Digital and Electronic Evidence in Divorce and Family Law: How to Find, Secure, and Utilize Forensic Experts

Henry S. Gornbein | Lipson Neilson, P.C.

Mr. Gornbein has dedicated his career to matrimonial law, focusing on areas such as divorce, child custody, pre-and postnuptial agreements, and paternity. He is also committed to collaborative law and often serves as a mediator and arbitrator in domestic relations matters. Throughout his career, Mr. Gornbein has been honored to serve in various roles, including as chair of the Family Law Section and as a member of the Representative Assembly of the State Bar of Michigan. He is a fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and has had the privilege of leading the Michigan chapter of the AAML and contributing as chair of its national LongRange Planning Committee.

Mr. Gornbein values collaboration with professionals across disciplines and has served as president of the Michigan Inter-Professional Association on Marriage, Divorce, and the Family (MIPA). He is also an active member of the Family Law Sections of the American and Oakland County Bar Associations. In addition to his legal work, Mr. Gornbein enjoys writing and speaking. He is the author of Divorce Demystified: Everything You Need to Know Before You File for Divorce and coauthor of Child Custody: A Complete Guide for Parents with Dr. Jack Haynes, PhD, published in the spring of 2020. The book aims to provide a clear understanding of child custody from both legal and psychological perspectives.

He has created and contributed to various resources, including the websites familylawformichigan.com and gracefullygreying.com. As the creator of the video podcast series Gracefully Greying, he explores the challenges and opportunities of aging, offering insights on legal, economic, medical, social, and psychological issues. The series is available on the Henry Gornbein YouTube Channel and Bloomfieldcable.org.

Mr. Gornbein also hosts the award-winning cable television show Practical Law, which has received three Philo Awards. He writes a regular column, “Case of the Issue,” for the Michigan Family Law Journal and has contributed to platforms like the Huffington Post and Divorce Magazine. Grateful for the recognition he has received, Mr. Gornbein was honored with the Oakland County Bar Association Professionalism Award. He has also served on the boards of Catholic Social Services of Oakland County and Jewish Family Services of Oakland County. One of the founding members and a past president of The Sanctuary, he is proud to have supported its mission, which continues today as part of Common Ground.

Kristen L. Robinson | Mellin Robinson, P.C.

Kristen L. Robinson received her bachelor’s degree from Hope College located in Holland, Michigan. She attended Detroit College of Law (which is now Michigan State University School of Law). She has the distinction of being a member of the last class to graduate in Detroit where she earned her law degree, with honors, cum laude. Kristen concentrates her practice in domestic relations litigation. She also has the capability to assist clients who desire to settle their cases on the terms that work for their respective families, rather than allowing the court process to dictate the important decisions in their lives. In addition to representing clients as an advocate, Kristen is a trained neutral mediator, chosen by other lawyers and appointed by the court to assist other parties in settling their family law matters.

She was elected by her peers to the 21-member State Bar of Michigan Family Law Council. The Council works to influence, analyze and advocate for family law-related interests including legislation and court rules. She has served on the Executive Board of the Family Law Council for the past five years and is the immediate past Chair of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan.

Irika Mellin | Mellin Robinson, P.C.

Irika Mellin is exclusively dedicated to her Michigan clients in the areas of divorce and family law. She is focused on the needs of her clients and aggressively fights for the best outcome. A 1996 graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, she has been practicing family law since 1997. Ms. Mellin has years of experience in complex divorce and custody cases that range from amicable to contentious. Ms. Mellin devotes herself to each individual case and gives specific attention to both the present and future needs of each client.

Ms. Mellin is a member of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan and the Michigan Inter-Professional Association and has served as a past chair and current member of the Oakland County Bar Association Family Court Committee. She has also served on the board of trustees for CARE House of Oakland County. Additionally, Irika Mellin is well-known in the legal community as a certified domestic relations mediator and arbitrator. She is selected by her peers and frequently appointed by the court to mediate a variety of family law matters. She has co-authored with Kristen Robinson the Parenting Time Chapter in the LexisNexis Practice Guide: Michigan Family Law 2016- 2024. She is often asked to be a guest lecturer on family law related matters.

Laurence D. Lieb | Tyger Forensics, LLC

Larry Lieb is a nationally known subject matter expert in the field of computer forensics and electronic discovery. Larry has testified in both Federal and State courts on the subjects of computer and smartphone forensics. His practice focuses on maximizing the limited  dollars his clients have available for substantive legal work whilst minimizing wasted expense.

I. Applicable law | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

II. Social media | 2:10pm – 2:20pm

III. Forms of technology | 2:20pm – 2:30pm

IV. Spying | 2:30pm – 2:40pm

V. Unauthorized access | 2:40pm – 2:50pm

VI. Recording phone calls | 2:50pm – 3:00pm

Break | 3:00pm – 3:10pm

VII. Types of electronic evidence | 3:10pm – 3:20pm

VIII. Evidence and evidentiary issues/admissibility | 3:20pm – 3:30pm

IX. E-Discovery | 3:30pm – 3:40pm

X. Locating and securing evidence | 3:40pm – 3:50pm

XI. Subpoenas | 3:50pm – 4:00pm

XII. Text message records | 4:00pm – 4:10pm