Mary Martinelli, C.F.L.S.* leads the Family Law Practice Team at Murphy Austin. She is a State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization Certified Family Law Specialist with more than 35 years of experience representing clients statewide in complex family law matters.
Mary’s practice focuses on dissolution of marriage, legal separation, child custody, prenuptial agreements, postnuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, domestic violence, writs, appeals, and corporate consulting related to family law issues.
She previously taught Marital Property Law and Family Law at the University of California Davis School of Law.
Mary’s clients include high-profile leaders in corporate and agricultural business and professional services, entertainers, and professional athletes. She has a depth of understanding related to their specialized and unique family law needs.
She routinely works with highly skilled financial forensic accountants, appraisers, and physical and mental health evaluators, enabling her to thoroughly, efficiently, and effectively resolve sophisticated and challenging issues.
While Mary is well known statewide as a seasoned trial attorney, she consistently achieves favorable outcomes through mediated resolutions.
She has been honored by numerous national and local entities as one of the best family law attorneys in the country and she has earned a Preeminent five-star AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell since 1996 and placement among the Judge’s Review. Mary has also been recognized as Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” in Family Law for the Sacramento metropolitan area.
Prior to joining Murphy Austin, Mary led the Family Law Practice Group at Downey Brand LLP.
She earned her J.D. from University of California Davis, School of Law and received her B.A. from University of California Berkeley.
*Certified Family Law Specialist, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.
Education
- J.D., University of California Davis, School of Law, 1986
- B.A., University of California Berkeley, 1980
Admissions
- State Bar of California
Leadership
- University of California Davis, School of Law (King Hall), Former Visiting/Adjunct Professor
- University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Presenter of Didactic Program in Family Law
- Foster Youth Education Fund, Member, Board of Directors
- Dean’s Leadership Council UCD School of Law, Member
- Association of Certified Family Law Specialists, Former Board of Directors and Legislative Analyst
- Weave, Former Board Member
- Sacramento Ballet Company, Former Board Member
- Sacramento County Pro-Tem Judge
- California State ADR Standing Committee, Past Co-Chair
- Milton L. Schwartz American Inn of Court, Former Barrister
- Judicial Council Family Court Services Grants Advisory Committee, Former Member
Memberships
- Association of Certified Family Law Specialists
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America
- Sacramento County Bar Association, Family Law Section
- California Lawyers Association, Family Law Section
Speaking Engagements
- Co-Presenter, “Death and Taxes are Certain, Divorce is Possible, and Business is Unpredictable – Are You Prepared?” Capital Region Family Business Center’s Annual Generations Conference
- Speaker, “Divorce, Family Law Issues, and Family Business,” The Capital Region Family Business Center
- Presenter, CFLR (Thompson Reuters) Family Law 101 and Advanced Family Law seminars
- Presenter, “‘Bridging the Gap,’ Young Lawyers,” Bankruptcy Law Forum and County Bar Estate Planning Section; Barristers’ Club
- Speaker, “Employee Benefits Roundtable,” The Capitol Region Family Business Center, C.E.B., N.B.I., S.A.L.A.
- Certified Family Law Specialist, California Board of Legal Specialization
- AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell (1996-2025)
- AV Preeminent Attorney Judicial Edition by Martindale-Hubbell (2017-2025)
- Best Lawyers in America, Family Law (2013-2025)
- Best Lawyers Family Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Sacramento (2024)
- Best Lawyers Family Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Sacramento (2022)
- Best Lawyers, Women in the Law (2016)
- Super Lawyers, Northern California Super Lawyer, Family Law (2015-2025)
- SacTown Magazine, Top Lawyer, Family Law (2015-2024)
- Sacramento Business Journal, Best of the Bar (2013-2019)
