Our Attorneys

Year Joined Organization

• 1991

Areas of Practice

• Adoption
• Appellate Practice
• Assisted Reproductive Technology
• Child in Need of Protection or Services
• Custody
• Domestic Abuse & Harassment
• Marriage Dissolution
• Paternity

Bar Admissions

• Minnesota, 1982
• U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1982
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1994

Education

• William Mitchell College of Law, St Paul, Minnesota, 1982
  Juris Doctor
  Law Review: William Mitchell Law Review, Staff Member, 1980-1981, Editor, 1981-1982, 1980 - 1982
  
  
• University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1979
  Bachelor of Arts
  Honors: Phi Alpha Theta
  Major: Political Science
  
  

Published Works

• The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children: Traps for the Unwary (Co-Author with Kimberly A. Weinacht), MILE Seminar, 2003
• Foster Parent Adoption, Family Law Forum, Summer, 1996

Representative Cases

• In Re the Petition to Adopt: C.M.A., 557 N.W.2d 353 (Minn. Ct. App. 1996)
• In The Matter of the Welfare of L.A.F., 554 N.W.2d 393 (Minn.Sup.Ct. 1996)
• Matter of Custody of S.E.G., 521 N.W.2d 357 (Minn. 1994)
• In Re Custody of K.E.G., 1994 WL 714350 (Minn.App. 1994)
• Matter of Welfare of C.S.C., 1994 WL 273428 (Minn.App. 1994)
• Matter of Welfare of D.A.L., 1993 WL 328760 (Minn.App. 1993)
• In The Matter of the Welfare of D.H., 1992 WL 203253 (Minn.App. 1992)
• Matter of Welfare of J.S., 470 N.W.2d 697 (Minn.App. 1991)
• Durkin v. Hinich, 442 N.W.2d 148 (Minn. 1989)

Classes/Seminars Taught

• Speaker, New and Emerging Issues in Juvenile Law, HCBA-CLE, May, 2002
• Speaker, Legal Issues in Adoption, Resolve, October 13, 2001
• Speaker, Direct Placement Adoption and Advanced Legal Topics in Adoption, Resolve, October 30, 1999
• Speaker, Working with Social Workers and Lawyers as a Team in the Adoption Process, National Conference on Openness in Adoption, October 19, 1998
• Speaker, Direct Placement Adoption, Resolve, October 17, 1998
• Speaker, Use of Alternative Dispute Resolution in Custody and Dissolution, Volunteer Lawyers Network - CLE, June 18, 1996
• MILE topic, March 21, 1996
• How to Succeed In A Foster Care Adoption, Minnesota CLE, November 10, 1995
• Panel Discussion on Visitation, Volunteer Lawyers Network - CLE, June 27, 1995
• Adoption Law Update, Family Law Section Meeting, Minnesota State Bar Association Annual Convention, June, 1995
• Direct Placement Adoption, Resolve, November 5, 1994
• Guardian ad Litem Services, HSA Foster Parent Association, October 29, 1994
• The Foster Parents Role in the Court System, HSA Foster Parent Association, November 20, 1991
• Adoption Law, Minnesota State Bar Association Family Law Section, November 13, 1993
• How To Advocate For A Child In Foster Care, HSA Foster Parent Association, November 7, 1992

Honors and Awards

• Super Lawyers, Law & Politics, 1999 - Present

Professional Associations and Memberships

• American Adoption Congress, 2005 - Present
  Member
  
  
• American Academy of Adoption Attorneys Annual National Conference - CLE, 2002
  Co-Chair
  
  
• Minnesota Legislative Task Force on the Uniform Parentage Act, 2001 - 2002
  Member
  
  
• American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, 1992 - Present
  Fellow
  
  
• Minnesota State Bar Association, 1987 - Present
  Member
  
  
• Hennepin County Bar Association, 1987 - Present
  Member
  
  
• Juvenile Law of Hennepin County Bar Association, 1992 - 1995
  Co-Chair
  
  

Past Employment Positions

• Mahoney, Walling & Kelley, Associate, 1987 - 1991
• Wright S. Walling & Associates, Associate, 1986 - 1987
• District Court of Minnesota, Fourth Judicial District, Honorable Allen Oleisky, Law Clerk, 1984 - 1986
• District Court of Minnesota, Fourth Judicial District, Honorable Rolf Fosseen, Law Clerk, 1983
• Lubov & Foster, Associate, 1982 - 1983

Pro Bono Activities

• Volunteer Lawyers Network, 1991 - Present