Our Team

EMILY MCFARLING, ESQ.

Managing Partner

Emily opened a solo law practice in Las Vegas in 2003 with the primary focus of family law. Since that time Emily has worked diligently to establish a reputation as a knowledgeable and aggressive attorney, gaining the respect of both her peers as well as Judges. Emily has grown her practice over the years and in 2010 gained the credential of Certified Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of Nevada. This is the top Family Law credential an attorney can obtain in Nevada. Emily is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and Vice President of the Nevada Chapter, fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers and an AV Preeminent Rated Attorney by Martindale Hubbell. Emily is a certified parenting coordinator and mediator, although her primary focus is litigating complex and/or contested divorce and child custody matters in southern Nevada and Nevada family law appeals. She is particularly knowledgeable in handling family law appeals, complex property division and financial issues, international child custody issues, parental kidnapping, and high conflict child custody cases.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Emily worked for three years at the Tobacco Control Resource Center and Tobacco Products Liability Project in Boston, Massachusetts doing research projects on legal issues relating to tobacco. Emily has worked for the New Hampshire Department of Justice Consumer Protection Division and three law firms in Massachusetts in the areas of family law, tobacco and other toxic tort litigation, real estate, business transactions and estate planning. Emily writes children’s books for children going through family law issues and operates a publishing company for children’s books. While her practice is focused in southern Nevada, Emily is also licensed to practice in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, United States Supreme Court, United States District Court – District of Nevada, as well as all state courts in Arizona and California.

MICHAEL BURTON, ESQ.

Partner

Michael grew up in Wisconsin, moving to Las Vegas in 2003. An avid Packer fan, Michael enjoys sports. Michael also enjoys spending time with his dogs (English and French Bulldog) and his wife, who is a fellow family law attorney.

Michael has worked at McFarling Law Group since 2008. During that time, he has assumed numerous managerial roles and acted as the initial point of contact for new clients. In this role, Michael has reviewed over 8,000 family law cases during his time at McFarling Law Group.

Michael has a Bachelor’s in Business Administration in Management from UNLV. Michael owns a commercial LED lighting business with customers worldwide and many notable, high-profile projects.

Michael earned his Juris Doctor from Boyd School of Law at UNLV. While at Boyd, Michael was selected as Outstanding Community Service Volunteer and also received an academic scholarship. While in law school, Michael focused on classes taught by adjunct professors who are active practitioners in the community—with an emphasis on legal writing and trial advocacy. This includes classes taught by District Attorney Steve Wolfson and esteemed retired Federal Judge Philip Pro.

Michael’s style is considered aggressive but reasonable. With a focus on high-conflict contested divorce and custody matters, Michael has significant courtroom and trial experience. But, Michael also has the ability to settle cases outside of court, when the terms are right.

Michael has exceptional client satisfaction as his clients know he is looking out for their best interest, and they appreciate Michael’s candid advice.

ASHLEE VAZQUEZ, ESQ.

Attorney

Ashlee Vazquez was born and raised in Alamogordo, NM, where she grew to love the desert and the outdoors. After determining she wanted to become a lawyer at eight years old, Ashlee started her first job at fifteen as a secretary for a criminal defense attorney. In 2012, Ashlee graduated Cum Laude from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX with a Bachelor’s in Sociology.

Ashlee attended the UNLV Boyd School of Law part-time evening program while working full-time at a law firm and volunteering as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), helping foster children in the courts. During her time at Boyd, Ashlee was also selected to be a student attorney with the Mediation Clinic providing free mediation services to small claim litigants and family court litigants who cannot afford to pay for mediation services. Ashlee also received mediation training from the renowned Saltman Center for Conflict Resolution. 

During law school, Ashlee first worked for Clear Counsel Law Group, a probate and estate planning firm. In 2014, Ashlee joined McFarling Law Group where she started as a legal assistant, moved up to law clerk and then associate attorney. Her experience in each aspect of working in a law firm gives her keen insight into the procedural methods for obtaining the best results for her clients.

In 2016, Ashlee obtained her Juris Doctor from Boyd School of Law, where she received a CALI award as the top student in her legal writing class and Highest Pro Bono Honors. In 2017, Ashlee was licensed to practice law in Nevada and the U.S. District Court of Nevada. In 2018, she was awarded the Outstanding Service Award for her work as a CASA.

Ashlee focuses her practice on contested divorce and child custody cases and family law appeals. Ashlee’s extensive knowledge of family law in Nevada extends to numerous cases she’s briefed for the Nevada Supreme Court and Nevada Court of Appeals. Ashlee’s appellate experience includes the areas of legal separation, guardianship, custody, attorney’s fees, child support, and legal custody issues. 

In her spare time, Ashlee enjoys traveling, concerts, and comedy shows. She also enjoys outdoor activities such as running, hiking, and snowboarding. 

JOSH ARONSON, ESQ., CDFA

Attorney and Financial Analyst

Josh graduated from the University of Arizona with a BA in Journalism and a minor in Economics. At Arizona, he spent significant amounts of time modeling various financial markets, including a labor economics analysis of NBA salaries based on a variety of statistics, long before NBA teams started heavily using analytical data. Josh attended law school at Florida State University College of Law after scoring in the 98th percentile on the Law School Admissions Test (“LSAT”). At Florida State, Josh received “A” grades in, among other things, Dissolution of Marriage and Statistics for Lawyers. Josh Aronson moved to Nevada in 2011 after practicing law in Florida.

In December 2016, Josh became a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (“CDFA”). A CDFA professional is a financial professional skilled at analyzing data and providing expertise on the financial issues of divorce. The role of the CDFA professional is to assist the client and his or her attorney to understand how the decisions he or she makes today will impact the client’s financial future. A CDFA can take on many roles in the divorce process, including providing financial expertise and strategy, data collection and analysis, litigation support, and, if necessary, being an expert witness at trial or during mediation.

Josh provides a unique combination of financial wherewithal, attention to detail, and legal expertise. Josh has been enthralled by statistics and spreadsheets his entire life, and can design a spreadsheet for pretty much any purpose. Josh has professional experience as a bookkeeper, and legal experience doing financial modeling for personal injury law claims, working at a business and tax law firm, and has been practicing family law for several years.

In his spare time, Josh enjoys playing and watching sports, playing poker, and spending time with his wife and two young sons.

KIMBER LAUX, ESQ.

Attorney

Kimber was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she learned to love the heat. (It’s a dry heat!) She developed a passion for storytelling and in 2015 graduated from UNLV with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Media Studies and Sociology. Kimber began working at the Las Vegas Review-Journal in 2013, covering stories about local crime and the courts. She wrote several stories about child abuse and domestic violence, which sparked her desire to become an attorney and do more for voiceless Southern Nevada communities.

Kimber attended the William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV as a full-time student beginning in 2016 while continuing to work part-time at the Las Vegas Review-Journal. In the summer of 2017, she worked as a law clerk on civil rights cases at a small firm and interned for the Honorable Judge Jerry Wiese at the Eighth Judicial District Court. During the summer of 2018, she worked as a law clerk at the ACLU of Nevada on a grant from the Public Interest Law Association.

While at Boyd, Kimber was an executive board member of PILA and OutLaws (a law student organization focused on LGTBQ advocacy), and was a member of the Immigration Law Society, the Organization of Women Law Students, and the Health Law Society. During her first year of law school, Kimber co-instructed a weekly Paternity and Custody course at UNLV. During her third year, she worked for the Family Justice Clinic as a student attorney, working on cases related to guardianship, adoption, and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status.

In 2019, Kimber obtained her Juris Doctor from Boyd, where she received CALI awards for earning the highest grade in her legal writing, pretrial litigation, and environmental law courses. She also received a CALI award for her work in the Family Justice Clinic, and she earned a place on the Dean’s List beginning in 2018.

Kimber is licensed to practice law in Nevada and the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada in 2019.

When she’s not representing Nevada families, Kimber enjoys playing volleyball, hiking, snowboarding, and reading. She loves dogs with her entire being and has two of her own.

SAMANTHA SCOFIELD, ESQ.

Attorney

Samantha was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada where she developed a dedication to serving the local community at a very young age. Her sense of commitment was fostered in the local schools she attended. Samantha knew she wanted to be a lawyer since she began Speech and Debate in the ninth grade. Samantha graduated from Arbor View High School with an Advanced Honors Diploma.

Samantha attended the University of Nevada, Reno where she graduated Cum Laude in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Pre-Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with minors in Business Administration and Philosophy. While attending the University of Nevada, Reno she also served as President of the Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity during her senior year.

Starting in 2016, Samantha attended the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, earning her Juris Doctor in 2019. While a law student at Boyd, Samantha served as President of the Public Interest Law Association, Vice President of the Organization of Women Law Students, and was an active member of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. Samantha was also named a Public Interest Fellow for her dedication to the community. Samantha also worked as a Junior Staffer for the Nevada Law Journal, before being promoted to Articles Editor in 2018, where she assisted in publishing Volume 19 of the Nevada Law Journal.

In her second year as a law student, Samantha completed an externship with the Honorable Frank P. Sullivan with the Eighth Judicial District Court, Family Division. She also worked with the Children’s Attorney’s Project at the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada where she helped to ensure that every child had an opportunity to have their voice heard in court.

Throughout her time in law school, Samantha also volunteered as an educator and organizer for Kids’ Court School and played a prominent role in launching the Juvenile Competency Remediation Program, which assists in remediating juveniles deemed incompetent to stand trial. Her interests in the community extend to her involvement in the Education Advocacy Program led by the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada. In 2018, she was named the Public Interest Law Student of Distinction by the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada.

Samantha also practiced as a student attorney, gaining invaluable legal experience and practice while still in school. As a student attorney, Samantha worked in the Clark County District Attorney’s office, as well as the Family Justice Clinic in the Thomas & Mack Legal Clinic. She remains fully committed to furthering the causes that promote justice for families and children in the Southern Nevadan community. 

In 2019, Samantha obtained her Juris Doctor. Samantha joined the McFarling Law Group legal team after law school and brings her keen sense of professionalism and empathy to each and every case she collaborates on. In addition to being a licensed attorney in Nevada, Samantha is also a Certified Mediator and adds diplomacy to her legal expertise by seeking favorable resolutions for both parties. 

In her spare time, Samantha enjoys spending time outdoors and taking trips to admire the natural beauty of the Southwest. She has a creative personality, finding joy in crafting and home improvement projects with her fiancé. When not working she enjoys spending time reading at home, while surrounded by her two cats and her desert tortoise.

CHRISTOPHER R. ALDERMAN, ESQ.

Attorney

Christopher R. Alderman was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. Christopher earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. He then pursued his law degree at the William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV. During law school, Christopher was actively involved in various organizations and volunteered to teach a free legal information class regarding paternity and custody during the summer of 2011.
After graduating law school and passing the bar, Christopher worked as a law clerk for the Honorable Robert W. Lane at the Fifth Judicial District Court in Nye County, Nevada. Prior to joining McFarling Law Group, Christopher worked at a law office specializing in family law, guardianships, and probate matters.
As a native Nevadan, Christopher enjoys being actively involved in the community and spending time with his family. He enjoys a good game of golf, supporting our local sports teams, hiking, and attending dog shows with his Doberman Pinscher.

Maria Rios Landin

Paralegal

Maria Rios Landin was born in Mexico and immigrated to the U.S. when she was twelve years old; she has been living in Las Vegas for 18 years. She started working as a receptionist at a law firm almost immediately after graduating from high school and was later promoted to legal assistant for an immigration and a criminal defense attorney.

In 2009, Maria was one of only a few legal selected from across the U.S. to attend the intense three-day American Immigration Lawyer Association (AILA) Annual Conference, to receive extensive training.

Maria joined McFarling Law Group in 2011 as a legal assistant and has been the firm’s intake specialist and first point of contact since 2017.

In 2014, she obtained her associate of arts degree from College of Southern Nevada and in 2016 she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Spanish for the Professions from UNLV. As part of her degree, Maria received extensive training in translation and interpretation with an emphasis on legal terminology.

Maria has used her skills, knowledge and ability to help not only her clients, but also her community. In 2016, she volunteered as a Spanish interpreter for Volunteers in Medicine, a program that provides free medical care for people who do not qualify for medical insurance. In 2017, she volunteered for the ProSe Boot Camp, a program supported by UNLV Boyd School of Law, which focused on helping people navigate the legal system in proper person. Under the supervision and direction of a law school professor, she taught an immigration class at Shade Tree shelter that focused on a path to U.S. permanent residence for victims of domestic violence.

Maria is highly experienced in complex family law matters and in addition to divorce and child custody matters, she handles all appeals and international parental abduction cases.

In her spare time, Maria enjoys swimming, yoga, spending time with family and her West Highland White Terrier, going to the movies, and playing video games.

Crystal Beville

Paralegal

Crystal has lived in Las Vegas for 45 years.  She is a Las Vegas High (original downtown campus) graduate and attended the University of Nevada Reno where she earned a Bachelor’s degree with a major in Accounting. Crystal returned to Las Vegas after college and worked for 25 years in the gaming industry, with the last 16 years at Boyd Gaming as their Corporate Controller.

In 2012, Crystal completed the UNLV Paralegal Certificate program and made a career switch. She has since worked for family law firms and has been with McFarling Law Group since August, 2016.  In addition to her accounting background, Crystal’s personal experience as a child of divorce, experiencing divorce herself, and raising her daughter as a single parent is a huge asset now as a family law legal assistant.

Crystal is a board member on the Las Vegas High School Alumni Association and very active within the group, which raises scholarship money for current LVHS students and conducts an annual all classes reunion party.  She also enjoys spending time with her daughter,  family and friends, reading, going to the movies and is a huge lifetime Disneyland fan.

Tricia Lane

Paralegal

Tricia moved to Las Vegas in the summer of 2006. After receiving her Diploma in Certified Paralegal Studies at Technical Academy in Downey, California. A native of Southern California, she spent the first 6 years of her legal career working in civil law, including the Los Angeles County Juvenile Court. Tricia is a certified Los Angeles Child Support Facilitator, having worked for the Los Angeles County office of the Child Support Facilitator. This early legal experience with children and their families helped to develop her interest in Family Law. Tricia joined McFarling Law Group in 2012, and recently celebrated her 7-year work anniversary with the firm.

Tricia also holds a Diploma for Computer Operations and Office Management from Long Beach College, where she developed a meticulous eye for detail and accuracy. She is also one of the Nevada Certified Notary Publics at the law group and is frequently the first point of contact for many of our clients.

In her free time, Tricia enjoys spending time with her family and stays active through running and jogging. She is an avid cook, enjoys the challenge of inventing new healthy recipes to share with her family and friends. She is also a sports fan, and likes to watch Football, UFC, and boxing matches. Her favorite football team is the Dallas Cowboys.

Valerie A.S. Carver

Paralegal

Valerie moved to Las Vegas in 2015 from the east coast, where she was born and raised in Concord, the capital of the State of New Hampshire.  She is a Concord (NH) High School graduate.  Valerie started her career in the legal field in 1987 as a legal secretary, after completing an advanced secretarial program at Burdett School in Boston, Massachusetts.  Valerie received the highest GPA award in her class.

While raising her son and working full time, in 1993 Valerie completed the Paralegal Certificate program at New Hampshire Technical Institute.  In 2008 she returned to NHTI, Concord’s Community College where she was named to the President’s List the first semester.  In May 2012, Valerie earned an Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies.  From 2001 until 2013, Valerie handled all aspects of a sole practitioner firm owned by a partner where she began her career in 1987 until his retirement in 2013.  In 2005 the firm (with Valerie’s professionalism and efforts being noted) received a pro bono award for assisting indigent individuals going through bankruptcy.

Valerie has extensive experience in family and domestic law, civil litigation, including personal injury, real estate, corporate/business matters, estate planning and probate law, and bankruptcy.  She is a past member of the New Hampshire Paralegal Association and non-lawyer member of the New Hampshire Trial Lawyers Association.

In addition to paralegal experience, Valerie has billing and bookkeeping experience. In the near future, Valerie plans to take the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) to become a Certified Paralegal.  Valerie is always striving to continue her education to maintain her skills and learn new things.

Although Valerie only recently joined the McFarling Law Group, she brings more than 30+ years of professional experience and is very passionate about helping others through their legal affairs.

In her spare time, Valerie travels throughout the west coast to enjoy the beautiful landscape, spends time with her family and visits New Hampshire as often as possible to spend time with her son, daughter-in-law and three grandsons, who she absolutely adores.

Christiane Smith

Paralegal

Christiane has called Las Vegas home since she was a young child. She attended Palo Verde High School, and after graduating studied at South University. She then went on to complete a Paralegal program with Meditec while her husband at the time was stationed overseas.

Christi credits her love of writing and her interest in the law as the defining factors that steered her into her current career path. She has worked as Legal Assistant at several prestigious Las Vegas law firms, with her experience ranging from insurance defense, to personal injury, and more recently Family Law. She joined the legal team at McFarling Law Group this year and contributes her excellent writing skills and empathetic personality to the team.

Christi’s free time is filled with local hikes, park outings with her dog, and attending concerts. She likes to explore the local nightlife in exciting Las Vegas and relax at home with a good book.

Monica Shank

Legal Assistant

Monica spent her teen years here in Las Vegas, graduating from Bonanza High School and then later attending Heritage College. She studied various courses relating to her certificate in Administrative Medical Assistant work, many of which established a necessary background in office systems. She was introduced to effective organizational methods, management of client information, and establishing rapport with new clients. Over the next 23 years she would fine tune these skills working in high paced office settings.  

She moved to Ohio with her family in 2003 but eventually returned to the Southern Nevada area to stay. She still maintains strong ties with the Dayton area and loves to return to visit her son and friends.  Monica began working with McFarling Law Group in 2017, and began as a receptionist eventually being promoted to document clerk and now legal assistant. Monica primarily assists our attorney Josh Aronson providing case management assistance for our sister company, Family Law Solutions. Family Law Solutions provides financial analyses and QDRO preparations for clients involved in family law proceedings. She is the first point of contact for many of their clients and approaches every case with empathy and professionalism.

When not at work Monica enjoys bowling and spending time with her family. She likes to watch football games, and the Dallas Cowboys are her favorite team. She also has a chocolate lab named Hershey who keeps her busy with walks and playtime. 

Kylie Graham

Billing and Accounts

Kylie was born in Anaheim, California but was raised here in the Las Vegas valley which she continues to call home. She attended the Academy for Independent Study and graduated early in 2012. In 2015, she began working at McFarling Law Group beginning first as the receptionist establishing rapport with clients. Kylie was soon promoted to overseeing accounts and billing, as well as other administrative functions such as payroll and client communications. Her professional and friendly demeanor are often the first impression of the law group that many clients receive. She strives for accuracy and empathy in her daily tasks and is an integral member of the MLG team.

When she isn’t at work Kylie and her son are devoted Vegas Golden Knights fans, and her son plays on their house league, the Junior Golden Knights. She spends her free time cheering him on at his games and promoting his love of hockey. Her family says she’s an excellent cook, and her joy of motherhood is what drives her to succeed. Her hobbies also include watching home design and renovation programs and refreshing her own home décor whenever possible.

Carol Fox

Legal Secretary

Carol Fox was born in Providence, R.I. She started working in one of the largest banks in downtown Providence after graduating from high school as a teller, then a supervisor and managing the operations in the main vault leading to a promotion to work as a loan specialist.

In 1988, Carol was offered a position at a corporate law firm in Providence as a legal assistant for several lawyers in the areas of commercial lending and real estate, loan workouts and recoveries, mergers and acquisitions, general corporate law, commercial lending, commercial loan recovery, corporate transactions, commercial lending transactions, securities offerings and mergers and acquisitions.

While on vacation in California she decided she was going to relocate there. One of the leading business management firms in Los Angeles hired her to work as an executive assistant to one of the managing partners. She assisted with a variety of accounting functions dealing with budgeting, personal account management, tour financial management, insurance assessment, financial statement preparation, tax preparation and many levels of first-hand involvement learning about producing royalty statements at record labels and publishing.

Eventually Carol moved to Las Vegas in 2005 where she worked as a legal assistant in a law firm handling mediation, civil and criminal litigations cases. Later she accepted a position to work at a construction defect law firm as a paralegal working for several attorneys representing homeowner associations of all sizes, owners of individual homes, condominium owners and commercial associations with respect to construction defect matters.

Her interests now direct her to new challenges where she will be able to assist attorneys and clients with matters including divorce, annulment, property settlements, alimony, child custody and visitation, child support and alimony awards.

During her spare time, she enjoys writing and some day hopes to be published. Her favorite place to be is at the ocean day or night. 

Michelle Benzon

Receptionist

Michelle is originally from Atascadero, CA where she grew up close to the beach and enjoying the Southern California weather. She moved to Las Vegas in 2005, where she met her husband in 2013 and has been living in Southern Nevada since then.

She began working at McFarling Law Group in 2017. Michelle previously spent 13 years as a Certified Montessori Preschool Teacher and is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education.

She strives to make clients feel welcome and to let them know that their needs are of paramount importance to the legal team at McFarling Law Group. Her passion for working with families and children throughout her career in education makes her uniquely qualified to lend an attentive ear to client’s concerns.

Personally, she has experienced the fun and unique challenges that blended families can face through her relationship with her wonderful stepdaughter. Michelle like to travel with her family, spending vacations with them in the outdoors and by the ocean. She looks forward to completing her degree and once again working with preschool aged children and their families in a classroom setting.