January 16, 2026 - January 19, 2026 AAML Southern California Chapter's 34th Annual Institute of Trial Advocacy San Diego, CA | Pendry San Diego
Thomas Tuttle, AAML, Renee Fairbanks, AAML, and Andrew Botros,
AAML – 2026 Trial Institute Deans

Dear Fellows and Guests:

On behalf of the Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, we welcome you to our Annual Trial Advocacy Institute. As always, this will be a weekend of top-drawer CLE, social events, and fellowship in a grand setting. We look forward to seeing and serving you, and invite you to contact us with any questions or comments: socaldeans@gmail.com.

Event Pricing

MCLE Program Pricing

Early Bird | $990 | January 20, 2025 - July 31, 2025
Regular Admission | $1,290 | August 1 – December 14, 2025
Late Registration | $1,490 | December 15, 2025 – January 5, 2026

Our Presenters

Gordon Cruse, AAML
Jaye-Jo Portonova, M.D.
Ed Rataj, CPA
Honorable Eric J. Wersching
Honorable Melinda A. Johnson (Ret.)
Leigh Galyon, AAML
Honorable Margo Lewis Hoy (Ret.)
Stephen Temko, AAML
Robert Watts, CPA
Patrick Greene, CPA
Kyle Siems, AAML
Scott Klopert, AAML
Honorable Anne C. Kiley
Jeff Travis, AAML
Candice Rogers, AAML
Ronald Granberg, AAML
Honorable Nancy W. Stock (Ret.)
Honorable Glen M. Reiser (Ret.)
Dennis Temko, Esq.
Andrew Hunt, CPA
Wayne Dersch, AAML
Pierre Domercq, AAML
Nicole Whyte, AAML

*Speakers and topics subject to change

Event Schedule

*Subject to change

Friday, January 16, 2026

2:30 pm | Open Registration
5:00 pm – 5:30 pm | Platinum Sponsor Reception
5:30pm – 7pm | Welcome Reception ($100 per person)

Saturday, January 17, 2026

7:30 am – 8:30 am | Breakfast
8:30 am – 8:45 am | Welcome and Opening Remarks
8:45 am – 9:00 am | Six Degrees of Separation: Bifurcated Trial – Date of Separation|Kyle Siems, AAML.
9:00 am – 10:10 am | Risky Business: Insurance in Family Law | Ronald Granberg, AAML, Hon. Eric Wersching
10:10 am – 10:30 am | Break
10:30 am – 11:40 am | Short Circuit 2: Artificial Intelligence and the Law, Part II |Gordon Cruse, AAML and Leigh Galyon, AAML
11:40 am – 12:50 pm | The Wolf of Wall Street: Reasonable compensation | Edward Rataj, Hon. Margo Lewis Hoy (Ret.), Pierre Domercq, AAML
6:00 pm – 10:15pm | Cocktail Hour and Dinner Gala ($250 per person)

Sunday, January 18, 2026

7:30 am – 8:30 am | Breakfast
8:30 am – 8:45 am | Welcome and Opening Remarks
8:45 am – 9:00 am | Intolerable Cruelty: Family Code section 6309 | Nicole Whyte, AAML
9:00 am – 10:10 am | Knives Out: Community Property Issues and Trusts … a Valid Transmutation? | Candice Rogers AAML, Rita Diaz, Hon. Glen Reiser (Ret.)
10:10 am – 10:30 am | Break
10:30 am – 11:40 am | First Wives Club: The Marital Standard of Living and Children’s Reasonable Needs. |Hon. Nancy Stock (Ret.), Robert Watts, Andrew Hunt
11:40 am – 12:50 pm | Catch Me If You Can: Dealing with Post-Separation, Temporary Support, and Retroactivity Issues | Patrick Green, Hon. Melinda Johnson (Ret.), Scott Klopert, AAML
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm | Fellows Event | Location TBA ($175 per person)

Monday, January 19, 2026

7:30 am – 8:30 am | Breakfast
8:30 am – 8:45 am | Welcome and Opening Remarks
8:45 am – 9:00 am | Back to the Future: Bifurcated Trial – Alternate Valuation Date | Wayne Dersch, AAML
9:00 am – 10:10 am | The Paper Chase: The Rules of MSA/Stipulated Order Interpretation | Dennis Temko, Steve Temko, AAML
10:10 am – 10:30 am | Break
10:30 am – 11:40 am | Sleeping with the Enemy: The Expansion of Domestic Violence Litigation | Annette Hall Neville, AAML, Hon. Anne Kiley, AAML
11:40 am – 12:50 pm | Analyze This: The Psychotherapist-Patient Privilege In Family Law Litigation | Jeff Travis, AAML, Hon. David Wasserman, Jaye-Jo Portonova, M.D.

*Speakers and topics subject to change

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