Legal Industry
Opveon is pleased to feature Moura A.J. Robertson. Moura is a partner at Doerner, Saunders, Daniel, & Anderson in Tulsa, Oklahoma. For over 25 years, Moura has practiced exclusively in the area of divorce and child custody litigation.
Early in her legal career, Moura served as a legal and public policy advocate with the Oklahoma Disability Law Center, Oklahoma’s federally mandated protection and advocacy agency for individuals with disabilities. Currently, Moura represents and advises clients in all aspects of matrimonial law including complex divorces involving closely held businesses, professional practices and executive compensation, high-conflict child custody disputes, modification and enforcement of child custody and visitation, and the negotiation and drafting of pre-nuptial agreements. She also provides alternative dispute resolution services through private mediation and collaborative divorce processes.
Moura is a Certified Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and Past-President of the Oklahoma AAML Chapter. She is a recipient of the honorary Hood-Corbitt Award for Excellence in Family Law from the Family Law Section of the Tulsa County Bar Association and is a frequent speaker at continuing legal education seminars on divorce law and trial practice. She has an AV® PreeminentTM peer-review rating by Martindale Hubbell® and has repeatedly been selected as one of the “Top 25 Women Lawyers in Oklahoma” by Super Lawyers®. Moura is also listed in Best Lawyers® in the areas of Collaborative Law — Family Law, Family Law and Family Law Mediation, while being recognized as a Lawyer of the Year for 2020 for her work in Tulsa in these practice areas. Moura has been recognized multiple times by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys as a top 10 Best Family Law Attorneys for client satisfaction.
Q&A with Moura Robertson
Q: Why did you choose to practice Family Law?
A: Actually, Family Law chose me. As a young lawyer, I joined what was then the “low fee panel” of the Tulsa County Bar Association to gain experience and serve people who did not otherwise have the financial means to secure representation. From that experience, I learned that it was a good fit for me.
Q:What inspires you?
A: My clients inspire me every day. Although every person is uniquely different, they share common characteristics of courage and resiliency. It’s amazing to see how even the most discouraged, broken-hearted individual can still move past the devastation of a failed marriage and broken family toward a new life full of hope for the future.
Q: What has been one of your proudest moments working in family law?
A: My proudest moment was a case in which I represented the unwed father of a newborn baby boy. Unbeknownst to him, he had fathered a child with his estranged girlfriend. The mother, after the fact, announced that she had placed the child for adoption with an out of state couple. I was able to quickly obtain a writ of habeas corpus, track down the people who had taken my client’s son and get the child back in Oklahoma with his father. The expression of sheer joy on his face will be with me always.
Q: What is the most fulfilling part of your practice?
A: The most fulfilling part of my practice is being a member of Doerner, Saunders, Daniel & Anderson, L.L.P. Having the opportunity to working with such a talented group of attorneys and genuinely good people gives me great satisfaction.
Q: What is the most challenging part of your practice?
A: Clients who suffer from serious mental illness or addiction is particularly challenging as it can undermine my efforts to achieve their legal objectives regarding their children. I address this is by helping them secure the help and support they need to stabilize their condition and parent effectively.
Q: You have previously been recognized as one of Oklahoma’s Top 10 Women Lawyers. What does that recognition mean to you?
A: I am humbled and honored to be included in this fine group of women professionals.
Q: This past year the legal industry has faced many challenges. What adaptations have you made in your practice to effectively handle the changes?
A: Family law typically involves a lot of interpersonal contact and court appearances. The COVID-19 pandemic made this difficult due to CDC protocols and courthouses being closed. Over the year, however, we have all learned to overcome these challenges with the use of technology which allows for videoconferencing and safe social distancing.
Q: What advantages have you found when you use social media for marketing your services?
A: I think that it is important to be engaged with one’s community for a variety of reasons, including marketing purposes. Social media is a tool which, if used properly, can help you gain exposure to potential clients and referral sources. Especially in today’s climate, social media can be a safe and effective platform upon which to build your professional network, develop interpersonal relationships, and demonstrate your professional expertise.
Q: What advice would you give to a young attorney looking to utilize social media for marketing?
A: Be professional. Be civil. Use good judgment. I have seen young lawyers seemingly lose sight of the fact that they are licensed professionals and officers of the court when they go online. Being active on social media places you front and center in a very public forum. Like I generally tell my clients, don’t post anything you wouldn’t want a judge to see.
Q: As a founding member of the American Academy of Certified Financial Litigators (AACFL), what would you recommend to an attorney dealing with financial issues in their practice?
A: I strongly recommend they consider joining the AACFL. The training is excellent, and it’s a great opportunity to improve one’s skill set to enhance your client representation.
Q: As a frequent speaker for CLE seminars, what is one of your favorite topics to cover?
A: I enjoy teaching in general and embrace every opportunity I get to do so. Teaching Family Law trial advocacy to young lawyers is particularly rewarding. It’s satisfying to see them develop their skills over the course of the program, and I enjoy working with my professional colleagues on a common project.
Q: Who is someone famous you admire and why?
A: DSDA legacy partner, Sam P. Daniel — a local Family Law legend. As a young lawyer sitting in the audience at continuing legal education seminars on Family Law, I recall hanging on every word as he spoke about the cutting-edge legal issues of the times. I admired his legal mind-the way he evaluated legal issues and articulated arguments. I feel honored to have known him and to now be a member of the very law firm which bears his name.
Q: Do you have a favorite podcast?
A: I listen to the New York Times and Wall Street Journal podcasts every morning. I like to stay informed.
Q: What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work?
A: Anything that allows me to get outdoors, whether it’s taking my dogs for a walk, gardening, or patio dining in the company of good friends and family.
