Julia M. Garwood is a family law attorney and mediator. Her Certified Family Law Specialist designation indicates that she has met the rigorous standards set by the California State Bar. She is also a former adjunct professor at a local law school, where she taught professional responsibility to future lawyers. She has worked in the field of family law for more than 30 years. As an acting settlement judge and mediator, Ms. Garwood sees each case from many different perspectives, including a judge’s perspective. Seeing the case through the eyes of a judge, she says, helps her plan cases to achieve the best possible results for her clients. As a Jewish family law attorney, she can offer keen insight and understanding to clients of the Jewish faith.

Over the years I have worked on cases spanning many areas of law such as marriage dissolution issues, transferring trademarks, elder abuse, financial abuse, restraining orders, domestic violence charges, reviewing contracts, updating trusts, government-tort liability, and real estate disputes. Additionally, I have extensive experience in Criminal Law. Experience in the legal field has taught me many important lessons. I always work to keep my clients informed. I show my clients respect and try to explain everything in terms that are understandable. I routinely consult with clients regarding their most intimate and important issues. I advise my clients to choose their battles wisely because it is important to me that the best possible results are obtained in each individual situation. My office is centrally located in San Diego, and I represent clients throughout the entire county.

Garwood Attorneys is proud to welcome Attorney Lia Siganporia to our family law team. Lia received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, with a minor in Psychology, from San Diego State University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. Knowing she wanted to practice Family Law, Lia went on to receive her Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law, with a concentration in Child, Family, and Elder Law and graduated Cum Laude. During law school, along with maintaining her grades, and playing Semi-Professional basketball, Lia completed various family law internships at the Family Law Facilitator’s Office, YWCA of San Diego, and the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program. Lia also worked for several local Certified Family Law Specialists at prestigious San Diego County law firms, as well as for the Family Law Judges and Commissioners in the North County Court. Lia has experience handling various family law issues, including dissolution of marriage, child custody and visitation, move-away requests, child support, spousal support, property, and asset division, and domestic violence restraining orders. In her free time, Lia enjoys spending time wither her loved ones, playing basketball, and cheering on the Los Angeles Lakers and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Emma Magidson Slattery brings over twelve years of family law experience to Garwood Attorneys. Emma has successfully litigated countless cases in all aspects of family law, including custody and visitation, move-away orders, child and spousal support, high-income wage earners, jurisdictional issues, income imputation, the division of community property, division of stock options, and reimbursement claims (among others). Emma brings a unique perspective to Garwood Attorneys. Emma comes to our firm after having the privilege of spending ten years as a stay at home mom raising three children. While Emma cherished her time with family, she is excited to return to family law where her understanding and compassion for the family law litigant is indisputable. In her twelve years of family law practice, Emma was truly adored by her clients. Emma provides her clients with a knowledgeable and sympathetic ear to guide them through the difficult divorce process. Emma joins the prestigious Garwood Attorneys as our Client Concierge Attorney. In this position, Emma welcomes prospective new clients to the firm, learns their individual case needs, then pairs each client with the Garwood attorney best suited to their unique case. Emma remains available throughout each case to assist each client. Contact Emma Magidson Slattery today, and see how Garwood Attorneys can help you.

Casey A. Reeves comes to Garwood Attorneys with vast experience in litigation, discovery, and evidence. Having graduated near the top of his classes in these areas, Mr. Reeves went on to work in high stakes cases dealing with complex business and valuation issues. Mr. Reeves prides himself on his commitment to an open line of communication with his clients and recognizes the need to keep clients fully informed of all aspects of their case. When requested, Mr. Reeves takes an information-gathering approach to the area of family law and uses the discovery process to fully vet all issues in a case. His love of the mediation process has enabled him to think outside the box when structuring settlements that benefit the law firms clients beyond measure. Mr. Reeves believes that the art of structuring the Marital Settlement Agreement and the subtleties associated with all that encompasses allows his clients to feel confident when walking into their new life. Mr. Reeves has the distinct honor of being a San Diego native. He attended San Diego State University for his undergraduate degree and was the third in his immediate family to attend California Western School of Law.

Frank Terrazas brings fourteen years of combined family law experience to Garwood Attorneys. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of San Diego, Frank obtained a Graduate Certificate in Paralegal Studies, and quickly found himself in family law. Frank spent ten years under the tutelage of two preeminent family law attorneys in San Diego county (now retired). After gaining ten years of invaluable experience as a distinguished paralegal in family law, Frank took the natural next step, and attended law school. While in law school, Frank earned the prestigious Bonnie Reading Memorial Scholarship, awarded by the Certified Family Law Specialists Committee of the San Diego County Bar Association to a law student who shows dedication and commitment to the area of family law. Eager to commence his legal career, Frank began making appearances in Family Court as a Certified Law Student. Upon graduation from law school, Frank opened his own family law practice which took little time to thrive given Frank’s unique qualifications. Frank swiftly obtained extensive courtroom experience in contested matters and trials, successfully representing his family law litigants. Frank also negotiated countless settlements on behalf of his clients. Frank’s unique background as a family law paralegal, then attorney, coupled with his engaging personality, make him a tremendous asset to Garwood Attorneys and his clients.

Jorge Jaramillo is a practicing lawyer in the state of California handling criminal and family law matters.

Steve Benedetto's legal career began with the promise and expectations of someone who had done "all the right things" educationally. He went to a prestigious private university, double-majoring in Political Science and English while building his resume with internships in government. He graduated cum laude from the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, serving as a staff writer on the Law Journal and a member of the Moot Court honor society. He secured a competitive judicial clerkship with an Arizona Supreme Court Justice. And, as judicial clerks do, he received a litany of opportunities to work for prestigious national law firms at the expiration of that one-year term. For five years, Steve followed the obvious path carved out for him. He worked at three of the largest corporate law firms in Arizona, learning the ins and outs of litigation from senior lawyers who were charged with defending large companies in 7, 8, and 9-figure lawsuits. He defended railroads from debilitating injury claims brought by injured employees; healthcare companies from medical malpractice actions brought by injured patients; white-collar executives against fraud and embezzlement allegations; and multinational corporations against just about every type of wrongdoing one can imagine. In little time, he developed trust in the partners he worked for as a top-notch writer and legal analyst who could win difficult arguments. And he was paid very well for what he did. But the money wasn't enough. In 2009, Steve left corporate practice to create a new kind of law firm. One that would represent real people against the powerful interests whose playbook he'd spent a half-decade learning. So he spent the next five years representing people against criminal charges, and prosecuting civil claims on behalf of people injured by others’ recklessness. Though he had more passion than business acumen, he worked tirelessly to help build a five lawyer, seven-figure law firm from scratch.​ By 2014, though, it became clear that something was missing. The news cycle was being dominated by police officers shooting civilians. Social media birthed hashtags that spurred movements. Everyone was talking about police violence. But few lawyers were actually doing anything about it, including his own law partners. After a series of difficult conversations, Steve decided to start fresh: He left the law firm he had founded to construct an entirely new practice -- one that would be focused on representing people at ground zero of the new civil rights struggle. Over the past 6 years, The People's Law Firm has provided substantial legal muscle to the movements for systemic change. The Firm has fought for accountability on behalf of countless survivors of police violence, and has stood in solidarity with the movements to reform our unjust and inequitable systems, with specific focus on the Movement for Black Lives. We continue to do so today.

Jeffrey D Schreiber is a practicing lawyer in the state of California.

Jackie Robert Geller is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson School of Law. A member of the California State Bar since 1980, Attorney Jackie Robert Geller has concentrated his practice in the area(s) of Bankruptcy, Estate Planning, Tax, and Family Law. He is a member of the California State Bar.