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The Cavanagh Law Firm’s family law department is anchored by two independently verified State Bar-certified Family Law Specialists, Christina S. Hamilton and Philip C. Gerard, inside a full-service Phoenix firm founded in 1999.
A NOTE TO READERS. This profile was researched and written independently by Awesome Attorneys’ editorial team. The Cavanagh Law Firm, P.A. did not pay for, request, or review this article prior to publication, and placement on Awesome Attorneys’ editorial pages cannot be purchased. Nothing in this article is legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship. Past results do not guarantee, warrant, or predict the outcome of any future case.
At a Glance
| Firm | The Cavanagh Law Firm, P.A. |
| Founded | 1999, Phoenix |
| Featured Attorneys | Christina S. Hamilton, Philip C. Gerard |
| Certification | State Bar of Arizona Board-Certified Specialists in Family Law — Hamilton (since 1992), Gerard (since 2002) |
| Focus | Divorce, complex property division, child custody, and other family law matters, within a broader full-service firm |
| Office | 1850 N. Central Ave., Ste. 1900, Phoenix, AZ 85004 (also Sun City) |
| Contact | (602) 322-4000 · cavanaghlaw.com |
Sources: cavanaghlaw.com, Super Lawyers’ hosted directory, azbar.org Family Law Certified Specialists roster. Compiled August 2026.
Origin
The Cavanagh Law Firm Phoenix: 25 Years Serving the Valley’s Families
The Cavanagh Law Firm was founded in 1999 and has served Phoenix and the surrounding Valley with family law representation covering divorce, complex property division, and child custody matters, alongside a broad roster of other practice areas typical of a full-service firm. Christina S. Hamilton graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law and was admitted to practice in 1984; Philip C. Gerard is a graduate of Drake University Law School. Both were certified as Family Law Specialists by the State Bar of Arizona — Hamilton in 1992 and Gerard in 2002, credentials Awesome Attorneys confirmed directly against the Bar’s own public roster.
Practice
Two Certified Specialists, Backed by a Full-Service Firm
Hamilton and Gerard’s family law practice covers divorce, complex property division, child custody, and related family law matters. Operating inside a full-service firm with practice groups spanning commercial litigation, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, real estate, tax, insurance defense, and estate planning gives the family law department access to in-house expertise on matters that intersect with those fields, such as business valuation in a divorce involving closely held company interests.
Track Record
Awesome Attorneys did not identify an independent, itemized case-results table for the firm’s family law department, which is typical for family law given the private nature of most settlements.
Past-Results Disclaimer: Every matter is different, and no past result guarantees a similar outcome in any future matter.
Client Voice
Awesome Attorneys did not identify a substantial volume of independently sourced, individually attributable client reviews for Hamilton or Gerard specifically in the sources reviewed for this profile.
Community
Awesome Attorneys did not identify independently verifiable pro bono service, civic board membership, or policy work specific to Hamilton or Gerard in the sources reviewed for this profile.
Recognition
Both Hamilton’s and Gerard’s Family Law board certifications were confirmed directly against the State Bar of Arizona’s own certified-specialist roster. Hamilton has been selected to Super Lawyers for 2007 and 2012 through 2025, a peer-influenced, research-driven process spanning nearly two decades of recognition. Awesome Attorneys did not identify a comparable independent peer-review record for Gerard in the sources reviewed.
The Arizona Legal Backdrop
What follows is general legal information, not legal advice.
Arizona family law proceeds under Title 25 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. Complex property division, a named focus area, follows Arizona’s community property framework under A.R.S. § 25-318, which requires equitable (not necessarily equal) division of marital property. Child custody matters — termed “legal decision-making” and “parenting time” under current Arizona law — are governed by A.R.S. § 25-403 and related statutes, which center the analysis on the child’s best interests.
The Awesome Attorneys Assessment
The Cavanagh Law Firm Phoenix’s clearest differentiator is two independently verified, decades-tenured Family Law Certified Specialists operating inside a full-service firm with 25 years of Phoenix presence, giving family law clients access to cross-practice resources for matters touching business, tax, or real estate issues.
The honest trade-off: as a department within a larger, multi-practice firm rather than a dedicated family law boutique, clients should confirm which specific attorney will handle their matter and expect fee structures aligned with a full-service firm’s overhead rather than a smaller specialized practice.
Methodology & Sourcing
This profile was researched in August 2026 from cavanaghlaw.com, Super Lawyers’ hosted directory, and the State Bar of Arizona’s Family Law Certified Specialists roster (azbar.org). Awesome Attorneys did not identify competing attorneys of the same names practicing family law elsewhere that could create identity confusion. The Cavanagh Law Firm, P.A. did not commission, review, or pay for this profile.
Publisher Disclosure & Independence Notice
This profile is an independent editorial article published by Awesome Attorneys. Awesome Attorneys does not endorse, recommend, or warrant any lawyer or law firm profiled on this site, and inclusion in this series is not paid placement.