"I was seeking a reputable family law firm for my prenuptial agreement and received high praise for the Schoenberg Law Group. My attorney listened to my questions and responded to them very patiently. She also paid close attention all my concerns and made sure I was aware of the legal value of the agreement I was about to sign. It was…”
D.R.“It has been a real blessing to find this family law group in my life. I was in the middle of a custody battle with my ex wife and had a lawyer who had sided with my ex wife’s lawyer. I was faced with the option of paying to a regular lawyer to do half jobs with no results or to invest a bit more for a top family counselor who understood my situation and at the same time not giving me false hopes."
A.L."I hesitated filing papers for a long time because I was not sure if I could survive a long legal battle. When we were married, my husband worked while I raised the children, two under four years old, and I was afraid I would lose the stability they needed. I had a wonderful group of friends that helped me search for a reputable law firm that could represent me when my focus was on my children. They found the"
L.A.Melissa graduated from California Western School of Law, where she was a clinical student in the California Innocence Project. While in law school, she also clerked for Appellate Defenders, Inc., and the San Diego County Public Defender’s Office. In her third year, Melissa clerked at a San Diego family law firm.
Upon graduation, Melissa chose family law as her specialty. She was certified by the State Bar of California as a Certified Family Law Specialist in 2016. She found, and finds, the breadth of legal issues arising in the context of family law, challenging and exciting and the clients compelling. In 2007, Melissa opened her own family law firm, which she operated for 15 years. In those 15 years, Melissa successfully represented hundreds of clients in simple to complex family law matters. She is experienced in high-conflict custody matters, complex financial matters, cases involving hidden and stolen assets, difficult domestic violence cases, complex financial matters, date of separation issues, and relocation cases both domestic and international. Melissa has represented clients in 19 writs and appeals, mostly in the realm of family law, but also criminal and Anti-SLAPP. Melissa is now pursuing her California State Bar Specialization in appellate law.
Melissa is known for her compassion for clients, doggedness in dealing with opposing counsel (when appropriate), and her clear, thorough, and persuasive legal writing. Melissa has two published decisions in the Fourth District Court of Appeal Division One. When the first of those published decisions was featured in a 2009 issue of California Family Law Report, former Los Angeles County Family Law Supervising Judge Thomas Trent Lewis noted Melissa’s tenacity both in the trial court and on appeal. In 2024, she was selected as a Northern California Super Lawyer.
When Melissa is not working, she enjoys hiking with her dog Beckett, kayaking, and reading, especially memoirs and biographies. Melissa has one daughter, Claire, 20, with her husband Mark.
Debra Schoenberg was named a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML)
Designated as a Certified Family Law Specialist by the State of California Board of Legal Specialization
Board-Certified Family Law Trial Specialist by The National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA)
One of California’s Top Family Lawyers for five consecutive years: 2022–2026
SFLG Voted #1 Family Law Firm in California for six consecutive years: 2021 - 2026
One of the Best Places to Work in the Bay Area by San Francisco Business Times
