Richard West

West Family Law Group

Mr. West is managing partner and founder of the Orlando law firm West Family Law Group.  As an attorney who practices family law exclusively, Mr. West is known for inspiring confidence in clients at one of the most stressful times in their life. Listening, educating, advocating, he guides clients to sound strategic decisions that protect their priorities. Mr. West is focused on assuring clients realize the greatest value from his legal counsel, while minimizing the emotional costs of divorce. A skilled litigator, as well as an insightful collaborative lawyer, Mr. West offers clients the full range of approaches to best suit their situation and goals. With more than 35 years of experience in family law, Mr. West uses his experience with the legal system, judges and other lawyers to help clients achieve the best possible results.

Mr. West is board certified in Marital and Family Law by the Florida Bar. Board certification is The Florida Bar’s highest level of evaluation of the competency and experience of attorneys. Board certification recognizes attorneys’ special knowledge, skills and proficiency in various areas of law and professionalism and ethics in practice. Board certified lawyers are evaluated for professionalism and tested for expertise. Only seven percent of eligible Florida Bar members are board certified.

Mr. West is a past president and current Fellow of the Florida Chapter of the prestigious American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers,  a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers, and  past chair of the Florida Bar’s Family Law Section. He is a founding member of the Central Florida Family Law Inn of Court and the Collaborative Family Law Group of Central Florida.

Mr. West is Best Lawyers in America, Orlando’s Family Lawyer of the Year 2018, the third time he achieved this distinction.  Florida Super Lawyers selected him as a Top 100 in the state.  WFLG has been named a Tier 1 firm in Orlando for family law by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” list since it’s inception.

After litigating financially complex and high asset divorces for over 25 years, Mr. West was one of the first lawyers in Orlando to use collaborative law to help clients successfully move on with their lives, with as little emotional and economic harm to their families as possible. He is known for his understanding, creativity and compassion to help clients achieve the results they want for their families.

A divorced father himself, he understands, from both a personal and professional perspective, what it takes to have a “successful” divorce.