Professionals

Leah takes pride in assisting clients with care and respect during arguably one of the most stressful times in their lives- going through a divorce. By taking a collaborative approach to divorce, the parties can manage the divorce in a mindful and respectful way to minimize the damage to their family. Leah focuses her practice on divorce and family law exclusively. Over the years, she has found that when both parties commit to put aside negative emotions, they can focus on settling issues of child custody, child support, and equitable distribution of their assets and debts in a way that benefits each party and their family overall. Collaborative law allows families to come up with carefully tailored plans that are not “one size fits all” and allows the parties to feel in control of the process with a voice at the table.

Leah regularly represents parents and children in divorce and family law matters in multiple local counties. She is honored to participate in collaborative law as a part of her practice. Leah graduated from S.U.N.Y. Geneseo with a B.A. in psychology and minor in sociology. She graduated from Albany Law School with her J.D. and is licensed to practice law in New York, Connecticut, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Leah has received numerous honors, including the Rochester Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 Award, the Honorable Michael F. Dillon Attorneys for Children Award for zealous advocacy of child clients in court proceedings, and being named to Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” category for Western New York. She is on the Board of Directors for the Society for the Protection and Care of Children (SPCC). While her main office is located in Rochester, Leah also has a satellite office in Canandaigua, New York and is Vice President of the Ontario County Bar Association. Prior to practicing family law, Leah was a criminal prosecutor in Virginia.

Diana is an experienced Collaborative Attorney and Family Mediator.  Her work is client centered and she is committed to helping clients avoid a bad separation or divorce process and achieve the best possible result through constructive negotiation.  Her priority is to help clients move forward with minimal disruption to their lives, and with the best possible outcome.  Named in Best Lawyers In America since 2009, recognized by Top Lawyers in New York, Best Lawyers in Rochester and recipient of Martindale-Hubbell Client Distinction Award.  Published by Thomson-Reuters and frequent speaker at local, national and international conferences on Collaborative Law.  Diana has been a member of the CLARA Board of directors for 15 years, and is the current President.

Kathryn R. Castro is a financial advisor with Cordaro, Rappold & Associates, a Platinum advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.  She has been serving clients in this capacity for over 12 years.  Katie is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNING™ practitioner and a CERTIFIED DIVORCE FINANCIAL ANALYST.  Her educational background, which includes a Bachelors in Social Work and a Masters in Counseling, gives her a unique perspective to help clients and their families develop financial plans and reach their financial goals.  Prior to working in the financial industry, Katie was employed in the public school setting as a school counselor where she worked with young children and teens to navigate the challenges they faced, often including families struggling with divorce and transition.  Katie currently supports her divorcing clients through individualized discussion, analysis and planning for each stage of the divorce process.  Katie is an active member of the Collaborative Law Association of the Rochester Area and certified as an allied professional.

As a practitioner for more than 38 years concentrating my practice in the area of family law, I realize that divorce is a very difficult experience for everyone involved, especially the children. Collaborative Law offers an alternative, non-adversarial way for each spouse to help create solutions together for themselves and their family. I am committed to this process as it offers the entire family the best opportunity for resolving their differences in a healthy and productive fashion.

Mr. Bezinque assists his clients in their transition from their current relationship — marriage, domestic partnership — and into their new lives, helping them achieve a lasting resolution that meets their core needs related to their family, financial security, individual privacy and personal dignity. As a Collaborative Law attorney, Mr. Bezinque helps people simplify the confusion of the divorce process and enables them to prioritize their needs. Working together with his clients, he explores and pursues their concerns about parenting plans and residency schedules, spousal and child support, location and valuation of assets and valuation of businesses and real estate. By empowering his clients to make sound legal decisions, they are better prepared to achieve a result they can be proud of and that will last into the future. Mr. Bezinque has a close working relationships with professionals in financial management, mental health and valuation that support the effective implementation of the Collaborative Law process. Mr. Bezinque was the first to introduce Collaborative Law to the Rochester community and has since facilitated conferences and workshops on the topic. He is a frequent speaker on Collaborative Law to professionals and the public and is a founding member and Vice President of the Collaborative Law Association of the Rochester Area, Inc.

As a trained collaborative attorney and mediator, I am committed to helping my clients work through the transition of their marriage or partnership with dignity and integrity, while minimizing the emotional toll on themselves and their family. In the collaborative process, each party is represented by an attorney and all parties have a common goal of reaching an agreement out-of-court. As a collaborative attorney, I can advise and guide you through the various issues of divorce: separation, parenting plans, support and asset-liability division. My goal is to provide each of my clients with a flexible process that best meets their individual needs during one of the most difficult periods in their lives.

Matrimonial matters (such as divorce, custody) should lead to a positive restructuring of relationships. As an attorney with over 40 years of practice in this area, I have come to believe that the Collaborative process, where four people (two clients and two attorneys) use their combined skills, knowledge and expertise to forge solutions that facilitate positive adjustments in financial and living situations, is one of the best ways to resolve a dissolution of a marriage or union. Each family, each partner, is unique as a fingerprint and deserves and requires thoughtfulness and creativity in reaching common ground and dignified solutions so that each person can find comfort and peace of mind. Trust can be re-established in the collaborative setting so that all members of a family can interact in the future in the best manner possible. My thoughts are that as an advocate in this process, my clients will be well served, economically, financially and emotionally. Everyone’s family structure deserves issues to be resolved privately, with professional support and guidance. The Collaborative process allows the professional lawyer to be a legal facilitator to reach the personal goals of the client in this situation. Please come join in the collaborative process which is on the cutting edge of matrimonial and family law resolution in the State of New York. Member of: Association of Collaborative Family Law Attorneys, International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP), Monroe County Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, Greater Rochester Association of Women Attorneys, Admitted to the New York State Bar February 12, 1980 (Syracuse Law School)

Work and family. Two of the most important areas of life come under Jennifer Shoemaker’s purview as an attorney practicing Family Law and Labor & Employment Law. Jennifer represents clients in the full spectrum of family law issues, including divorce, custody, support actions, the negotiation of separation agreements, adoptions and prenuptial agreements. Her diplomacy, compassion and people skills are an asset to her clients, as is her extensive background in general litigation, dispute settlement and arbitration.

I am a practicing CPA with over 40 years of experience. I provide tax and financial advice as well as assistance in tax compliance. My background has allowed me to assist couples in dealing with the financial issues of divorce in a calm, rational way.

As a Collaborative Lawyer and Mediator, I help divorcing clients reach good, long-lasting agreements without resorting to the courts. With guidance from caring and experienced professionals, couples can divorce intelligently and creatively, considerate of one another and of their children.

I am an experienced family law attorney having practiced in the court system for many years. Named in Best Lawyers in America from 1995 to the present, in Upstate New York SuperLawyers since 2008 and as Best Family Lawyer Mediator by the Rochester Business Journal, my current practice is limited to Collaborative Law and Mediation. I also provide consulting services for constructive conflict engagement for other professionals.

Our Rochester community has a dedicated group of family law attorneys, mental health professionals, mediators and financial specialists working together in whatever combination meets the clients’ needs. I was the first president of our Association and continue to be involved as an active member. I take part in teaching both beginning collaborative law and advanced skills, and, from 2001 to the present, have providing training across the United States and Canada.

I work in the Collaborative process because it is a process I believe in. While I am an expert in law, you are an expert in your family and this is something that the court system simply does not consider. The court system’s rigid and inflexible nature can exacerbate conflict and lead to poor results for you and your family. The Collaborative Process allows for creative and adaptive results in order to fit your unique family and situation. I believe one of the most important things in life are relationships and that is why it is my hope, that with guidance and understanding, the collaborative process will lead to the best result for you and your family.

Dan Cantone is a family law conflict resolution advocate specializing in out-of-court Collaborative Practice and divorce Mediation. He emphasizes the client-centered nature of Collaborative Law and welcomes the team approach of working with fellow Collaborative Attorneys and allied professionals to assist clients in transitioning to living apart. With his office in the western region of Onondaga County, Dan represents clients in Collaborative cases in Cayuga, Seneca, Ontario, Wayne, Yates, Livingston, and Monroe counties, too. His long tenure as an Adjunct Professor of Family Law and Collaborative Practice at the Syracuse University College of Law and undergraduate civil law courses at SUNY Oswego also keeps him abreast of changes in legislation and case law that impact domestic relations settlement cases. The suburban Camillus office also hosts Dan’s facilitative mediation practice for divorcing couples known as Mediate West. He is a popular speaker and trainer in the areas of Collaborative Practice, New York divorce law, and legal education.

It is my goal to make collaborative law the predominant means for resolving matrimonial disputes, as it is my belief that this process does the least harm to my clients’ families.

Ms. Fazio’s approach is to advise clients on both practical and legal aspects of their issues in a cost-effective manner so as to empower clients in making the best decisions. To this end, Ms. Fazio is trained as a Collaborative Attorney and is a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and the Collaborative Law Association of the Rochester Area, Inc., supporting alternative means to resolving family law matters.

My suburban practice emphasizes divorce and family law. I recognize that legal disputes and family dissolution are traumatic events.

Every client presents with a unique situation. My goal is to help each client transition through the difficult and emotional process in a caring and professional manner.

I personalize my services to provide the legal counseling necessary to respond to the conflicts that accompany family dissolution.

I have over 35 years of experience as an attorney, and more than 10 years of experience in collaborative law. I founded the “The Law Office of June Castellano” in 1999 and place a strong emphasis on educating clients about their rights and responsibilities under the law. As a philosophy, my law office seeks to empower clients so they are partners in making informed decisions in negotiations.

In addition to collaborative law, I am able to offer individuals attorney-based mediation and litigation services.

John Sobraske, based in Rochester, New York, has an MA in clinical psychology and is licensed as a mental health counselor and marriage and family therapist. He has worked as a psychotherapist for 25 years, serving youth, adults, couples and families; as a collaborative facilitator and family specialist for 7 years; and as a mediator for 5 years.

John has extensive training in attachment, object relations and psychoanalysis, with specialties in adoption, foster care, trauma, executive function and autism, and he works extensively with LGBTQ, African-American and Hispanic populations as well as low-income individuals and families. John regularly provides mental health evaluations and has served as an expert witness. He has developed two innovative psychotherapeutic approaches—Cognitive Affective Somatic Therapy and Psychoenergetic Psychotherapy.

His background in natural medicine includes training in botanical medicine, classical homeopathy, Taoist acupuncture and qigong. He is the chief editor for the homeopathic reference series, Materia Medica Clinica, by Massimo Mangialavori, and he has taught courses on natural medicine as an adjunct faculty member at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

John is an international presenter on adoption and collaborative law. For the latter, he regularly provides introductory two-day trainings and advanced trainings. Together with Donna Maier and Diana Deyo Ryan, John founded Interfow which provides trainings on adaptive strategies for optimal outcomes in co-mediation and collaborative law. This group presented in Spanish to the International Partnership Subgroup of the Instituto Brasileiro de Práticas Colaborativas (IBPC). He has a special interest in collaborative team dynamics and innovative ways to combine mediation and collaboration. He has participated on two IACP committees and is the current president of CLARA.

As a neutral coach and facilitator in the collaborative law process, my goal is to assist clients by supporting each of the parties individually and collectively to be both positive and productive in moving forward with a separation or divorce. The separation/divorce process is a very difficult one; emotionally and financially. My role is to help make the experience easier and smoother for everyone. I have a graduate degree in counseling from Syracuse University and received my mediation training at the Center for Mediation and Training in NYC. My mediation practice is located in Rochester, The Mediation Center Inc. I am an Accredited Member of the New York State Council on Divorce Mediation (NYSCDM) and sit on the board of directors. I am the current President of the Rochester Association of Family Mediators (RAFM), a board member of CLARA (Collaborative Law Association of the Rochester Area), and a member of the International Association of Collaborative Professionals (IACP). I am also certified by the Unified Court System of the State of New York and the Center for Dispute Settlement to conduct court-referred mediations.

People who choose the collaborative law process make this choice based on the amount of support they need in the room while they are making decisions in the areas of parenting, child support, and distribution of assets/liabilities. I am a firm believer in the collaborative law process for those couples who have decided that mediation will not provide the best process for them. They need the support of attorneys and neutral professionals in the room, working together for the good of their changing family. I want to support couples in their process choice and keep people out of court.

At Forst Law Firm, we are committed to helping you find the information you need to make the decisions that will bring you to a life you choose. After nearly twenty years as a family lawyer, Kelly Forst has committed her family law practice to Collaborative and mediated matters. These processes foster respect, fair and honest communication, trust, and a holistic approach in moving from married to single life.

As an attorney in practice for over 30 years, I am committed to using my legal and mediation skills to develop solutions for matrimonial and family law conflict that are constructive not destructive for those involved. The Collaborative Law process allows parties to develop a lasting agreement that provides for their needs and the needs of their children as they move into the future. Collaborative Family Law empowers those who are separating or divorcing to control the outcome of their conflict and challenges them to focus on the future. The Collaborative process helps harness the fear and uncertainty of separation or divorce by establishing a process for managing the conflict that is based on knowledge, honesty, commitment and respect.

Connie is passionate about the Collaborative Law process because she has witnessed the transformation that can occur with the help and support of a professional, transparent and trusted team.  Each professional engaged in the Collaborative process works for solutions that will benefit the well being of the entire family.

Connie has over forty years of professional work experience dealing with human relationships and conflict.  ‘I have had extensive training in the areas of communication, conflict resolution and human psychology, which has enabled me to interact positively and compassionately with divorcing couples, attorneys and other allied professionals involved in the Collaborative process; regardless of their backgrounds, core-values, life situations or experiences.  My relationship and responsibility to the team centers on promoting and mirroring effective communication coupled with empowerment, respect, and dignity.’

As a trained Facilitator and Mediator, Connie is steadfast when meeting with divorcing parents as they work with one another to craft and formulate their own unique parenting plans.  She understands the implications of a well-thought out strategy, the challenges that face parents today and the problem-solving techniques that will enable them to co-parent their children in a healthy and safe environment and as cohesively as possible moving forward.

My expertise is in the financial issues of separation and divorce. I concentrate my entire practice on this issue. As a result, I have worked on hundreds of collaborative cases. I bring more than 40 years of experience in the financial industry to you, the client, to help educate you about your choices and prevent many of the surprises that could result from making financial decisions during such an emotional time. I recognize that clients come from all walks of life and have different needs for information and help. I tailor my work and my skills to you and your needs. My goal is that you will be educated, involved, and ultimately empowered to make solid financial decisions that will work well for you and your family, now and for many years to come. Rochester is very lucky to have collaborative law as a choice for separating couples. The group of professionals involved are all very committed to the process and working with one another to bring the best possible outcome to individuals and their families. I am proud to be a part of this group.

Dr. JoAnne Pedro-Carroll is a licensed clinical psychologist with 25 years of experience working with children, adults and families. Dr. Carroll has expertise as a coach and child specialist with families in the process of a divorce. She is a clinician in private practice, former researcher at the University of Rochester’s Childrens Institute, and founder of prevention programs for children and parents dealing with family transitions. Her expertise in this area has been recognized with local and national awards, including the American Psychological Association’s Award for Distinguished Contributions to Public Service. She knows that divorce is a stressful time for families but believes, based on her research, that there are many things that parents can do to help their children thrive. She prefers to work preventively, in close collaboration with parents and other professionals, to reduce the risk of children’s long term problems and foster their resilience. She is the author of a new book , “Putting children first: Proven strategies for helping children thrive after divorce”, which won a gold medal from the National Association of Parenting Publication Awards. Her writing, clinical practice and presentations are filled with messages of hope, healing, and effective practice.

I believe that Collaborative Law provides divorcing couples with a far superior method of reaching resolution than traditional litigation. By encouraging couples to maintain a civil and respectful relationship through the divorce process, Collaborative Law allows divorcing couples to come up with creative resolutions which meet the unique needs of their individual family. Prior to attending law school I obtained my undergraduate degree in Psychology which I believe fundamentally assists me in my practice of matrimonial and family law and specifically in my practice of Collaborative Law.