Alimony & Spousal Support, Child Support, Custody & Visitation, Dissolution, Divorce, Juvenile Law, Marital Property, Mediation & Collaborative Law, Military Divorce, Name Change, Paternity, Prenuptial Agreements
Divorce Lawyer in Lake Elmo, MN
Family Law Attorney in Lake Elmo, MN
Child Custody Lawyer in Lake Elmo, MN
Child Support Lawyer in Lake Elmo, MN
Alimony Lawyer in Lake Elmo, MN
Property Division Lawyer in Lake Elmo, MN
Licensed since: 1992
Law school: University of Minnesota Law School
Education: Bachelor of Science, Business, Carlson School of Management, with Honors. I started my undergraduate career at the University of Minnesota, with my initial degree work in an honors program for Engineering, through the Institute of Technology. I am NOT one of those attorneys that doesn't understand math! (Though apparently I still don't understand double negatives.) I did eventually transfer to the Carlson School of Management, preferring to focus on calculations related to revenue rather than physics. I enjoy working on cases that involve complex financial or mathematical issues, whether it's business valuation, or tax issues, or statistical analysis and pension related present value calculations. Even keeping an eye on whether transactions are "above the line" or "below the line" can have a dramatic impact on settlement. The best education though, is working with incredibly talented clients, as well as experts in various fields., 1988; University of MinnesotaLaw School, Juris Doctorate, With Honors. During law school my focus was learning litigation skills, through trial advocacy coursework as well as student attorney clinics. I also worked part time, sometimes full time. By the time I graduated I had participated in drafting nine appellate briefs on behalf of actual clients. I had the opportunity to work with a talented trial lawyer, who involved me in the process of developing cases, literally from doing investigative work in an attempted murder trial, to the other end of the spectrum of representation - drafting appellate briefs. Some of the cases I worked on are still the controlling law to this day, such as Bowman v. Bowman involving the use of subpoenas upon third parties for discovery. Another landmark case is Itasca County Social Services v. Pitzen. In that case the formidable trial attorney that I worked for convinced a jury that Mr. Pitzen was not the legal father, notwithstanding DNA evidence of 99.93% that he was. I did say he was a talented trial attorney! The judge wouldn't allow the verdict to stand though, and overturned the jury's decision by implementing "judgment notwithstanding the verdict." The case still stands today for the presumption of paternity where DNA evidence is statistically significant., 1992; One of my greatest educational opportunities is working with my clients, and the professoinal teams we put together to assist on their cases. I have the valued opportunity to represent many business owners, or their spouses, or clients with complex property or income issues in their family law cases. My clients are often very bright, accomplished individuals, from CEOs, CFOs, University Professors (yes, even law professors and deans need independent counsel), and highly successful entrepreneurs. I learn from every case that I work on, but it is a unique opportunity to have their insight and assistance developing the case. While I will always value my education at the Carlson School of Managment, nothing compares to the lessons I have learned from my clients. You can read about EBITDA in a text book, but it will never be as meaningful as discussing it with the owner or executive that had the vision to change it. There are no "letters" or degrees to capture that kind of learning., 1992
Certifications: Qualified netural under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice. Techinically, being listed as a neutral on the roster is NOT certified. It is a type of special training, originally requiring forty hours of class, followed by annual continuing education devoted to alternative dispute resolution. I am presently included on the Civil and Family Law Rosters, and in Family Law for Facilitative / Hybrid, Adjudicative, and Evaluative services., 1996; Certified as a Rescue Diver. I'm used to swimming with sharks so it was pretty easy.....
Professional activity: Board of Directors, National Association of Women Business Owners; Director, Community Mediation Program; Member of the Collaborative Law Institute since 1996 to present, tenant at the Collaborative Alliance in Edina, Forner Member of the Strategic Planning Committee, Former Chair of the Membership Committee; Washington County Bar Association; Member, Hennepin County Bar Association, Family Law Section; Board of Directors, North Hennepin Mediation Program; Member, Minnesota State Bar Association, Family Law Section