ST. LOUIS – The Garnholz Law Firm LLC has opened with offices in Clayton and St. Charles, led by veteran attorney Cynthia Garnholz.
Garnholz, who has more than 30 years of experience as a practicing attorney, is a litigator, mediator and collaborative professional. She specializes in a range of practice areas, including adoption, arbitration, child custody and visitation, child support and alimony, collaborative practice, domestic violence, enforcement, mediation, paternity, property and relocation, according to a press release.
The Garnholz Law Firm’s Clayton office is located in The Sevens Building, 7777 Bonhomme Ave., Suite 1910. The St. Charles office is located at 330 Jefferson St.
Garnholz is chairperson of the Family Law Section of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL) and on the BAMSL Board of Governors. "She is a founding member of the Collaborative Family Law Association of St. Louis and the Women’s Law Initiative of Washington University School of Law," the press release states.
During her career, Garnholz has served as a provisional judge for the St. Louis County Municipal Court since 2007 and as a provisional judge for the city of Clayton Municipal Court for 12 years. According to the release, she also authored a chapter in the bench book for Missouri judges.
Garnholz was an elected alderwoman in Clayton from 2007 to 2016.
Family law has been a focal point of Garnholz’s career. She was a founding member of The Center for Family Law, where she focused on family law, estate planning and probate matters. She also serves as guardian ad litem for children in family court proceedings.
Tackling the problems of domestic violence head-on, Garnholz serves as a Domestic Violence Court special prosecutor and as a court attorney to assist in developing parenting plans for children to have safe contact with parents involved in adult abuse, the release states.
Recognized for her work, Garnholz has received an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell - the highest possible peer review rating for ethical standards and legal ability. She also is recognized as a Distinguished Lawyer by The Expert Network.
Tapping into her experience in the legal profession, Garnholz also serves as an instructor at legal seminars and conferences on topics in family law and estate planning, attorney fees and international child abduction risk.
Garnholz also is the co-founder of Women of the Grapevine, a group of women professionals "who gather each month to educate one another on topics of professional and personal import," the release states.
Garnholz earned her bachelor’s degree from Fontbonne University and her law degree from Washington University. She has been licensed to practice law in the state of Missouri since 1980.
Kristen Sparks joins Garnholz. She is a 2015 graduate of the Washington University School of Law. She specializes in family law, probate, orders of protection, adoption and estate planning. She also is a certified guardian ad litem in the state of Missouri, according to the firm’s website.
According to its website, the firm practices in St. Louis, Clayton, St. Charles, Jefferson County and Lincoln County.