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Attorney Profiles

James A. Hennenhoefer 
Vista, California
Partner, since 1971
phone (760) 941-2260
(888) 285-2853
fax (760) 945-1805
email Email Me

James A. Hennenhoefer , born St. Louis, Missouri, July 19, 1941; admitted to bar, 1971, California and U.S. District Court, Southern District of California; 1974, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of Missouri (B.S., 1963); Western State University (J.D., 1970). Lecturer, Family Law, California Continuing Education of the Bar, 1978--. Selected to be in Martindale-Hubbell's "Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers", 1995-; "The Best Lawyers in America" (1990-); "Top San Diego Lawyers", 2006, 2007; San Diego Magazine's "Best Lawyers", 2005, 2006; Worth Magazine's "Top 100 Attorneys", 2005, 2006; American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Southern California Family Law Person of the Year (1998); Norby Judicial Award, San Diego County Attorney of the Year (1999); Judge Pro Tempore, Superior Court, San Diego County, 1975--. Member: American College of Family Trial Lawyers (Diplomate); American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers since 1998, President, 2007-2008; President-Elect, 2007; First Vice-President, 2006; Vice-President 1999-2005; Chairman, Marketing Committee, 1990-1998; National Officer, Secretary,  1997-1999; Chairman, Elder Law, 1998-1999; President, Southern California Chapter, 1993-1994; Director, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Foundation, 1995-2005; International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (Board of Governors, 1995-1998; Counsel 1998--); USA Chapter IAML (Board of Managers, 1996); San Diego County Bar Association, Certified Family Law Specialists (Chair, 1998); North San Diego County Bar Association (Director 1984-1987); American Bar Association (Chairman, Public Relations Committee, Family Law Section 1993-1994); California State Bar (Chairman, Executive Committee, Family Law Section, 1994-1995), (Family Law Education Chair, 1991-1993), (Chairman, Council of Section Chairs, 1997); American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Certified Mediator and Arbitrator; Inns of Court (Master, 1998-2004). [Cmdr., USNR, Retired].
Areas of Practice:
Family Law
Certification/Specialties:
Certified Specialist Family Law, California State Bar


Certified Matrimonial Law Mediator - AAML, California, 1990


Certified Matrimonial Law Arbitrator - AAML, California, 1990


Qualified Expert Witness, California, 1981


Certified Fellow American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, California


Bar Admissions:
California, 1971
U.S. District Court, 1971
U.S. Supreme Court, 1975
Education:
Western State University College of Law, San Diego, California, 1970
J.D.
Honors: Cum Laude


Missouri University, Columbia, Missouri, 1963
B.A.


Representative Cases:
In re Marriage of Harrison, 225 Cal.Rptr. 234 (Cal.App. 4 Dist. 1986)
In re Brendan P., 230 Cal.Rptr. 720 (Cal.App. 4 Dist. 1986)
In re Marriage of Bankovich, 249 Cal.Rptr. 713 (Cal.App. 4 Dist. 1988)
In re Marriage of Heisterman, 234 Cal App 3d 1195 (  1991)
In re Marriage of Christie, 28 Cal App 4th 849 (  1994)
References:
California Bank & Trust
Iron Stone Bank
Classes/Seminars Taught:
Frequent Lecturer, Family Law:, CEB, AAML, IAML


Honors and Awards:
The Best Lawyers in America, 1990


"Top San Diego Lawyers", 2006 - 2007


San Diego Magazine "Best Lawyers", 2005 - 2007


Worth Magazine "Top 100 USA Attorneys", 2004 - Present


Norby Judiciary Award, San Diego County: San Diego Family Law Attorney of the Year, 1999


President, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2007 - 2008


President, Southern California Chapter American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1993


American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Family Law Person of the Year, Southern California Chapter, 1998


American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers National Officer: Vice-President, 1999 - 2005


American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers National Officer: Secretary, 1997 - 1999


American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers: Chair Marketing/PR Committee, 1991 - 1998


American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers National Officer - Chair, AAML Elder Law Committee, 1998 - 1999


American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Foundation: President, 2003 - 2005


American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Foundation: Treasurer, 1999 - 2002


American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Foundation, 1995 - 2005


Governor, USA, International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1993 - Present


Counsel: International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1998


Chair, Council of Section Chairs, State Bar of California, 1996 - 1997


Education Chair Family Law - California State Bar, 1993


Chair, Family Law Section, State Bar of California, 1994 - 1995


Chair, ABA Family Section: Marketing/PR, 1993 - 1994


Chair, San Diego County Bar Association, Certified Family Law Specialists, 1997 - 1998


Master: Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. Chapter, American Inns of Court Foundation, 1997


Trustee: San Diego County Law Library Foundation, 1999 - 2003


Professional Associations and Memberships:
Fellow
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers


American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Foundation
Life Member


American Academy of Matrimonial Arbitrators Association


American Academy of Matrimonial Mediators Association


Diplomate
American College of Family Trial Lawyers


Fellow
International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers


California State Bar, Family Law Section
Executive Committee


California Judicial Council
Family Law Advisor


State Bar of California, Chair Council of Section Chairs


Superior Court, 1975 - Present
Judge Pro Tem


Past Employment Positions:
USNR (Retired in 2001), Commander


Ancillary Businesses:
Mediation - Family Law, 1981-date
Expert Witness - Family Law, 1981-date
Judge Pro Tempore-San Diego Superior Court, 1975-Present
Fraternities/Sororities:
Phi Kappa Theta

We encourage you to e-mail us or call us at 760-941-2260 to schedule a consultation and learn in more detail how we can put our knowledge to work as your family law attorneys. E-mail


316 S. Melrose Drive, Suite 200 | Vista, California 92081 | 760-941-2260