After law school, I returned to Portland in 2005 to find a practice partner or mentor. Instead, I found a void to fill.

​In 2005, the number of mediators was relatively small, and I discovered that every mediator in the tri-county area was either underqualified or overpriced. Regrettably, 21 years later, not much has changed. ​

I founded my divorce mediation practice, then in Downtown Portland, to give divorcing couples and their children a break from the sky-high fees, drawn-out processes, and long wait times that were the norm.

Two decades later, that need is as urgent as ever. In a metro area of 2.5 million people, there are about three Portland-area mediators who have law degrees and charge reasonable fees. Of those, I am the only one who provides the range of services that I offer, and I have the lowest fees.

When one is starting out, one must prioritize flexibility and affordability just to stay afloat in a new practice. I was no exception. Now, though, what was once a necessity has become my brand. Know more and do more, while also being cost-effective, reliable, and ethical.

Over the past 21 years, my process has become more comprehensive while also becoming more efficient. What once took eight sessions now takes three or four -- and it includes more than it originally did. I have continued to keep families' costs as low as possible. My total fees for the typical mediation process are 25% less in 2026 than they were in 2005.

When you trust me with your divorce mediation, you can be assured that I will be for you what I have required of myself for the past 21 years.

Offering value without compromising values

Selecting a divorce mediator who does not hold a law degree is like wearing a tank top and shorts during a blizzard: Both are allowed, but neither is wise.

Divorce is a legal matter. The person helping you through it must have legal skills and knowledge that only law school can teach and no amount of self-study or in-office exposure can replace. As you search for a family law mediator, the lack of a law degree should be disqualifying.

As the law changes frequently, one must be aware of those changes and able to read statutes and regulations fluently and research case precedents for up-to-date knowledge.

Law-Degreed and Law-Aware

Your mediator must have broad and deep knowledge of divorce finance. Every divorce worth mediating has financial components.

I spent two years taking a reduced caseload so that I could expand my knowledge of divorce finance and develop a comprehensive and innovative protocol. It's not enough to tell divorcing clients what people "usually do." There is no "usual" divorce.

If your mediator can't offer you at least three ways to approach every decision so that you can choose the best one for you in light of the pros and cons that your mediator should be able to explain, she or he doesn't know enough to assist you.

Finance-Trained

I have worked with parents, teens, and preteens for 21 years. Through broad and thorough experience, I have come to understand clients spanning multiple generations. It's not possible to write a thorough parenting plan if it doesn't meet the needs of all of the people who will be involved in following it.

Relatable to the whole family

Although I employ a part-time staff, I do not delegate client contact to my staff. If you leave a message for me or send me an email, you will receive a response the same day (or early the next day if the contact is in the evening), and it will come directly from me.

I offer morning, afternoon, and evening sessions Monday through Friday. I am also available on Saturdays and Sundays by request. What is more, I will always be able to start your mediation within one week – often sooner. I leave room in my schedule to keep that promise. Few other mediators -- if any -- offer such extensive scheduling.

Accessible and available