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 Cheryl 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, Cheryl 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. Cheryl is certified by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers as a Family Law Arbitrator.
Additional Practice Areas: Divorce, Custody and Visitation, Collaborative Law
Cheryl is a frequent lecturer on matters of family law, including issues of the valuation and division of marital assets, custody, access and general divorce related topics, such as divorce litigation. She also has been quoted by several national and regional media outlets such as CNN, ABC's Nightline, The New York Times, WBAL Radio and National Public Radio. Some of her features and quotes can be found in the links below.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
- Fellow Spotlight, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, April 2021, Featured
- “Debate Over Ending Lifetime Alimony”, The Diane Rehm Show, May 2013, Guest
- “Forget About the Prenup, Now It’s the Postnup,” The Daily Record, February 2013, Quoted
- “Diaper Duty, Divided and Decided: Sign Here,” The New York Times, May 2012, Quoted
- “Just Call it a Pre-Prenup,” The New York Times, May 2012, Quoted
RECOGNITIONS
In September 2012, Cheryl 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. Cheryl 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.
Cheryl has received numerous honors, awards and recognition by publications, surveys and associations including:
- Top 50 Women Attorneys in Maryland, Baltimore Magazine, 2024
- Washingtonian Top Lawyer, Washingtonian Magazine, 2022
- Maryland Super Lawyers, Cover Story, January 2020
- Martindale-Hubbell's AV Preeminent® Top Rated Lawyers, 2019
- Top Attorneys, Family Law, Bethesda Magazine (recognition honors the region’s most respected legal practitioners, as chosen by their peers), 2019 - 2023
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Family Law, 2003-present
- Top Lawyer List, Washingtonian Magazine, Divorce & Family Law, 2018
- Family Law Practitioner of the Year of the Family Law Section, Montgomery County Bar Association, 2015-2016
- Super Lawyer, Maryland Super Lawyers, 2007-present
- Top 10 Maryland Super Lawyers List, 2017
- Top 100 Maryland Super Lawyers List, 2012-2023
- Top 50 Women Maryland Super Lawyers, List, 2011-2023
- Top 25 Women Maryland Super Lawyers List, 2007-2011
- Super Lawyer, Washington D.C. Super Lawyers, 2007-2019
- Top 100 Washington D.C. Super Lawyers List, 2008-2019
- Top 50 Women Washington D.C. Super Lawyers List, 2008-2019
- Best Divorce Lawyers, Washingtonian Magazine, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011-2021
- Top Divorce Lawyers, Bethesda Magazine, 2010 and 2013-2017
- Top 25 Women Attorneys in Maryland, Baltimore Magazine, 2011-2012
- Top 50 Attorneys in Maryland, Baltimore Magazine, 2011-2017
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