Mary J. Martinelli

Partner

621 Capitol Mall
18th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

Areas of Law:

Family Law, Dissolution of Marriage, Legal Separation, Domestic Partnership, Guardianship, Custody, Paternity, Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements/Cohabitation Agreements

Admitted to Practice in:

California

Mary Martinelli, a Certified Family Law Specialist*, supervises one of the largest family law practices in California. She represents clients in sophisticated and complex family law matters involving dissolution of marriage, custody, guardianship, cohabitation, pre-marital and post-marital agreements, and domestic partnership agreements. She has specific expertise with business valuation in divorce actions and has handled matters which include estates valued at hundreds of millions of dollars. Mary has earned the highest rating (AV) from Martindale Hubble.

While Mary enjoys the role of mediator, collaborator and private judge, her experience as a trial lawyer has resulted in very successful outcomes for her clients. She was prevailing trial counsel in LaBass vs. Munsee which ruling the Court of Appeal ultimately published and is now long established case law precedent for the principle of imputing income based on ability to earn.

Mary's experience as adjunct professor at U.C. Davis Law School, together with her speaking and writing on family law topics at a statewide level, confirm her technical expertise with respect to the most legally challenging issues.

Of particular importance to Mary, who has five children of her own, is her work involving child custody. Her work in this area includes matters involving substance abuse, domestic violence, child exploitation and abuse, “move away” and child abduction cases. She long served as counsel for the non-profit organization National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and as minor's counsel appointed by the court.

Mary has also held positions with the California State Bar standing committees, Association of Certified Family Law Specialists and the CEB advisory board.

Mary's talented staff of attorneys, paralegals and secretaries coordinate efforts to serve clients with discreet and focused attention as they face challenging financial and emotional issues. Her clients often comment that she is “one hundred percent devoted” to each and every one of them.

*Certified Family Law Specialist, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization

Clients include:

National and regional automobile dealership: extensive tracing issues, child custody and spousal and child support issues.

National trucking business: extensive tracing issues, income tax issues and spousal support issues.

Restaurant chain: corporate and stock redemption issues.

High earner: (film actor/director/professional athlete/musician/band/developer): child, and spousal support issues.

Real Estate Developer: complex valuation and tax issues.

Lobbying firm: income tax and pension issues.

Large farming business: tracing issues and real estate valuation issues.

Hydroplant business: business valuation issues.

Family held appliance business: business valuation issues.

Medical and Dental practice: business valuation issues and spousal support issues.

Legal practice: business valuation issues and reimbursement issues.

Film production business: business valuation issues and buy-sell agreement issues.

Engineering firm: large commercial and rural real estate holdings, pension and business valuation is sues.

General:
Current Marketing / Business Development Partner at Downey Brand.

Former Manager of Downey Brand's Family Law & Wealth Planning Practice Group.

MEMBERSHIPS

Association of Certified Family Law Specialists, Member, Past Member Board of Directors and Legislative Analyst

State Bar of California, Family Law Section, Member

Sacramento County Bar Association, Family Law Section, Member

Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Member

American Bar Association, Member

Sacramento County Superior Court Pro Bono Assistance Committee, Member

Sacramento County Mediation Panel Member, Member

Sacramento Ballet Company, Former Board Member

Sacramento County Pro-Tem Judge, Member

California State ADR Standing Committee, Past Co-Chair

Milton L. Schwartz American Inn of Court, Former Barrister

Judicial Council Family Court Services Grants Advisory Committee, Former Member

EDUCATION

University of California, Davis (J.D., 1986)

University of California, Berkeley (B.A., 1980)

PUBLICATIONS

Legislative Update, ACFLS Newsletter, Writer

Irreconcilable Differences: When Family Law & Bankruptcy Collide, Writer

Child Custody and Visitation in California, Writer

CEB Publications, Writer

PRESENTATIONS

C.E.B., N.B.I., S.A.L.A., Employee Benefits Roundtable, Bankruptcy Law Forum, and County Bar Estate Planning Section; Barristers' Club: Seminar “Bridging the Gap”; Young Lawyers.

University of California, Davis School of Law, Marital Property; Family Law Practice/Clinic; Family Law Mediation, 2000 – 2006, Visiting/Adjunct Professor