Laura Elizabeth Alterman

Laura Elizabeth Alterman is a board-certified specialist in family law by The State Bar of California, and serves as a senior associate at DeLacey, Riebel & Shindell in San Francisco. She represents clients across the full spectrum of family law matters, including dissolution of marriage, child custody and visitation, spousal and child support, property division, premarital agreements and paternity proceedings. 

Ms. Alterman routinely advises on high net worth and financially intricate matters, counseling executives and families on issues such as executive compensation, deferred and equity-based awards, and alternative asset structures. Clients and colleagues value Ms. Alterman for her analytical rigor, practical judgment and steadfast advocacy on behalf of families navigating complex legal and financial transitions.

Committed to individualized representation, Ms. Alterman develops strategic, client-centered plans tailored to each family’s legal and financial circumstances. She is an adept negotiator and a seasoned courtroom advocate, prepared to pursue favorable settlements or litigate vigorously when necessary. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco School of Law, where she received awards for excellence in community property law and served as a technical editor for the Journal of Law and Social Challenges. During law school, she gained hands-on experience as a clerk with Bay Area Legal Aid’s family law and domestic violence units.

In addition to her practice, Ms. Alterman contributes to the profession as an editor and author for Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB), producing practical guidance at the intersection of estate planning and family law, an area integral to her practice. She is deeply committed to public service, providing pro bono representation through Bay Area Legal Aid and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and participating in legislative advocacy in Sacramento. She prioritizes clear communication, prompt responsiveness and careful cost management to minimize stress and protect clients’ interests and dignity.