Mara Berke

Of Counsel

Mara Berke has over thirty years of experience practicing family law with a focus on complex issues for high-net-worth clientele.  Mara has worked at prestigious Los Angeles family law firms, providing strategic counsel and litigation services to business owner clients in a wide range of industries, such as gaming, technology, real estate, private equity, automobile, medical, and entertainment. Mara has experience with child custody disputes, division and characterization of complex assets and debts, child and spousal support, business valuations, paternity disputes, post-judgment relief, and premarital agreements.  Mara counsels high net worth clients and negotiates settlements, both in settlement conferences with private judges and/or with opposing counsel. Understanding that each client’s needs are distinct, Mara collaborates with a trusted network of professionals, including forensic accountants, investment advisors, business managers, tax and corporate counsel, international counsel, estate planners and psychologists to design and implement the best strategy tailored to the clients’ needs.

In addition to carefully focusing on legal and strategic issues, Mara has a unique background as a clinical social worker, so she also recognizes the complex interpersonal dynamics at play in every family law matter. She provides the highest level of client service and understands that she represents her clients during a particularly challenging time in their lives. With the extra attention that she gives her clients along with her compassionate, patient approach to communication, Mara helps her clients feel both supported and confident that they have a highly effective advocate on their team.

Mara’s depth of experience in family and children issues includes leadership training at Children’s Hospital, Center for Child Development and Developmental Disabilities, non-public school assessments, advocacy in Individualized Education Plans, appointment as minor’s counsel, and appointment as a Court Assisted Special Advocate (CASA)/Guardian Ad Litem in Dependency Court.  Mara’s background as a clinical social worker provided her with specific training in working with families with children with developmental disabilities and understanding the intricacies of school placements. With her training and experience, she addresses clients’ needs from an interdisciplinary perspective with compassion and thoughtfulness, which assists clients in managing the complexities of child custody and financial issues. 

Mara received her law degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. During law school, Mara was Note and Comment Editor and Staff Writer of the Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review and received the American Jurisprudence Award in Trial Advocacy. Mara obtained her master’s in social work from the University of Southern California School of Social Work and earned Social Work Merit Scholarships. She majored in Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors (top 20% of the College of Letters and Science).

When not practicing law, Mara enjoys spending time with her son, a COO of a battery start-up company, hiking in national parks, playing canasta, mahjong, and pickleball.  Mara is involved with charitable organizations that support foster youth.  Mara is native to West Los Angeles and graduated from Brentwood High School.

Recognition

Southern California ”Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers Magazine (2024)

Education

B.A., University of California, Berkeley (1987)

J.D., Loyola Law School, Los Angeles (1991)

M.S.W., University of Southern California (1998)

Professional Associations, Trainings and Memberships

Beverly Hills Bar Association

Los Angeles County Bar Association

San Mateo County Bar Association

Child Custody Mediation, Los Angeles Superior Court, Family Court Services

Collaborative Family Interdisciplinary Training, Los Angeles Collaborative Family Law Association

Divorce Mediation Training

Minor’s Counsel Training, Los Angeles County Bar Association

Parenting Plan Coordination Training, Los Angeles County Bar Association

Volunteer, Ready to Succeed (empowers foster youth to graduate college and launch careers to reach their full potential)

Boards

Former Board Member, Los Angeles Lawyer Editorial Board (2019-2023)

Former Board Member, Los Angeles Collaborative Law Association (2018-2021)

Articles

Top Tips from a Divorce Lawyer:  Charting the Course Ahead The Santa Monica Star (March 2022)

Custody and Financial Aid Considerations for College-Age Children, Closing Argument Los Angeles Lawyer (October 2019)

Divorcing When Parents Have Children with Special Needs (Co-Author) Southern California Mediation Association (July 2015)

Executive Functions: Helping your Child Organize, Plan, and Follow Through for a Better School Year (Co-author) Los Angeles Parent Magazine (September 2014)

Non-Litigation Dispute Resolution Options for Parents Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal (January 2011)

Planned Parenthood Los Angeles Lawyer (March 2009)

Educational Decision Makers: What to Do When Their Identity is Not Clear? Co-Author, Children’s Rights Litigation Committee American Bar Association  (Spring 2008)

In Re Marriage of Birnbaum: Modifying Child Custody Arrangements by Ignoring the Rules of the Game Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review (January 1991)