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Duffee + Eitzen Attorneys Sweep 2026 Best Lawyers in America® Honors

Dallas-based family law firm Duffee + Eitzen is proud to announce that several of the Firm’s attorneys are honored for their outstanding work in family law in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch®.

One of the oldest and most respected guides to the legal profession, Best Lawyers in America compiles its annual rankings based on feedback from peers in the legal community and a rigorous independent vetting process designed to recognize the top 5 percent of attorneys practicing in specialized areas within the United States.

This year, Duffee + Eitzen attorneys received recognition in multiple practice areas, including:

  • Family Law
  • Collaborative Law: Family Law
  • Family Law Mediation
  • Family Law Arbitration
  • Mediation

The comprehensive honors reflect the Firm’s deep bench of experience and reputation for excellence in high-stakes family law matters—particularly complex divorces involving business valuations, significant assets, and sensitive custody issues. The team is equally respected for its skill in mediation, dispute resolution, and collaborative divorce, underpinned by a deep familiarity with the North Texas family law bench and bar.

The 2026 Best Lawyers in America honorees include:

Jodi Bender

  • Family Law

Lisa Greenwood Duffee

  • Collaborative Law: Family Law
  • Family Law
  •  Family Law Mediation

Melinda Hartman Eitzen

  • Collaborative Law: Family Law
  • Family Law
  • Family Law Mediation

Marilea W. Lewis

  • Family Law
  • Family Law Arbitration
  • Family Law Mediation
  • Mediation

Hunter Lewis

  • Family Law

Vanessa Sheppard

  • Family Law

In addition to the Best Lawyers in America honors, four from Duffee + Eitzen are recognized among the Best Lawyers Ones to Watch category, which is designed to single out early and mid-career lawyers based on feedback from peer attorneys and clients. 

Best Lawyers Ones to Watch honorees from Duffee + Eitzen include:

Brittney Bramlett

  •  Family Law
  • Family Law: Arbitration and Mediation

James Joshua Dossey

  • Family Law

Devin Kerns

  • Family Law

Neali Lambert

  • Family Law

In addition to these latest honors, the Firm and its attorneys have been consistently recognized by Thomson Reuters/Texas Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, and D Magazine’s Best Lawyers lists. Duffee + Eitzen also holds Tier One rankings in the Best Law Firms® list for Family Law and Family Law Mediation.

“It’s an honor that means a great deal to us because it comes from the respect of our peers,” said Ms. Duffee. “Every attorney here is deeply committed to excellence, and this recognition collectively reflects the dedication and care we bring to every client’s case.”

About Duffee + Eitzen

With offices in Dallas, Plano, Fort Worth and Wichita Falls, the experienced attorneys at Duffee + Eitzen represent clients in a range of high-stakes divorce and custody matters, including family law disputes with complex business and economic components.

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