Our Team
Darshann M. Wienick, JD, MSW, ACSW
Attorney and Founder
Darshann M. Wienick is an attorney, coach, and therapist providing trauma-informed, child-centered litigation services to individuals engaged in high-conflict divorce/child custody disputes. Ms. Wienick is not just an attorney; she is a dedicated advocate, coach, and therapist. Drawing from personal experience, she understands the trauma associated with high-conflict custody disputes and takes a trauma-informed, child-centered approach.
Ms. Wienick is fervently dedicated to advocating for the best interests of children. Her approach prioritizes mediation, recommending clients engage with qualified high-conflict family law mediators. However, should mediation fall short, Ms. Wienick stands ready to represent her clients in court, always placing the welfare of the children at the forefront.
Professional Background
Commencing her legal career in 2000 as a commercial and environmental litigation attorney in Los Angeles, Ms. Wienick transitioned her focus to family law and child custody when her daughter was born in 2009. In 2022, Ms. Wienick graduated with her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California. She is registered as an Associate Clinical Social Worker with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Ms. Wienick has extensive training in high-conflict dispute resolution in the areas of family law and child custody. Ms. Wienick is a certified coach, co-parenting specialist, experienced litigator, and mental health professional, making her uniquely qualified for high-conflict cases.
Military Service and Education
Ms. Wienick served in the United States Army as a military intelligence linguist from 1989-1993. She was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant. In 1997, she received her undergraduate degrees in political science and Korean studies, magna cum laude, from the University of Washington. She is also a 2000 graduate of the University of California College of Law at San Francisco (formerly U.C. Hastings College of Law), cum laude, and has been a licensed attorney in the state of California since 2000.
Beyond the Courtroom
When she is not working, Ms. Wienick often can be found practicing French on Duolingo. She loves to cook and travel, and she is addicted to British and Nord Noir detective novels and TV series. She currently lives in Orange County, California with her husband, three children, four Salukis, and four cats.
Chelsea Daniel, JD
Associate Attorney
Chelsea Daniel earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Stony Brook University in New York. She then obtained her Juris Doctor degree from Brooklyn Law School. While in law school, she was involved in the Veterans Rights Clinic, founded the Women of Color Alliance, received a scholarship from the Women’s Leadership Network, and took part in Marsha Garrison School’s Family Law and Policy Fellowship. Chelsea also gained practical experience in family law by interning for a Kings County Civil Supreme Court Matrimonial Judge, working as a Judicial Intern for the Queens Family Court, and studying Family Law, Divorce Mediation, and Interviewing and Counseling. After law school, Chelsea spent time working in child protection in New York City, gaining valuable knowledge of our legal system’s handling of matters involving child abuse and domestic violence. Chelsea now works at the Law Office of Darshann M. Wienick, continuing her passion for assisting families with legal matters.
Shahiedah Shabazz
Land Use, Real Estate & Small Business Attorney
Shahiedah is a Chicago native an attorney with 16 years of experience in real estate, corporate, and regulatory law. Shahiedah earned a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from Florida A&M University and Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, where she served as the Editor-in-Chief of a civil rights journal. She also earned her Master’s in Business Administration from Woodbury University. From 2008 through 2019, Shahiedah practiced law throughout California. As an associate at some of the country’s top law firms, she represented developers in land use matters, conducted title clearance and related due diligence in real estate finance deals, negotiated and drafted real estate leases and acquisition documents, and she counseled cannabis companies on state and local licensing and compliance. During that time, she also spent six years working as a municipal attorney throughout Los Angeles County, including four years in the Los Angeles County Counsel’s office.
Shahiedah represents real estate professionals including developers and property owners in commercial and residential matters, and she advises small businesses in corporate matters including contracts, mergers, and corporate strategy. She also continues to represent cannabis business operators in California and Illinois.
Outside of work, Shahiedah is passionate about wellness and affordable housing, and she has served on the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity of Chicago since 2022.
Nicole Velazquez
Paralegal
Nicole Velazquez began her legal journey in her own child custody case where she learned where compassion was lacking in the legal process. She learned to be the change in the legal system that treated children like just a number on the docket by leading with compassion. Graduating with an Associates Degree in Behavioral Science, she decided to begin her pursuit in her legal career as a legal assistant specializing in trial preparation, investigating witnesses, and aiding in the legal process in Criminal Mental Health court. As many of the victims in these criminal proceedings were children, this propelled Ms. Velazquez into seeking out justice for any victims in such cases. Ms. Velazquez was presented with an opportunity to advocate for children in family law cases, and she has not looked back since. Nicole is a graduate of UCLA in Paralegal Studies and continues to give children a voice through her passionate, unwavering advocacy in this pursuit.
