About Mark
Mark E — Sullivan is a seasoned family law attorney based in Raleigh, North Carolina. He has been practicing law since 1976, focusing exclusively on family law since 1981. In 1989, he became a Board-Certified Specialist in Family Law, a designation he has maintained for over three decades. Sullivan is also a Family Law Arbitrator, reflecting his expertise in resolving disputes outside traditional court settings. He is the principal of Sullivan & Hilscher Family Law, a firm he co-founded, which specializes in family law matters, including military divorce and military pension division.
The firm is located at 5511 Capital Center Drive, Suite 320, Raleigh, NC 27606 — Sullivan earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1971. Prior to his legal career, he graduated from Kenyon College in Ohio. His military service as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer in the U.S. Army Reserve has significantly influenced his practice, particularly in military family law. He retired with the rank of colonel, receiving the Legion of Merit for his distinguished service.
Throughout his career, Sullivan has been deeply involved in professional organizations. He served as the vice-chair of the Family Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association in 1986 and was a past president of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. His contributions to military family law are notable; he co-founded the Military Committee of the North Carolina State Bar in 1981 and has been its director since then. He also chaired the Military Committee of the ABA Family Law Section and served on the ABA Working Group for the Protection of the Rights of Servicemembers. Sullivan has authored "The Military Divorce Handbook," published by the American Bar Association, and has conducted over 100 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) presentations on family law, military divorce, and military pension division.
His expertise has been recognized with the Grassroots Advocacy Award from the ABA in 2014 for his work on military custody and the Legal Assistance Distinguished Service Award from the ABA in 2013. In 2023, he received the Family Law Section’s Distinguished Service Award from the North Carolina Bar Association. He is a member of several professional associations, including the North Carolina State Bar, the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, the American Bar Association, the Judge Advocates Association, the Reserve Officers Association. The Wake County Bar Association. Sullivan's experience and dedication to family law have made him a respected figure in his field.
