Taft Ohio attorneys Jill Friedman Helfman, Carl Murway, Jacob Smith, Meredith Shell-Ayer, Mary Kate McClain, and Amanda Pipik-Leip, exclusively contributed to the Ohio section of the latest edition of Chambers and Partners’ Family Law 2023 Global Practice Guide. In this guide covering 19 jurisdictions, Taft’s trends and developments article, “The Increasing Complexity of Domestic Relations Law,” explores how the practice of high-net-worth domestic relations law has changed significantly over the last three decades.

The guide also provides legal information on Ohio’s divorce jurisdiction requirements and processes; division of assets; spousal maintenance; prenuptial and postnuptial agreements; child custody and child support; ADR; and key areas of reform and debate.

To read the full guide, visit here.

Helfman is a well-respected attorney and family advocate and serves as co-partner-in-charge of the Cleveland office and as chair of Taft’s Domestic Relations practice. Her practice focuses on family and divorce law, particularly in high net worth cases. Helfman is certified by The Ohio State Bar Association Family Law Specialty Board as a specialist in the field of Family Law in Ohio and as an arbitrator through the AAML Matrimonial Arbitration Training Institute.

McClain represents clients in divorce, dissolution of marriage, custody matters and premarital agreements. Her experience includes establishing and enforcing support, tracing separate property claims, litigating business valuation issues, dividing stock compensation plans, analyzing and dividing rental real estate portfolios, and negotiating and litigating complex custody disputes.

Murway represents clients in a variety of family law matters, including dissolution of marriage, divorce, custody, and premarital agreements. Most of his litigation matters are in Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, Lorain, and Summit Counties in Ohio. His experience includes complex business valuation issues, treatment of qualified and non-qualified retirement plan benefits, analysis of complex executive compensation arrangements, analysis of spousal and child support claims, analysis of marital and separate property claims, and tax considerations involved in the division and disbursement of marital and separate property. 

Pipik-Leip is a Domestic Relations attorney and has extensive experience assisting clients in a variety of family law matters, including prenuptial agreements, divorce, dissolution, custody, child support, spousal support, post-decree matters, and adoptions. She is an active member of the Cleveland Bar Association and Co-Chair of the Family Law Section.

Shell-Ayer is a Domestic Relations attorney based in Taft’s Columbus office. She represents clients in legal matters relating to divorce, custody, premarital agreements and all aspects of litigation. In addition to her busy practice, she is also a long-time member of the Ohio Women’s Bar Association.

Smith is an associate in Taft’s Domestic Relations Group. He advises and litigates on behalf of clients on complex matters involving property division, child custody, establishment and enforcement of child and spousal support, establishment of paternity, international child custody and abductions under the Hague Convention, and preparation of prenuptial agreements.