As every attorney knows there are highs and lows. Great clients, and challenging ones. But through all the ups and downs Gisondo has never lost his passion to help and counsel those in the throes of some of the most emotional experiences of their lives.

“When a client hires you, they have a million questions,” he says. “They don’t know if they can trust you, they are skeptical of the legal system, they have no idea what the next year, two years, five years looks like. You know, family law is a home problem and when that person sits across from you, they feel lost. Everything in their life is about to change. Their relationship with their kids is changing. Their relationship with their spouse is changing. The home their living in might not be there anymore. Everything is changing and they have no idea what to do.

“But then, when the case is over, whether it be a settlement or a trial, you see that calmness and sense of ‘Wow, I made it through’ that’s really the reward that I get. Occasionally, I’ll run into a client three or four years later and they express to me, ‘You were right, I really am OK.’”

Even after all these years, Gisondo is sensitive to the nature of his work. His compassion goes a long way in helping these people bridge their lives and be able to continue.

When asked about the challenges of being a family law attorney, he smiles and says, “While I can be as sympathetic and compassionate as I am toward my clients, I’m always mindful to not cross that line to where I adopt their problems as my own. I am a passionate advocate, but it helps no one if I get too emotionally involved. I believe when a lawyer gets in too deep with a client, they lose their ability to do their job and they’re really no different than the client.

“Lawyers shouldn’t be angry at the other party,” he continues. “They should be advocates for what their clients want while at the same time maintaining their professionalism. Our job is to help calm the situation not fueling it.”