YBKKLAW.COM - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Section CLE Committee Member
- Section Council Member
- Section past Vice Chair of Diversity Committee
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Attorney
- Member of the Family Law Section
Alexandra Mendez is an Associate Attorney at Young, Berman, Karpf & Karpf, and works with clients directly on a variety of complex family law litigation matters.
Her practice focuses primarily on family and matrimonial law. Ms. Mendez obtained her Bachelor's Degree for Justice and Law at American University in Washington, D.C. After graduating from American University, Ms. Mendez began working at a family law firm in Coral Gables, Florida. After learning about her passion for Family Law, she applied and was admitted into St. Thomas University College of Law, where she obtained her Juris Doctorate and graduated Cum Laude.
During her time in law school, Ms. Mendez was a member of the St. Thomas University Trial Team and had the opportunity to compete at two different trial competitions: the John Costello National Criminal Law Trial Advocacy Competition and the Georgetown National White-Collar Crime Invitational Competition. As a law student, Ms. Mendez continued her work at a family law firm and interned with General Magistrate Steven Lieberman for the Circuit Unified Children's Court. She was also recognized with a Cali Book Award for Sales after receiving the top grade at St. Thomas in her 2L year.
Ms. Mendez is a member of the Family Law Section and Trial Lawyers Section of The Florida Bar. Ms. Mendez has over 7 years of combined Family Law experience in various rules (including before becoming an attorney) and is licensed to practice in the State of Florida.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of the Law Office of Young
Amber Brishne Glasper, Esquire is a member of the Law Office of Young, Berman, Karpf and Karpf. Ms. Glasper's areas of practice consist of family law litigation, which includes but is not limited to divorce, alimony, child support matters, timesharing, paternity, relocation, modification and enforcement proceedings, domestic violence and temporary legal custody matters in Miami-Dade County and Broward County, Florida. Additionally, Ms. Glasper specializes in Dependency Related Proceedings such as cases involving abuse, abandonment and neglect, sexual abuse and human trafficking cases under Chapter 39 involving minor children. Ms. Glasper is also skilled in cases involving termination of parental rights and adoptions in dependency related and family law related proceedings. Adoption related proceedings include but are not limited to step-parent, grandparent, relative and adopting Children from the State of Florida foster care system. Furthermore, throughout Ms. Glasper's legal career, she has dedicated a significant portion of her time advocating for the best interest of children and has been appointed on numerous cases as a guardian ad litem and attorney ad litem for children in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade County, Florida.
Ms. Glasper was formerly employed with the Department of Children and Families as a prosecutor. Later, Ms. Glasper took a position as the Human Trafficking Coordinator for Children's Legal Services in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Ms. Glasper then moved on to a position as in-house counsel for a Community Based Care Agency, the CHARLEE program which was responsible for over 100 foster youth. Ms. Glasper advanced further and opened her own private practice handling family law matters while still expanding her legal experience in child advocacy and defense in Dependency related matters.
Born and raised in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Ms. Glasper attended the University of Florida and received her bachelor's degree in journalism with a minor in communications. She later applied to and was accepted to Florida International University Law School. As a law student, Ms. Glasper participated in the Immigrant Children's Justice Clinic where she was given the opportunity to represent immigrant minor children as a certified legal intern. In her capacity as a certified legal intern, Ms. Glasper had the esteemed opportunity to argue her first appellate case before the Third District Court of Appeals which resulted in the case In Re T.J. 59 So.3d 1187(Fla. Dist. Ct. App 2011). Ms. Glasper was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2013. She continues to reside in Miami-Dade County, Florida raising her daughter and managing her law practice in Coral Gables, Florida.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Senior Partner
- Shareholder
Andrew S. Berman a Senior Partner in the firm was born in New York, New York. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Brandeis University in 1980 and his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami, graduating cum laude in 1983.
Mr. Berman has also served as General Counsel for Temple Beth Am since 2021.
Mr. Berman is a Board Certified Appellate Practice Lawyer by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education.
Mr. Berman has been distinguished through peer review as having attained the highest level of legal ability and professional standards of conduct, ethics, reliability and diligence.
Andy Wilson joined Young, Berman, Karpf & Karpf as an associate in February 2017. He is now a partner at the firm working in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Palm Beach, and Naples.
Andy is Board Certified in Marital and Family Law by the Florida Bar. Andy is certified as a Family Trial Advocate by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and has devoted nearly 100% of his practice to marital and family law litigation, including divorce, child custody, pre-and post-nuptial agreements, and paternity issues from case intake through trial and appellate proceedings. Andy has been appointed as an Attorney ad Litem in family law proceedings and is trained on Collaborative Family Law. Andy is actively involved in the Family Law Section of the American Bar Association, including holding a position on their Council, chairing numerous committees and subcommittees. Andy has spoken around the country on family law matters and has authored several articles involving marital issues.
While in law school, Andy was a finalist in the 1L Moot Court Competition and was subsequently elected as a Vice President of the University of Miami School of Law Moot Court Board. Andy graduated from the University of Miami School of Law in 2009 and received the Dean's Certificate of Achievement in Family Law, a recognition given to the student with the top grade in the class. Outside of the office, Andy enjoys playing with his dog Charley and enjoying the culture of South Beach.
Education
Emory University, BA Sociology and Economics, 2006
University of Miami School of Law, J.D., 2009
Brian M. Karpf is a Florida Bar Board Certified divorce and family law lawyer and mediator and Fellow in both the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) as well as the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL), working in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Palm Beach, Naples, and throughout Florida. He is a partner in the firm. A South Florida native, Mr. Karpf graduated cum laude from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in 2004 where he was president of his Fraternity. Mr. Karpf received his Juris Doctor from Florida International University in 2007. He was also distinguished by the CALI Excellence for Future Award in Intellectual Property law, a recognition given to the student with the top grade in the course.
Mr. Karpf is an expert and specialist lawyer in Divorce and Family law, having become a Board Certified in Marital and Family Law Attorney by the Florida Bar. He is also a Fellow in the prestigious and elite American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL).
Mr. Karpf is AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and was named by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Family Law every year since 2013. No more than 2.5% of lawyers under 40 years old receive this honor. He was honored by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as one of South Florida's Top 40 Lawyers Under Age 40. He also received the Rising Star Award in South Florida Business and Wealth's Leaders in Law awards.
As an attorney, Mr. Karpf focuses his law practice in the areas of Family and Divorce Law, Appeals, mediation, Prenuptial ("prenups") and Postnuptial Agreements, surrogacy / assisted reproductive technology, mediation, and International Child (Hague Convention) Abduction Cases in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Weston, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Palm Beach, and Naples. As a divorce and family lawyer, he has represented high net worth clients, celebrities and athletes and is routinely involved in complex family law cases involving divorce, child custody and timesharing, alimony, equitable distribution, business valuations, prenuptial agreements and postnuptial agreements, contempt as well as international custody disputes. He is also a divorce, paternity, and family law mediator. Mr. Karpf has lectured on a variety of family law, legal and social media issues.
Mr. Karpf is the Chair-Elect of the ABA Family Law Section Section and has served on its Executive Council since 2010. He was also appointed by the President of the Florida Bar to serve on the Family Law Rules Committee until 2017, and was elected to the Board of Governors of the Florida Bar's Young Lawyer's Division. He served on the Board of Directors of LEV Children's Museum and Kidside. Mr. Karpf is also a fellow of the Florida Bar's Leadership Academy.
Mr. Karpf has been interviewed on a variety of divorce and family law topics by entities such as E!, Law360, The Miami Herald, Daily Business Review and others, to give insight as a family law and divorce attorney. He is widely active in legal and family law organizations both nationally and locally.
Burton Young was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami in 1967, which replaced his Bachelor of Laws Degree or LL. B., conferred in 1950.
Mr. Young is a Board Certified Marital and Family Lawyer by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education.
Erica Appel is an Associate Attorney at Young, Berman, Karpf & Karpf, and works with clients directly on a variety of complex family law litigation matters. Her practice focuses primarily on family and matrimonial law.
Erica obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Criminology, Cum Laude, from Florida State University in 2016. After graduating from Florida State, Erica received her Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law, where she graduated Cum Laude and with Pro Bono Honors for providing over 300 hours of public service in the Broward community in 2020.
While in law school, Erica had the honor to serve as a judicial intern for the Honorable Senior Judge James I. Cohn of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. During law school, Erica received Dean's List honors for five semesters, the CALI Book Award in UCC Sales, and was on Law Review. Erica also worked as a law clerk for Young, Berman, Karpf & Karpf.
Erica lives in Boca Raton with her husband and their dog, Whiskey. Outside the office, Erica enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Hazel Gorrin serves as an Associate Attorney at Young, Berman, Karpf & Karpf, where she assists clients in navigating complex family law matters.
Ms. Gorrin was born in Colombia and raised in Miami, Florida. After completing her undergraduate degree in criminal justice at Florida International University, she earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from St. Thomas University School of Law in 2019.
Liza Birchansky joined Young, Berman, Karpf & Karpf as a Law Clerk in 2022.
Liza obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, summa cum laude, from Florida Atlantic University, in Boca Raton, FL, where she played on the Women's Golf Team. After graduating from FAU, Liza received her Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law, graduating cum laude in 2023.
While in law school, Liza served as President of Cardozo Jewish Legal Society and interned for the Children and Youth Law Clinic. Liza was the recipient of the Ray H. Pearson Memorial Scholarship, a scholarship awarded to students pursuing a career in family law, and she was awarded the Dean's Certificate of Achievement Award for her work with the Children and Youth Law Clinic.
Outside of the office, Liza serves on the board of Young Jewish Professionals of the Coral Gables Chabad, and enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Margie joined the firm in 2004 and has worked as a paralegal since 1992. She works as a paralegal focusing primarily in family law and commercial litigation matters. With years of experience, excellent organizational skills and an outstanding work ethic, Margie provides solid and reliable legal and administrative support to the firm. She is devoted and is committed to make sure clients receive the best quality service. In 1991, Margie graduated with a degree in Psychology in later obtained her Paralegal Certificate
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Counsel to Young
Matthew Meyers became Of Counsel to Young, Berman, Karpf & Karpf in 2023. After having been tried and tested in both State and Federal Courts, Mr. Meyers is equipped to handle any criminal defense, domestic violence, property damage, and family law needs a client may have.
After interning for a Circuit Court judge in Orlando, Mr. Meyers fell in love with the courtroom. Upon his graduation from law school and admission to practice, Matt began his career in the Domestic Violence Unit of the 11 th Circuit State Attorney's Office for Miami-Dade County, where he later rose to a supervisory level. From 2009 until 2013, Mr. Meyers prosecuted and conducted jury trials for cases ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies, including domestic violence, DUI, and drug possession, to armed robbery, drug trafficking, and homicide. Throughout his tenure with the Miami-Dade SAO, Mr. Meyers was assigned to specialized units including Domestic Violence, Felony Trial, Traffic Homicide, Parole Hearings, and Human Trafficking. Matt assisted in active law enforcement investigations, made filing determinations, and tried cases to verdict in front of juries of 6 or 12 people.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Senior Partner
- Shareholder
Mitchell K. Karpf a Senior Partner in the firm, was born in Miami, Florida. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Florida Atlantic University in 1979 and his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami, School of Law, graduating in 1984.
Mr. Karpf is a Board Certified Marital and Family Law Lawyer by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education, Board Certified as a Family Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as well as a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator. He is the Past Chair of the Family Law Section of the American Bar Association.
Job Titles:
- County Association President, 1962 / Dade County Bar Association
Job Titles:
- Professionals of the Coral Gables Chabad