About Us
Attorney Cara L. Santosuosso
Attorney
Cara
L.
Santosuosso
is
an
accomplished
lawyer
with
a
strong
courtroom
presence
and
excellent
litigation
skills
in
the
areas
of
family
law,
particularly
high-conflict
divorce
or
custody
disputes,
and
other
civil
and
criminal
matters.
She
has
engaged
in
the
private
practice
of
family
law
and
civil
litigation
since
2005.
Previously,
she
served
for
two
years
as
a
judicial
attorney
in
the
Ohio
Eighth
District
Court
of
Appeals
where
she
worked
on
cases
dealing
with
administrative
law,
torts,
labor
and
employment,
product
liability,
medical
malpractice,
criminal
law
and
a
host
of
other
legal
matters.
Ms. Santosuosso also served as an assistant prosecuting attorney with the Office of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor, Division of Children and Family Services, earlier in her career. She earned her J.D. from Cleveland Marshall College of Law in 1998, and is admitted to the Ohio Bar, the bar for the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, and the federal Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. She is an OSBA certified specialist in the practice of family law, and is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.
In addition to her skill in the courtroom, Ms. Santosuosso is certified as a mediator, and trained as a collaborative law attorney and parenting coordinator. She has spent most of her legal career ensuring the protection of children, and fighting for the legal rights of children, parents and litigants in many courts and all stages of the litigation process, from initial filing through appeal. Her extensive experience gives her a unique understanding of her clients’ wishes and obligations, allowing her to successfully seek creative and cost-effective resolutions in her cases.
Ms. Santosuosso is a native of Cleveland’s west side, and is a proud graduate of John Carroll University and the Cleveland State University College of Law. A classically trained pianist and soprano, in her spare time she pursues her passions for music and theater. She also volunteers with several community organizations, and keeps busy with her husband and two daughters.
Of Counsel Attorney Jennifer A. Riester
Of Counsel attorney Jennifer A. Riester concentrated her practice for over ten years of her career in the litigation of mass tort cases, before transitioning to family law practice. She has appeared nationwide in state and federal courts and is currently admitted to the bar in the State of Ohio and the bar for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. In addition, her extensive experience in document and litigation management exposed her to a wide range of legal challenges. She has also worked extensively with clients in all facets of family law cases at another local law firm. This breadth of experience enhances her ability to advise our family law clients across all legal challenges, particularly in complex litigation cases, from initial filing to appellate, post-decree and administrative matters.
Ms. Riester graduated with a degree in Psychology from Cleveland State University, and earned her J.D. from Cleveland Marshall College of Law in 1999. A native of Cleveland’s west side, she is involved as a Girl Scout volunteer and with the Magnificat legal alumnae group, the Blue Streak Barristers. In her free time, Ms. Riester enjoys knitting, traveling, and spending time with her amazing nieces and nephew.
Allison Fisher, Paralegal
Allison Fisher has worked with attorney Cara Santosuosso since 2018. She began her career as a family relations paralegal in 2015 with another local firm. A Cleveland native, Ms. Fisher graduated from Oberlin College with degrees in Sociology and African American Studies before pursuing a Master’s Degree in English Literature at Cleveland State University.
Prior to working in the legal field, Ms. Fisher worked in health and human services, and has extensive experience in client relations, writing, and research. Allison’s attention to detail and ability to cheerfully and effectively manage our office operations and case docket offer our clients the added support and attention they need during a tumultuous time in their lives.
In her spare time, Allison enjoys reading and gardening, and keeps busy with her husband and young son.