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In advance of International Women’s Day on Sunday 8 March, we take a moment to celebrate our past women President’s of the IAFL. The trailblazer was Jacqueline Leong QC, SC who became President in 2004. Not only was Jackie the first woman President but she was also the first IAFL President who was not from the USA or Europe. In her home jurisdiction of Hong Kong, Jackie was the first women silk, she was the first woman to sit on the High Court Bench as Deputy and then Recorder. She was also the first woman President of the Hong Kong Bar Association and the first woman President among all the Commonwealth Bar Associations. Currently she is the only woman to have been made a Life Member of the Hong Kong Bar Association. In the words of our President Elect, Suzanne Todd, Jackie “smashed the glass ceiling”. Jackie has been followed by an equally impressive slate of other women Presidents, Cheryl Hepfer, Nancy Berg, Mia Reich-Sjögren, Marlene Moses, Rachael Kelsey and Heather Hostetter. On International Women’s Day, the theme of which is Give to Gain emphasizing the power of reciprocity and support, we thank each and everyone of them for their dedication, service, enthusiasm and commitment. Their giving has very much been to IAFL’s gain.
Hostetter Strent, LLC has been recognized as a second tier firm in the 2026 Doyle's Guide for Leading Family, Matrimonial & Divorce Law Firms in Washington, D.C.
In addition, Heather Hostetter was recognized as preeminent, Sheila Kadagathur as recommended, and Jessica Saunders as a Rising Star.
Heather Hostetter, Amy Strent, Sheila Kadagathur, Emily Folio, Becky Cohn, Jessica Saunders, Chelsie Deusa and Alexandra Strollo were recognized as Super Lawyers in the Maryland 2026 Super Lawyers Magazine.
Jessica, Chelsie and Alexandra were recognized as Rising Stars; Heather, Amy, Sheila, Emily and Becky were recognized as a Super Lawyer. Amy and Sheila were also recognized in the lists for the Top 50 women attorneys and Top 100 attorneys; and Heather made the lists of Top 5 attorneys in Family Law, Top 10 attorneys, Top 100 attorneys, and Top 50 women attorneys.
Hostetter Strent, LLC has been recognized in the 2026 Best Law Firms® rankings for Family Law and Family Law Mediation in Washington, D.C.
Heather Hostetter, Amy Strent and Sheila Kadagathur are honored to have been recognized in the Washingtonian Top Divorce Lawyers list for 2025.
Heather Hostetter was a featured speaker at Modern Revival’s October’s Women Experience event on October 20, 2025. Thank you to Mikel Blair, co-founder of Modern Revival, for inviting Heather to speak to such a dynamic and thoughtful group of women.
Heather and the immediate past President, Rachael Kelsey of Scotland, at the President’s dinner of the annual general meeting of the IAFL in Nairobi, Kenya. View Tweet
On September 6, 2025, Heather Hostetter became the President of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (“IAFL”). The IAFL is a worldwide association of practicing attorneys who are recognized by their peers as part of a rigorous admissions process as the most experienced and skilled family law practitioners in their respective countries. There are 124 jurisdictions around the globe represented in the IAFL with 1,077 fellows. The mission of the IAFL is to improve the practice of law and the administration of justice in the areas of divorce and family law throughout the world. Heather has been on the IAFL board as Assistant Treasurer, then Treasurer, and then President-elect since 2019.
Heather Hostetter, Amy Strent, Sheila Kadagathur, Emily Folio, and Jessica Saunders were acknowledged in The Best Lawyers in America (2026 Edition) for Family Law in Bethesda, MD. Heather Hostetter also received recognition for Family Law Mediation in Bethesda, MD. In addition, Ms. Hostetter received the distinguished Lawyer of the Year award for Family Law Mediation in Washington, DC.
Congratulations to Heather Hostetter, who was honored on May 28, 2025, as the 2025 Honorary Life Bar Leader by the Foundation of the Montgomery County, Maryland Bar Association.
Heather Hostetter, Amy Strent, Sheila Kadagathur, Emily Folio, Becky Cohn, Jessica Saunders, Chelsie Deusa and Alexandra Strollo were recognized as Super Lawyers in the Maryland 2025 Super Lawyers Magazine.
Jessica, Chelsie and Alexandra were recognized as Rising Stars; Emily and Becky were recognized as a Super Lawyer; Amy and Sheila were recognized in the lists for the Top 50 women attorneys and Top 100 attorneys; and Heather made the lists of Top 10 attorneys, Top 100 attorneys and Top 50 women attorneys.
