Norma C. Izzo

Ms. Izzo is Chair of the Firm’s Family Law and Domestic Relations practice and Chair of the Associates Committee. Ms. Izzo is recognized as a Certified Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of Arizona Board of Legal Specialization, is AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated™, is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© in the category of Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law Mediation, Family Law Arbitration (2018 – 2022), and is also recognized by Southwest Super Lawyers® in the category of Family Law (2020 – 2021).

She concentrates her practice in the area of family law and domestic relations matters, including complex litigation and asset division, business dissolution, collaborative divorce, mediation, arbitration, parent coordination, child custody and child support, and spousal maintenance.  Ms. Izzo also has experience in family court matters that span multiple states and internationally.

Ms. Izzo has over 16 years of experience litigating complex family law matters, and brings a determined and intelligent approach to her cases.  As a result of her mediation training and experience, she works hard to seek resolutions.  However, Ms. Izzo is always prepared to use her significant courtroom experience to advocate for her clients in trial.

She serves as a parenting coordinator and mediator for family law matters of all levels of complexity. Ms. Izzo is also trained in collaborative divorce, a process that allows separating parties work with their attorneys, financial and mental health professionals during a dissolution.

She currently serves as a Member of the Family Law Executive Council for the State Bar of Arizona. Ms. Izzo has previously served as the President of the Maricopa County Bar Association and President of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Arizona Chapter.

Admitted to Practice

• Arizona (January 2006)

Court Admission

• U.S. District Court, District of Arizona
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

• Works with divorcing parties in relation to custody and parenting time, legal decision-making, and support issues.
• Routinely advises parents on complicated co-parenting concerns including relocation, domestic violence, substance abuse, and behavioral health dynamics.
• Advocates for third-party rights including in loco parentis and grandparent visitation.
• Served as counsel in a significant number of cases in which marital estates exceed $50 Million.
• Routinely litigates asset-heavy cases that require dissolution/reorganization of business entities held by divorcing parties.
• Routinely serves as a private mediator, court-appointed parenting coordinator, and arbitrator in divorce proceedings.
• Routinely serves as counsel and advocate in the formal Collaborative Divorce process.
• Serves as counsel for parties entering pre-nuptial agreements and post-nuptial agreements.
• Serves as lead family law counsel in multi-state cases and in international divorce proceedings, including cases that have parallel proceedings in Italy, Mexico, Spain, and other foreign countries.
• Routinely litigates cases that involve the use of the Hague Convention.

Articles

• “How Litigators Are Confronting COVID in the Courtroom,” Author, Quarterly Newsletter, American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Trial Practice (August 31, 2020)
• “Phoenix law firm gives ASU Law grads meaningful opportunities to work where they studied,” Quoted, Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law (July 27, 2020)
• “With gratitude,” Author, Letter from MCBA President, Vol. 36, Number 12, pg. 2 (December 2017)
• “The how and why of “unplugging”,” Author, Letter from MCBA President, Vol. 36, Number 11, pg. 2 (November 2017)
• “Your opinion matters,” Author, Letter from MCBA President, Vol. 36, Number 10, pg. 2 (October 2017)
• “The business of conflict,” Author, Letter from MCBA President, Vol. 36, Number 9, pg. 2 (September 2017)
• “Connecting the Bench and the Bar,” Author, Letter from MCBA President, Vol. 36, Number 8, pg. 2 (August 2017)
• “Lawyer Referral Service is our best-kept secret,” Author, Letter from MCBA President, Vol. 36, Number 7, pg. 2 (July 2017)
• “The bystander effect,” Author, Letter from MCBA President, Vol. 36, Number 6, pg. 2 (June 2017)
• “Nominate your mentor for the Maricopa County Bar Hall of Fame,” Author, Letter from MCBA President, Vol. 36, Number 5, pg. 2 (May 2017)
• “Don’t worry – none of us feel like we know what we’re doing,” Author, Letter from MCBA President, Vol. 36, Number 4, pg. 2 (April 2017)
• “Finding ways to make your voice heard,” Author, Letter from MCBA President, Vol. 36, Number 3, pg. 2 (March 2017)
• “From my perspective,” Author, Maricopa Lawyer (February 2017)
• “What makes you relevant?” Author, Letter from MCBA President, Vol. 36, Number 1, pg. 2 (January 2017)
• New MCBA President Announcement, Featured, Maricopa Lawyer (2016)
• “Meet 5 Women Who are Shaping AZ’s Economic Future,” Featured, The Arizona Republic (2016)
• “2016 Who’s Who in Business Class of Arizona Women Shows that You Can’t Leave Greatness to Chance,” Featured, The Arizona Republic (2016)
• “The Sex Appeal of Prenuptial Agreements,” Author, Arizona Weddings (April 2014)
• “Ethics in Family Law: Leading Lawyers on Guiding Clients Through Domestic Disputes in a Principled Manner,” Contributor, Inside the Minds (2014)
• “Gay Marriage Rights in Arizona,” Contributor, Gay Arizona (July 2013)
• “Hide Your Husbands: How to Handle Living In the City with the Highest Chance of Infidelity,” Contributor, Scottsdale Living Magazine (July 2013)
• “In 2013, New Statute Declares ‘Custody’ Out, ‘Decision-making’ In,” Author, Maricopa Lawyer (January 2013)
• “Visitation: When the Kids Don’t Want to Go – One View,” Author, Maricopa County Bar Newsletter (December 2010)

Blogs

• “Maricopa County Superior Court: Family Court Guidelines for Parenting Time of Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (April 7, 2020)
• “AAML & AFCC List: Seven Guidelines For Parents Who Are Divorced/Separated And Sharing Custody Of Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (April 6, 2020)
• “The Psychology of Settlement,” Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (December 28, 2015)
• “Happy Holidays for Children of Divorce,” Author, Jennings Strouss Blog (December 18, 2014)

Interviews

• “Collaborative Divorce Trend,” ABC15 Arizona (February 14, 2018)
• “Changes with Arizona Custody Law,” KTVK-TV (Feb. 5, 2013)

Videos

• “Prenuptial Agreements Can Be Romantic!” (May 23, 2013)
• “How a Mediator Helps Through the Divorce Process,” (May 23, 2013)
• “The Benefits of Having a Prenuptial Agreement,” (May 23, 2013)
• “Prenuptial Agreement for Later Life Marriage,” (May 7, 2013)
• “How Collaborative Divorce Works,” (February 3, 2013)

Presentations

• “Redressing Financial Exploitation of the Elderly in Late-Life Romance,” Strafford Webinar (November 9, 2021)
• “Family Court Judicial Forum,” National Business Institute (April 2020; May 2021)
• “Advanced Family Law,” State Bar of Arizona (November 15, 2019)
• “Legal Ethics,” Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Arizona Chapter (January 2019)
• “Nicaise and Paul E. v. Courtney F. Decisions,” Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Arizona Chapter (January 2019)
• “Improving Outcomes for Family Law Cases,” Court Leadership Conference (October 2018)
• “Alternative Dispute Resolution Techniques for Family Law Matters,” Spanish Association of Family Law Attorneys (March 2014)
• “Collaborative Divorce – The Peaceful Power of a Team,” Scottsdale Mustang Public Library ‘Ask a Lawyer Series,’ (August and October 2013)
• “Advanced Family Law Practice for Paralegals: Handling Financial Issues at a Higher Level,” Halfmoon Seminars (March 2013)
• “Legal Decision-making and Parenting Time: Big Deal or Hyperbole?” Maricopa County Bar Association (January 2013)
• “Sense and Sensibility – The Critical Interplay of Lawyers & Coaches in Collaboration,” International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (October 2012)
• “ADR and Collaborative Law in the Family Law Context,” Phoenix College of Law (May 2012)
• “The Culture of Divorce is Changing,” Maricopa County Bar Association (June 2011 and September 2012)
• “Updates in Family Law,” State Bar of Arizona, Advanced Family Law (April 2010)
• “Assisting with Child Custody Issues,” National Business Institute, Arizona Family Law Practice for Paralegals (February 2010)
• “Alternative Dispute Resolution in All Areas of Law,” NALS of Phoenix (July 2009)

State Bar of Arizona

• Certified Family Law Specialist, Board of Legal Specialization
• Member at Large, Family Law Executive Council (2021 – 2024)
• Member, Family Law Section
• Member, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section
• Former Member, Family Law Practice and Procedure Committee
• Former Member, CLE Committee

Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Arizona Chapter

• Board of Directors
  • Immediate Past President (January 2021 – December 2021)
  • President (January 2019 – December 2020)
  • President-Elect (2016 – 2018)
  • Chapter Council Representative (2018)

Maricopa County Bar Association (MCBA)

• Board of Directors
  • Past President (2018)
  • President (2017)
  • President-Elect (2016)
  • Treasurer (2015)
  • Secretary (2014)
  • Member (2012 – present)
• Director, Executive Committee, Family Law Section (2007 – 2012)

Collaborative Divorce Professionals of Arizona

• Member (2007 – 2016)
• President (2007 – 2016)

Association of Conflict Resolution

Jennings Strouss Associate Committee

• Chair

Women’s Metropolitan Arts Council (WoMAC)

Family Lawyer’s Assistance Project

• Volunteer Attorney

Arizona State University, Lodestar Mediation Clinic

• Volunteer Attorney (2006 – present)
• Teaching Assistant (2004 – 2005)

Maricopa County Justice Court

• Mediator (2003 – 2005)

• Phoenix magazine, “Top Lawyer,” Family Law (2022)
• The Best Lawyers in America^©, Collaborative Law: Family Law (2018 – 2023); Family Law (2023); Family Law Arbitration (2018 – 2023); Family Law Mediation (2018 – 2022)
• Arizona Foothills Magazine,“Best of Our Valley,” Best Divorce Attorney (2017, 2019 – 2021)
• Southwest Super Lawyers^®, Family Law (2020 – 2022)
• AZ Big Media, “Top 100 Lawyers for 2021” (2021)
• Arizona Business Leaders Magazine,Az Business Leaders, Alternative Dispute Resolution (2020)
• Southwest Super Lawyers Rising Stars^®, Family Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution (2014 – 2017, 2019)
• Phoenix Business Journal, “18th Annual Outstanding Women in Business” (2019)
• The Best Lawyers in America^© Phoenix “Lawyer of the Year,” Family Law Arbitration (2019)
• Az Business Magazine, “Most Influential Women in Arizona 2018”
• Az Business Magazine, “Who’s Who in Business” (2016)
• Az Business Magazine, “Arizona’s Top Mediators” (2015)
• Az Business Magazine, “2014 Arizona Business Top Lawyers: Family Law” (April 26, 2014)
• U.S. Attorney General Honors Program (2005 – 2006)
• AV Preeminent^® Peer Review Rated™, Martindale-Hubbell^®

• Spanish (Fluent)