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about kelli

“Kelli is the real deal; sharp, savvy, strategic, and savage. My now ex, a lawyer herself, hated that Kelli represented me in our highly contentious divorce, because Kelli shut down any BS and called out every lie spewed by her. You want Kelli; you need Kelli. Kelli kept me focused on the big picture while effectively working through the plan to get me to the finish line and come out on top. I will continue to have Kelli on my team while my daughter grows up as a proactive safeguard to protect her from any threats by my ex.”

Dave S. 

I had many consultations with attorneys and was feeling pretty hopeless about my situation till I was referred to Kelli. She is easy to talk to, comforting but blunt- the type of person you want in your corner. She is professional, responsive and articulate; so impressed by her.

Kristina B

MAKE NO MISTAKE...though friendly, empathic and energetic in her work; Kelli DOESN’T PLAY when it comes to ensuring her clients receive their most favorable outcomes! She was pivotal to convey a “friendly approach” with the other party; while still maintaining MY BEST INTEREST should Mom feel inclined to “fight us” further in trial proceedings. For this...SUCCESS shows in the results! I’m seeing my kid on a regular schedule and know he’s taken care of by BOTH parents!

Ernie

Kelli was recommended to me by someone in the military divorce group that I was a part of. Kelli is also a military spouse so she is very knowledgeable when it comes to the ins and outs of the military. She is know[n] to be a “SHARK”. She is very confident and makes sure that her client receives the best outcome possible. She listens and is also very empathetic.

Eunice

Keli Blackburn took my high conflict custody case to trial and was an incredible advocate throughout the entire process. She knows family law extremely well, and frankly, she excels in trial! She was well versed in the facts of my case and seemed to have it all memorized, which is an incredible skill for a lawyer to master. Kelli is dauntless, focused, and tenacious. But most importantly, Kelli cares. Great communicator and easy to work with all around. Highly recommended!

Brittney G

I could not be any more blessed to have Kelli as my attorney. In the last year that she has represented us she has won every hearing, she has never failed to respond to our concerns or our questions. Day, night, and even when she is on "vacation" Kelli never failed to respond to us; her responses came within minutes. Her professionalism and dedication to my case has brought me stability for my children and peace for my family.

AshleyAVVO

I have worked with Kelli directly as opposing counsel and have also had the opportunity to see her work. Kelli is smart and wise well beyond her years. If anyone underestimates her, they do so at their own peril. Kelli has a great balance between courtroom skills and written advocacy. She is realistic and will work to settle cases out of court where possible. Clients would do well to listen to her counsel and follow her advice, opposing counsel will find her tough but open minded.

Koryn SheppardAVVO

MORE ABOUT KELLI

In the last 7 years, Attorney Kelli Avallone has represented thousands of clients in high asset and high conflict divorce, custody, and domestic violence litigation. She prides herself on her work ethic, attention to detail, and tireless dedication to her clients, her unwavering loyalty, and her paramount focus on the outcome of your case to ensure your financial security as you move onto better chapters of your life. Rest assured that she is always working to achieve a client’s objectives in the most efficient and strategic way possible.

Attorney Avallone has selectively recruited attorneys and staff to build a law firm equipped to navigate the delicate and demanding dynamics of family law litigation so that no matter what phase of your case you are in, or who you are working with, you receive the same quality representation throughout your experience at Avallone & Associates.

Avallone & Associates approaches every case with a strategy-first mindset and a results-driven attitude, singularly focused on obtaining the best result possible for every client in every case. This approach is implemented from inception of the relationship between you and Avallone & Associates. Unlike other law firms, we spend the consultation listening to your story, setting preliminary goals, discussing expectations, and developing a roadmap to achieve resolution. We want all our clients to be empowered with a path forward and security of knowing that you have Avallone & Associates in your corner.

Attorney Avallone has working relationships with attorneys throughout Southern California, which allows her to properly assess the threat and competence of opposing counsel. In addition to these relationships, she has been recognized both locally and nationally for her perseverance, results, and litigation tactics. Attorney Avallone has also appeared as a guest on numerous media platforms helping to educate litigants on their rights and strategy in their case.

Driven by unwavering dedication to her clients, Attorney Avallone has prioritized her familiarity and reputation, throughout all court systems and courthouses in Southern California. She has litigated in numerous counties throughout California, but at this time is only accepting cases based out of San Diego County and limited roles consulting on cases outside of the County on a case-by-case basis.

meet your legal team

Everett

Raquel

Attorney Raquel Everett received her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology from San Diego State University. She graduated in 2014 with honors. During undergraduate, Attorney Everett worked for several employers, including California State Parole.

Immediately after obtaining her undergraduate degree, Attorney Everett attended California Western School of Law. During law school, Attorney Everett held leadership positions in Women’s Law Caucus and Criminal Law Society. Additionally, Attorney Everett participated in Law Review and was a tutor for Federal Civil Procedure. She also interned at Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, and Dicker, a civil insurance defense firm. Throughout the majority of her law school career, however, Attorney Everett interned at the San Diego District Attorney’s Office. She worked in several different branches and speciality divisions, including Gang Prosecution and Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking. Attorney Everett graduated law school Magna Cum Laude in 2018.

Once she obtained her Juris Doctorate, Attorney Everett post-barred at the District Attorney’s Office. After passing the California Bar in May 2018, Attorney Everett was hired as a Deputy District Attorney at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, where she worked for approximately 6 years. During that time, Attorney Everett prosecuted misdemeanor and felony crimes throughout the County of San Diego. She has conducted hundreds of preliminary hearings, argued various motions and tried several jury trials to verdict. Overall, Attorney Everett has appeared in San Diego court rooms for many different types of hearings several hundred times.

In 2024, Attorney Everett decided to switch her practice to Family Law as she believed she would be able to more directly assist people in what may be one of the most stressful times of their lives. Attorney Everett’s focus is her clients and advocating for their best interests in Court.

Yale

Sue

Attorney Sue Yale is a fourth-generation attorney and has been practicing law in San Diego for over 16 years. She spent the first 12 years of her career at a successful boutique general civil litigation law firm, Yale & Baumgarten, LLP. Attorney Yale has represented clients in a wide variety of civil and probate transactional and litigation matters, but her passion and the majority of her career always focused on family law matters.

Attorney Yale received her undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences from UC Davis, where she was an All-American Candidate and first team All-Western Region softball player when her team won the NCAA Division II Softball National Championship in 2003. She returned to her roots to attend law school at University of San Diego where she graduated in 2008. Attorney Yale worked as a law clerk all through law school where she honed her research and writing skills and began representing clients in court immediately after being sworn into practice. In addition to her California litigation experience, she is also licensed to practice law in the State of New Jersey.

Attorney Yale uses her vast and varied legal background and experience to zealously represent our clients’ interests and is skilled in recognizing the nuances and intricacies of family relationships to succinctly convey our clients’ circumstances to the Court.

Martin

Adam

Attorney Adam Martin graduated from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 2017. During his time in school, he served on the boards of the Family Law Society and the Business Law Society. He was also on the Alternative Dispute Resolution team. His experience taught him the importance of the interpersonal aspects of legal practice. This aligned well with this prior work experience, which included working with various teams to ensure operations ran smoothly and resolving escalated customer services issues.

Attorney Martin’s practical family law experience began in 2016 when he was initially recruited by Attorney Avallone to work as a law clerk and paralegal. There, he honed his skills in navigating the intricacies of family law. Since becoming a licensed attorney, he has continued to focus on providing steady support and guidance to clients. This foundation laid the groundwork for Attorney Martin’s approach today, putting the client first and ensuring they feel comfortable, confident, and not overwhelmed by the legal process.

Attorney Martin’s current role at Avallone & Associates came full circle when Attorney Avallone, his former supervisor and mentor, invited him to join her own practice. He takes pride in working collaboratively with the team at Avallone & Associates to deliver thoughtful, efficient service to clients facing what is often the most difficult time in their lives.

Cordoba

Haley

Haley Cordoba is a third-year law student at the University of San Diego School of Law, where she has dedicated her studies to Family Law. She has gained hands-on experience through internships with the Family Law Facilitator’s Office and the University of San Diego Women’s Legal Clinic. Additionally, she serves as the president of USD’s Family Law Society. Before joining Avallone & Associates, Ms. Cordoba worked as an Academic Success Fellow at USD law, where she supported first-year law students in learning Property Law.

Ms. Cordoba attended the University of Arizona, where she completed an Honors degree in both Psychology and Political Science. She was a member of the Phi Alpha Delta pre-law society, and worked in sexual assault response and prevention for the University of Arizona Consortium on Gender Based Violence. 

Ms. Cordoba joined the Avallone & Associates team in May of 2024 as a second-year law student. Here, she has focused on learning the intricacies of family law, including high net worth divorces and contentious custody disputes. After sitting for the 2025 Bar Exam, she plans to return to Avallone & Associates as an associate attorney. 

Schaller

Madison

Madison Schaller graduated from San Diego State University in 2023 with her bachelor’s degree in Journalism and minor in Marketing. Through her time at SDSU she was able to hone in on her writing and communication skills.

Post graduation Ms. Schaller began working for Attorney Avallone as an Executive Assistant. After a year of learning how to effectively draft pleadings, organize discovery and prepare for trial, Ms. Schaller was qualified to perform paralegal tasks.

Ms. Schaller is committed to maintaining high standards of accuracy and efficiency throughout every stage of the legal process. She works closely with both attorneys and clients to ensure all legal proceedings are handled with care, professionalism, and a deep understanding of the intricacies of family law.

She is planning on furthering her law career by attending law school in the fall of 2025.