My professional life became transformed when I learned about Collaborative Practice. I realized that rather than being part of a system that often further damages family relationships, I could be part of a restorative system. The Collaborative process helps couples and families transition to their new configuration and pays attention to family relationships by creating enduring and lasting agreements that work for both parties and their children. My practice is focused primarily on Collaborative family law, mediation, and cooperative settlement, as well as estate planning and appellate work. I provide the first 30 minutes of consultations at no cost, often with both parties, to discuss their options and inform them about the value of using the Collaborative process. My main office is in St. Paul and I also have an office presence in Edina at the Collaborative Alliance at 3300 Edinborough Way, Suite 550.
Collaborative Practice pays attention to the relationships within families and calls on each party and their attorney to bring their best selves to the process. By doing so, participants can be mindful of each partys needs and desires when deciding how best to end the marriage, divide property, redefine the family, and begin new lives. The collaborative process helps individuals make better decisions about their futures, create longer lasting and mutually acceptable settlements, and minimize the emotional and financial cost of divorce. I know that divorcing couples, and their children, who use the collaborative process walk away stronger and in a better position emotionally, financially and relationally than if they took the adversarial route. I am committed to making the transition from divorce respectful and dignified.
| Year | Training Type | Instructor | Hours |
| 2013 | Mediation & Collaborative | Chip Rose | 9.00 |
| 2013 | IACP Forum & Leadership Academy | Ann Lucas & Nancy Cameron, Other | 20.00 |
| 2013 | Working with High Conflict Clients | Bill Eddy, LICSW, JD,CFLS | 7.50 |
| 2013 | Divorce & Recovery | Solutions & The Retreat | 8.00 |
| 2012 | Conflict Management and Teams | Susan Gamache | 9.00 |
| 2010 | Conflict Resolution Training – Domestic Violence | CLI Annual Meeting | 4.50 |
| 2010 | Conflict Resolution Training | Rebecca Picard | 2.00 |
| 2010 | Advanced Collaborative Law Training – Neuroscience | Fauss & Hembree | 6.00 |
| 2009 | Basic Interdisciplinary Training – The New Collaborative Experience | CLI Training | 6.00 |
| 2009 | Conflict Resolution Training | Tom Esch | 7.00 |
| 2009 | Intermediate Interdisciplinary Training | IACP Forum Mpls | 14.00 |
| 2008 | Intermediate Interdisciplinary Training | Linda Solomon | 6.00 |
| 2008 | Conflict Resolution Training | Rebecca Picard | 6.00 |
| 2008 | Advanced Collaborative Law Training | Pauline Tessler | 2.00 |
| 2008 | Intermediate Interdisciplinary Training MICOD | Isolina Ricci, Ph.D | 6.00 |
| 2008 | Advanced Collaborative Law Training | Emily Gould & Rebecca Picard | 6.00 |
| 2008 | Advanced Interdisciplinary Training | Linda Solomon | 16.00 |
| 2008 | Intermediate Interdisciplinary Training | IACP Forum New Orleans | 20.00 |
| 2007 | Intermediate Interdisciplinary Training MICOD | William Eddy, LLCSW, JD | 9.00 |
| 2007 | Advanced Collaborative Law Training | Sharon Strand Ellison | 12.00 |
| 2006 | Mediation Training | Susan D. Mainzer & Katherine Nevins, Ph.D | 40.00 |
| 2006 | Basic Interdisciplinary Training | Victoria Smith & Dr. Susan Gamache | 12.00 |
| 2005 | Basic Collaborative Law Training | Collaborative Law Institute of MN | 6.00 |
| 2005 | Basic Collaborative Law Training – Chip Rose Video | Â | 6.00 |
| 2005 | Intermediate Collaborative Law Training | Janis Pritchard & Brad Hunter | 4.25 |
| 2014 | IACP Forum in Vancouver | IACP | 9.00 |
- Family Law
- Mediation
- Other
- Will & Estate Planning
Law School: Hamline University School of Law
- Juris Doctor
- Member of the Collaborative Law Institute, Minnesota
- CLI Training Committee co-chair 2017-present
- CLI Public Education/Outreach past co-chair
- CLI Excellence Committee past co-chair
- Co-President of CLI 2011 and 2018
- CLI Board of Trustees 2009-2012 and 2017-2019, Secretary 2008
- Member of the International Association of Collaborative Professionals
- Member of Minnesota State Bar Association and Family Law Section
- Member of Ramsey County Bar Association
- Volunteer Attorney with Southern MN Regional Legal Services
