Page 22 - Phoenix Vol 11 No 4

A orney Pro le
Christa Ban eld
Attorney Christa Ban eld was raised in the small town of Seymour, Indiana. (Yes, Mellencamp’s Sey-
mour.) She made her way Southwest, matriculating at ASU. Visiting family and friends in the Midwest is always great, but as a seasoned family lawyer she “put her roots down” in Arizona. She and her husband were married in Sedona, still their favorite destination even with two little ones in tow. In 2018, Ban eld joined the legal team at Stewart Law Group where her ex- traordinary abilities and diverse inter- ests t like a glove.
LAW, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
Ban eld has a degree in Supply Chain Management from ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business (BS 2003) and is a Sandra Day O’Connor Col- lege of Law graduate (JD 2010). Juris doctor wasn’t enough for Ban eld, though. She also earned the presti- gious Law, Science, and Technology Certi cate a er completing the en- hanced law degree program’s requisite writing, coursework, mentoring, and active participation in the Center for Law, Science and Innovation. Nothing like an intellectual challenge to make law school more interesting. But she didn’t stop there. A year a er obtain- ing her JD, Ban eld wrapped up a second bachelor’s degree, this one in Psychology from ASU’s College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (BS 2011).
21st Century Lawyer
By Katherine Bishop
BUSINESS INNOVATOR, PRIVATE MEDIATOR, AND FAMILY LAWYER
Ban eld’s knowledge of supply chain management, psychology, and law has made her an insightful, com- passionate lawyer. “ e supply chain management surprises people,” she laughs. Ban eld was a business ana- lyst for Honeywell before lawyering. “Let’s just say I have a decent grasp of nancial and business matters in- volved in many cases.” As a critical thinker trained in analysis, she takes being organized and detail-oriented to an entirely new level.
A State Bar of Arizona member since 2011, Ban eld has always prac- ticed divorce and family law as pri- vate mediator, strong negotiator, and tough litigator. In 2015 she was Lead Counsel Rated in Family Law. 2015 -2017, she received the Client’s Choice
Award from Avvo, Inc. More recently, she was rated a Lawyer of Distinction (2018). Ban eld feels honored and humbled by these accolades – help- ing her clients means everything. How does she achieve the best pos- sible outcome in the case? By being thorough and deliberate with every proceeding. And by never taking her eye o the client’s rights and interests.
When mentoring young lawyers new to family law practice, for in- stance, she emphasizes the impor- tance of including speci c facts when dra ing proposed orders. “Judges are extremely busy, their time on the case is at a premium,” says Ban eld. “I strive to solidify my client’s position
by proposing orders carefully tailored to re ect the unique facts of the case. Details matter.” Doing so assists the court and helps avoid future prob- lems with the order’s interpretation and enforcement. Her approach and courtroom demeanor is always one of competence, con dence, and compo- sure – she knows the facts of her case, knows the law, and is always prepared.
CLIENTS STRUGGLING WITH FINANCIAL AND EMOTIONAL PRESSURES
Although she is equal parts coun- selor at law and trial attorney, Ban eld realizes her role is o en one of guide. She appreciates the nancial and emo- tional pressures her family law clients are under, insisting “half of my job is acting as a therapist to people.” With her psychology background, she fully
ATTORNEY AT LAW MAGAZINE · PHOENIX· VOL. 11 NO. 4 22