2026 Southern California Super Lawyers Honorees

We are honored and excited to announce five attorneys at The Reape-Rickett Law Firm are 2026 Southern California Super Lawyers Honorees. Shareholders James P. Reape and Matthew Breddan, Larry Epstein, Of Counsel, Attorneys Steven L. Weiss, and Melanie Gardner-Pawlak received the Super Lawyers designation in recognition of their professional achievements and attaining a high degree of peer recognition. Each year, only 5% of the lawyers in Southern California are selected by the Super Lawyers research team to receive this honor.

Each of the selected attorneys’ primary practice area is Family Law. The Reape-Rickett Law Firm is one of Southern California’s leading family law and divorce firms, providing distinguished representation for divorce, including high-net-worth divorce, property division, child custody and visitation, domestic violence restraining orders, pre and post nuptial agreements, palimony actions and more. With offices in Valencia, Calabasas, and Westlake Village, our experienced family law attorneys are committed to providing the highest level of family law representation and litigation for families across Southern California.

Los Angeles Family Lawyer James P. Reape

Shareholder James P. Reape founded The Reape-Rickett Law Firm in 1992 with the goal of bringing high-quality family law representation to the Santa Clarita Valley. With over 40 years of experience, Mr. Reape is highly experienced and qualified in family law practice areas, which include divorce, high-net-worth divorces, prenuptial agreements, child custody, child visitations, paternity matters, and more. Mr. Reape has the experience and expertise to help clients navigate high-net-worth divorces that may include complex compensation, business valuations, and complex property division. As a highly experienced litigator and negotiator, Mr. Reaper has a proven track record inside and outside the court across Southern California as a skilled and assertive advocate. Throughout the years, Mr. Reape has represented many clients, including business owners, high-profile clients, athletes, doctors, and many more. Since founding the firm, Mr. Reape has helped thousands of families resolve their family matters and issues. He understands the impact that family law matters have on families and children. Mr. Reape is committed to empowering his clients with knowledge and information while also guiding them through their family matters.

In addition to being selected to the Southern California Super Lawyers list for twelve consecutive years (2015-2026) Mr. Reape was voted the Ultimate Family Law Attorney in Santa Clarita by Elite Magazine in 2019. He also received Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent Rating Award from 2022-2025 in recognition of his outstanding work in legal experience, communication skills, and ethical standards.

Mr. Reape has the experience, knowledge, expertise, and ability to provide family law representation second to none.

Ventura Divorce Attorney Matthew A. Breddan

 Since 1994, Mathew A. Breddan has advocated for his clients and their children by fighting for their best interests while making sure that the children are not being used as pawns or bargaining chips to accomplish a goal or agenda of either party. Mr. Breddan provides fierce representation for his clients inside and outside the court across Los Angeles and Ventura counties Matthew has helped countless families through domestic violence restraining orders, divorce, child custody and visitation issues, support matters, and beyond. He understands the emotional impact that family law matters have and helps his clients navigate the process through an empathetic and straightforward approach, ensuring clients understand the legal process and what they can expect from the courts.

Shareholder Matthew A. Breddan has received the Southern California Super Lawyers designation fourteen times since 2010 (2010, 2012, 2015-2026). Mr. Breddan also received Martindale-Hubble’s AV Preeminent® Rating Award consecutively from 2019-2025. When not representing his 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 President of the Valley Community Legal Fund, Co-Chair of the SFVBA Family Law Executive Committee, 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. Matthew Breddan is dedicated to his clients and community, with the goal of advancing justice and protecting his clients’ rights.

Larry Epstein, Southern California Super Lawyer Selectee

Larry Epstein, Of Counsel, has 50 years of legal experience and expertise. As an Of Counsel member of The Reape-Rickett Law Firm, Mr. Epstein applies his decades of family law knowledge to help clients with post-judgment matters, palimony and spousal support, property division, and divorce in Los Angeles, Ventura, and beyond. He is a highly skilled negotiator and protects his client’s rights while driving comprehensive settlement agreements. In addition to his years of experience advocating for his clients, Mr. Epstein has served the legal community as Chairman of the San Fernando Bar Association Family Law section and Executive Committee for the SFVBA for over 16 years. He also served as a volunteer Daily Settlement Officer for family law matters in the Van Nuys, San Fernando, and Chatsworth Superior Courts throughout his career.

Mr. Epstein received his first of fifteen consecutive Southern California Super Lawyers Selections in 2012and has received the Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished^SM distinction since 2019, as he is widely respected by his peers for his professional achievement and ethical standards. Mr. Epstein is committed to providing family law representation second to none.

Steven L. Weiss Calabasas Divorce and Family Lawyer

Steven L. Weiss, Certified Family Law Specialist, is a highly experienced family law litigator with a proven track record resolving divorces involving complex property division, child custody and visitation, post-judgment matters, as well as paternity and prenuptial matters. Mr. Weiss began practicing family law in 1983, and in 1994, he received his Certified Family Law Specialist designation from the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Mr. Weiss regularly represents clients throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties. In addition to over forty years of experience inside and outside the courtroom, Mr. Weiss regularly utilizes alternative dispute resolution methods, such as mediation, to help clients avoid unnecessary litigation. He is a tireless advocate for his clients’ best interests and collaborates with clients to identify and resolve their family law issues.

Mr. Weiss received his first of fifteen Southern California Super Lawyers selections in 2006 and consecutively from 2013 to 2026.

Agoura Hills Divorce Lawyer Melanie Gardner-Pawlak

Melanie Gardner-Pawlak, Esq. has over 20 years of family law experience, including extensive trial experience in all aspects of family law matters, including property division, support, child custody and visitation, domestic violence restraining orders, and more. Throughout her career, Ms. Garnder-Pawlak has represented a diverse range of clients, from professionals to business owners, executives, entrepreneurs, and single parents. Ms. Gardner-Pawlak provides her clients with highly analytical and strategic representation, ensuring that no detail is overlooked in the negotiation and litigation of their matter. Further, Ms. Gardner-Pawlak is meticulous in preparing and presenting legal arguments for her clients’ rights in the courtroom. She has appeared in courtrooms across Los Angeles, Ventura, Kern, and throughout Southern California. Ms. Gardner-Pawlak is a tenacious advocate, dedicated to protecting her client’s rights and future.

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. Ms. Gardner-Pawlak is a three-time Southern California Super Lawyers selectee, receiving her first designation in 2024.

The Reape-Rickett Law Firm: Experienced, Assertive Family Law Representation

At The Reape-Rickett law Firm, our attorneys and staff are committed to empowering our clients with knowledge and information, enabling them to make reasoned and results-oriented decisions. Each firm member takes special care to understand the unique and individual concerns of clients. Further, we vow to always provide personal attention, listen carefully to our clients’ desires, and present reasonable expectations of what to expect from the court. We are proud to offer family law services second to none for families across Southern California. If you are seeking experienced, knowledgeable, and results-driven family law representation, contact The Reape-Rickett Law Firm here or call us at (888) 851-1611.

2026 Southern California Super Lawyers Honoree Selection

Super Lawyers 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. For more information about Super Lawyers, go to SuperLawyers.com.