HERSH MANNIS - Key Persons
Adam Philip Lipsic is a Partner at Hersh Mannis LLP and a Certified Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. After graduating from Pepperdine University School of Law in 2005, Mr. Lipsic immediately commenced practicing at Hersh Mannis LLP, where he had been interning since his sophomore year of college at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Mr. Lipsic was elevated to a Partner of the Firm in 2014.
Mr. Lipsic graduated Order of the Barristers from Pepperdine University School of Law, receiving this national distinction, which is bestowed upon select graduates for their excellence in oral advocacy. While at Pepperdine, Mr. Lipsic was selected by faculty to represent the school on the Pepperdine Trial Team for two years, winning three regional competitions and advancing to the national championship in Texas. Mr. Lipsic also served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Roy Paul at the Los Angeles Superior Court while attending law school.
Mr. Lipsic is well known for moderating important panel discussions on significant areas of the law. In 2019, Mr. Lipsic was invited to join a panel that included a Superior Court judicial officer and other highly experienced family law attorneys, to present important aspects of trial preparation for members of the Los Angeles County Bar Trial Institute. In 2017, Mr. Lipsic co-developed curriculum for international estate and trust attorneys on the important topic of: "Cross-Border Wealth Protection of the International Elite". That curriculum was presented at two industry symposiums in Beverly Hills, California and London England.
Andrew Stein joined Hersh Mannis in 2016, bringing nearly fifteen years of experience representing a broad spectrum of individuals in family law cases. He began his career in civil practice and has extensive litigation experience. Mr. Stein has proved to be a highly capable advocate in the appellate arena. During law school, he received the University of Southern California Public Interest Law Foundation Fellowship and earned the Edward and Eleanor Shattuck Award. He served as a Charles G. Koch Summer Fellow while clerking in Washington, D.C., at the Center for Individual Rights, where he worked on prominent cases before the United States Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals.
Mr. Stein resides with his family in Los Angeles. In his spare time, he enjoys new technology, music, and baseball.
Education
USC Law School; Los Angeles, CA; Edward and Eleanor Shattuck Award
Juris Doctor - 1999
Claremont McKenna College - BA, Government; Honors Graduate
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Counsel at the Law Firm
- Member of the Family Law Sections of the Beverly Hills Bar Association and of the Los Angeles County Bar Association
Christian E. Markey III is Of Counsel at the law firm of Hersh Mannis LLP. His practice is devoted to all aspects of family law. Mr. Markey is admitted to practice before all State and Federal Courts in California, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Markey is AV® Preeminent™ rated by Martindale-Hubbell, which ranks him at the highest level of professional excellence and ethical standards for the past 27 years. Mr. Markey graduated with highest honors from the University of California at Berkeley and received First Degree Honors from the University of Kent, Canterbury, England. He received his J.D. from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law where he was a Notes and Articles Editor and Staff Member of the Computer Law Journal and Major Tax Planning, and received the Charles M. Gayley Fellowship from the University of California.
In his "prior life" as a complex business litigation trial attorney, Mr. Markey headed a Century City entertainment litigation department. For nearly two decades, he handled environmental, entertainment, intellectual property, and complex business litigation and trials for corporations, celebrities and other individuals. Mr. Markey handled numerous pro bono cases as a volunteer attorney for Public Counsel for many years. Mr. Markey successfully represented a client in a nullity of marriage case all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court. He volunteered for more than a decade with the Constitutional Rights Foundation's Mock Trial Competition. Mr. Markey served as a Judge Pro Tem for the Los Angeles Municipal Court for several years, and as a volunteer City Attorney for the City of Los Angeles, where he prosecuted nine jury trials for the People of California.
Mr. Markey is a member of the Family Law Sections of the Beverly Hills Bar Association and of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is also a member of the Distinguished Order of Attorneys of the Beverly Hills Bar Association. Mr. Markey has been a panelist/speaker at continuing education seminars for the Southern California Family Law Inns of Court, of which he is a member of the Executive Board. He taught at UCLA's Attorney Assistant Training Program for more than 14 years. The Beverly Hills Courier featured Mr. Markey as one of its Top Attorneys for 2010. The Los Angeles Times featured Mr. Markey in its Family Law Practitioners in 2013 and as a Top Lawyer in 2017.
Mr. Markey was a nationally ranked triathlete for several years, has completed 100+ triathlons from sprint to Ironman distances, ran 16 marathons, and now enjoys playing tennis and skiing with his family. Mr. Markey has a son and a Bernese Mountain Dog.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner at the Law Firm
James M. Simon is a partner at the law firm of Hersh Mannis, LLP. Mr. Simon has been practicing law for 40 years and has several published legal opinions to his credit.
In 2002, Mr. Simon chose to work exclusively in the field of family law and he routinely handles complex divorce litigation, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, property division, child custody, spousal and child support and paternity issues. Mr. Simon is well-respected by his peers and is known for his reasoned and direct approach to resolving cases, whether that means brokering a settlement or taking the case to trial. Mr. Simon is dedicated to his craft and the zealous representation of the firm's clients. Mr. Simon treats every case, big or small, with the same personal touch, and is committed to responding to every client communication the same day it is received. As a result, clients routinely express their gratitude for the high level of quality service provided by Mr. Simon.
Mr. Simon received his Bachelor of Arts degree from UCLA and his Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School, where he graduated Cum Laude and received the Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Scholarship Award and the American Jurisprudence Awards in Family Law, Equity and Remedies. He is currently a member of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of California, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the Beverly Hills Bar Association.
In his early years of practice, in addition to practicing family law, Mr. Simon was a civil litigator and conducted numerous jury trials, including a lawsuit against the National Enquirer which he argued before the California Supreme Court, resulting in a landmark decision on the laws of libel and invasion of privacy. Prior to joining Hersh Mannis, LLP, Mr. Simon was a founding partner at the family law firms of Gross, Gross & Simon PC and Kaplan & Simon LLP.
Outside of the office, Mr. Simon enjoys being schooled by his two accomplished children, Jacob and Julia, and hanging out with his two dogs, Spock & Ziggy, and cat, Rue.
Education
Juris Doctor; cum laude - 1983
Loyola Law School; Los Angeles, CA
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner
- Founding Partner in the Firm
- HM 's Founding Partner
Joseph Mannis is a founding partner in the firm of Hersh Mannis LLP. Mr. Mannis' life and work spans many facets of the artistic and legal community. With over 40 years of career experience, the impact of his presence in Los Angeles' entertainment and creative circles is quite profound. Mannis has represented dozens of professional athletes, entertainers, motion picture & TV executives, several individuals on the "Forbes 400," as well as their spouses or coparents. Mr. Mannis has represented hundreds of actors, directors and prominent entertainment executives and has also represented many well-known artists in Los Angeles, while maintaining unyielding discretion with respect to the privacy of every client.
Mr. Mannis and the firm of Hersh Mannis LLP has exceptional expertise in international matrimonial law matters involving cross border wealth protection of the international elite. Chambers and Partners consistently recommends Mr. Mannis as an individual attorney and Hersh Mannis LLP as a firm in its annual High Net Worth Advisors Guide for Family and Matrimonial Law. The Hollywood Reporter has acknowledged Mannis among the top 50 Power Lawyers and the top 20 Legal Troubleshooters in Los Angeles for his work and innovation on behalf of clients in the entertainment elite. Mr. Mannis was previously honored by the Beverly Hills Bar Association's Family Law Section as a Legend in his field.
Mr. Mannis is often called upon to participate in industry discussions on relevant family law issues. In 2019, Mr. Mannis spoke on the topic of "Hollywood Divorces: An Insider's Perspective on Navigating A Divorce When Representing Clients in the Entertainment Industry." On two separate occasions in 2016, Mannis was asked to present on the groundbreaking Obergefell Supreme Court (Marriage Equality) ruling and its implications on current and future family law cases. Over the years, Mr. Mannis has also offered his expertise to certified public accountants and attorneys on a broad range of topics, some notables including: "High Wage Earners, Celebrity Goodwill," Beverly Hills Bar Association; "Support on Support," 48th Annual Family Law Symposium, Los Angeles County Bar Association; "Private Judges," Beverly Hills Bar Association; "Spousal Support," Orange County Bar Association, Family Law Section; "The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005: The Impact on Family Law," 31st Annual Family Law Symposium.
As an avid art collector and a Founder of MOCA, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Mr. Mannis is an artist's advocate and active member of the philanthropic community. He previously served as Chairman of Board of Project Angel Food and continues to support the organization at Chairman of the Board Emeritus. The Los Angeles Business Journal named Mr. Mannis a finalist for their 2018's HEALTH CARE LEADERSHIP AWARD, for his substantial philanthropic work on behalf of Project Angel Food.
Education
Loyola Law School; Los Angeles, CA
Juris Doctor - 1972
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of California
Marc André Bertet is a firm partner and certified as a Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Marc brings substantial experience and a breadth of knowledge to the field of family law, having represented renowned actors, musicians, politicians, professionals, entrepreneurs (from winemakers to cosmetics manufacturers), at-home parents, and high-net-worth clients for over 20 years.
Marc has extensive experience in complex litigation and settlement of nuanced issues in family law. This includes the preparation and negotiation of premarital/postmarital agreements and the pursuit/defense of child custody actions, child support, spousal/partner support, the division of property rights (business interests, real property, retirement plans, etc.), and consideration of tax issues incident to divorce.
In addition to his varied practical experience, Marc has lectured and authored publications in the field of family law. He served as both key architect and panel expert at the Los Angeles County Bar Association's 48th Annual Family Law Symposium, where Marc lectured on the US Supreme Court ruling Obergefell v. Hodges 135 S. Ct. 2584 (2015) (legalizing same sex marriage in the United States) and how the landmark decision affects same sex couples in dissolution proceedings. Marc lectured on Marriage Equality in the 21st Century at the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art and before the Exit Planning Institute on dividing business interests and protecting them in divorce. Marc contributed to the CEB publication Dividing Pensions and Other Employee Benefits in California Divorces, Chapter 2, Initial Procedures and Pretrial Orders. Marc co-authored a chapter on Fiduciary Duty Between Spouses for other family law practitioners for the Los Angeles County Bar Association's Family Law Symposium Reference Book.
In 2023, Marc was recognized as a Super Lawyer and Top Attorney in Los Angeles Magazine. Marc has also been recognized numerous times on the Southern California Rising Stars list, featuring outstanding young lawyers in Los Angeles Magazine and in the Southern California Super Lawyers - Rising Stars Edition. In 2018, the esteemed Los Angeles Business Journal named Marc among LA's Most Influential Minority Attorneys for his work championing the LGBTQ community. That same year, his professional peers at the Los Angeles County Bar Association named Marc as a leader in the field of LGBTQ rights and honored him for his efforts on behalf of the legal community. In 2017, Marc was a finalist for the Annual Corporate Citizenship Award by the LA Business Journal for his philanthropic work in Los Angeles.
Marc is an active member of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of California, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the Beverly Hills Bar Association. He was a member of the planning committee for the Los Angeles County Bar Association's 40th Annual Family Law Symposium.
Education
Loyola Law School; Los Angeles, CA
Juris Doctor - 2001
Max E. Goossen originally joined the firm of Hersh Mannis LLP in 2019 while he was in law school. During his time as a law clerk, Mr. Goossen was able to obtain first-hand experience and knowledge in the area of family law. Since being admitted to the Bar in November 2021, he further built upon his experience and knowledge to assist clients in a highly impactful way.
Mr. Goossen received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from California State University Northridge. He graduated Cum Laude from CSUN and was a member of the Dean's List throughout his time there. Additionally, he represented and won honors recognition for CSUN at national Model United Nations competitions. Mr. Goossen attended and received his Juris Doctorate from Southwestern Law School. During his time at Southwestern, he was a Moot Court competition finalist and a member of the Community Lawyering Clinic, where he provided pro-bono legal assistance to CSUN students. This allowed Mr. Goossen to gain valuable one on one experience helping clients with a wide array of issues including family law, immigration, and tenant law. In 2024, Mr. Goossen was elected to serve on the board of the Beverly Hills Bar Association Barristers Section as Secretary.
In his spare time, Mr. Goossen enjoys playing basketball, playing golf, and watching sports such as basketball, football, baseball, and boxing.
Education
Southwestern University School of Law; Los Angeles, CA
Juris Doctor - 2021
California State University, Northridge - BA Political Science & History; cum laude
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner
- Founding Partner of the Firm
Neal Raymond Hersh is a founding partner of the firm, Hersh Mannis LLP. With over 40 years of professional practice in the area of family law, Mr. Hersh is nationally known for effectively representing public figures, celebrities and high-asset individuals. He understands the nuance involved in litigating private matters for public figures, and works closely with publicists, business managers, and personal managers in order to assure that clients get through the process as quickly as possible, with the least amount of media attention possible, and that their public image remains intact throughout the process.
Mr. Hersh is the recipient of numerous industry accolades. In 2019, he earned LegalWeek's highly-coveted Transatlantic Private Client Team of the Year award on behalf of Hersh Mannis in the U.S., and Farrer & Co in England. Additionally, The Los Angeles Business Journal has named Mr. Hersh among Los Angeles' Most Influential Litigators; The Hollywood Reporter names Mr. Hersh among their list of Los Angeles Power Lawyers; Variety's Legal Impact Report identified Mr. Hersh and founding partner, Joseph Mannis as the top family law attorneys making a significant legal impact in the entertainment community; and Chambers and Partners consistently recommends Mr. Hersh as an individual attorney and Hersh Mannis LLP as a firm in its annual High Net Worth Advisors Guide for Family and Matrimonial Law. In 2022, the Beverly Hills Bar Association honored him as a Legend in the Field of family law.
Mr. Hersh previously served as President of the Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a group that was established expressly to represent and promote the highest degree of excellence in the area of Family Law. He is well known for moderating important panel discussions on significant areas of the law, including the Obergefell Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality and industry panel presentations on cross-border wealth protection of the international elite. He is a regular commentator in social media, providing thoughtful legal insight on pending celebrity cases for Vanity Fair, E! Television, The Hollywood Reporter, Buzzfeed, Marie Claire, The Today Show, CNN, CNBC, Celebrity Justice and Court TV, KABC news, and Entertainment Tonight. Mr. Hersh has also authored for Inside The Minds™ - Strategies for Family Law in California, 2011 Edition, published by Aspatore.
Mr. Hersh is married and enjoys spending time with his wife, children, and eight grandchildren, playing golf, and traveling. In his spare time, he also enjoys writing and has written a story which is a comedy relating to family law that has been sold to a major studio, hopefully to be made into a movie in the near future.
Education
Southwestern University School of Law; Los Angeles,CA
Juris Doctor - 1976
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Partner
- Member of the Family Law Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association
Sarah Luetto joined the firm of Hersh Mannis LLP in 2018 as an experienced family law litigator. As a Partner at Hersh Mannis, Ms. Luetto is engaged in a wide range of family law matters, including both high-conflict cases involving contentious litigation, and cases involving solutions focused, negotiated settlements. She is a graduate of the nationally recognized Family Law Trial Institute in Houston, Texas.
Ms. Luetto was named to the 2021 prestigious "Super Lawyers" list, published by Los Angeles Magazine. The annual independent peer rating spotlights those family law practitioners who have demonstrated excellence in their field.
In 2020, the Beverly Hills Bar Association Family Law Symposium included Ms. Luetto on their panel of experts with the aim of addressing the effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic and the complex challenges being faced by family law clients. The panel included other experienced family law practitioners, a judicial officer and a forensic accounting professional. In 2018, Ms. Luetto was named among the Los Angeles Business Journal's 2018 Rising Stars for her significant contribution to the area of family law. Each year, the Los Angeles Business Journal profiles younger attorneys who are influencing or setting new standards in the legal field and selected Ms. Luetto for accomplishments, leadership in her community, and pro-bono work through the Harriett Buhai Center of Los Angeles.
In addition to her private practice, Ms. Luetto serves on the Board for the Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law, a legal non-profit organization in Los Angeles which is dedicated to protecting victims of domestic violence and improving the well-being of children living in poverty.
Prior to being admitted to the State Bar of California, Ms. Luetto volunteered extensively in her chosen field of family law. While attending UCLA, Ms. Luetto was a member of Americorp's Justice Corp program and completed her service hours in the Los Angeles Superior Court's Guardianship Clinic and in the Family Law Self-Help Clinic, where she provided assistance to self-represented family law litigants. While attending law school at USC, Ms. Luetto assisted low- income families in need at the Harriett Buhai Center and completed a judicial externship with a family law judicial officer at the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Ms. Luetto is a member of the Family Law Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and a member of the Beverly Hills Bar Association. In her free time, Ms. Luetto enjoys trying new restaurants, taking exercise classes, attending concerts at the Hollywood Bowl, and traveling (in particular to Italy to visit her extended family).
Education
USC Law School; Los Angeles, CA
Juris Doctor - 2011
Suzanne Goulet joined Hersh Mannis LLP in 2019, bringing nearly 30 years of top-tier family law experience to the firm.
In addition to her work in private practice, Ms. Goulet is a longtime volunteer for the Los Angeles LGBT Center. She counsels clients in the legal clinic and works with both clients and staff members of the Center on the domestic violence project. She regularly serves as a daily settlement officer at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse and has also been serving as a judge for the past 15 years at UCLA's annual Mock Trial Competitions.
In her leisure time, Ms. Goulet enjoys volunteering for the Downtown Women's Center and Project Angel Food, gardening, reading, traveling, and long-distance walking.
Education
UC Berkeley; Berkeley, CA
Juris Doctor - 1988
UCLA - BA Spanish & Linguistics; magna cum laude; Phi Beta Kappa