Our Attorneys

Year Joined Organization

• 2000

Areas of Practice

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

Bar Admissions

• Minnesota, 1999

Education

• University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1999
  J.D.
  Honors: Cum Laude
  Honors: Dean's List With An "A" Average, 1998 - 99 and 1997 - 98
  Honors: National Moot Court, Administrative Director 1998 - 99, Member 1997 - 98
  Honors: Legal Writing Student Instructor
  Honors: Honor Code Council Representative
  Honors: Kennth and Lilliam Smith Scholarship
  Honors: Judicial Externship with The Hon. Gary Larson (4th Judicial District)
  
  
• Minnesota State University, Mankato, Minnesota, 1996
  B.A.
  Honors: Summa Cum Laude
  Honors: G.P.A.: 3.947/4.0
  Honors: Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities (1995-1996)
  Honors: Honors Program, University Scholar Designation
  Honors: Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority, Secretary, Education Director, House Manager
  Honors: Phi Alpha Theta (History Honor Society)
  Major: History
  
  

Published Works

• "Focus On Professionalism", The Hennepin Lawyer, September, 2008
• "Focus On Family Law", The Hennepin Lawyer, May, 2007
• Birth Father's Rights in Adoption: A Minnesota Perspective, (Co-Author with Wright S. Walling, Esq.), Minnesota Institute of Legal Education Seminar Materials, February, 2003

Representative Cases

• Heidbreder v. Carton, 645 N.W.2d 355 (Minn. 2002)
• In The Matter Of The Petition Of T.D. and J.D. to Adopt N.T.K., and B.L.W. as mother and natural guardian of D.J.F., a minor, and D.J.F., individually, v. A.K., as mother and natural guardian of J.M.K., a minor, and J.M.K. individually, 677 N.W.2d 110 (Minn. Ct. App. 2004)
• In Re The Welfare Of The Children Of J.L.H., 2005 WL 3470525 (Minn. Ct. App. 2005)
• Zeidler v. Zeidler, 2004 WL 1326778 (Minn. Ct. App. 2004)
• Brennan v. Braun, 2003 WL 21694157 (Minn. Ct. App. 2003)
• Sundboom v. Keul, 2002 WL 1613866

Classes/Seminars Taught

• Presenter, Essentials of Adoption Law, NBI Adoption Law: Start to Finish, March 5, 2009
• Presenter, International Adoption – Highlights, American Immigration Lawyers
• Presenter, Legalities in Adoption, Children's Home Society & Family Services, 2007
• Adjunct Professor, Adoption Law Class, (Teaching Assistant, to Wright S. Walling, Esq.), University of St. Thomas School of Law

Honors and Awards

• "Rising Star" in Adoption Law, Minnesota Law & Politics, 2005
• Fellow, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, 2006 - Present

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Minnesota Supreme Court Juvenile Protection Rules Committee, 2008 - Present
  Member
  
  
• American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, Fellow - February 2006 to present
  Fellow - February 2006 to present
  
  
• Minnesota State Bar Association, 1999 - Present
  Member
  
  
• Hennepin County Bar Association
  Member
  
  
• Hennepin County Bar Association, 2005 - Present
  Co-Chair, Juvenile Law Section
  
  
• Hennepin County Bar Association, (Bar Association Magazine), 2009 - Present
  Chair, The Hennepin Lawyer Committee
  
  
• Hennepin County Bar Association, (Bar Association Magazine)
  Active Member, The Hennepin Lawyer Committee
  
  
• Minnesota Women Lawyers
  
  

Past Employment Positions

• The Hon. Gary Crippen, Minnesota Court of Appeals, Judicial Law Clerk, 1999 - 2000
• Office of the General Counsel, University of Minnesota, Law Clerk, 1998
• Legal Research and Writing, University of Minnesota Law School, Student Instructor, 1997 - 1998

Fraternities/Sororities

• Phi Alpha Theta