About Amato Family Law

Family law issues bring with them intense emotions which can cloud judgment and hamper decision-making.

The attorneys of Amato Family Law have the experience necessary to guide you through the legal issues you face and help you focus on the future.

Our attorneys’ only focus is Missouri family law.

After a decade as a successful attorney and divorce mediator, Susan Amato founded her law firm in 1992 with a focus on mediation and family law matters. Susan is a recognized trailblazer in mediation and collaborative family law, on the forefront of introducing, developing and utilizing these methods in the St. Louis legal arena. Amato Family Law also provides top-notch litigation services and an unwavering commitment to successful resolution for our clients in all family law matters.


Our Attorneys & Staff

Susan Amato

Founding Member

In 1992, after nearly a decade as a successful attorney and divorce mediator, Susan Amato founded her own practice with a focus on mediation and family law matters. Susan is a recognized trailblazer in mediation and collaborative law, on the forefront of introducing, developing and utilizing these methods in the St. Louis legal arena. She also has years of experience resolving complex family matters through litigation.

Susan received her B.A. from St. Lawrence University and her law degree from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis.

She has been named for many years by Saint Louis Magazine and by U.S. News as a “Best Lawyer” in the areas of Collaborative Family Law and Family Law Mediation, and has been named by Best Lawyers in America as 2015, 2019, and 2023 St. Louis Collaborative Law: Family Law “Lawyer of the Year" and in 2016 as Best Lawyers St. Louis Family Law Mediation “Lawyer of the Year”. She was awarded the Missouri Lawyer's Media 2009 Women in the Law Citizenship Award. Susan holds the Martindale Hubbell “AV” Peer Review Rating for achieving the highest level of professional excellence.

Susan was the founding President of the Collaborative Family Law Association in St. Louis, has served as treasurer and on the board, most recently serving as President of the association in 2017-2018. She is an Advanced Practitioner Member of the Family Section of the Association for Conflict Resolution and a Certified Advanced Practitioner member of the Academy of Professional Family Mediators. Susan is a member of and served on the board of the Association for Missouri Mediators, is a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. She is a member of the Missouri Bar Association, the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Missouri and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. She maintains membership in the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and the Women Lawyer’s Association.

Susan speaks regularly on mediation, collaborative law and family law issues.



Gayle Tiemann

Paralegal

Gayle Tiemann is the newest member of the Amato Family Law team. Mrs. Tiemann holds a B.S. in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and a Certification in Legal Assistance from St. Louis Community College. Gayle has been in the legal profession for over 20 years with experience in intellectual property, corporate law and estate planning. She currently serves as paralegal and assists with many aspects of office management.

In her spare time, Gayle enjoys spending time with her husband and children. She also enjoys fitness programs and playing tennis.


We Can Help

Whether you are involved in a straightforward, uncontested divorce, work in a mediation or a collaborative process, or require contested litigation, the professionals at Amato Family Law will work as a team to provide you with effective and efficient representation through your family law matter. Our staff is available to assist you through routine matters and our attorneys have the experience to guide you through the most complex of family law matters