My favorite “testimonial”:
(emailed to me by a man in his forties who has never been married but saw my website)
“You almost make me want to get married just so I can go through a divorce gracefully with your guidance.”
Testimonials from former clients
“Thank you Alison for all of your clear and concise help with the entire process. For anyone I know going through divorce, I wouldn’t send them to anyone else. What you do for a living is difficult and you handle it with such care and I know anyone would be in good hands with you. Thank you for bringing such integrity and compassion with helping others in such a delicate situation. I’m so grateful for your easygoing approach, positivity in a challenging situation and loving touch. Even your final email to us when the case was finished continued to show how much you care.”
N.I.
I consulted with Alison Patton several times during my divorce. I am from Germany and was unfamiliar with the American legal system. Alison helped me in several ways: She explained the law and legal terms I needed to know; she explained different ways I could handle my divorce. I decided to try mediation because I did not want to fight and destroy our children’s sense of family, and Alison helped me make decisions throughout my mediation. I consulted with a few other lawyers and they also could describe the law, but they didn’t have compassion for my personal situation. Divorce is a huge deal in your life, not just a legal thing, and Alison was the only attorney who talked with me in a personal way, with kindness and genuine concern. The practical advice and legal information she gave me was excellent and I was able to resolve my case through mediation.
I.G.
When I got divorced, I consulted a few attorneys before meeting Alison. Alison was by far the most knowledgeable, compassionate, realistic and attentive. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her for your family law needs. She’ll be 100% in your corner.
S.W.
Alison combines a fierce intellect with a sensitive heart to help people gain clarity during one of the most difficult times in their life. I had a therapist and a lawyer on retainer throughout my divorce, but much of the best advice I received came from my consultations with Alison. She was able to address both my legal and emotional concerns and she helped me make decisions so I was ultimately able to get the outcome I wanted. I still have a friendly relationship with my ex-wife and I attribute this to the way our divorce played out.
M.S.
Email from a client at the end of his case:
Alison, I really feel fortunate to have worked with you in the divorce process. After talking to several divorce attorneys, I found that nearly all of them stimulated my desire to fight and be aggressive. Most used words like “I can be a pit bull†or suggested that I could not trust my current spouse or I would not be in a situation to require their services. Thankfully, as I pushed back on these concepts, one lawyer yielded,  indicating I was probably not the right client for their practice and referred me to you. They were right about that!  We quickly bonded around what in our hearts we know to be most important, the preservation of a positive environment for our daughter. Your council helped me and my soon to be ex-wife keep that as our focus throughout the process, and as a result I feel we have a very functional relationship and a child who has survived her parents’ mistakes without any lasting damage (not to mention the preservation of her college fund). We still have a long road ahead of us, but you set us on the right path and it is comforting to know that you are still there, should we need your council. We appreciate your patience, caring advice and thoughtful support and we hope that many others find you and take advantage of your services.
Best,
J.W.
Alison did a wonderful job with our mediated divorce. She was empathic to both my ex-wife and I, and was knowledgeable in the law. She navigated us through this painful period as smoothly as possible.
R.T.
Divorce is a difficult time, Alison treated me with dignity and kept the process to a minimum of drama and fees! I felt I was in good hands and recommend her.
C.B.
Alison helped me so much through my divorce. She not only made me feel comfortable in her competence of the law but she was extremely understanding on a personal level. I would highly recommend her.
L.C.
Marriage is hard but divorce is harder and it brings out the worst in many people. The odds of both members of a couple being “easy†during a divorce are slim. Somehow Alison Patton seems to find the best in each person, and capitalize on that for the sake of an outcome in which both parties feel treated fairly. She goes beyond just relaying pertinent information between the parties, she also soothes ruffled feathers and re-words things in a way that invites cooperation. She is genuinely empathetic toward each person going through the ordeal of divorce.
S.E.M.
Alison is a very good lawyer and someone I highly recommend. Words like integrity, candor and empathy are rarely terms you hear related to divorce lawyers, but Alison has these qualities.
Unlike some lawyers I first dealt with in my lengthy and seemingly never-ending divorce process due to a litigious ex-wife, Alison was not motivated by dragging things out or taking unnecessary costly steps to increase her billable hours. She was reasonably priced in terms of hourly rates and retainers, probably because unlike larger law firms, she doesn’t have a huge staff, lavish offices and a giant infrastructure that requires her to pad her fees like so many other high profile lawyers I have worked with. Her sole goal and intent was to get a good settlement outcome in the quickest way possible.  Due to this mindset, she was able to get my case settled at a much lower cost and ended up saving me a ton of money.
I found her to be both intelligent and caring and she put the best interests of her clients before her own. That unfortunately cannot be said for all attorneys out there.  In addition to my own experience at certain points in my divorce before I used Alison’s services, I have friends and colleagues who have hired attorneys at big firms, only to end up spending more money on the lawyers than they actually recover in the case.  They win the battle but lose the war due to the exorbitant legal fees. I highly recommend Alison’s services to anyone in need of an experienced, knowledgeable and reliable attorney, who doesn’t want to spend a fortune on legal fees, yet wants the same level of expertise and a favorable and expedient outcome.
L.D.
I participated in Alison Patton’s half-day divorce workshop several years ago, when she first started them. It was an intimate gathering of people, each person looking for answers and guidance at one of the most painful times in their life. Alison has a way of speaking that is informative, straightforward and calming at the same time. And she really listens. Sharing was difficult for me, but Alison was able to bring a sense of safety and openness to the gathering. Hearing other people’s experiences was very helpful, as well as the realization that we are all very similar when it comes to suffering.
B. G.
I was profoundly impressed by Ms. Patton’s finely-tuned negotiation skills, and by the way that she used those skills to maximize her ability to negotiate on my behalf. She did a remarkable job of situating herself between 2 opposing parties, so that both parties felt that they came out ahead. Ms. Patton’s sensitivity towards each side was always of paramount importance as she navigated her way through our proceedings. One of the things that set her apart from other divorce attorneys was that her primary objective was to create an atmosphere of healing which would lead us on the path towards constructing a new relationship as co-parents of our son. All in all, she did an excellent job of creating an emotional, spiritual, and material bridge that I needed in order to elevate myself and move forward with my life.
L.F.
When I first met Alison Patton, I had already had a number of unsatisfactory experiences with lawyers who didn’t listen, nor did they regard me or my personal information with much seriousness. Considering divorce is such a stressful time to begin with, the last thing I needed was a attorney I couldn’t depend on. Alison was like water in a barren desert–a relief on many dimensions. I remember my first meeting with her. Not only did Alison have a wonderfully warm disposition, I felt the burden of being alone lifted from me. I felt totally safe and she was the voice I wasn’t able to express. Alison has a strong, impeccable work ethic and was an amazing advocate for me. To top it off, Alison’s character is sincere and of the highest caliber. When things were difficult for me, Alison was there, making the effort, asking the questions, doing the fight, yet always maintaining kindness and compassion toward me. To this day, Alison Patton has a special place in my heart.
G.B.
Testimonials from Family Lawyers, Mediators and Court Staff
Alison Patton instantly elicits respect from anyone lucky enough to work with her– clients, colleagues and the court. She is an impressively clear thinker and has always brought insight, intelligence, creativity and empathy into her field. Alison is dedicated to reaching resolutions that work for the whole family.
Arlene Kostant
Attorney and Mediator
Certified Family Law Specialist
Certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization
I had many contacts with Alison Patton in our respective roles as Family Court Mediator and Family Law Attorney. I always found her to be punctual, informed, ethical, and conciliatory.
She was a good negotiator, and always maintained her respect for others (both clients and opposing attorneys) and her sense of humor. Her competence and warmth were remarkable in an arena where such abilities can easily be lost. She was liked and respected by all the mediators, and by the judges.
Karen Romero Burns, LCSW, JD.
As a court clerk at the San Francisco Superior Court. I have known Alison Patton for about 15 years, tracing back to when she first came to observe and learn as a young, new attorney. She always was a joy to work with. I frequently saw Alison make her appearances as an attorney in Family Court. She exhibited the wisdom of a veteran attorney. She was very gentle and respectful, but at the same time, had great command over the situation and handled it with expertise. Her clients seemed very pleased with her and Alison did not go to trial much. Her cases settled very quickly to everyone’s satisfaction. The Bench had confidence in her work and even the opposing party seemed to be pleased with the agreements they reached.
Kala David
Clerk of the Superior Court of San Francisco
Alison Patton was the only associate I have ever had; I simply could never find anyone like her when she moved to Southern California. Her commitment and approach to family law mirrored mine perfectly, which gave me confidence to send cases her way. Her work is excellent, as is her work ethic. She has a rare ability to develop good relationships with clients and colleagues in an effort to work collaboratively toward amicable, reasonable, non-litigated resolution of conflict. Alison is also committed to serving her community and is recognized for her efforts to assist the court and to help pro bono clients who would otherwise have no access to legal representation.
Jennifer Jackson,
Certified Family Law Specialist
Past President, Northern California chapter of American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers