2024 Southern California Super Lawyers – Family Law

The Reape-Rickett Law Firm is pleased to announce Shareholders James P. Reape, Esq. and Matthew Breddan, Esq., Senior Attorneys Steven L. Weiss, Esq., Melanie Gardner-Pawlak, Esq. and Larry Epstein, Esq., Of Counsel, have been selected to the 2024 Southern California Super Lawyers List. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor.

Each of our selected attorneys’ primary practice area is family law, specifically focusing on divorce, child custody, parentage actions, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, child and spousal support, and more. With offices based in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, The Reape-Rickett Law Firm is uniquely positioned to provide the highest level of family law services throughout Southern California. Our team is dedicated to advocating for our clients and we are honored to have five attorneys from our firm selected.

Shareholder James P. Reape, Esq. is a 2024 Southern California Super Lawyers Honoree

2024 marks Jim Reape’s 10th consecutive selection to the Southern California Super Lawyers list. With 40 years of family law experience in and out of courtrooms across Southern California, Mr. Reape is an assertive, experienced advocate. Throughout his career, Mr. Reape has represented a diverse range of clients, from doctors to professional athletes, c-suite executives, small business owners, and trade professionals. Mr. Reape is well-versed in several practice areas including divorce, prenuptial agreements, child custody and visitation, complex property division, paternity matters, and more. Mr. Reape has the experience and expertise to help clients navigate their family law concerns while advocating for their best interests.

In addition to his experience representing clients, Mr. Reape has served in leadership positions for multiple legal associations and non-profit organizations. In 2019, he was voted the Best Family Law Attorney in Santa Clarita by elite Magazine. For additional information, please visit elite Magazine. Mr. Reape has the knowledge, expertise, and ability to provide family law services second to none.

Shareholder Matthew A. Breddan, Esq. selected to the 2024 Super Lawyers List

Matthew Breddan’s 2024 Southern California Super Lawyers selection is his twelfth. Since 1994, Mr. Breddan has been helping his clients and their children by advocating for their best interests while assuring that children are not used as pawns or bargaining chips to accomplish a goal or agenda of either party. Mr. Breddan is a fierce advocate for his clients in and out of courtrooms across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. From divorce to child custody and visitation issues, domestic violence restraining orders, support matters, and beyond, he is committed to providing the highest level of family law services across Southern California.

In addition to his decades of representing clients and resolving their family law matters, Mr. Breddan is active within the legal and non-profit community. He is the immediate Past President of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association, the current Vice President of the Valley Community Legal Fund, a member of the Board of Trustees for the VCC Boy Scouts of America and serves as Vice President of a domestic violence non-profit organization serving Southern California.

Senior Attorney Steven L. Weiss, Esq. chosen to 2024 Southern California Super Lawyers

Steven Weiss‘s thirteenth selection to the Southern California Super Lawyers list reflects his 40 years of family law experience and expertise. In addition to decades of experience, Mr. Weiss is a Certified Family Law Specialist as designated by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specializations. He is a tireless advocate for his clients’ best interests and works with clients to resolve their issues. Mr. Weiss is an experienced litigator with family law matters involving complex property division, child custody and visitation, post-judgment matters, and beyond. In addition to his decades of experience in the courtroom, Mr. Weiss regularly utilizes alternative dispute resolution methods, such as mediation, to help clients avoid unnecessary litigation. Mr. Weiss has the expertise, experience, and ability to advocate for you and your family.

Senior Attorney Melanie Gardner-Pawlak, Esq. is a 2024 Southern California Super Lawyers Honoree

The 2024 selection is Melanie Gardner-Pawlak‘s first inclusion in the Southern California Super Lawyers list. Ms. Gardner-Pawlak has over 20 years of family law experience throughout Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. She has extensive trial experience in all aspects of family law matters including, property division, support, child custody and visitation, domestic violence restraining orders, and more. When not fighting for her clients, Ms. Gardner-Pawlak serves as a Trustee of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association and volunteers her time as a Family Law Mediator for the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Larry Epstein, Esq. Of Counsel, Selected to Super Lawyers

Mr. Epstein‘s inclusion in this year’s Super Lawyers list is his 13th consecutive selection and coincides with his 48th year as a practicing attorney. In his decades of experience, Mr. Epstein has assisted clients in resolving family law matters such as divorce, paternity, spousal and child support, and post-judgment issues. His experience in and outside of courtrooms throughout California have earned him peer recognition within the legal community. In addition to his years of advocating for his client’s best interests, Mr. Epstein has held leadership positions with the San Fernando Valley Bar Association’s Family Law Section and dedicated his time to community service endeavors. Mr. Epstein is determined to empower our clients with knowledge and information, enabling them to make reasoned and results-oriented decisions.

What is the Super Lawyers Selection Process?

Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive, and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys. The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. Super Lawyers magazines also feature editorial profiles of attorneys who embody excellence in the practice of law. For more information about Super Lawyers, visit SuperLawyers.com.