PRINCIPAL ATTORNEY · CFLS
Thoughtful guidance. Steady advocacy.
Ariel Brownell Lee is the firm’s principal attorney and a Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Licensed in California since 2012, she helps individuals and families navigate divorce, parenting arrangements, support, and property division with practical guidance and personal attention.
Practical guidance for the decisions ahead
Ariel’s practice is centered on Contra Costa County and also serves clients with family law matters in Alameda and Solano counties. Her work includes complex financial matters involving business ownership, real estate, and retirement accounts. When a case calls for specialized financial analysis, the firm works with forensic accountants to help clients understand their options and make informed decisions.
Education and path to family law
Born and raised in Sacramento, Ariel earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, with a minor in Psychology, from California State University, Sacramento. Before law school, she spent a year teaching and working as a file clerk at a Sacramento law firm.
She earned her law degree from the University of California, Davis, School of Law, King Hall, where she developed a strong interest in family law and the opportunity to make a direct difference in people’s lives.
Professional leadership and service
Ariel serves on the Board of Directors of the Contra Costa County Bar Association and on its Family Law Section board. She is also a member of the Contra Costa Lawyer Editorial Board and the association’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service Committee.
Her past leadership includes service as president of the CCCBA’s Family Law, Women’s, and Barristers’ sections. She previously served on the California Women Lawyers Board of Governors as the Contra Costa affiliate governor and co-hosted the organization’s A Seat at the Table podcast. She has also served as a delegate to the Conference of California Bar Associations.
Ariel has contributed to continuing legal education programs and written for Contra Costa Lawyer, including an article on virtual legal practice. She brings that same practical perspective to a firm that combines convenient technology with personal attention, professional judgment, and local court experience.