Gisele Martinez
Gisele Martinez always knew she wanted to practice family law. What she didn’t know was how much the road to get there would shape the attorney she’d become.
After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in Sociology, Gisele spent years working across some of the most demanding intersections of law, community, and human need — mentoring students, working as a probation counselor at Contra Costa County Juvenile Hall, and supporting a psychologist’s caseload at a community mental health clinic. By the time she arrived at law school, she already understood something most new attorneys take years to learn: that the people who walk through a legal office door are rarely just dealing with a legal problem.
At Golden Gate University School of Law, Gisele pursued that understanding with focus and distinction. She graduated in 2019 with her J.D. and Certificates of Specialization in Litigation, Family Law, and Public Interest Law. She earned CALI Awards for Academic Excellence in Ethics in Criminal Justice and Alternative Dispute Resolution, received the Public Interest Scholarship, and served as President of the Women’s Law Association — organizing events that connected practicing attorneys with students to build the kind of relationships to last throughout careers
Family law was always the destination, but after law school, other opportunities arose. During and post law school, Gisele spent several years at a criminal defense non-profit, work that demanded precision, empathy, and the ability to advocate for people in high-stakes situations without losing sight of who they were as human beings. She went on to work in receiverships and employment law, building a broad legal foundation before finding her way to Next Legal and the family law practice, she’d been working toward all along.
“Every client and the circumstances surrounding their case are special and unique in their own way,” Gisele says. “My approach is honest, straightforward, and compassionate. I know my clients are dealing with stressful situations. I want to make sure they feel heard, but also that they have a realistic sense of what to expect going forward.”
Gisele is especially committed to custody and domestic violence restraining order matters, where the stakes are highest for the most vulnerable people involved. She brings the same combination of directness and care to every matter she handles: she won’t tell you what you want to hear if it isn’t true, and she won’t let you face this alone.
A first-generation college graduate and Bay Area native, Gisele is fluent in English and Spanish. Outside the office, you’ll find her outdoors, traveling, cooking, and searching for the best cup of coffee she hasn’t tried yet.
Education
J.D., Golden Gate University School of Law, 2019
B.A. in Sociology, University of California, Berkeley, 2010
Honors & Recognition
CALI Award for Academic Excellence, Alternative Dispute Resolution
CALI Award for Academic Excellence, Ethics in Criminal Justice
Dean’s List, Golden Gate University School of Law
President, Women’s Law Association, Golden Gate University School of Law
Bar Admission
State Bar of California
Languages
English and Spanish (fluent)
Practice Areas
Divorce and Legal Separation
Child Custody and Parenting Plans
Child Support
Spousal Support
Domestic Violence and Restraining Orders
Property Division