avanderhorst@katesbarlow.com
617.412.4206
Amanda Vanderhorst is a Managing Partner at Kates & Barlow, focusing her practice exclusively in the area of family law. She represents individuals in divorce, the drafting and negotiating of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, paternity, removal, modifications, contempt proceedings, guardianships of children and adoptions. She is an experienced litigator and effective negotiator, guiding her clients through complex personal and financial issues including business valuations, executive compensation, closely held corporations and the treatment of trust property within the division of the marital estate. Ms. Vanderhorst represents clients across the Commonwealth in Probate and Family Courts in Middlesex, Norfolk, Essex, Plymouth, Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes and Suffolk Counties.
Ms. Vanderhorst is skilled in negotiations and in working in areas of alternative dispute resolution including conciliation and arbitration, and holds certification from the American Academy for Certified Financial Litigators. She is a trained mediator and member of the Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation. She is also dedicated to zealous advocacy for children, volunteering for the Attorney Representing Children (“ARC”) Program at the Middlesex Probate and Family Court, which provides legal representation to children in high conflict custody cases. Ms. Vanderhorst previously served as an attorney in Care & Protection cases as part of the Children and Family Law Panel of the Committee for Public Counsel Services. She is experienced representing clients in high conflict custody matters and has worked extensively with Guardian Ad Litems and Parenting Coordinators.
Ms. Vanderhorst is a regular lecturer at Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education in the areas of family law and served, at the appointment of the Chief Justice of the Probate and Family Court, on the Child Support Task Force in 2020/2021. Ms. Vanderhorst has been recognized as a Massachusetts Super Lawyers Rising Star for her advocacy in the area of family law since 2014 and received an award from the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys for 10 Best Female Attorneys for Client Satisfaction.
Prior to joining Kates & Barlow in 2011, Ms. Vanderhorst worked from 2004 – 2011 at the law firm of Stern, Shapiro, Weissberg and Garin, LLP, where she gained extensive litigation experience through complex criminal and civil matters in the United States District Court, Supreme Judicial Court, Massachusetts Appeals Court, Massachusetts Superior Court and Juvenile Court.
