THERESA A. LYONS - MANAGING PARTNER
Terry graduated from Rutgers School of Law with High Honors. She also has a Master’s Degree in Social Work. Ms. Lyons enjoyed a judicial clerkship with the Honorable Peter G. Verniero of the New Jersey Supreme Court. Ms. Lyons has authored and published numerous articles on a wide variety of topics like family law, the admissibility of expert testimony in federal courts, and free speech on the Internet. In addition to practicing matrimonial law and being a founding member of the firm, Ms. Lyons served as a part-time lecturer at Rutgers University in the Graduate School of Social Work in New Brunswick where she has taught, “Law and Social Workers,” a course dedicated to informing social work students about the law, including the parameters of client confidentialities, how to respond to subpoenas, and how to testify in Court. In her personal life, Ms. Lyons is a foster and adoptive parent to New Jersey’s abused and neglected children, and she has ongoing contact with the Courts and the Division of Youth and Family Services in that regard.

JOHN J. HAYS, II ASSOCIATE

John earned his J.D. from Boston University School of Law. While there, he provided legal services to the Boston homeless community through the Shelter Legal Services, program. He also worked with the disadvantaged at Greater Boston Legal Services and the Boston University Civil Litigation Clinic during his summers. He was a founding member and Secretary of the Boston University chapter of Earth Rights International. Prior to joining Lyons & Associates, John clerked for the Honorable John J. Coyle Jr., J.S.C., of the Warren County Superior Court, in both the Family and Civil Parts.

John is admitted to practice in New Jersey, New York, and the U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey.

 ANGELA S. DIFAZIO, ASSOCIATE
Angela Graduated from Drew University in 2005, with a degree in History, and she received her Juris Doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2008. During law school, she completed a Legal Externship with the firm of Walder, Hayden and Brogan, P.A. Angela enjoyed a Judicial Clerkship with The Honorable Kimarie Rahill, J.S.C. at the Warren County Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part. During her clerkship, Judge Rahill was the only Judge in the State who was responsible for handling every single type of family docket in the county. Both prior to and after her clerkship, Angela worked at the Law Office of S.P. DiFazio handling both family and civil matters.

Angela is admitted to practice in New Jersey and the U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey. She is a member of the American Bar Association, New Jersey Bar Association and the NJSBA Young Lawyers Division.

 TARYN R. ZIMMERMAN, ASSOCIATE
Taryn performed her undergraduate studies at Kutztown University where she majored in Criminal Justice with a Psychology minor. While attending Seton Hall Law School as an evening student, she also held down a full-time career in the financial services industry. She graduated from Seton Hall in 2004. Both during and after law school, Taryn was employed in the Office of General Counsel at two large investment banks. In 2009, she decided to dedicate her practice to families in distress.

Prior to joining the firm, Taryn enjoyed a judicial clerkship with the Honorable Arthur Bergman, lead Children in Court Judge in Middlesex County. During her clerkship, she participated in the planning of the Middlesex Vicinage Aging-Out Youth Training which provided information to teens transitioning from DYFS care to independence.

Taryn is admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey and the U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey. She is a member of the New Jersey Bar Association and the Middlesex County Bar Association.

KRISTYL M. BERCKES, ASSOCIATE
Kristyl graduated from Boston College in 2004, where she earned a degree in both English and Secondary Education, and she received her Juris Doctor from Seton Hall University, School of Law in 2010. Before making the decision to attend law school, Kristyl served as a high school English teacher for the Harrison School District. As a dedicated educator, she continued this full-time career while attending law school in the evening.

Prior to joining Lyons & Associates, P.C., Kristyl enjoyed a judicial clerkship with the Honorable James G. Troiano, J.S.C. in the Essex County Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part.  During this clerkship, Kristyl was responsible for various family matters, including both matrimonial and juvenile cases.  She is also certified through the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts in Mediation and Conciliation Skills, and regularly mediated custody, parenting time, and child support issues for non-dissolution cases.

Kristyl is admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey, and the United States District Court, District of New Jersey. She is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, Essex County Bar Association, and the NJSBA Young Lawyers’ Division.