Insight

WATCH: Best Lawyers Discusses COVID-19 & Family Law

Three legal experts join the CEO of Best Lawyers to talk about problems that arise for family law during COVID-19.

COVID-19 Panel: Family Law
Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers

May 15, 2020 12:05 PM

Across the country, stay-at-home and social-distancing orders are still in full effect, amplifying spousal disputes and complicating existing family law cases. As a result, many questions remain up in the air: How will social distancing and joint custody work? How will child support payments be impacted due to loss of wages? What about filing for divorce during quarantine?

Phillip Greer, CEO of Best Lawyers, moderates a panel of three family law thought leaders to discuss challenges family law attorneys are working through with their clients.


Allen J. Scazafabo, Jr
Partner, Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perrett
Newark, NJ

Recognized by Best Lawyers in Family Law in the 26th Edition

Allen has 17 years of family law and litigation experience including complex civil matters requiring multiple experts and examination of expert witnesses. He has handled numerous complex matters involving disputes over the distribution and valuation of assets and custody disputes. Allen is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a matrimonial law attorney and an R.1:40 mediator for post-Early Settlement Panel economic mediation. He has experience handling mediations for cases with a wide range of complexity.

Laura S. Hayes
Partner, Fox Rothschild
Dallas, TX

Recognized by Best Lawyers in Family Law since the 25th Edition

Laura's multi-state family law practice focuses on providing solution-oriented guidance for a range of divorce and family law issues, particularly prenuptial/postnuptial agreements, divorce, property division, and custody-related matters. Certified as a family law specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, she offers pragmatic and nuanced counsel that meshes with her compassionate approach to guiding clients through emotionally draining circumstances. Clients trust her to help them resolve conflicts and provide sophisticated, sensitive advice on decisions that will affect their and their children's lives for years to come.

Randy J. Fuerst
Founder, Fuerst, Carrier & Ogden
Lake Charles, LA

Recognized by Best Lawyers in Family Law since the 13th Edition

Randy is a past chairman of the Family Courts Committee for the Louisiana State Bar Association and the American Bar Association Family Courts Committee. He assisted in bringing a system of family courts to the State of Louisiana, which focuses on the needs of the families and children with the support and social services necessary to assist these children and families. He was appointed to chair the Supreme Court Committee on Unified Rules in an effort to promulgate a set of family court and juvenile rules, which would support the structure of the family court system, and also meet the unique needs of these families and children in crisis in family court.

Related Articles

WATCH: Best Lawyers Discusses COVID-19 & Education


by Best Lawyers

Three legal experts join the CEO of Best Lawyers to discuss how COVID-19 will change public, private, and higher education in the country and the legal considerations people will have to consider

COVID-19 Panel: Education

WATCH: Best Lawyers Discusses COVID-19 & Sports Franchises


by Best Lawyers

Three legal experts join the CEO of Best Lawyers to discuss the legal challenges sports franchises face as the reality of reopening looms closer.

COVID-19 Panel: Sports Franchises

WATCH: Best Lawyers Discusses COVID-19 & Rental Agreements


by Best Lawyers

Three legal experts join the CEO of Best Lawyers to talk about a general approach to “the rental” market and what happens if tenants can’t pay rent in May.

COVID-19 Panel: Rental Agreements

WATCH: Best Lawyers Discusses COVID-19 & Health Care


by Best Lawyers

Two legal experts join the CEO of Best Lawyers to discuss the legal issues hospitals and health care providers are facing as a result of COVID-19.

COVID-19 Panel: Health Care

WATCH: Best Lawyers Discusses COVID-19 & Business Liability


by Best Lawyers

Three legal experts join the CEO of Best Lawyers to talk about business liability concerns as the economy opens back up.

COVID-19 Panel: Business Liability

Is This a Once in a Lifetime Opportunity to Refinance Right Now?


by Roy D. Oppenheim

If you wish to stay in your current home and refinance or buy a new home, now is the time

Should You Buy a Home During This Pandemic?

Know This Contract Clause During the COVID-19 Pandemic


by Roy D. Oppenheim

Force Majeure clauses are common in most contracts and can prove to be invaluable when determining whether one party’s performance is truly outside of that party’s control.

What is Force Majeure?

The Employment Pandemic


by Meredith Caiafa and Sarah Greene

The pandemic has had far-reaching effects on employment law since it officially took hold in 2020, but the litigation and lawmaking surrounding it are mutating faster than the variants. Here’s how lawmakers and businesses can keep up.

Employment Law During COVID-19

Newly Launched COVID-19 Litigation Project Offers Open Access To Pandemic-Related Court Judgments From Over 70 Countries


by Sara Collin

A worldwide database of COVID-19 cases is uniting more than 70 countries as judges, lawmakers and lawyers continue to navigate pandemic related litigation and the ways in which it’s evolving amid year three.

COVID-19 Worldwide Litigation Project

Inoculation Disputation


by Justin Smulison

Vaccine uptake has become one of the most contentious issues in American life. Divorced parents who disagree about it are creating a welter of new custody cases in family court—and precedent is scarce.

Divorced Parents Disagree on Child Vaccine

Navigating the New Normal


by Jody E. Briandi

The pandemic has upended many law firms’ internal culture and their lawyers’ work habits, in many ways for the better. As we approach 2022, how can we consolidate those positive effects to transform the practice of law (and our personal lives) for the better?

Work Habits Affected by the Pandemic

Phoning It In


by Alyson M. St. Pierre, Ashley C. Pack and Crystal S. Wildeman

It’s not easy for employers to weigh requests from employees to work from afar, even in the wake of the pandemic. Considerations include COVID-19, vaccinations, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the nature of the job itself.

Employer Considerations for Teleworking

With Reservations


by Justin Smulison

Is vaccine liability on the menu for restaurant owners in 2021?

Vaccine Liability for Restaurant Owners

How I Adapt to Working From Home


by Alexandria Hurst

With the pandemic still ongoing with no end in sight, one lawyer writes about how she stays sane working from home.

Working From Home

WATCH: Best Lawyers Discusses COVID-19 & Business Interruption Claims


by Best Lawyers

Three legal experts join CEO of Best Lawyers to talk about business-interruption insurance claims resulting from COVID-19 closures.

COVID-19 Panel: Business Insurance Claims

The Future of Family Law: 3 Top Trends Driving the Field


by Gregory Sirico

How technology, mental health awareness and alternative dispute resolution are transforming family law to better support evolving family dynamics.

Animated child looking at staircase to beach scene

Trending Articles

2025 Best Lawyers Awards Announced: Honoring Outstanding Legal Professionals Across the U.S.


by Jennifer Verta

Introducing the 31st edition of The Best Lawyers in America and the fifth edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Digital map of the United States illuminated by numerous bright lights.

Unveiling the 2025 Best Lawyers Awards Canada: Celebrating Legal Excellence


by Jennifer Verta

Presenting the 19th edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada and the 4th edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada.

Digital map of Canadathis on illuminated by numerous bright lights

Discover The Best Lawyers in Spain 2025 Edition


by Jennifer Verta

Highlighting Spain’s leading legal professionals and rising talents.

Flags of Spain, representing Best Lawyers country

Unveiling the 2025 Best Lawyers Editions in Brazil, Mexico, Portugal and South Africa


by Jennifer Verta

Best Lawyers celebrates the finest in law, reaffirming its commitment to the global legal community.

Flags of Brazil, Mexico, Portugal and South Africa, representing Best Lawyers countries

Presenting the 2025 Best Lawyers Editions in Chile, Colombia, Peru and Puerto Rico


by Jennifer Verta

Celebrating top legal professionals in South America and the Caribbean.

Flags of Puerto Rico, Chile, Colombia, and Peru, representing countries featured in the Best Lawyers

Prop 36 California 2024: California’s Path to Stricter Sentencing and Criminal Justice Reform


by Jennifer Verta

Explore how Prop 36 could shape California's sentencing laws and justice reform.

Illustrated Hands Breaking Chains Against a Bright Red Background

Tampa Appeals Court ‘Sends Clear Message,” Ensuring School Tax Referendum Stays on Ballot


by Gregory Sirico

Hillsborough County's tax referendum is back on the 2024 ballot, promising $177 million for schools and empowering residents to decide the future of education.

Graduation cap in air surrounded by pencils and money

Find the Best Lawyers for Your Needs


by Jennifer Verta

Discover how Best Lawyers simplifies the attorney search process.

A focused woman with dark hair wearing a green top and beige blazer, working on a tablet in a dimly

Paramount Hit With NY Class Action Lawsuit Over Mass Layoffs


by Gregory Sirico

Paramount Global faces a class action lawsuit for allegedly violating New York's WARN Act after laying off 300+ employees without proper notice in September.

Animated man in suit being erased with Paramount logo in background

The Human Cost


by Justin Smulison

2 new EU laws aim to reshape global business by enforcing ethical supply chains, focusing on human rights and sustainability

Worker wearing hat stands in field carrying equipment

Introduction to Demand Generation for Law Firms


by Jennifer Verta

Learn the essentials of demand gen for law firms and how these strategies can drive client acquisition, retention, and long-term success.

Illustration of a hand holding a magnet, attracting icons representing individuals towards a central

Social Media for Law Firms: The Essential Beginner’s Guide to Digital Success


by Jennifer Verta

Maximize your law firm’s online impact with social media.

3D pixelated thumbs-up icon in red and orange on a blue and purple background.

ERISA Reaches Its Turning Point


by Bryan Driscoll

ERISA litigation and the laws surrounding are rapidly changing, with companies fundamentally rewriting their business practices.

Beach chair and hat in front of large magnify glass

How Client Testimonials Fuel Client Acquisition for Law Firms


by Nancy Lippincott

Learn how client testimonials boost client acquisition for law firms. Enhance credibility, engage clients and stand out in a competitive legal market.

Woman holding blurb of online reviews

Critical Period


by Maryne Gouhier and Armelle Royer

How the green-energy raw materials chase is rewriting geopolitics

Overhead shot of mineral extraction plant

Best Lawyers Expands With New Artificial Intelligence Practice Area


by Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers introduces Artificial Intelligence Law to recognize attorneys leading the way in AI-related legal issues and innovation.

AI network expanding in front of bookshelf