PRACTICE FOCUS

Cheryl Hepfer is a highly-regarded attorney who has practiced family law for more than 40 years. She has been rated by her peers and is listed in Best Lawyers in America and as a top lawyer in the Washingtonian, Bethesda Magazine, and Super Lawyers. She is past president of both the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Family Lawyers.

Her practice consists primarily of domestic litigation involving significant assets and business interests. She has a wealth of experience in complex cases involving significant assets and property distribution, alimony, child custody and access. She has significant experience representing owners of businesses and their spouses, and those with significant assets, and works with business valuation experts and forensic accountants to maximize the benefits to her clients.

Although Ms. Hepfer frequently appears before trial and appellate courts, she is often able to resolve cases through negotiation, settling most of her cases out of court because she explores settlement options early, hoping to limit client costs and enhance the opportunity for an amicable resolution. Her decades of experience as a trial lawyer provide her with the ability to evaluate her cases, and to determine when settlement is or is not in the client’s best interest. In the event that settlement is not the best option, her trial skills allow her to proceed to trial when that is in the client’s best interest.

As a mentor to other family lawyers, Ms. Hepfer teaches at the Institute of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers every year, and provides guidance to local family lawyers who aspire to become Fellows of the AAML.

POINTS OF DISTINCTION

In September 2012, Ms. Hepfer was sworn in as the President of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL), which is comprised of 700 of the most highly-regarded family law lawyers throughout the world. She is also Past-President of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), which is comprised of 1700 accomplished family law attorneys in the United States who specialize in all issues related to divorce and family law. Ms. Hepfer is the only Maryland Diplomate in the American College of Family Trial Attorneys, which is comprised of the top 100 family law trial attorneys in the United States.

Ms. Hepfer has received numerous honors, awards and recognition by publications, surveys, and associations including:

• • Maryland Super Lawyers cover story, January 2020
• • Named to Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent® Top Rated Lawyers, 2019
• • Bethesda Magazine Top Attorneys, Family Law (recognition honors the region’s most respected legal practitioners, as chosen by their peers), 2019