Odessa Donnell - Oakland, CA

Ms. Donnell is a Partner at Christy, Keith & Donnell Family Law Group where she dedicates her practice exclusively to Family Law, including complex community property issues, separate property claims, child and spousal support matters, high conflict custody disputes, date of separation challenges, breach of fiduciary duty claims, and post-judgment enforcement and modification proceedings. Known not only for her skill in the courtroom but also for her compassion with clients, Ms. Donnell has built a stellar reputation for combining exceptional advocacy, professionalism and legal acumen with empathy and understanding. As a Certified Family Law Specialist (certified by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization), Ms. Donnell passed a rigorous second State Bar Exam and obtained substantial additional experience and advanced legal education specific to California Family Law. Prior to joining Christy, Keith & Donnell Family Law Group, she was a Partner at the San Francisco-based Family Law firm of Winter & Ross.

Ms. Donnell obtained her law degree from the University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley Law) and her bachelor's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she graduated with highest Latin honors (summa cum laude). She also completed Harvard Law School's Executive Program on Negotiation and Leadership, through which she gained superior negotiation skills that she routinely uses to achieve favorable settlements for her clients. While in law school, Ms. Donnell studied Family Law under esteemed Professor and Family Law expert, Herma Hill Kay, who served on the California Governor's Commission on the Family and co-authored California's landmark no-fault divorce legislation. Ms. Donnell was also an editor of the Berkeley Journal of Gender, Law & Justice and an active member of the Boalt Hall Women's Association and the Berkeley Youth & Education Law Society. She also gained invaluable experience as a Judicial Extern for the Honorable Judge Carlos T. Bea on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and as a law clerk at the international law firm of Jones Day. In recognition of her dedication to public interest work, she received the Boalt Hall Fellowship.

Throughout her accomplished career, Ms. Donnell has guided innumerable individuals through the challenges and uncertainties of Family Law, whether it be related to the breakdown of their marriage, the fear of losing custody of their child, financial insecurity related to paying or receiving child and/or spousal support, or the urgent need for a restraining order against a former partner. She has successfully challenged and defended premarital and post-marital agreements, drafted marital settlement agreements, and obtained default judgments. She has extensive experience with the complicated financial aspects of divorce, including apportionment of stock options and RSUs, equitable apportionment of business interests (including private equity and venture capital interests), tracing of separate property, and investigating and pursuing misappropriation claims. When needed for a particular case, she utilizes her wide-ranging contacts with leading professionals throughout California, such as forensic accountants, financial advisors, business valuation experts, co-parent counselors, and the like. She successfully settles the majority of cases. However, she will not hesitate to litigate her clients' matters in court when necessary. Ms. Donnell regularly appears before public and private judges throughout the Bay Area and has established a stellar reputation in the family law community as a skilled litigator and unwavering advocate for her clients.

Her legal skills and contributions to the law have earned Ms. Donnell repeated recognition from legal organizations nationwide. She has been named among the “10 Best Attorneys in Client Satisfaction” by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys (2023–2025), a “Top 10 Family Law Attorney” by both Best of the Best Attorneys and Attorney and Practice Magazine (2024–2025), and a “Northern California Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers Magazine (2024–2025) following earlier recognition as a “Rising Star” (2019–2020). Her accolades also include “Lawyer of the Year” (2024-2025) from the American Institute of Legal Professionals, “Litigator of the Year” (2023–2025) from the American Institute of Trial Lawyers, and inclusion in San Francisco Magazine’s lists of top rising attorneys in Northern California. She has additionally received the “America’s Most Honored Professionals Award” annually from 2020–2023 and was named a “Top 10 Attorney” by the American Association of Attorney Advocates in 2024.

While court intervention is often necessary, when feasible, Ms. Donnell is committed to resolving issues outside of court through Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods. She holds a certificate in Mediation and Conflict Resolution and represents clients through the collaborative law process as well as provides consulting services to individuals in mediation. In addition, she is available to serve as a neutral mediator to facilitate the resolution of disputes between parties outside of the litigation process. Where strategic premarital or pre-divorce legal counseling is needed, her advice is invaluable to her clients.

Ms. Donnell is committed to giving back to the community and has served as a volunteer attorney and mediator for the Marin and San Francisco Superior Courts.