Mr. Michael Fischer, Esq.
Michael Fischer is a licensed California attorney licensed to practice in both state and federal court. Mr. Fischer has handled hundreds of contested and uncontested family law matters. He is known for his ability to guide his clients through the tumultuous processes of family court in an aggressive yet compassionate manner.
Mr. Fischer graduated Cum Laude from Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer Indiana with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing and a minor in Political Science. For twenty-two years he oversaw the growth of his photography studio and photo processing laboratory in Soldotna, Alaska as well as owning and operating commercial salmon fishing permits and beach sites in Alaska’s Cook Inlet. Mr. Fischer’s experience as a business owner uniquely qualifies him to assist his clients through the financial turmoil a separation or dissolution may present.
After experiencing his own very contested divorce, he chose to go back to get his law degree in order to help others who have to go through the unwelcome experiences of divorce. Mr. Fischer graduated with a Juris Doctor from McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento California. McGeorge is an American Bar Association-accredited school and has been recognized as one of the top 100 law schools in the United States.
Mr. Fischer has raised a daughter who is a successful business person, a son who is a corporal in the Marine Corps as well as currently raising a two-year-old daughter with special needs, and a one-year-old foster child with his wife of seven years. With his extensive business and financial background and his inimitable life experiences, Mr. Fischer’s uniquely qualified to assist his clients with their family law matters with intelligence empathy, and compassion.
Mr. Craig Van Thiel
Craig Van Thiel is a licensed California attorney specializing in family law matters for over eight years. Specializing in complex family law matters, Mr. Van Thiel has built a reputation for bringing even the most complex family law matters to a just and cost-efficient resolution.
Mr. Van Thiel Graduated from the University of California, Riverside with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He continued his legal education at the University of San Diego School of Law and received his Juris Doctor Degree in 1998. He has also received a degree in Comparative Criminal Law and International Human Rights from the University of San Diego, Dublin Institute on International and Comparative Law.
Before entering private practice Mr. Van Thiel worked for the State Child Support Enforcement Unit and is uniquely aware of the inner workings of the enforcement unit as well as the complexities of child support establishment and enforcement. In private practice, Mr. Van Thiel has asserted himself in the North County legal community as an expert in complex family law litigation. Mr. Van Thiel however, prides himself on his ability to bring even the most complex cases to an amicable agreement without the cost of litigation.
Grant E. Bayerle, Esq.
Attorney Grant E. Bayerle is an associate attorney at Fischer & Van Thiel, LLP. Grant brings a unique perspective to the firm. From a professional standpoint, he has a bachelor’s degree in Finance, with a minor equivalency in Accounting.
He worked as a hedge fund accountant at a major bank prior to returning to law school. While a law student, Grant also competed in and won a statewide business plan competition, defeating 70 other teams as a solo competitor. Following law school, he worked briefly as a Hollywood producer and launched a successful, international television series.
Grant has been a licensed attorney since 2012. He has passed the bar exam in three different states: California, Florida, and West Virginia (all on the first attempt). His strong business background serves to help him tackle complex community property and income available for support issues that are a standard part of divorces and family law cases.
The emotional aspects of family law also resonate with Grant. He comes from a broken family himself, and he understands the difficulties and challenges that accompany a fractured relationship and family and its effects on young children.
He excels at identifying and capturing a situation from a client’s perspective, determining the best strategies going forward, and providing a compelling narrative backed by supporting evidence to paint a picture for the court.
In his spare time, Grant enjoys outdoor adventures, traveling, playing chess, reading, going to the gym, and spending time with his family. He frequently volunteers to coach youth sports teams and is active in a number of local organizations.
