Professional Associations and Memberships
- Association of Certified Family Law Specialists
- Orange County Bar Association, Family Law Section — Executive Committee Board Member
- Orange County Cal Alumni Club
Family Law, California State Bar – Board of Legal Specialization
100% Family Law
California, 2009
100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, California
University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California
Super Lawyers Southern California, 2022-2023
Super Lawyers Southern California Rising Stars, 2014-2019
Avvo Rated 10.0 out of 10.0 (Superb)
Rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell
Douglas A. Hatherley is Partner with Stegmeier, Gelbart, Schwartz & Benavente, LLP and a Certified Family Law Specialist. Mr. Hatherley’s practice is focused on the issues of family law litigation, including child custody and visitation, spousal support, child support, domestic violence, paternity, and division of assets. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and his Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School.
Mr. Hatherley has practiced family law exclusively since being admitted to the bar and has worked at prominent family law firms in Orange County, the Inland Empire, and Los Angeles. During law school, Mr. Hatherley served as a judicial extern in the Family Law Division of the Los Angeles Superior Court for a highly respected family law judge. He was also Senior Production Editor of the Loyola of Los Angeles International and Comparative Law Review.
Mr. Hatherley has been selected for inclusion in the prestigious Super Lawyers Southern California and Super Lawyers Southern California Rising Stars lists, and published in the Daily Journal, a leading legal newspaper. He has also attained the coveted AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell. AV Preeminent® is Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him at the highest level of professional excellence for his legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
Mr. Hatherley is also a member of the Executive Committee Board for the Orange County Bar Association, Family Law Section, and a co-editor of the Orange County Bar Association, Family Law Section newsletter.
Mr. Hatherley is a graduate of the National Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute (NFLTI) in Houston, Texas. NFLTI is the preeminent litigation skills course dedicated exclusively to family law. During this intensive eight day program, attendees develop skills training in all aspects of family law litigation, from opening statement to closing argument. Attendees receive hands-on training and experience in developing the theme of the case, opening statements, evidence, custody evaluations and psychological testing, business valuations, technology in the courtroom, direct and cross examination of parties and experts, and closing arguments.
In his family law and divorce practice, Mr. Hatherley emphasizes superior legal analysis and exceptional client service. Mr. Hatherley has developed authoritative prowess in drafting compelling family law pleadings and illustrating sophisticated legal concepts. This expertise has earned Mr. Hatherley a reputation not only as a talented Orange County divorce lawyer capable of prevailing in court, but also as an accomplished negotiator who can effectively maximize his clients’ benefits through settlement.
Mr. Hatherley strives to keep his divorce clients thoroughly informed of all case developments while providing expert and effective family law representation. He prides himself on taking a proactive approach toward moving the divorce case toward an efficient and successful resolution by focusing his efforts on the essential aspects of each family law case.