Kates & Barlow was founded
with three key goals: to provide the best Family Law representation to clients
in Boston and across the Commonwealth; to be recognized as a good citizen in
the community; and to establish a strong and resilient Family Law firm based on
skill, integrity, and discretion.
At Kates & Barlow, we have decades of experience working in all aspects of family law including litigation; negotiations; understanding complex compensation structures; working with experts on business valuation, forensic accounting and complex corporate and tax issues. We have extensive experience in high-conflict custody cases; mental health issues; cases involving substance abuse; and more. We have built a dedicated team of attorneys and support staff to keep you fully informed about the progress of your case and ensures seamless representation throughout the legal process.
Your dedicated team of attorneys and support staff will perform a detailed assessment of your situation to develop a carefully considered strategic plan that puts you in the strongest position to successfully resolve your matter. If negotiation does not meet your goals, your team will prepare for trial and will guide you through the entire process.
At Kates & Barlow, we use a team approach to help find solutions, guided by your personal value system. Our team approach ensures that there’s always someone available to help you. We acknowledge the fact that Family Law matters, especially contested litigation, can be expensive. We are sensitive to your financial concerns. In order to keep legal expenses under control, we will conduct a cost-benefit analysis with you to determine the value of pursuing interim issues, such as temporary orders, discovery, case preparation, and dispositions; and ultimate issues, such as settlement, parenting plans, and litigation strategies, when appropriate.
Managing Partners, Brian Heneghan and Amanda Vanderhorst.
Managing Partners,
Brian Heneghan and Amanda Vanderhorst.
The U.S.News & World Report rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. Since the firm’s inception, Kates & Barlow has had a Tier 1 ranking.
Inclusion in Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer-review. It is designed to capture the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area. Peter Barlow has been listed in this publication for more than 10 years.
The American Academy of Certified Financial Litigators (AACFL) provides its member firms with customized training in the financial aspects of litigation including accounting, taxation, investments, valuation, forensics and compensation. The CFL is a designation awarded by the organization to select practitioners who have received this high level training and passed the CFL examination. Peter Barlow is on the AACGL Advisory Board. Peter Barlow and Amanda Vanderhorst have each received their designations as a Certified Financial Litigator.
Only lawyers who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement receive this recognition. Peter Barlow has been recognized as a Super Lawyer since 2006. Since 2014, Amanda Vanderhorst has been named to the Rising Star list.
The Mission of the American Inns of Court is to foster excellence in professionalism, ethics, civility, and legal skills within the association of lawyers, judges and other legal professionals.
The Greater Boston Family Law Inn of Court is a collective of family law attorneys in the Boston area whose goal is to increase civility within the family law bar and to mentor each other in an effort to strive towards being better practitioners. Peter Barlow is the Founding President having secured the Inn's initial charter in July 2013.
American Institute is an impartial third-party attorney rating organization that recognizes excellence of practitioners in the legal profession. The list of the “10 Best” Attorneys must have attained the highest degree of professional achievement and maintain an impeccable Client Satisfaction rating.
Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Peter Barlow has been cycling in the Best Buddies Hyannisport Challenge since its’ first year, to raise money and awareness for this incredible organization. He is joined by several staff members who ride as Team Kates & Barlow. The firm employs a Buddy from the jobs program.
Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education aims to keep raising the caliber of lawyers' professional and ethical service to their clients and communities, by providing comprehensive and practical continuing legal education of the highest quality to the broadest possible audience. Peter Barlow serves as MCLE's Family Law Advisory Panel in addition to being a frequent lecturer.