Daniel Riley

Daniel Riley

Daniel specializes in the preparation of domestic relations orders (QDROs) and complex litigation involving retirement assets. He is recognized as a Certified QDRO Professional by the American Association of Certified QDRO Professionals. This is a rare designation granted to those who have completed a 120-hour certification program and passed a rigorous series of exams. Daniel is experienced in preparing domestic relations orders involving all manner of retirement accounts, including:

• Savings Plans, such as 401(k) and 403(b) plans
• Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
• Health Savings Accounts
• Deferred Compensation, such as 457(b) plans, Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans, and Top Hat plans
• Employee Stock Option Plans, including those that involve Restricted Stock Units, Phantom Shares, and other such components
• Federal, State, and municipal pension plans, such as Arizona State Retirement System, Public Safety Personnel Retirement System, Deferred Retirement Option Plan, City of Phoenix Employees’ Retirement System, Corrections Officer Retirement Plan, Elected Officials’ Retirement Plan, Federal Employees’ Retirement System, and Thrift Savings Plan
• Private-sector pension plans, including those managed by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation

Daniel graduated from Arizona State University in 2008 and has practiced family law exclusively since 2011, when he began managing a family law clinic partnered with Arizona State University. Daniel is an experienced trial attorney who has taught Continuing Legal Education seminars on trial advocacy. He is also an accomplished appellate attorney and has argued several important cases that have influenced the development of family law in Arizona, especially with respect to the division of retirement accounts.

In his free time, Daniel enjoys hiking, reading, and writing.

Awards + Publications + Presentations

• Winner of the Arizona State Bar Association’s 2021 arts competition for a work of fiction, which was published in Arizona Attorney magazine.
• Earned an Honorable Mention in the Arizona State Bar Association’s 2020 arts competition for a work of nonfiction, which was published in Arizona Attorney magazine.
• Recipient of the Charlotte Paul Reese Award for Short Fiction.
• Twice been invited as a storyteller by the Arizona Storytellers Project.
• Recognized for pro bono services during the National Pro Bono Celebration.
• In 2015, Daniel coauthored Foundations of Aviation Law with Michael Pearson.