Saraphoena B. (Austin) Koffron co-founded Austin+Koffron with her husband, Attorney Mike Koffron, to advance their passion for family law.
Professionally, Saraphoena recognizes that the legal profession is a service industry, and that the practice of family law supports the core of American society.
Saraphoena’s litigation practice is built on a strong foundation of legal knowledge, a firm understanding of the long-term effects of decisions, and the ability to remain objective even in the most emotionally charged cases. With careful decision-making, foresight, and strategic planning, she works with clients to build a stable litigation plan to withstand anything that the other side may come up with.
As a mediator trained not just in mediation but also in Collaborative Divorce and Parent Coordination, she helps parties avoid principle-based disputes with a systems-based approach to mediation. The greatest service that she can provide, other than improving the law itself through appeals, is to guide parties towards a sensible outcome that they can look back at with dignity knowing that it was attained not with gamesmanship but with honor.
As an appellate advocate, she demonstrates an unwavering commitment to improving the administration of justice in our court system.
Personally, Saraphoena was raised on a farm as the youngest of six children. At a young age, her parents divorced and Saraphoena experienced first-hand the pressures of high-conflict post-judgment custody proceedings. Despite socioeconomic barriers to achievement, Saraphoena tested out of her sophomore year of high school and graduated a year early earning summa cum laude status. She then completed her Bachelor's degree with Honors in just three years - despite having had her first child when she was a teenager.
Following college, Saraphoena spent a year teaching in Los Angeles before starting law school, juggling life as a single mother while in law school and obtaining her Juris Doctorate with Honors (and a Family Law Concentration) at age 24. After having another child, Saraphoena obtained her Master of Laws (LLM) degree at age 29, and won a Michigan Supreme Court case the same year. In 2017, Saraphoena was diagnosed with kidney cancer. Though the diagnosis and treatment reduced her ability to participate in pro bono activities, her commitment to her clients and the practice of law did not waver.
Saraphoena has three children, the oldest of which is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the youngest of which is in elementary school. She is heavily involved in the Jewish community and has a strong belief in the ethical pursuit of justice.
