Mitchell Reichman

Top rated Family Law attorney in Phoenix, Arizona

Jaburg Wilk Law Firm

Practice areas: Family Law

Licensed in Arizona since: 1983

Education: University of San Diego School of Law

Selected to Super Lawyers: 2009 - 2025

Jaburg Wilk Law Firm

1850 N. Central Ave
Suite 1200
Phoenix, AZ 85004 Phone: 602-248-1000 Email: Mitchell Reichman Visit website

A State Bar of Arizona Board Certified Family Law Specialist, Mitchell “Mitch” Reichman has the knowledge and experience to manage high conflict divorces with substantial assets. Mitch focuses his practice only in family law and represents clients in high-stake divorce matters. He is one of only 1,650 family law attorneys in the United States admitted as a fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Academy fellows are considered as preeminent family law attorneys with high level of skill and integrity.

Upon joining Jaburg Wilk in 1995, Mitch devoted his practice exclusively to family law, utilizing his understanding of business, finances, accounting, and commercial litigation to assist high-income and net-worth families divide large and often complex estates. Mitch blends his business instincts with a pragmatic legal approach to gain a rich understanding of his clients’ (and their spouses’) varied businesses, including law practices, dental and medical practices, retail stores, real estate companies, and investment entities.

Being a supportive listener has been mastered by Mitch. He builds an alliance with his clients that helps relieve the anxieties attendant to divorce. Mitch has a particular and personal interest in helping clients deal with issues of co-parenting in a sometimes hostile environment. He encourages his clients to consider alternative means of resolving their disputes, including mediation, arbitration, and other non-traditional methods of dispute resolution. Mitch is as adept in the courtroom as he is at the negotiating table, and provides sound legal advice on when to compromise and when to litigate.

Mitch is a board member of the Executive Council of the Arizona State Bar Family Law Section, and has been involved in the Domestic Relations Custody Study Group. Mitch was appointed by the President of the Arizona State Senate to the Children’s Behavioral Health Council. Mitch has been selected a Southwest “Super Lawyer” every year since 2009, named a “Best Lawyer in America” by Best Lawyers and “Arizona Top 10 Family Law Lawyer” by Arizona Business Magazine.

First Admitted: 1982, California

Professional Webpage: http://www.jaburgwilk.com/our-people/mitchell-reichman

Bar/Professional Activity:

Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2019
Member, California State Bar, 1982
Former Member of Domestic Relations Custody Study Group until the group disbanded
Experienced in high-conflict divorces with substantial assets.
U.S. District Court, District of Arizona.
Board Member of the Executive Council of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Arizona
Particularly adept at critically analyzing and persuasively presenting information concerning business valuations and the cross-examination of business valuation experts.
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Member, Arizona State Bar, 1983
Certified as a Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of Arizona
Previously served on the Children's Behavioral Health Council by appointment from the President of the State Sentate
Utilizes understanding of business, finances, accounting, and commercial litigation to assist high-income and high net-worth families divide large and often complex estates.

Videos:

Phoenix business law firm Jaburg Wilk's Family Law Specialist Mitchell Reichman discusses what mediation and why being prepared is crucial. He also talks about what strategies are needed to be successful in mediation. For more information visit www.jaburgwilk.com., What is Mediation?, 2014
Jaburg Wilk 's Family Law Specialist Mitchell Reichman discusses what community property is in regards to divorce. For more information visit www.jaburgwilk.com, Protecting Separate Property in Arizona
Phoenix law firm Jaburg Wilk's Family Law Specialist discusses the process which occurs during a divorce proceeding. He talks about whether or not it is a requirement to be in court to testify, and gives options on completing divorce without a trial., Can I Complete My Divorce Without a Trial?, 2014
Mitch Reichman, a board certified family law specialist discusses what a client should bring to the first meeting., What Should I Bring to MY First Meeting?
From the beginning we have wanted to be different from other law firms. Different in how we treat our clients, different in how we treat each other, and different in the results we achieve. We call it 'The JW Way'. For more information visit www.jaburgwilk.com, The JW Way, 2014
Phoenix business law firm Jaburg Wilk's Board Certified Family Law Specialist Mitchell Reichman discusses what Spousal Maintenance is and how it is determined., What is Spousal Maintenance and How is it Determined?, 2013

Special Licenses/Certifications:

Certified Specialist, Family Law, State Bar of Arizona

Pro bono/Community Service:

Jaburg & Wilk Foundation, Board of Directors

Honors/Awards:

Best Lawyers in America-"Lawyer of the Year" Family Law Mediation, 2022, Lawyer of the Year, Family Law Mediation, Best Lawyers in America
Best Lawyers in America, Family Law (Divorce), Family Law Arbitration 2013-2024, Family Law (Divorce), Family Law Arbitration, Best Lawyers in America
Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, Rated AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell
Recognized as a "Top 10 Family Law Lawyer" by Arizona Business Magazine, Top 10 Family Law Lawyer, Arizona Business Magazine

Educational Background:

B.A., Arizona State University, 1979

White Papers:

By creating a culture of continuous improvement and lifetime learning, each individual will grow, learn, and contribute to both their goals and the firm’s goals., Imperfect Leads to Better
The expression of integrity is a virtue. Many of our JW Way Fundamentals reflect our aspiring to have cultural integrity throughout our firm. Fundamentals such as respect, truthful communications, honoring obligations, and accountability are all attributes of an integrity-centered organization., Developing Personal Integrity

Scholarly Lectures/Writings:

The common dynamics of failed relationships often make it difficult to think clearly and make good decisions, especially in the early stages of divorce. While my education and training has been focused on the legal and business aspects of divorce and becoming an effective advocate, it is equally important to help clients navigate the emotional aspects to facilitate good and thoughtful decisions. Helping our clients work through their emotional divorce starts with listening to understand his or her perspective when their marriage is broken down. , Author, How to Win in Divorce by Letting Go, JaburgWilk.com, 2023
People seeking to resolve their complex, high net worth divorces in the Family Law Division of the Maricopa County Superior Court in the State of Arizona can find themselves trapped in a system that is not well suited to meet their needs. , Author, Win Your High-Stakes, Complex Divorce by Staying Out of Court, JaburgWilk.com, 2024
Not all divorces need to be tried in court. Divorce mediation is an alternative the parties can choose instead of litigating their divorce in family law court and having the outcome decided by a judge. Mediation is a private process of resolving disputes by engaging a neutral third party who acts as a facilitator. , The Potential Benefits of Divorce Mediation, JaburgWilk.com
Unfortunately, the reality is divorce presents many more opportunities to lose than to win. However, choices can be made to maximize the probability of obtaining a favorable outcome. , Author, How to “Win” in Your Divorce, JaburgWilk.com, 2023
In a custody dispute between parents in an Arizona proceeding, if a parent has committed an act of “domestic violence” their right to have equal decision-making authority and unsupervised, or any, parenting time is at risk. , Author, How Acts of Domestic Violence Impact Child Custody, JaburgWilk.com, 2023
Mediation is a voluntary process in which the parties jointly select a neutral third party facilitator to help reach resolution of all or some of the issues in their divorce proceeding. , Author, How to Prepare for Mediation, JaburgWilk.com, 2022
There has never been a more challenging time for a valuation expert to render a supportable opinion about the value of a business or professional practice. The standard that governs a judge’s decision about the date to be used in valuing a business is whether the result is fair. , Business Valuations and Divorce During Pandemic, JaburgWilk.com
In order to be eligible for a downward modification of child support or spousal maintenance, a person must establish a change in circumstances that is both substantial and continuing. The burden is on the party requesting the modification to demonstrate this change., Modification of Child Support or Spouse Maintenance, JaburgWilk.com
One of the most anxiety-producing experiences for both a family law client and their attorney is navigating through the process relating to a Maricopa County temporary orders hearing. The client’s anxiety is easy to understand. , Navigating the Rapids Temporary Orders Hearings in Maricopa County, JaburgWilk.com
Family law attorneys may have many “high-conflict” divorces in which parents cannot resolve their differences in either a business-like or amicable manner. Typically, there is on-going, unrelenting hostility between the parents. , Guiding Parents in a High-Conflict Divorce, JaburgWilk.com
On September 21, 2018, the Executive Council of the Family Law Section of the State Bar, past and present Family Law Judges, as well as experienced practitioners, gave 24 participants the opportunity to hone their skills in the Family Law Trial College. , Strategies for More Effective Trial Presentations in Family Law Proceedings, JaburgWilk.com
While Arizona judges had been making some parenting decisions in family law cases for many years, that recently shifted due to recent Arizona Court of Appeals decisions that have far reaching impacts on parents that cannot agree on decisions concerning their children. , Changes in Family Law Court Means One Parent Could Make Parenting Decisions, JaburgWilk.com
The cultural creep towards Arizona family law judges making parenting decisions, has been altered with two recent decisions by the Arizona Court of Appeals – Nicaise v. Sundaram and Paul E. v. Courtney F. , New Limits on Court Ordered Therapy in Arizona, JaburgWilk.com
We frequently represent clients who have engaged in some type of transaction with his or her spouse during the marriage that inadvertently causes them to lose certain rights to property unknowingly. This often happens in the context of acquiring or refinancing a home., Inadvertent Transmutation - How What was ‘Mine’ became ‘Ours’, JaburgWilk.com
For many years divorced parents in Arizona - with equal parenting rights and an inability to agree on such decisions - could raise their differences to a family law judge. That judge would resolve the parent’s conflict by making decisions for them relating to that issue. However, that longstanding practice is over. , Family Law Judges Can No Longer Make Parental Decisions in Arizona, JaburgWilk.com
When representing high net worth individuals in divorce proceedings, frequently one of the assets is an ownership interest in a privately held business or professional practice. Establishing a value for the business can be one of the most hotly contested aspects of the divorce., Application of Discounts in Valuation of Interests in Privately Held Entities, JaburgWilk.com
While there are many other fundamental values that are the underpinnings for our practice , an essential value is the need to demonstrate respect to everyone., Family Law Practice in a Values-Based Culture, JaburgWilk.com
Representing a high-level executive in his or her divorce presents unique and recurring challenges to a Family Law practitioner. While every client's divorce has its own particular circumstances, representing high net worth senior level executives have certain commonalities among them regardless of their profession and industr, Challenges in Managing the CEO's Divorce, JaburgWilk.com
The valuation of a business or professional practice in a divorce proceeding requires the resolution of unique issues. Among the most significant of these issues are the valuation date and the standard of value to be applied. In Arizona, judges have the discretion to decide these issues by considering specific factors that are typically unique to the particular circumstances of the case presented., Business and Professional Practice Valuation in Divorce, JaburgWilk.com
The divorce rate in the United States has been dropping during the past 20 years. However, divorce among spouses over 50 years old has doubled since 1990! The surge has spawned the term “gray divorce” for these older divorcing spouses., Issues in Gray Divorces, JaburgWilk.com
Whenever a privately held business is among the assets in a dissolution proceeding, certain fundamental issues must be addressed in the context of determining the value of the business., Business Valuation in Divorce Choosing a Valuation Expert, JaburgWilk.com
In Arizona, it is not uncommon for a spouse in a dissolution proceeding to assert a "waste" claim against the other spouse. The term "waste" does not appear in the Arizona statutes that define community property or relate to the dissolution of marriage. , Financial Issues in Divorce - Dissipation or "Waste" Claims, JaburgWilk.com
The amount of time it takes for a divorce to be finalized is different in everyone's case and is driven by a variety of factors. , How long will it take for my divorce to be final?, JaburgWilk.com
In recent years it has become more common for divorcing spouses to agree to jointly engage one expert to value the marital interest in a business or professional practice. While choosing one expert is not suitable for all situations, the potential benefits of using one expert include saving time in the process, reducing the cost of the valuation and increasing the possibility of negotiating a resolution based on the opinion of value rendered by the expert., Use of a Jointly Engaged Valuation Expert in a Divorce: How to Make the Process Work, JaburgWilk.com
Arizona is a community property state which means all property acquired by either spouse during the marriage is, by statute, presumed to be community property. The characterization of property as either sole and separate property or community property is established at the time the property is acquired. , Why Arizona Business Owners Need a Premarital Agreement, JaburgWilk.com
Nothing is more difficult than predicting what a judge will decide is the appropriate spousal maintenance award on any given set of facts. This uncertainty can be traced to the statutory factors that a judge is compelled to consider to decide if a person is entitled to receive spousal maintenance and if so, the amount and duration of the award. , How is Spousal Maintenance Determined?, JaburgWilk.com
Getting divorced can be both emotionally exhausting and financially devastating. Couples may consider mediation as one method to transverse through the dissolution of their marriage with less acrimony and potentially at lower cost to the divorcing couple., Successfully Employing Mediation to Settle Issues in Your Divorce, JaburgWilk.com
Arizona law requires custodial and non-custodial parents to provide "reasonable support" for their minor children. A.R.S. § 25-501(A). This obligation is not avoidable. In the midst of a divorce, the right to receive this support and the amount owed by each parent can be overlooked. , Arizona's Child Support Guidelines What Every Parent Should Know, JaburgWilk.com
In many cases, one of the most contentious and difficult issues in a divorce proceeding is the valuation and distribution of marital property. When the marital community owns an interest in a business, this process can be complicated and expensive. , Business Valuation in Divorce Proceedings: Understanding of the Basic Approaches to Value, JaburgWilk.com
Divorce mediation is a process of resolving disputes by engaging a neutral third party who acts as a facilitator, assisting the divorcing spouses in reaching an agreement., Potential Benefits of Divorce Mediation, JaburgWilk.com