Our Attorneys

Year Joined Organization

• 1996

Areas of Practice

• Marital Dissolution
• Juvenile Law
• Custody
• Paternity
• Adoption
• Appeals

Certification/Specialties

• Family Early Case Management & Financial Early Neutral Evaluation-FENE, 2008
• Certified Family Law Mediator, 2004

Bar Admissions

• Minnesota, 1994
• U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1999

Education

• William Mitchell College of Law, St Paul, Minnesota, June, 1994
  Juris Doctor
  Law Review: William Mitchell Law Review, Staff Writer
  
  
• Concordia College, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1989
  Bachelor of Arts
  Major: Communication and Organizational Behavior
  
  

Published Works

• Did You Say Divorce Camp?, Inside the Hennepin Lawyer, December, 2009
• Notes and Trends Column (Regular Contributor), Minnesota Bench and Bar, 1996-2003, 1996

Representative Cases

• Mize v. Kendall, 621 N.W.2d 894 (Minn. App 2001)
• In Re the Welfare of the Children of T.J.M, A07-1328 (Minn.App. 2007)
• Zapfel v. Zapfel, C8-02-1759 (Minn. App. 2003)
• In the Matter of S.F.P. and D.B.L.P. to adopt J.G.E., C6-00-24 and C4-00-68 (Minn.app. 2000)
• In Re the Matter of the Welfare of R.G.W., C5-98-983 (Minn.App. 1998)
• In Re the Matter of the Welfare of A.L.A., C0-97-2176 and C2-97-2292 (Minn.App. 1998)
• Schroeder v. Schroeder, C7-98-130 (Minn.App. 1998)
• In Re the Matter of the Welfare of Q.T.B. f/k/a/ J.T.B., C7-97-2093 and C9-97-2094 (Minn.App. 1998)
• In Re the Matter of the Welfare of A.N.A., CO-97-1688 (Minn.App. 1998)
• In Re the Matter of the Welfare of B.L.R., CO-97-1108 (Minn.App. 1997)
• In Re the Marriage of Christopherson v. Christopherson, CO-96-2491 (Minn.App. 1997)
• In Re the Termination of Parental Rights of Edward Landt to J.J.L., C3-961836 (Minn.App. 1997)
• In Re the Marriage of Christopherson v. Christopherson, C9-95-2284 (Minn.App. 1996)

Classes/Seminars Taught

• The Basics of Property Division, Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) 30th Annual Family Law Institute, March 30, 2009
• The Basics of Spousal Maintenance, Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) 29th Annual Family Law Institute, April 1, 2008
• Drafting Parenting Plans that Work for Parents and Children, Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) 23rd Family Law Institute, March 25, 2002
• Family Law Litigation in Minnesota, National Business Institute, December 18, 2001
• Childrens Records Law in Minnesota, Lorman Education Services, November 14, 2001
• Childrens Records Law in Minnesota, Lorman Education Services, August 2, 2001
• Surrogacy Contracts, Resolve Infertility Symposium, May 3, 1997

Honors and Awards

• Featured as a Super Lawyer of Law & Politics, 2007 - Present
• Featured as a Rising Star of Law & Politics, 2002 - 2003
• Featured as a Rising Star of Law & Politics, 1998

Professional Associations and Memberships

• American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), 2004 - Present
  Fellow
  
  
• American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), 2008 - Present
  MSBA Liaison
  
  
• Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), Children and the Law Section, 1998
  Special Projects Committee
  
  
• HCBA Juvenile Law Committee, 1997 - 1999
  Co-Chair
  
  

Past Employment Positions

• Hon. Charles A. Porter, Jr., Chief Judge of Juvenile Court, District Court of Minnesota, Fourth Judicial District. Minneapolis, Minnesota, Law Clerk, 1994 - 1995
• IDS Financial Corporation. Minneapolis, Minnesota, Contract Law Clerk, 1994

Pro Bono Activities

• Hennepin County Limited Scope Legal Services Program, 2009 - Present
• Fourth Judicial District Ethics Committee: Investigator & Panel Member, 2001 - Present
• Prairie View Elementary Art Masterpiece Program (MIA), 2008 - 2009
• Children's Workshop Minnetonka a Montessori Environment: Board Member, 2003 - 2007
• Chrysalis Law Advisory Committee: Member, 2004 - 2008
• Ad Hoc Surrogacy Committee: Member, 2000 - 2001
• Commissioner Eden Prairie Heritage Preservation Commission: Board Member, 1997
• Special Olympics: Host/Translator, 1991

Languages

• Flemish
• Dutch
• French

Birth Information

• Alassio, Italy