We are a small law office located in a friendly neighborhood in San Francisco. We offer personal care and full legal help in the domestic adoption process to expectant parents who are interested in placing their child for adoption and to families looking to adopt a child.  We work with adopting parents from all over the State of California and can assist expectant parents throughout the United States. As of January 2003, we can also work with adoptive parents outside of California, if they have an identified birth mother within California. We finalize approximately fifty adoptions a year, so we can work closely together and pay attention to your needs.  As a law office, we do our best to ensure a safe, legal, ethical adoption.

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Philosophy of the Adoption Law Offices of Adams & Romer
I believe that adoption is a positive way to build a loving family.  Open adoption enables birth parents and the adoptive parents to have control over the adoption process.  You can be an active participant, planning your relationship between birth parents and adoptive parents during the pregnancy, at the hospital, and in the future.  I have found that success is more likely when all parties are full partners in the adoption process.  I love my work because it allows me to combine my expertise in adoption law with the personal side of people's lives.  No lawyer can guarantee success, but you will receive my full attention and support with the goal of bringing a child into a safe loving home. That is my promise!  

How did the firm begin more than 60 years ago?
Philip Adams (1905-1997), was a leader among adoption attorneys, having specialized in adoptions for 60 years.  He completed over 5000 adoptions and was a founding member of the Academy of California Adoption Lawyers.
 
Susan and Phil became partners when he was in his 80's, wanting a younger attorney to share his work in adoptions.  He authored "Adoption Practice in California" which was the primary text on California Adoption law. Phil was a significant leader in open adoption, a process in which the birth mother, with the help of an attorney, is able to choose the adoptive parents, rather than have an agency determines where her child would be placed.

Our Staff

Susan Romer, Managing Attorney, received her law degree from Golden Gate University School of Law and has extensive training in mediation. She also holds a PhD in Education from UC Berkeley and a Masters degree from Northwestern University. Susan graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University in New York City.  She is an active member of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys (AAAA), the Academy of California Adoption Lawyers (ACAL), RESOLVE, and the California State Board Committee on Adoption.

Charlie Spiegel, Associate Attorney, has worked and volunteered in diverse aspects of family formation and civil rights law since his graduation with honors from New York University Law School in 1987.  Charlie was born and grew up in Washington D.C., attended Wesleyan University (Ct.) and lived throughout New England before moving his practice of law to San Francisco in 1989.  Charlie writes and speaks extensively on adoption and civil rights, and is an active founding parent of the San Francisco Friends School.  Charlie adopted his daughter -- and together they remain in touch with her Northern California birth family.  Charlie readily shares his experiences as an adoptive parent-- when relevant and as desired by our clients. 

Michelle Nobriga, JD, MBA, has been working in association with Adams & Romer since 2001 and came on board full time in March 2005. She earned her law and MBA degrees from Golden Gate University in San Francisco.  Michelle is originally from Kailua, Hawaii where she worked as a Counselor for women in crisis and was certified through the State of Hawaii in domestic violence and HIV/Aids testing and education. 

Nina Anderson, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, has been with Adams & Romer since 2002. She came to us with 7 years experience in working with children and families in the child protective services arena.  Her primary role is to work closely with expectant parents in all stages of their adoption plan.  She also assists our adoptive families by evaluating their needs and developing realistic goals in their adoption process.

Lorena Barajas, Senior Administrator, has been with Adams & Romer since 2003.  Lorena is most likely the first person who will greet you when you call our office.  She will assess your needs and direct you to the appropriate person in the office who can best assist you.  Lorena is fluent in Spanish and does an excellent job of ensuring that our office runs smoothly. 

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