Lorie S. Nachlis is a Certified Family Law Specialist, * a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. She brings 40 years of experience as both a mediator and a litigator to her work. Prior to devoting her full attention to family law in the early 90’s, she gained valuable jury trial experience in both the State and Federal Courts. During those first ten years, she also mediated disputes between the parents of special education students and school districts throughout the State. Those combined skills allow her to focus on the individual needs of her clients, while exploring creative ideas for resolution and exhibiting a willingness and ability to litigate should it be necessary.
Often, Ms. Nachlis asks her clients to think about what they want their life to look like down the road so that together they can develop a strategy that can help them get to that place. If there are minor children, Ms. Nachlis insists that the strategy maintain a focus on the best interests of the children. When appropriate, Ms. Nachlis uses a team approach, involving the client as well as experts from various fields to develop the strategy for resolution.
Ms. Nachlis has earned the respect of clients, peers, and the judiciary. She has developed excellent relationships with some of the top financial and custody experts in the field. In 2003, the San Francisco Recorder named her one of the two top family law attorneys in the Bay Area. She received the Award of Merit from the San Francisco Bar Association and numerous awards for her pro bono work. The former Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court appointed her to serve on the Elkins Task Force where she devoted a significant amount of time working with the experts reviewing and revising family law policy and procedure. She was named Fellow of the Year by the Northern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and has been named a Northern California Super Lawyer from 2004 to the present. She continues to hold an AV rating with Martindale-Hubbard. In 2024, she was inducted into the Association of Certified Family Family Law Specialist's Hall of Fame for her contributions to the specialty and practice of family law and exemplifies the highest ethical and legal standards.
Ms. Nachlis is from Kingston, PA. She moved to San Francisco with her then 5-year-old son to attend law school at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. She delights in the company of children, grandchildren and four-legged beings who bark. Her passion is scuba diving.
*Certified Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization
