Michèle M. Bissada

Bar / Professional Activity

• American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), Fellow, 2013-Present; International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL), Fellow, 2023-Present; AAML National Continuing Education Committee, Member; AAML National Family Law Conference Committee, Member; AAML 2026 National Family Law Conference Committee, Co-Chair; AAML National Foundation Board, Member; AAML National Foundation Board Finance Committee, Member; AAML National Foundation Board Forensic and Business Valuation Membership Committee, Member; AAML Northern California Trial Practicum, 2018, 2021 & 2024 Co-Chair; AAML Northern California Trial Practicum, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021 & 2024 Group Leader; AAML Northern California Trial Practicum, 2021 & 2024 Faculty Presenter; AAML Northern California Mentorship Program Group Co-Leader, 2021-Present; AAML Northern California By-Laws Committee, Member; Website Committee, Member; and Retreat Committee, Member; AAML Northern California Chapter, President, 2023; AAML Northern California Chapter, Board Member, 2020-2024; San Mateo County Bar Association, President, 2011; San Francisco Bar Association, Member; San Mateo County Bar Association, Member; Santa Clara County Bar Association, Member; State Bar of California, Member., 1994

Special Licenses / Certifications

• Certified Specialist in Family Law by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization, 2004

Honors

• Dorothy M. Wolfe Award, San Mateo County Legal Aid Society, Dorothy M. Wolfe Award for her pro bono contributions, San Mateo County Legal Aid Society, 2010, 2010
• CCBA Friend of the Conference Award, Conference of California Bar Associations, CCBA Friend of the Conference Award, Conference of California Bar Associations, 2017, 2017
• Super Lawyers® by Thomson Reuters, 2006-2022
• Best Lawyers® by US News & World Report, 2018-2022

Educational Background

• University of California, Davis, B.A., Major: International Relations, Major: French, 1989

Scholarly Lectures / Writings

• “What Attorneys and Judges Can Do When a Child Resists Contact with a Parent”, Overcoming Barriers, 3-hour seminar moderator for Hon. Marjorie Slabach (ret.), Leslie Drozd. Ph.D. and Pamela E. Pierson, Esq., May 2017
• “How Attorneys and Consultants can GUIDE the Client”, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) Annual Conference: 2-hour workshop with Nancy Williams Olesen, Ph.D., February 2017
• “What Attorneys and Judges Can Do When a Child Resists Contact with a Parent”, Overcoming Barriers, 3-hour seminar moderator for Hon. Marjorie Slabach (ret.), Leslie Drozd. Ph.D. and Pamela E. Pierson, Esq., May 2017
• “Law & Ethics” course on “Family Law Crossover Issues”, Clinical Psychology Graduate Department, Notre Dame de Namur University, May 2017
• San Mateo County Bar Association: 3-hour panel presentation with fellow San Mateo County Bar Member Attorneys for Fee Arbitration Training Roundtable, December 2018
• San Mateo County Bar Association: 1-hour panel presentation with San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Don Ayoob, Kevin Allen, Esq. and Amanda Riddle, Esq. on “Elimination of Bias in the Legal Profession”, January 2019
• Parallel Advisors: 1-hour panel presentation with Financial Advisor and CDFA Elaina Serotte on “Financial Planning Considerations in Divorce”, April 2019
• The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 2019 Symposium: 1-hour panel presentation with Herb Fockler, Esq. on “Equity Compensation in Silicon Valley Companies”, April 2019
• Capital Group: 1-hour panel presentation with Natasha Parrett, Esq. on “The Dynamics of Pre and Post Marital Agreement and Co-Habitation Agreements”, September 2019
• Notre Dame de Namur University, Clinical Psychology Graduate Department: 1.5-hour program for graduate students in “Law & Ethics” course on “Family Law Crossover Issues”, September 2019
• Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) Annual Conference: 2-hour workshop with Hon. Marjorie Slabach (ret.), Leslie Drozd. Ph.D., “Overcoming Parent-Child Contact Problems”, February 2020
• Notre Dame de Namur University, Clinical Psychology Graduate Department: 2-hour program for graduate students in “Law & Ethics” course on “Family Law Crossover Issues”, October 2020
• The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Mentoring Group: 1.5-hour presentation on “Venture Capital Basics”, October 2020
• The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 2019 Symposium: 1.25-hour panel presentation with Marie Ebersbacher, CPA, ABV, CFF, CFE and Steve Wagner, CFLS on ” Investment Accounts and How to Avoid Hidden Traps regarding Tracing”, May 2021
• Notre Dame de Namur University, Clinical Psychology Graduate Department: 2-hour program for graduate students in “Law & Ethics” course on “Family Law Crossover Issues”, October 2021

• Discovery Referee
• Family Law Limited-Scope Arbitration
• Family Law Mediation
• Family Law Settlement Judging
• Family Law Temporary All-Purpose Private Judging
• Parent Coordination