As a founding partner of our law firm, John O. McDougall hosts over 40 years of experience practicing law in South Carolina. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1971, and was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in the same year. In addition to his work with McDougall, Self, Currence & McLeod, LLP, he is also a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association, and the South Carolina Association for Justice. John O. McDougall is the second lawyer to be president of the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association and the South Carolina Bar Association within the history of the two organizations. He is also the only lawyer limiting his practice to matrimonial law to be president of the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association and the South Carolina Bar Association. John O. McDougall has been nominated as one of the Best Lawyers in America by Woodward/White, Inc. since 1991.

Emily opened a solo law practice in Las Vegas in 2003 with the primary focus of family law. Since that time Emily has worked diligently to establish a reputation as a knowledgeable and aggressive attorney, gaining the respect of both her peers and Judges. Emily has grown her practice over the years and in 2010 gained the credential of Certified Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of Nevada. This is the top Family Law credential an attorney can obtain in Nevada. While her practice is primarily focused on representing clients in the Nevada Supreme Court, Nevada Court of Appeals, and Clark County District Court Family Division, Emily is also licensed to practice in the United States Supreme Court, 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, United States District Court – District of Nevada, as well as all state courts in Arizona and California and she represents clients in those courts in cases related to her primary practice. Emily is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and President of the Nevada Chapter. She is a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers and an AV Preeminent Rated Attorney by Martindale Hubbell. Emily is a member of the Hague Convention Attorney Network for the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs / U.S. Central Authority for the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Emily has been appointed by the Nevada Supreme Court to serve on the Commission on Nevada Rules of Appellate Procedure. Emily is also a certified parenting coordinator, arbitrator, and mediator. As an attorney, Emily is particularly knowledgeable in handling complex property division and financial issues, international child custody issues, parental kidnapping, and high conflict child custody cases, although her primary focus is representing clients in family law appeals. Prior to becoming an attorney, Emily worked for three years at the Tobacco Control Resource Center and Tobacco Products Liability Project in Boston, Massachusetts doing research projects on legal issues relating to tobacco. Emily has worked for the New Hampshire Department of Justice Consumer Protection Division and three law firms in Massachusetts in the areas of family law, tobacco litigation, real estate, business transactions and estate planning. Emily writes children’s books for children going through family law issues and operates a small publishing company. In her free time, she is a country and jazz singer. She is mom to two teen boys and four dogs.

James T. McLaren has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America for nearly two decades. He is listed in the S.C. Super Lawyers publication under the Family Law designation. He and his firm have received the highest rating ("AV"), afforded lawyers for legal ability and ethics, in the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory. His statewide practice primarily involves complex matrimonial litigation and trial work in addition to dispute resolution including mediation and arbitration as an American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers - Certified Mediator and Arbitrator. He has held numerous positions affiliated with Family Law including admission as a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, where he is currently serving as National President and on various committees. He is a Fellow in the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He has served as President of the South Carolina Chapter of the International Network of Boutique Law Firms since 2007. He has served as President of the South Carolina Chapter and National Delegate. He is a Diplomate in the American College of Family Trial Lawyers. He has served as chair of the Family Law Sections of the South Carolina Bar, the South Carolina Trial Lawyer’s Association (now the American Association for Justice), and the Richland County Bar Association. He is a longstanding member of the Family Law Sections of the American Bar Association, the American Association For Justice, the South Carolina Bar, the South Carolina Association For Justice, and the Richland County Bar Association. Mr. McLaren has authored numerous articles and has been a speaker in over 95 Family Law Continuing Legal Education Seminars, including state and national Judicial Conferences and New Family Court Judges Schools. He also co-authored important Legislation that impacts Family Law in South Carolina.

Robin R. McLean earned a Bachelor of Science, cum laude, from Georgia State University in 1992. She earned a Juris Doctor from Georgia State University College of Law in 1995. Robin is admitted to practice in both South Carolina and Georgia. In addition, she is admitted in the United States District Court District of South Carolina and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Judicial Circuit. Prior to forming McCutchen McLean & VanSyckel, LLC, Robin worked in a small firm in Lexington County, serving local and state-wide clients, in addition to serving clients with matters in Georgia. During that time, she litigated numerous civil and family court cases to conclusion. In addition to her family court cases before a trial judge, many of her other civil cases involved jury trials. In 2011, she opened her own law firm, continuing to serve clients in both South Carolina and Georgia with various legal matters. Robin enjoyed balancing her challenging work life with raising her son. Robin has practiced law in many areas including domestic and family law (separation, divorce, child custody, visitation and child support, spousal support, property division, adult and minor names changes), employment and discrimination matters, workers’ compensation, estate planning, probate, and personal injury matters. Although she continues to practice in these areas, the majority of her current cases involve family law. Moreover, Robin has been certified by the South Carolina Supreme Court as a mediator in Family and Probate Law. Volunteering her time is also a passion. Robin has given free seminars in the area of family law on behalf of the State Bar of South Carolina; she is a constant volunteer for the South Carolina Bar Ask-a-Lawyer drive featured on WLTX where she answers legal questions for callers; she has volunteered her time as an attorney coach for the mock trial team at River Bluff High School; she has judged mock trial competitions at the high school and college levels; and she enjoys serving on several South Carolina Bar committees and sub-committees. Robin has attended Christian Life Assembly Church for over twenty years. Her deep love for the Lord, the law, and the people she serves are the driving forces behind her decades of legal practice. She is eager to assist her clients in vigorous, impassioned, and knowledgeable representation.

Mr. Medill is a family law practitioner who began his career working in the specialized area of enforcement of family law judgments. Mr. Medill serves the greater Los Angeles Area in various aspects of family law including divorce, child custody, child support, document preparation, domestic partnerships, domestic violence, fathers’ rights, grandparent’s rights, juvenile dependency, marital settlement agreements, move away, paternity actions, post judgement modifications, postnuptial agreements and prenuptial agreements.