Portney, Allyson J.

Sheara F. Friend merged her successful domestic relations practice in 2009 to Chair the Domestic Relations department at Seegel Lipshutz & Wilchins LLP.

A seasoned court room advocate, Ms. Friend concentrates her practice in domestic relations law, including divorce, contested custody matters, guardianships, DCF (formerly DSS) litigation, restraining orders and domestic violence cases. A graduate of Middlebury College and New York Law School, she has served as counsel to the Massachusetts Psychological Association and sits on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Association of Guardians ad Litem (MAGAL).

Ms. Friend serves as a Guardian ad Litem and as an advisor and consultant to other Guardian ad Litems who are appointed to conduct custody evaluations, and is well known as a Trial Lawyer who has conducted numerous multi-day custody and relocation trials in the Massachusetts Probate and Family Courts.

Ms. Friend is the co-founder of an alienation camp in Vermont, and regularly lectures at conferences on issues of custody, relocation, restraining orders, and domestic violence. She is particularly an expert in alienation, custody and restraining orders. Ms. Friend appeared on television to discuss restraining orders in Massachusetts on Chronicle, which aired on WCVB. Additionally, Ms. Friend is a frequent author and speaker on domestic violence, father's rights, and new and emerging legal issues regarding custody. She is also trained in Collaborative Law.