2023 Harold R. Kemp Annual Family Law Symposium

Monday, October 9th, 2023

An advanced update on family law in Ohio.

The Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) is proud to host our annual Harold R. Kemp Family Law Symposium. For more than thirty years, legal professionals including attorneys, magistrates, and judges from across Ohio have attended the Symposium, learning about best practices for family law and ways to provide clients with even better services.

We look forward to hosting more Symposiums in the future and continuing to work with the best and brightest minds in legal education to ensure family lawyers, magistrates, and judges in Ohio have the tools to realize their full potential.

Presenting Sponsors

Supporting Sponsors

2023 AAML Ohio Symposium

Monday, October 9, 2023 (In Person or Interactive Webinar)

8:15 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Greetings and Introduction

S. Scott Haynes, JD, Symposium Chair(Columbus, OH)

Wijdan Jreisat, JD, President, AAML, Ohio Chapter (Cincinnati, OH)

Brent A. Cashatt, JD, President of AAML National (Des Moines, IA)

Brian C. Vertz, JD, President of AAML Foundation (Pittsburgh, PA)

8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Let ‘Em Know: 2023 Case Law

Gary J. Gottfried, JD (Westerville, OH)

Mr. Gottfried will present his can’t miss case law update on all decisions of relevance or interest over the past year.

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9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Set ‘Em Up: Cross Examination in Depositions

Matthew A. Dodd, JD (Bozeman, MT)

Cases are often won or lost at the discovery stage, and knowing how to cross-examine deponents is an essential skill for all litigators. Mr. Dodd will review his approach for focusing depositions on the “theory of the case" and preparing lines of questioning that support that theory

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10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Break

10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Knock ‘Em Down: Using Deposition Evidence at Trial

Matthew A. Dodd, JD (Bozeman, MT)

Reap the rewards of your hard work in depositions at trial. Mr. Dodd will provide tips and tools to take the information gleaned from the deposition and prepare and present it most effectively at trial.

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11:45 p.m. – 12:00 p.m. Friedman Award

Presentation of this year’s Friedman Professionalism Award by the AAML, Ohio Chapter.

12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Lunch Break

12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Break ‘Em Open: Accessing Trust Funds

Sharon L. Klein, LLM (New York, NY)

Ms. Klein will discuss why estate planning attorneys use common trust planning techniques and how to attack or defend such trusts in divorce.

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1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Keep ‘Em Professional

David McCreary (Columbus, OH)

Comedian and host of Cash Explosion, Mr. McCreary, will offer lighthearted insight into maintaining your mental health and professionalism with jokes … and magic.

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2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Break

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Bring ‘Em Together: The ABC’s of Mediating Complex Cases

Jeffrey W. Brend, JD (Chicago, IL) and Elizabeth Hill, JD (Overland Park, KS)

Mediation is not limited to custody cases. Mr. Brend and Ms. Hill will discuss their experiences as mediators and how mediation can be extremely effective in high asset and high income cases.

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4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Do ‘Em Over: Postnuptial Agreements

Brian C. Vertz, JD (Pittsburgh, PA), Lisa T. Spencer, JD (Minneapolis, MN) and Amy J. Weis, JD (Columbus, OH)

Ohio has now joined other states which allow for postnuptial agreements. Mr. Vertz, Ms. Spenser and Ms. Weis will offer insight on negotiating and drafting such agreements.