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Who’s Who in Family Law
The people to trust for life’s most personal and emotional matters.

by Liz Hunter

Over the course of someone’s life, situations may arise unexpectedly that require the expertise and understanding of a family law professional. As an individual seeks a resolution for this personal matter, these professionals must lead with respect and understanding, while fighting on their client’s behalf. This list of Who’s Who in Family Law comprises those with experience and proven success, making them among the most respected in South Jersey.

Antoinette Chiulli
Sole Practitioner
E. ANTOINETTE CHIULLI ATTORNEY AT LAW

Chiulli is a sole practitioner at the Stafford- shire Professional Center in Voorhees and has over 25 years’ experience. Her areas of practice are family law, workers’ compensation and wills and estates, with her primary emphasis on family law. She believes that a settlement in family law matters is preferable to a trial, as a settlement assists the parties to move forward with their separate lives. She understands the anxiety and stress that family matters create and handles each aspect of the client's matter with personal attention.

Carmela DeNicola
Professional Mediator
ADVANCED MEDIATION SOLUTIONS

DeNicola understands that divorce is a highly emotional time for couples. She also understands that there are many important issues couples need to resolve. DeNicola has the unique ability to help spouses get past the issues they are stuck on and work cooperatively toward developing peaceable and workable resolutions. Her savvy business sense is another attribute couples appreciate. And this is particularly true when there are complex financial matters that need to be tackled, such as family-owned or closely held businesses or franchises, real estate investments, stocks, bonds, stock options, international investments and unique assets. Whatever type of mediation is needed (divorce or business), DeNicola has the experience, skills and dedication to ensure a positive and productive result.

Dawn Kaplan
WEINBERG, KAPLAN & SMITH, P.A.

Kaplan is a co-founding partner of Weinberg, Kaplan & Smith, P.A. She understands divorce on a personal level and thrives on giving her clients resolution and the tools they need to achieve success in the next chapter of their lives. Throughout her career, Kaplan has represented a wide variety of clients, including homemakers, business owners, high net worth individuals and professionals. Kaplan is known for her passion and commitment in handling complex litigation, specifically in family law matters on behalf of her clients. She has received substantial trial experience in family law matters, including: divorce, dissolution of civil unions and domestic partnerships, child custody, child support, equitable distribution, pre-marital agreements and domestic violence. Kaplan has served on the Arbitration Statute and Children’s Rights committees of the New Jersey State Bar Association. She is also a matrimonial early settlement panelist for Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties.

Marie E. Lihotz, P.J.A.D. (ret.)
ARCHER & GREINER P.C.

The Honorable Lihotz joined Archer as Of Counsel after serving 20 years as a member of the New Jersey Judiciary. Lihotz concentrates her practice in resolving legal disputes through mediation and arbitration, including family, business, estate, employment as well as appellate arbitration matters. She also served the judiciary as the presiding judge of the Family Part and led the Supreme Court’s Family Practice Committee as its chair. Lihotz is past president and a founding member of the Thomas S. Forkin Family Law American Inn of Court. During her term as president, the Inn was first recognized by the National AIC in the Circle of Excellence and later achieved the platinum level of excellence in the requisite core competencies. As an attorney and a judge, Lihotz has always participated in legal education. In addition to lecturing for NJICLE, various bar associations and the judiciary, she participated as an adjunct lecturer for Rutgers University Law School, Camden.

ANDREW ROCHESTER, Esq.
Morgenstern & Rochester

Rochester began practicing law in 1994 upon graduation from the Boston University School of Law. He received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University. He is a master in the Thomas S. Forkin Family Law American Inn of Court and co-chair of its Mentoring Committee. Rochester has argued extensively before the appellate courts of New Jersey, including the New Jersey Supreme Court, on family law issues and has been a panelist for the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, the National Business Institute and the Burlington and Camden County matrimonial early settlement panels. As a partner in Morgenstern & Rochester, a small boutique firm, Rochester’s hands-on approach sets him apart, ensuring clients can reach him directly from day one until completion of their case.

Amy Smith
WEINBERG, KAPLAN & SMITH, P.A.

Smith is a co-founding partner of Weinberg, Kaplan & Smith, P.A. She focuses on all types of matrimonial and family law matters. Smith goes above and beyond for her clients to ensure the most fair and equitable outcome and is accustomed to dealing with sensitive, emotional issues involved with family law. She represents her clients with a focus on settlement and will fight for what is in her client’s best interest. While serving as a prosecutor in Burlington County, Smith garnered extensive experience in the areas of domestic violence, domestic violence weapon forfeiture hearings and criminal matters in municipal court. Passionate about domestic violence matters, Smith is known for her experience in this field. She was named the Burlington County Bar Association’s liaison to the Domestic Violence Working Group of the Prosecutor’s Office. She is also a teen mentor for the Alice Paul Institute and a matrimonial early settlement panelist for Burlington and Gloucester counties.

Kathleen P. Stockton, Esq.
STOCKTON FAMILY LAW

Stockton is both a compassionate and fierce champion for clients. With more than 20 years’ experience, she represents clients in matters of divorce, alimony, prenuptial agreements, domestic violence, child support, custody and step-parent adoption. Stockton is one of a select number of attorneys designated certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a matrimonial law attorney. Her success can be attributed to the respect and attention she brings to every case, ultimately obtaining peaceful and efficient resolutions.

Roseann Vanella
Professional Mediator
ADVANCED MEDIATION SOLUTIONS

Vanella’s experience and credentials alone set her apart from other professional mediators in the state. Having been through a divorce herself and benefited from the advantages of mediation, she brings a unique perspective along with the ability to remain impartial while deeply empathizing with what each party is going through. Because of her in-depth financial and business experience, Vanella is well-equipped to handle even the most complex divorce mediation cases. She is the recent past president of the board of trustees for CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates) for children of Mercer and Burlington counties.

Stephanie J. Zane, Esq.
ARCHER & GREINER P.C.

As the chair of Archer’s matrimonial and family law department, Zane helps clients resolve matters associated with divorce, custody, parenting time, child support, relocation, adoption and domestic violence. She routinely handles complex litigation matters but is also a trained mediator and mediation-friendly review attorney. Zane is a master, executive committee member and current president of the Thomas S. Forkin Family Law American Inn of Court. Since no two cases are the same, Zane says, “I take the time to get to know and understand my client as a person so that I can help them achieve the best possible outcome for them in their matter. The foundation of my practice is balancing empathy and advocacy to ensure successful representation.

Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Family Magazine, Volume 12, Issue 1 (April 2021).
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