MODERN FAMILY LAW - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Associate Attorney / Denver, CO

Practice Areas Divorce Custody Family Law Support Child Support

Job Titles:

• Associate Attorney / San Antonio, TX

Practice Areas Child Protection Decree Modification Divorce Custody Family Law Biography Anne grew up in San Antonio, Texas, and is a proud graduate of Edison High School. Anne attend Baylor University and graduated from the University of New Mexico with her bachelors and law degree. Anne believes strongly in educating our children and also holds a Master of Education. When relaxing, she loves horseback riding, fishing, camping, and working with her and her husband's Texas Longhorns in Colorado.

Job Titles:

• Senior Attorney / Denver, CO

Practice Areas Divorce Adoption Relocation Domestic Violence Protection Orders Biography Brian is a Colorado native and began practicing law as a Deputy District Attorney. After leaving the DA's office, Brian worked in civil firms where he handled personal injury, criminal defense, civil litigation, and family law cases. Brian's diverse background provides a unique perspective on the often-divisive issues present in domestic cases. Since joining Modern Family Law, Brian has dedicated his practice to family law and criminal cases.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Colorado Bar Association
• Senior Attorney / Colorado Springs, CO

Practice Areas Military Divorce Divorce Child Support Child Protection Family Law Biography From Cincinnati, Ohio, Chelsea grew up the daughter of an Ohio Family Law attorney and followed in his footsteps. Licensed to practice in Colorado and New York, Chelsea has experience in family law with divorce, guardianship, adoption, mediation of high-asset estates, allocation of parental responsibilities, and paternity. She is also experienced with military families and the unique obstacles military persons face in family law. Before making Colorado her home, she worked with the Valparaiso Law School Clinic combating deportation in Chicago, Illinois. She's also worked with The Legal Aid Society of Cincinnati. Her favorite actor is Jeff Goldblum. She is a digital and watercolor artist. Chelsea is a member of the Colorado Bar Association, the El Paso County Bar Association, and the New York Bar Association.

Job Titles:

• Associate
• Attorney
• Associate Attorney / San Antonio, TX

Practice Areas Grandparents Rights Child Support Decree Modification Paternity Divorce Biography Cherrell is from Saint Louis, Missouri, and moved to Texas in 2007. Thereafter, Cherrell commissioned from the Army Reserved Officer Training Course and served as an active-duty chemical officer. Cherrell served in the United States Army for 14 years. In January 2018, Attorney Holmes became a Judge Advocate in the US Army. During her time as a JAG Officer, she practiced family law, consumer protection, estate planning, military law, criminal defense, administrative law, and labor law. In January 2022, Cherrell began practicing family law in San Antonio, Texas. Cherrell has a passion for representing clients that need compassionate and zealous representation. Specifically, Cherrell has the ability to ensure the clients' concerns are met and their voices are heard. Cherrell loves both traveling and exploring various countries. Attorney Holmes participates as an amateur boxer competing on the national level. Cherrell enjoys working out, hiking, golfing, and volunteering in the community. Cherrell loves to volunteer with the San Antonio Legal Services Association. Cherrell is a fan of the Saint Louis Cardinals. Cherrell is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.

Job Titles:

• Associate
• Attorney
• Associate Attorney / Austin, TX

Practice Areas Divorce Family Law Custody Child Support Father's Rights Biography Clare is from Saint Louis, Missouri, and moved to Texas in 2018 to study law at Texas A&M University School of Law. Clare has always been interested in learning about family dynamics. Specifically, she studied how situations positively and negatively affect children in earning her degree in Sociology. Clare loves both traveling and exploring Austin, making sure that her time off is filled with new restaurants and live-music experiences. Clare is the pet mother of a bearded dragon lizard named Buddy Junior and a chihuahua-Yorkshire terrier mix dog named Anthony. Clare is a fan of the Saint Louis Cardinals and Saint Louis Blues teams. Clare loves being outside, even in the Texas heat.

Job Titles:

• Associate
• Attorney
• Associate Attorney / Oakland, CA

Practice Areas Child Support Decree Modification Custody Family Law Divorce Biography Colin is a dedicated and compassionate family law attorney, born and raised in Reno, NV. Colin initially moved to the Bay Area to attend law school but has since made it his home. Colin's passion for helping people is why he chose to become a family law attorney. He aspires to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals and families in need.

Job Titles:

• Managing Attorney
• Managing Attorney / Colorado Springs, CO
• Managing Partner / Colorado Springs, CO

Practice Areas Military Divorce Divorce Custody Family Law Child Support Biography Craig R. Valentine, managing attorney of Modern Family Law's Colorado Springs office, represents families in all domestic relations matters. Before coming to Modern Family Law, Craig represented plaintiffs in class action and mass tort actions, as well as personal injury, medical malpractice, and other legal areas. The cases on which he worked recovered over $1 billion from defendants. When the opportunity arose to get into family law, Craig jumped at the chance. As an undergraduate, Craig studied marriage and family relationships with an eye toward becoming a marriage therapist. That training, coupled with his extensive legal experience, gives Craig a different perspective on family law, and how to best serve his family-law clients. While Craig's career has taken him all over the country and state representing clients, he and his family have called Colorado Springs home since he graduated from law school. He is excited to be able to spend more of his professional time representing people in southern Colorado. Craig has lived all over the United States, as well as living in Mexico and Canada. His four kids keep him and his wife busy with soccer, music, and other activities. In his free time, Craig loves to cook, read, and white-water raft whenever possible. Craig speaks Spanish, though his accent has gotten worse since he left Mexico.

Job Titles:

• Senior Attorney / Denver, CO

Cynthia and her team are great! I hired Cynthia a week before my hearing and she made sure that she was prepared, up to date and knowledgeable about my case and handled everything in time for my hearing with very little time. Also she reached out with everything and responded quickly. She made sure that my concerns, my position and evidence were heard and having her at this hearing made all the difference for me. I'm happy I went with Modern Family Law and Cynthia, this has been mentally and emotionally draining for me to go through and as soon as Cynthia came abroad I was able to be relived of that and knew I was in good hands. My hearing went in my favor and I believe it's because I had Cynthia. Now I can get back to my life and focus on other things and I'm just so grateful for Cynthia and her teams help. Practice Areas Divorce Child Support Support Family Law Custody Biography Though not born in Colorado, Cynthia considers herself to be a Colorado native because this is the only home she's ever known. Cynthia grew up in Highlands Ranch, Colorado but decided to venture around the country for her education. She attended undergrad in Chicago at DePaul University and then immediately began law school in Omaha at Creighton University School of Law. After graduating from Creighton, she came back home to Colorado and started her own firm where she focused primarily on family law, juvenile delinquencies, and contract disputes in the Denver metro area. In 2017, Cynthia took a job working as a Deputy District Attorney in Eastern Colorado where she prosecuted misdemeanor and felony-level criminal cases, managing an average caseload of 400+. In her free time, Cynthia enjoys baking elaborate cakes, cheering on her beloved Pittsburgh Steelers, and getting to spend time with her family. Cynthia is a proud alumna of St. Mary's Academy High School, an all-girls high school in Englewood, Colorado. Cynthia loves listening to true crime podcasts. With years of experience counseling victims of crime, Cynthia priorities bringing an empathic approach to every client. She appreciates that the end of a marriage, and the emotions around it, will be different for everyone, but Cynthia strives to help every family prepare for their new future. Cynthia works hard to resolve all cases in a way that lowers the stress for everyone. She takes pride in showcasing that being unnecessarily adversarial is not the best way to help families move through this season of change. Cynthia dedicates herself to keeping honest and open communication with all clients to make sure everyone feels heard and understands what is going on with their case. Despite Cynthia's desire to harmoniously work with all parties involved, her years as a prosecutor ensure that she will not shy away from going to hearing or trial if that is what will be best for her clients. Feel confident that no matter what direction your case is going to take, Cynthia is ready to work with you to determine the best next steps to help you reach your end goal. Her Education Cynthia attended DePaul University in Chicago, IL. She was accepted into the University's Honor's Program for all four years, where she majored in Public Relations and Advertising with a focus on Crisis Communication and a minor in Psychology. During her last two years at DePaul, Cynthia worked as an intern at a local trust and estate law firm. Cynthia went on to attend Creighton University School of Law in Omaha, Nebraska where she earned her Juris Doctor in May of 2016. While in law school, Cynthia was a member of the Advanced Trial Practice Team, as well as the Mangrum Trial Competition and the Voir Dire Competition Teams. As a participant, she successfully competed in trial and jury selection competitions across the country. Her accomplishments include: Semi-Finalist, Show Me Challenge National Voir Dire Tournament Semi-Finalist, Texas Young Lawyer Association Trial Competition Semi-Finalist, Creighton Moot Court Competition Semi-Finalist, Colin Mangrum Trial Competition Lyle Strom Trial Advocacy Award

Job Titles:

• Managing Attorney
• Managing Attorney / San Jose, CA

Practice Areas Mediation Domestic Violence Child Support Divorce Family Law Biography Elizabeth was born in Houston, TX, and lived all over the southern US before landing in California as a young teen. Elizabeth knew she would be a lawyer from the time she was seven years old. Elizabeth is a State Certified Domestic Violence Advocate, having completed her training in 1995, and a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for Santa Cruz area foster children. Elizabeth is in her 19th year of practice as an attorney, is an experienced Mediator, and has experience in family law and civil litigation.

Job Titles:

• Associate
• Attorney
• Associate Attorney / Austin, TX

Practice Areas Family Law Austin Decree Modification Child Protection Child Support Grandparents Rights Biography A Texas native, Erica began her legal career working for a firm that fought for their clients against major corporations and government agencies, where she handled cases in the areas of employment discrimination and civil rights litigation. Erica transitioned to family law early in her legal career to help clients in through the diverse issues presented in domestic relations cases. Erica loves curling up with a good book or hitting the hiking trails around the great state of Texas. Erica loves English Bulldogs and Great Danes

Job Titles:

• Associate Attorney / Fort Collins, CO

Practice Areas Child Protection Child Support Divorce Family Law Custody Biography Evan grew up in Boulder County, Colorado, and attended undergrad in Denver at the University of Denver. Evan graduated from the University of Denver in 3 years and, from there, went straight to law school at the University of Colorado Boulder. While at the University of Colorado, Evan focused primarily on juvenile and family law. Evan participated in their renowned Juvenile and Family Law Clinic as a student attorney representing parents and children in dependency, neglect, and allocation of parental responsibilities cases. While still in law school, Evan was authorized by the Colorado Office of Respondent Parent Counsel to practice as a student attorney representing parents and maintain her own caseload. Before joining Modern Family Law, Evan practiced as a court-appointed Guardian ad Litem and Respondent Parent Counsel for parents and children in Dependency and Neglect cases. Evan practiced in multiple jurisdictions, including Adams, Boulder, and Jefferson Counties, and has extensive knowledge about the child protection system in Colorado. Evan loves going to concerts and exploring new restaurants in the Denver area. Evan is a trained barista.

Job Titles:

• Associate Attorney / Colorado Springs, CO

Jackie Collins!!! What an angel. We had the best experience with her on our side. I could not have ask for a better Attorney and Paralegal Laura. Jackie and I seemed to have a bond with our first conversation. You are blessed in so many ways if you get Jackie on your side. Jackie is truly caring, compassionate and genuine. She has a special way of boosting your spirit when it is low or you are stressed. She works non stop for all her clients. Jackie and Laura will go above and beyond for you and your case. They listen and get results. We love you Jackie. Thank you Craig for referring me to the BEST. She was and is the perfect fit. Practice Areas Divorce Family Law Custody Child Support Support Biography Originally from New Jersey, Jackie moved to Colorado a few years ago and could not think of a better state to call her home. While she initially moved to Colorado because she was offered a job at the Public Defender's Office, Jackie soon learned that her clients were struggling with much more than just their criminal cases. Many clients would seek advice from Jackie on what to do in their domestic relations cases and became frustrated that she couldn't do more to help them. It was an easy decision for her to switch from criminal law to family law, as she can help her clients with some of the most critical issues they have faced in their lives. When Jackie is not working, she enjoys hiking, skiing, running, baking, seeking new restaurants, and spending time with her partner and their two cats. Jackie is always looking for new trails to hike and places to ski. Her goal is to explore as much of Colorado as she can, and she loves that the outdoor activities in the state are endless. Jackie is a blackbelt in Tae Kwon Do. Jackie has a deep passion and adoration for animals and volunteers at an animal rescue in her spare time. Jackie was accepted into a 3-year program at Syracuse University that allowed her to simultaneously earn both her Master's in Forensic Science and her Juris Doctor.

Job Titles:

• Associate Attorney / Colorado Springs, CO
• Member of the Colorado Bar Association

Practice Areas Adoption Child Support Military Divorce Family Law Custody Biography Born in South Korea and raised in Costa Rica, Jandi moved to the United States to pursue higher education and has lived in five states. Jandi became an attorney to provide legal representation to a wide variety of people in need by using her multicultural background and ability to speak English, Spanish, and Korean. As a family law attorney and a former domestic relations mediator, Jandi has experience helping clients navigate matters including divorce, adoption, and allocation of parental responsibilities. As a law student at the University of North Carolina, Jandi successfully obtained discharge upgrades for veterans in the Military and Veterans' Law Clinic. As a spouse to a former Air Force Captain, Jandi has professional and personal experience with the various challenges service members and their families face. Jandi is a classically trained pianist and an amateur opera singer. She spends most of her free time with her two dogs. With her experience as a mediator, Jandi offers a cooperative and collaborative approach to family law. She believes in pursuing solutions that will bring peace and resolution to clients in the long term, whether through negotiation strategies or litigating. Jandi is a member of the Colorado Bar Association and the El Paso County Bar Association where she founded the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Section (EDI) and is currently serving as its chairperson.

Job Titles:

• Managing Attorney
• Managing Attorney / Austin, TX

Practice Areas Child Protection Child Support Decree Modification Divorce Family Law Biography Jasmine Bhatt resides in Austin and is the Managing Attorney for Modern Family Law in Austin Jasmine grew up in New Jersey and moved to Texas during college. Since moving to Texas, Jasmine has practiced in Dallas, Houston, and Austin. In her free time, Jasmine likes to travel, spend time with her loved ones, and enjoys running and hiking.

Job Titles:

• Associate Attorney / Denver, CO
• Member of the Florida State Bar
• S Strategy

Practice Areas Divorce Family Law Custody Child Support Father's Rights Biography Jeremy was born and raised in central Florida and began his legal career as a law clerk at the Third District Court of Appeals in Miami. Eventually, however, the mountains came calling so Jeremy went. After arriving in Colorado, he worked for the court system for over five years, where he served pro se family law litigants and worked closely with multiple judicial officers on domestic relations, civil, and criminal dockets. Since leaving the judicial department, he has dedicated his practice exclusively to family law, including dissolution of marriage, child custody, child support, adoptions, and more. Jeremy is a rabid sports fan, particularly of football and his beloved Buffalo Bills, but he is quickly turning into a huge hockey nut as well. Jeremy is a lifelong musician and a passionate fan of all types of music-in his free time, he attends concerts whenever he can. Jeremy enjoys trivia, films, and comics, as well as snowboarding, camping, and spending his free time with his cherished wife and animals. Jeremy's experience working on both sides of the bench provides him with a unique insight into the practice of family law. He served closely with judicial officers and court staff and was able to observe not only what arguments and tactics had the most success, but also what happens behind the scenes in the courtroom. Jeremy uses this knowledge to ascertain how to best approach all his cases. Jeremy understands that many family law clients come to him during a time of great crisis-indeed, it may be one of the most difficult times in their lives. He accordingly seeks to actively and compassionately listen to all clients about their cases and their goals. Jeremy genuinely cares about his clients and wants each one to feel supported during their difficult time, but he will not sugarcoat a client's likelihood of success of achieving their desired outcomes. He provides clients with accurate, complete information regarding their cases so that they can make the most informed decisions possible. Jeremy's goal in most cases is to seek an amicable resolution for the parties and to avoid the headache and expense of contested hearings. However, he realizes that a peaceful, collaborative solution is not always possible, and in those cases, Jeremy will not back down from fiercely advocating on your behalf. Jeremy is well-prepared to help you find the best way to meet your goals. Jeremy attended Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, where he graduated with a B.A. in English with a focus on creative writing. During college, Jeremy was a member of the Florida State University Marching Chiefs, where he not only attended nearly every football game but also met his future wife. Jeremy next attended the Florida State University College of Law, where he was a member of the Journal of Transnational Law & Policy, the FSU Business Review, and the Journal of Land Use & Environmental Law, serving on the editorial board of the latter two journals in his last year. Jeremy is a member of the Florida State Bar, Colorado State Bar, and Colorado Bar Association.

Job Titles:

• Associate
• Attorney
• Associate Attorney / San Jose, CA

Practice Areas Divorce Child Support Support Family Law Custody Biography Jess Smith grew up in Monterey, CA, and attended high school and college in her hometown. As an undergraduate, Jess studied developmental psychology, and she graduated magna cum laude and was recognized with distinction within her major. Since law school, Jess advocated for those most vulnerable to abuse, interning at organizations that represented disadvantaged individuals and victims of human rights violations. Jess's background gives her a strong intuition and understanding of family dynamics, along with an unwavering sense of justice. Jess loves to read and write - her goal is to read 100 books every year and ultimately publish a novel. She enjoys spending time with her ragdoll cat, Dakota, growing sunflowers in her garden, and learning how to crochet. Growing up, Jess personally witnessed how family issues, even on a small scale, require conscience and compassion. She recognizes how difficult and overwhelming these issues can be, as we hold our family close to our hearts. Jess brings a perspective of perseverance, empathy, and patience to each case she works on. Her goal is to reach the best possible solution for her clients, so they can have a fresh start and begin a new chapter. Jess was the Co-President of the Social Justice Coalition while in law school. She organized community care packages, holiday food drives, and book drives for those in need in Santa Clara County. She also put together panels with attorneys and judges from the Santa Clara Community about various topics, from domestic violence to mental health and wellness in the legal field.

Job Titles:

• Managing Partner / Fort Collins, CO
• Paralegal

Practice Areas Divorce Support Child Protection Relocation Paternity Biography A Colorado native, Karlee began her practice at a multi-discipline law firm where she handled cases in the areas of family law, criminal defense, and civil litigation. Karlee's diverse background gives her a strong understanding of the diverse issues presented in domestic relations cases. Karlee has dedicated her practice exclusively to family law and related matters including: Karlee went on to attend the Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson, MS where she earned her Juris Doctor in May 2014, graduating cum laude (top 30 in her class).

Job Titles:

• Associate Attorney / Colorado Springs, CO
• Member of Good Standing With the Colorado Supreme Court

Kresten Hendrix has been so very helpful on two very important family law matters in my family. He is very kind, interested and down to earth. I recommend him all the time when someone asks about getting an attorney. Practice Areas Divorce Military Divorce Child Support Custody Family Law Biography Kresten Hendrix is a native of the Colorado Springs area and is excited and honored to serve his native community. Before joining Modern Family Law Kresten worked for two years in Pueblo, Colorado practicing primarily in family law, and to a lesser extent criminal defense. While working in Pueblo, Kresten was the lead counsel for hundreds of family law cases and strived to achieve each client's desired outcomes tirelessly. Kresten's extensive experience in family law gives him the ability to serve his clients effectively in all domestic relations matters, whether this means negotiating a settlement or going to trial. In Kresten's free time he enjoys spending time with his wife, fishing, hunting, camping, grilling, and watching the Denver Broncos on Sundays. Kresten bases his practice on the principles that clients be treated with respect and be heard. He understands that when clients come to speak with him that they are at a difficult point in their life and deserve compassion. Kresten has the philosophy that you should deal with clients as though they are friends. Kresten is a member of good standing with the Colorado Supreme Court as well as the United States Federal District Court of Colorado.

Job Titles:

• Associate
• Attorney
• Associate Attorney / Denver, CO

While in law school, Lenae participated in several Moot Court competitions and the Transactional Law Competition. Lenae was also in the Elder Law Clinic, where she assisted lower-income elderly clients with end-of-life preparations and guardianships.

Job Titles:

• Associate
• Attorney
• Associate Attorney / Oakland, CA
• Associate Attorney / Palo Alto, CA
• S Strategy

Practice Areas Divorce Custody Child Support Grandparents Rights California Families Biography Lulu was born in Taiwan and grew up on the Central Coast of California. After graduating from high school, Lulu moved to Southern California to attend college at U.C. Riverside. Lulu moved to the Bay Area to attend law school and has lived here ever since. Lulu became a lawyer because she's always had a passion to help others, especially people who have been underrepresented. Since law school, Lulu has been a strong advocate for survivors of interpersonal violence and is also an authorized domestic violence counselor. Lulu believes that people need to be championed and she wants to help people do that. • Lulu enjoys biking, playing sports, and spending time outdoors. • Lulu loves cooking and trying local cuisines whenever she travels. Family law is one of the most personal and vulnerable legal matters someone can go through, and Lulu handles all cases with empathy, compassion, and patience to ensure that your voice is heard and advocated for. Lulu understands the importance of moving forward in life with stability and confidence and she is here to help navigate that process for you.

Job Titles:

• Associate
• Attorney
• Associate Attorney / San Jose, CA
• S Strategy

Practice Areas Decree Modification Custody Family Law Support Child Support Biography Marianne is a California native, born and raised in the Capitol city of Sacramento by immigrant parents who valued education above all else. Marianne attended college and law school before marrying her college sweetheart and devoting a succession of years to raising their three children. During those years, she worked in real estate law, sales, and estate planning before finding her true calling in Family Law. • Marianne loves to spend time with her husband and children traveling but is also an avid bookworm and enjoys participating in book clubs. • She is a classically trained pianist, an all-around music lover, and a musical theater buff. • Marianne loves children and is currently the Chair of an elementary school board and volunteers her time teaching music and piano to students. Marianne is highly client-focused and cares passionately about her clients and community. Marianne has that unique ability to identify a client's problem even before it is known to the client. She is also known for her excellent listening skills and is committed to being kind yet firm. She is dedicated to resolving Family Law issues and bringing about the best possible results.

Job Titles:

• Managing Partner / Denver, CO

Job Titles:

• Associate Attorney / Denver, CO

Job Titles:

• Associate Attorney / Denver, CO