2026 Family Law Summit

George T. Dowd III is an attorney and subject matter expert in foreign exchange, futures, cryptocurrency, and metals markets. He served on the Board of Directors of the Global Digital Asset & Cryptocurrency Association in 2020 and 2021, and is the primary author of Digital Assets, Cryptocurrencies, and Blockchain (IICLE®, 2022). Mr. Dowd has testified as an expert before the National Futures Association, FINRA, the London Court of International Arbitration, and the Federal Court of Australia. He has appeared on CNBC, Bloomberg TV, and Fox Business Network, and has lectured at the People's Bank of China, DePaul University, and the Chicago Bar Association. Previously, he served as head of the Chicago Foreign Exchange Desk at Société Générale and held senior FX roles at JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, and Credit Suisse. He earned his B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross and his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.

Hon. Jeanette A. Irby is a retired Circuit Court Judge for the 20th Judicial Circuit of Virginia and currently managing director of Juridical Solutions PLC, where she mediates family law disputes suited to alternative dispute resolution. She is experienced in all areas of civil litigation, including divorce, custody, spousal support, and personal injury. Before taking the bench, she focused her practice on domestic relations. Judge Irby earned her B.S. from Central Michigan University and her J.D. from Thomas W. Cooley Law School.

Erika E. MacCormac is a partner at Winslow McCurry & MacCormac, PLLC in Midlothian, Virginia, where she leads the family law team. Her practice focuses on divorce, child custody and visitation, spousal support, adoption, and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. She also serves as guardian ad litem in abuse, neglect, and contested custody proceedings. Ms. MacCormac presents for NBI and serves as a guest lecturer at the University of Richmond Law School Family Law Clinic. She earned her B.A. from Virginia Tech and her J.D. from the University of Richmond.

Kathryn H. Mickelson is a divorce and family law equity partner at Beermann, handling dissolution of marriage, paternity, prenuptial agreements, and domestic violence matters. The only equity partner at the firm to rise from law clerk to owner, she brings 20 years of family law experience to every case. Ms. Mickelson is a certified mediator and draws on her extensive trial background to resolve cases efficiently. She is known among peers, colleagues, and judges for her practical approach and deep commitment to her clients' long-term wellbeing.

Brian L. Sobol is board-certified in family law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy — one of only 15 lawyers in Minnesota to hold this distinction. He is also one of only four lawyers in Minnesota recognized for high-net-worth family law matters with a Band 1 ranking by Chambers and Partners, and is a diplomate in the American College of Family Trial Lawyers. Mr. Sobol has extensive experience in complex asset dissolution, custody disputes, spousal maintenance, and appellate family law, having participated in roughly 100 appellate matters. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota and earned his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School.