspect of the TBS is that we combine the above “main event” seminar with a hand’s-on Practicum. It allows our attendees to practice the trial skills that they learned at the seminar. This year’s Practicum was held the following day, at UC Irvine’s School of Law. Chris and Sandy, as in prior years, coordinated and presented it, and attendance was better than ever.

In the five years that our Chapter has presented the TBS, we have educated nearly 500 young (in their practices) family law attorneys. HLG is proud to have initially developed the TBS from the ground-up, and we remain honored to continue to lead it.

HLG Attends Annual AFCC Conference

Herring Law Group’s Executive Director, Erin Schaden, recently attended the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts’ (AFCCnet.org) Conference in Costa Mesa.  HLG is a member of the AFCC, which is the “interdisciplinary, international association of professionals dedicated to improving the lives of children and families through the resolution of family conflict.”  It focuses on “serving the needs of children among those who work in and with family law systems, encouraging education, research and innovation and identifying best practices.”  While the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (aaml.org) and the International Academy of Family Lawyers (iafl.com), in which HLG is also involved, focus on all manner of family law concerns, the AFCC narrowly focuses on children, custody and parenting.

The Conference’s presenters included many of the nationally-prominent mental health and parenting/custody professionals with whom HLG regularly works.

Through Erin, we dove deeper into a variety of developing issues and concepts, particularly centering on family law cases involving domestic violence (“DV”).  Insights gained include ways to better identify abuse that is not always readily reported by clients, assisting clients who are impacted by DV, coping with DV-related “PTSD” and learning the ways that DV trauma interferes with litigation.  With Erin’s input, we are continuing to develop strategies for identifying and better handling survivors of DV. 

At the Conference, Erin’s other areas of focus included:

  • Respectful communication: its limits and benefits;
  • The role of digital media in managing family conflict and parental disputes;
  • Drafting and enforcing effective DV court orders;
  • The evolution of family law and parenting evaluations;
  • Burden of proof issues under the DV Prevention Act;
  • Understanding the challenges of blended family relationships;
  • Overcoming righteous indignation and accusatory suffering, and
  • The opioid crisis, substance abuse and treatment alternatives.

It was an informative few days, providing us updates regarding how DV, trauma and substance abuse affect and — especially if ignored — tend to direct family law cases.  On the positive side, the Conference also emphasized revised strategies for HLG’s handling of these challenges.  HLG remains a strong supporter of the AFCC.  We thank Erin for her enthusiastic participation!