Law Firm Profile

On the first business day at Cage & Miles, LLP, owners Jaime Cage JD ‘12 and Shannon Miles JD ‘06 found themselves sitting on their new office floor amidst a swirl of activity. Cage was calling the phone company to get a business line set up for the firm. Her dad was on hand to help move furniture and paint the walls. Miles had a binder and files spread out before her and was on a call with opposing counsel for a client.

“My dad says it was the perfect representation of our partnership. Shannon working on a case and me handling the business side,” recalls Cage.

That was seven years ago. The two say they couldn’t have imagined Cage & Miles would be so successful, so quickly. This is especially true for Miles, who didn’t necessarily have the entrepreneurial spirit. As fate would have it, she met the perfect business partner while working as an attorney at the Law Offices of Nancy J. Bickford, APC.

“We instantly became friends. We worked well at that firm together for a few years before we decided to take the leap and go out on our own,” said Miles.

Today the Cal Western alumni focus on family law, trust and estate planning, bankruptcy, and more. With 21 attorneys on its legal team, Cage & Miles has built a stellar reputation as one of the best family law firms in San Diego. The team’s enviable reputation includes serving more than 1,100 clients, receiving 11 awards, and featuring nearly 50 employees, including 11 Certified Family Law Specialists. Cage & Miles has been named as one of the Best Law Firms in America by U.S. News & World Report since 2019. Miles has been named one of the Best Lawyers in America since 2016 and as a Super Lawyer since 2020. Cage has been named a Super Lawyer Rising Star since 2020. In an industry where only 23% of equity partners are women, the female-owned and led Cage & Miles stands head and shoulders above the competition by leading with excellence in family law, civility, and a client-first mindset. The pair have left a trail of glowing reviews and satisfied clients on Google, LinkedIn, Yelp, and other sites.

“Few people in San Diego have the expertise and deep level of knowledge in family law that Shannon Miles possesses. She and her team are fantastic at what they do and set reasonable expectations for their clients. They are sensitive to the delicate nature of family dynamics and know how to fight for their clients. I cannot recommend her strongly enough. Truly professional and dedicated to her clients,” wrote Christina C. on Facebook.

Over and over again, clients share stories that express their gratitude for the firm’s ability to balance empathy, family law expertise, and the highest level of professionalism. And perhaps the most essential quality that shines through is Cage & Miles’ deep commitment to championing their clients’ interests and helping them find the clarity and peace of mind to move forward, even amidst the most painful and hopeless situations.

“Few people in San Diego have the expertise and deep level of knowledge in family law that

Shannon Miles possesses. She and her team are fantastic at what they do and set reasonable expectations for their clients.”

- Christina C.

Partner, Shannon Miles ’06

“If you are looking for the right attorneys to help you navigate the treacherous waters of the family court system, search no more. Shannon Miles and Jaime Cage will bring you safely to the other side of your divorce, no matter how stormy things look regarding custody, support, visitation, or division of property,“ Soncee P. wrote on Google. “They were my life raft when I felt like I would surely drown. You can trust that they will have your best interest at heart – always.”

Clients consistently describe a tough yet fair team that is always mindful of the human component and long-term impact of family law for all involved — especially the children. That’s not surprising considering Miles’ wealth of experience as a Court Appointed Minor’s Counsel, President of the San Diego Family Law Bar Association, and as a member of the prestigious American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

“When you represent the children, you get a deep sense of who you’re impacting by your choices and the guidance you give as the attorney,” said Miles. “You start to see the real-world impact of how I can help a family through the right type of counsel that takes down the conflict. We have the opportunity to help parents focus on what’s most important — ensuring their children turn into happy, healthy, functioning adults,” she said.

Cage’s leadership positions with the North County Certified Family Law Specialists and her long-standing commitment to serving families since her early days as a law student at Cal Western have been equally impactful. Cage speaks fondly of her experiences with the San Diego Family Justice Center, the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, and the valuable Clinical Externship Program that paired her with Wilkinson & Finkbeiner, LLP, which helped solidify her passion for family law.

“They really set us up for success in the top firms in town. Now that I look back at it, I understand what an amazing opportunity it was, and I didn’t even realize it then,” said Cage.

Over the years, the two have used their diverse professional experiences to shape the firm’s values, establish an elite track record in family law, and remain steadfast in their commitment to investing in talent. They’ve never lost sight of the people and experiences that brought them to where they are today.

“Scott, the attorney I worked for as part of my externship, took the time to mentor me, grow me, and invest in me,” said Cage. “Shannon and I both had mentors, and if it weren’t for those experiences, I don’t think we would be where we are today.”

“ We sit with our attorneys and ask, ‘How can we help you do what you’re passionate about?’ ”

- Shannon Miles

Now, the pair strive to pay it forward in their firm. The partners are proud of their associate attorneys, like Mehry Mohseni ‘15, who have grown alongside the firm. Fresh out of law school, Cage and Miles allowed Mohseni to attend hearings and work closely with the team on cases. Now Mohseni is running her cases, involved in Lawyers Club and Free to Thrive while using her skills as an attorney to serve the community. Cage and Miles view supporting Mohseni’s and other attorneys’ passions as one of the key ways they can recruit and retain talent.

“We sit with our attorneys and ask, ‘How can we help you do what you’re passionate about?’ In addition to leadership opportunities, we learn many of our attorneys are passionate about service to the community, pro bono work, and representation of underrepresented communities,” said Miles. “We’ll let them take on pro bono cases or charge a lower rate so they can represent people that maybe otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford our service. We try to do everything we can to help them meet those goals.”

As a result, experienced and new attorneys alike are drawn to their firm for its game-changing leadership and willingness to invest in and cultivate talent. And there are no intentions to slow down. The two see a thriving future for both their firm and the legal community that includes a fourth location for Cage & Miles, expanding practice areas to adoption and guardianship, and more community involvement. As incoming president, Cage has plans to reignite the teaching element of law with North County Certified Family Law Specialists that she and Miles benefitted from as younger attorneys.

“There was an old guard of attorneys that put on these seminars and invested in teaching the younger attorneys about discovery or evidence or just the basics of trial skills,” Cage said. “Now we’re looking around and asking ourselves, ‘Who’s going to be teaching the next generation these skills?’”

“It’s our turn. In fact, it’s our job to start teaching in a bigger way,” she said.

And, while the two don’t brand themselves outright as a women-led firm, one thing is clear: The next generation of attorneys will be watching and taking note as Cage & Miles create a whole new league of diverse, female-dominated law firms changing the law landscape in San Diego and beyond. Partner, Jaime Cage ’12