UFLAA Essentials: Purpose, Strategy, and Practical Use

Barbara Atwood is the Mary Anne Richey Professor of Law Emerita at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. She was a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and taught at the University of Houston before joining the faculty at Arizona Law in 1986. Over the years, Professor Atwood has taught civil procedure, federal courts, conflict of laws, family law, community property, children’s rights, and related seminars. In her academic writings, she has explored topics at the intersection of civil procedure and family law with a focus on issues of voice and representation, alternative dispute resolution, and evolving concepts of family. Professor Atwood has been a Commissioner with the Uniform Law Commission since 2006 and chairs the Joint Editorial Board for Uniform Family Law. She chaired the Drafting Committee for the Uniform Family Law Arbitration Act and was an Adviser to the American Law Institute in the development of the Restatement of Children and the Law. Professor Atwood has served as Judge Pro Tem for the Tohono O’odham Nation since 2013.

Kevin Rubin graduated from Emory University School of Law in 2008 and is licensed to practice law in Georgia. He holds a Master of Science in Information Systems Technology (MSIST) and a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from George Washington University. Kevin is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL). Kevin also serves on the Executive Committee of the State Bar of Georgia’s Family Law Section and the Board of the Atlanta Bar Association’s Family Law Section. Originally from Philadelphia, Kevin now resides in suburban Atlanta with his wife and three children. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and cheering on the Atlanta Braves and his hometown Philadelphia Eagles.

Carolyn is a New Jersey Supreme Court–Certified Matrimonial Law Attorney with decades of experience resolving complex family law disputes. She is widely respected for her pragmatic, no-nonsense approach and her ability to guide parties toward durable, thoughtful outcomes that serve both clients and their families. As an instructor at an arbitration training institute, Carolyn brings the same practical mindset to the classroom, focusing on how arbitration works in real cases, not just in theory. Carolyn is formally trained in arbitration, divorce mediation, collaborative divorce, and parent coordination. Her practice has encompassed a wide range of family law matters, including divorce litigation, domestic violence proceedings, custody and parenting time disputes, alimony, child support, college contribution issues, enforcement of settlement agreements, and equitable distribution. She has extensive experience addressing complex financial issues that frequently arise in arbitration, such as restricted stock units, stock options, cryptocurrency, deferred compensation, and closely held business interests. This hands-on experience allows her to approach arbitration from the perspective of someone who has navigated high-conflict cases, sophisticated financial records, and emotionally charged family dynamics. Before establishing her family law practice, Carolyn practiced in several other areas of law. That broader legal background continues to shape her approach as both a practitioner and educator. It enables her to spot procedural, evidentiary, and subject matter issues that are often missed and to emphasize critical decision points that can affect the fairness and enforceability of arbitration outcomes. Carolyn has long been an active leader within New Jersey’s family law community. She is the New Jersey delegate to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, national, and a past president of the New Jersey Chapter of the AAML. She is a fellow of the IAFL. She is also a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Family Law Executive Committee and previously served on the New Jersey Supreme Court’s Family Practice Committee. In addition to her professional leadership, Carolyn is committed to expanding access to resources for families navigating conflict. In 2022, she helped launch Family Matters of Morris County, a supervised parenting time program that provides supervised parenting time and related services to families in need throughout Morris County and across New Jersey. Carolyn is a frequent speaker and author on family law and alternative dispute resolution topics. She regularly presents for NJ ICLE, TRT-CLE, law schools, the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, NJAJ, and other professional organizations. Her work and insights have been featured in publications including Mendham Neighbors, New Jersey Family Magazine, and New Jersey Family Lawyer.