Advanced Best Interest Attorney Training

This training is brought you in partnership with the Anne Arundel Bar Association and the Legal Studies Institute of Anne Arundel Community College.

Working with cases involved in the family courts is seldom easy. This training will teach you strategies for representing children with some of the most vexing custody issues that BIA attorneys face. This program focuses on complex areas for attorneys representing children, such as, high conflict families, dynamics of domestic violence, re-unification, meeting with parents, practical considerations of being a BIA and many, many more. Whether you’re an experienced professional revisiting and updating your knowledge base, or a relative newcomer building skills, this seminar will bolster your ability to not just survive but thrive in this challenging area.

Materials will be distributed electronically.

Speakers:

Kristina Badalian

Grover & Badalian, L.L.C.

Ms. Badalian’s practice involves high-conflict custody matters, divorce and other family law matters throughout Maryland. As a certified best interest attorney (BIA) and mother of two herself, she is attuned to the concerns of the parent and the needs of the child. Having represented a range of diverse clients, Ms. Badalian is sensitive to the intersection of culture and the law and the impact that culture has on marriage, divorce and family dynamics. She served as both trial and appellate counsel in Nouri v. Dadgar, 245 Md. App. 324 (2020), a reported case of first impression in Maryland which involved the validity and enforceability of an Islamic marriage contract under Maryland law.

Frank Gray, Esq.

Jimeno & Gray, P.A.

Frank C. Gray, Jr. is a founding partner of the Law Offices of Jimeno & Gray in Millersville, Maryland, where he concentrates his practice in family law. With 28 years of legal experience, Frank handles complex matters including divorce, custody disputes, and domestic violence cases throughout Maryland. He began his legal career as an Assistant State's Attorney for Anne Arundel County before entering private practice in 2000, and went on to co-found Jimeno & Gray in 2003. He served as a Standing Examiner for the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County from 2012-2018 and is a trained mediator. He devotes a substantial part of his practice to representing children involved in high conflict custody cases in various roles, including as their Best Interest Attorney.

Duane Isava, Ph.D.

Halcyon Wellness Center

Dr. Isava is a Licensed Psychologist and the Executive Director of Halcyon Wellness where he oversees the administrative operations of the Center and also provides comprehensive assessment and psychotherapy services to children and families in both individual and group sessions. His specialty areas include providing comprehensive and wrap around psychotherapy to treat social, emotional, and behavioral disorders in children and adolescents with adjunct therapy for their respective families. Dr. Isava also conducts family therapy for issues such as divorce/separation, adoption, grief, adjustment, trauma, and conflict. He also specializes in providing early intervention assessment and treatment for the birth to five-year-old population for developmental, behavioral, and emotional disorders.

Stacey Rice, Esq.

Rice, Posner, Mastracci. L.L.C.

Stacey Rice is the founding parter of Rice Posner Mastracci, LLC (formerly “Rice Law”) located in Annapolis. After graduating from University of Baltimore School of Law in 2000, Stacey started her legal career as a law clerk for the Honorable Clayton Greene, Jr., Retired. She then worked as an Assistant State’s Attorney for Anne Arundel County before entering private practice. Stacey has practiced family law for over 20 years mainly in Annapolis, but also in Calvert, Queen Anne’s, Kent, and Howard counties. Stacey is a Best Interest Attorney in Anne Arundel County and is starting a mediation practice for family law cases. Stacey is a past president and a current board member of the Anne Arundel Bar Association, is the current co-chair of the Family Law Committee for the Anne Arundel Bar Association is a member of the Governor’s Counsel for Domestic Violence, is a board member for the Betty Center, is a volunteer for the Calvert County family law clinic, is a member of the Character Committee appointed by the Supreme Court of Maryland, is former member of the Judiciary Nominating Commission, and is former adjunct professor at University of Baltimore School of Law and at the Anne Arundel Community College.

Gina Santoro, Ph.D., NCSP​

Director of Santoro Psychological Services, Licensed Psychologist

Dr. Santoro is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Ellicott City. Additionally, she is a State and Nationally Certified School Psychologist. In her private practice, she is a cognitive-behavioral therapist and provides therapy to children, adolescents, and adults. She uses a strengths-based perspective to guide clients to resiliency. Dr. Santoro has been interviewed regarding psychological and forensic matters on the television shows, “Killer Kids,” “Blood Relatives,” and “Reasonable Doubt.”

Chad Spencer, Esq.

The Spencer Law Group

Chad is the founding partner of The Spencer Law Group, a central Maryland firm focused on family law, business issues and appellate work. Through over 20 years of private practice, Chad has represented countless parties, and children, in contested matters. After graduating from law school, Chad clerked for a Judge on the Circuit Court for Howard County, then went into private practice. Chad was a member of the MSBA Leadership Academy class of 2006, was co-Chair of the MSBA Young Lawyers Section Education Committee, Resolutions Committee, 4 Corners Initiative and Senior Outreach Committee, co-chaired the MSBA Membership Committee. He served on the HCBA Board of Directors for 5 years, Chaired the HCBA Young Lawyers Association, and both Chaired and co-Chaired the HCBA Judicial Merit Selection Committee. He also was active in Wills for Heroes, chairing the HCBA event campaign, and is a fellow of both the Maryland Bar Foundation (Class of 2010) and the Howard County Bar Foundation (Class of 2012). He has been trained in representing children, in Collaborative Law, and is a Maryland Mediator.

Rebecca Snyder, Psy.D.

Rebecca Snyder is a psychologist in private practice in Frederick, Maryland. She provides a variety of services to court involved families and to families seeking to avoid court involvement while navigating changes such as separation, divorce, and re-partnering. Rebecca enjoys working within the mediation process to help parents focus on the needs of their children and to resolve their disputes. She also conducts settlement focused parenting plan consultations and specific issue assessments along with parenting coordination and individual and family therapy. Additionally, she teaches topics related to mental health, psychology, and forensic practice to mental health providers, mediators, attorneys, and judges in Maryland. Rebecca has been working with the courts, attorneys, and families for more than 30 years.

Marla Zide, Esq.

Zide Law Group

Marla Zide is founding partner of Zide Law Group, LLC. Since being sworn into the Maryland Bar in December 2001, Ms. Zide has focused her legal practice on family law. She began her litigation career at the YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, representing clients in Protective Order hearings. Her practice mainly serves Anne Arundel County, but she also represents clients in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Howard County, Harford County, and several Eastern Shore counties, assisting parents, grandparents, other third parties, and children in complex matters involving separation, divorce, custody, visitation, child support, alimony, family support, and adoption.

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