Gary A. Debele

Attorney

Minneapolis

612-672-3667

gdebele@messerlikramer.com

Assistant: Lisa Olson

612-672-3620

Profile Representative Experience Publications & Presentations Professional & Community Honors & Distinctions

Profile

Gary Debele is a 1987 graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School and since 1991 has focused his practice on a uniquely broad and all encompassing conception of family law. Through his membership in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, the International Academy of Family Law Attorneys, and the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, he has built relationships with professionals in his areas of family law expertise across the United States and across the globe.

His family law practice includes not only the usual areas of divorce, custody, and parentage, but also several specialized areas that many family law practitioners avoid. He has represented clients with large and complex closely held family businesses, often with accompanying sophisticated estate planning vehicles. He has been involved with divorces and custody disputes with interstate and international aspects. With particular expertise in the interplay of juvenile and family court, he is also experienced in juvenile court practice and can address child protection issues that might spill into anyone’s family court proceeding.

In addition to assisting with family and relationship breakdowns, he has a sophisticated family formation practice which has him working in all aspects of adoption—from the simplest stepparent adoption to complex interstate and international adoptions, and even contested adoptions and adoptions that are dissolving. Gary works with all aspects of assisted reproduction and surrogacy, drafting donor contracts for all varieties of genetic material, gestational carrier and traditional surrogate contracts; and works to establish parentage in all of those situations, whether within the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, across the country or internationally.

Gary assists clients with appeals at all levels of state and federal courts. He is also a certified mediator and member of the Collaborative Law Institute, assisting clients who wish to avoid litigation.

Gary is experienced with estate planning for small to moderate sized estate, guardianship provisions for children, and prenuptial, postnuptial, or cohabitation agreements. He also handles matters in tribal court including those associated with the Indian Child Welfare Act.

Practice Areas

Divorce & Family Law Child Custody Divorce Family Formation Family Law Appeals Juvenile & Child Protection Mediation & Collaborative Law

Education

University of Minnesota Law School, J.D.
University of Minnesota, M.A. in Legal and Constitutional History
St. Olaf College, B.A., magna cum laude

Representative Experience

Represented all manner of family law clients in more than 50 appeals before the Minnesota Supreme Court and the Minnesota Court of Appeals, as well as numerous appeals at the Minnesota Department of Human Services resulting in significant appellate decisions affecting adoption, litigation leading to the creation of the Minnesota Father’s Adoption Registry, child protection, relocation issues in divorce, and third-party custody.
Represented numerous clients at the Minnesota Court of Appeals and Minnesota Supreme Court on matters including spousal maintenance; First Amendment free speech and religious liberty issues; third-party custody; dissipation of assets; business valuation; and custody and parenting time.
Represented aunt and uncle seeking custody of their niece and nephew before the Minnesota Supreme Court, establishing a seminal precedent and leading to a revision of Minnesota’s third-party custody and visitation statutes.
Represented owner of large closely-held business in divorce that included a billion-dollar estate with multi-generational estate plans, high-conflict and high-stakes litigation and requiring coordination with multiple advisors, with the result being obtaining successful resolution without publicity or disruption to the business.
Represented numerous clients residing in other states (e.g., Illinois, Florida, Pennsylvania, California) or countries (e.g., Lebanon, Kuwait, France, Venezuela) with divorce and custody matters, addressing implications under the Hague Convention and Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act in state and federal courts.
Represented members of Indian tribes located throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin, in matters involving divorce, custody, paternity, adoption, surrogacy, child welfare, conservatorships and guardianships, and complex jurisdiction disputes, including one case requiring representation of a tribal member client in tribal court, a Canadian provincial court, federal district court, and state district court all in the same divorce proceeding.
Represented adoptive parents, foster parents, birth parents, children, and adoption agencies involved in all kinds of adoptions — ranging from the simplest step-parent, relative, and adult adoptions, to complex state ward adoptions involving foster children and governmental entities, complex interstate and direct placement adoptions, and also international adoptions and litigated adoptions.
Represented many intended parents, gestational carriers, traditional surrogates, and donors of genetic material in a whole variety of assisted reproduction matters, including drafting complex contracts to address all aspects of assisted reproduction, assisting in legal proceedings to establish parentage through a variety of legal proceedings in various judicial venues, and helping to protect clients’ stored genetic material in the event of death or divorce.
Represented parents and children in various juvenile proceedings involving child protection investigations and threatened terminations of parental rights, maltreatment findings and appeals, removals of children from the family home, child protection issues in family court, and threatened criminal charges. Cases have included children injured in daycare settings, shaken baby allegations, intra-family sexual abuse allegations, with many of these cases requiring working with criminal defense attorneys and forensic evidence and experts.
Represented gay and lesbian clients over the years in various family law issues, including drafting cohabitation agreements, litigating complex and challenging custody and parenting time issues, completing many second parent adoptions before the adoption code specifically allowed for these, and now working with same sex couples to address their family law needs in a post Obergefel (legalized same sex marriage) world.
Represented clients with modest estates who have just divorced or who have built families through adoption or assisted reproduction and who are in need of basic estate planning instruments such as simple wills, health care declarations, powers of attorney, and funeral and burial directives.

Publications & Presentations

Publications

Co-Author, “Legal Issues Surrounding Embryos and Gametes: What Family Law Practitioners Need to Know” – Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 701, 2018
Co-Author, “Shifting Ethical and Social Conundrums and ‘Stunningly Anachronistic’ Laws: What Lawyers in Adoption and Assisted Reproduction May Want to Consider” – Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 101, 2017
Editor, The Complete Family Lawyer’s Quick Answer Book – Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2015
Author, “Third Party Custody” – The Complete Family Lawyer’s Quick Answer Book, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2015
Author, “Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Technology” – The Complete Family Lawyer’s Quick Answer Book, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2015
Reviewer, “Marriage Markets: How Inequality is Remaking the American Family” – Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 491, 2015
Co-Author, “Ethical Issues in Assisted Reproduction: A Primer for Family Law Attorneys” – Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 289, 2015
Author, “Family Law Issues for Same-Sex Couples in the Aftermath of Minnesota’s Same-Sex Marriage Law: A Family Law Attorney’s Perspective” – William Mitchell Law Review 157, 2014
Reviewer, “Intimate Associations: the Law and Culture of American Families” – Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 257, 2014-2015
Editor, The Family Law 50: the 50 Cases Every Family Law Lawyer Must Know Inside and Out – Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2012
Author, “Third Party Custody” – the Family Law 50: The 50 Cases Every Family Law Lawyer Must Know Inside and Out, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2012
Author, “Adoption and ARTS” – the Family Law 50: The 50 Cases Every Family Law Lawyer Must Know Inside and Out, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2012
Editor, Minnesota Custody and Child Support Deskbook – Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Second Edition, 2011
Author, “The History of Custody” – Minnesota Custody and Child Support Deskbook, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Second Edition, 2011
Co-Author, “Tribal Court Practice and the Indian Child Welfare Act in Minnesota” – Minnesota Custody and Child Support Deskbook, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Second Edition, 2011
Author, “Third Party Custody” – Minnesota Custody and Child Support Deskbook, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Second Edition, 2011
Co-Author, “Child Abuse Allegations in Custody Cases” – Minnesota Custody and Child Support Deskbook, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Second Edition, 2011

Presentations

Course Chair & Moderator, “An Update on Spousal Maintenance and Antenuptial Agreement Litigation Trends Statewide” and “Understanding and Using ACES Evidence in Custody Cases” – 2018 Advanced Family Law Series, Minnesota CLE, November 16, 2018
Presenter, “An Overview of Assisted Reproduction for Family Law Attorneys: History, Terms and Concepts, Practice, and Ethics” – American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Annual Meeting, November 9, 2018
Co-Presenter, “Custody and Parenting Issues Affecting the LGBTQ+ Community in Minnesota: Legal Trends and Developments Post-Obergefell” – Fourth Judicial District Fall Bench Retreat, November 2, 2018
Presenter, “Brief Legal Update: Family Law” – Minnesota State Bar Association Convention, June 28, 2018
Presenter, “Ethics and Dealing with the Alleged Birth Father” – American Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys 2018 Annual Conference, April 30, 2018
Presenter, “Indian Child Welfare Act: Avoiding Litigation and Settlement with Tribes” – American Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys 2018 Annual Conference, April 29, 2018
Main Plenary Speaker, “2018 Family Law Update” – 39th Annual Family Law Institute, Minnesota CLE, March 26, 2018
Presenter, “Contested Adoption Proceedings in Juvenile Court: A Review of the Statutes and Practical Pointers” – Hennepin County Bar Association, February 27, 2018
Facilitator, “Law & Literature: Legal Ethics & Elimination of Bias” – Hennepin County Bar Association, February 22, 2018
Co-Presenter, “What is the Standard of Care? How Various State Statutes And Professional Guidelines Address ARTS Ethics Issues — And Why You Should Care” – Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys Webinar, January 10, 2018
Presenter and Course Co-Chair, “Same-Sex Issues in Minnesota Family Law” – Advanced Family Law Series, Minnesota CLE, November 29, 2017
Presenter, “Domestic Adoption 101” – RESOLVE: 33rd Annual Exploring Paths of Hope/Infertility, Adoption, and Family Building Summit, November 18, 2017
Presenter, “Assisted Reproduction and Family Law” – Family Law Section of the Olmsted County Bar Association, October 10, 2017
Co-Presenter, “Modern Day Matchmaking in Assisted Reproduction: Ethics and Standards of Practice” – Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys Mid-Year Conference, September 17, 2017
Co-Presenter, “Avoiding A Mad Tea Party: Malpractice 101 for ARTS Attorneys” – Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys Mid-Year Conference, September 17, 2017
Presenter, “Inside Minnesota’s Child Protection System: What Works and What Doesn’t Work” – Minnesota CLE, May 30, 2017
Co-Presenter, “What is the ‘Standard of Care’ for Assisted Reproduction: the Ongoing Evolution of Professional Ethics and Liability and Why You Should (Really) Care” – American Academy of Assisted Reproduction Technology Attorneys Annual Conference, May 10, 2017
Presenter, “Surrogacy and the Indian Child Welfare Act: the Next 25 Years in Indian Law – Cutting-Edge Issues” – 2017 Indian Law Conference, May 5, 2017
Facilitator, “Law and Literature: Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias” – Hennepin County Bar Association, April 6, 2017
Presenter, “How to Make the Transition from Associate to Partner/Owner in a Family Law Practice” – 38th Annual Family Law Institute, Minnesota CLE, March 22, 2017
Main Plenary Speaker, “2017 Family Law Update” – 38th Annual Family Law Institute, Minnesota CLE, March 21, 2017
Course Chair and Co-Presenter, “Advanced Family Law Series: The Interplay of Juvenile Court and Family Court: Practice, Procedure, and What All Family Law Attorneys Must Know” – Minnesota CLE, December 1, 2016
Course Chair and Co-Presenter, “Advanced Family Law Series: The Indian Child Welfare Act: New Guidelines and BIA Regulations and Federal Court Challenges to ICWA” – Minnesota CLE, December 1, 2016
Co-Presenter, “Family Law Series: Child Custody Deskbook – Adoption and ART Law: Creating Families by Traditional and Non-Traditional Means” – Minnesota CLE, November 30, 2016
Presenter, “Family Law Series: Child Custody Deskbook – Alternative Custody and Abuse Allegations in Custody Cases” – Minnesota CLE, November 22, 2016
Plenary Co-Presenter, “Ethics in Adoption and ARTS: Evaluating Decisions, What Duties Are Owed, and Whose Interests Are Served” – American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and American Academy of Assisted Reproduction Technology Attorneys Mid-Year Conference, September 24, 2016
Presenter, “The Complete Lawyer Series: Adoption Law and ARTS Law” – Minnesota CLE, July 27, 2016
Facilitator, “Law and Literature: Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias” – Hennepin County Bar Association, June 16, 2016
Presenter, “Adoption Law and ARTS Law” – The Complete Lawyer, May 11, 2016
Lecturer, “Legal Aspects of Third Party Reproduction: Issues Surrounding the Use and Handling of Cryopreserved Genetic Material and Other Topics” – Mayo Clinic: Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Didactics Program, May 11, 2016
Presenter, “Update on the Indian Child Welfare Act: Appellate Case Law in the States after Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl – Trends and Controversies” – Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, May 5, 2016
Presenter, “Out of the Freezer and Into the Divorce: What Family Law Attorneys Need to Know about Cryopreserved Genetic Material” – 37th Annual Family Law Institute, Minnesota CLE, March 29, 2016
Presenter, “The Creation, Storage, and Use of Genetic Materials in Assisted Reproduction: What Divorce Lawyers Needs to Know” – International Academy of Family Lawyers, USA and Canadian Chapters Annual Meeting, February 4, 2016
Presenter, “Family Law Series: Receiverships and Divorce” – Minnesota CLE, November 20, 2015
Course Chair and Presenter, “The Complete Family Lawyer: Answers to 101 Questions in 16 Areas of Family Law” – Minnesota CLE, November 18, 2015
Co-Presenter, “Unlocking the Secrets of Chambers Conferences” – Walling, Berg & Debele, P.A., October 13, 2015
Presenter, “Embryo Planning in the Context of Parentage, Divorce, and Death: Is an Ounce of Prevention Worth a Pound of Cure?” – American Academy of Assisted Reproduction Technology Attorneys, October 6, 2015
Course Chair & Presenter, “Minnesota’s New Family Laws” – Minnesota CLE, August 24, 2015
Presenter, “A Brief History of Minnesota’s Child Protection System” – Inside Minnesota’s Child Protection System: How New Reforms Will Better Protect Children, Minnesota CLE, August 10, 2015
Co-Presenter, “Complex Civil Jurisdiction Issues in Tribal Court: The Teague Factors and Beyond” – 2015 Indian Law Conference, May 15, 2015
Presenter, “Adoption Law (and ARTS)” – The Complete Lawyer: Answers to 101 Questions Asked by Your Clients, Family, and Friends, Minnesota CLE, May 6, 2015
Co-Presenter, “Juvenile Protection Law In Minnesota” – Minnesota CLE, April 20, 2015
Co-Presenter, ”Smoke Screen or Fire: Sexual Abuse Allegations in Family Court – Part II: Legal Issues and Judicial Involvement” – AFCC-MN Chapter, February 20, 2015
Presenter, “Representing Children in Juvenile, Probate, and Family Court” – Advising the Disadvantaged 2015, Minnesota CLE, February 4, 2015
Keynote Speaker, “How to Earn a Good Reputation as a New Lawyer” – The New Lawyer Experience, Minnesota CLE, January 29, 2015
Conference Course Chair and Co-Presenter, “Advanced Parentage Issues in 2014: Where Are We Now, How Did We Get Here, and Where Are We Going?” – Advanced Family Law 2014, Minnesota CLE, November 17, 2014
Co-Presenter, “New Rules – Adoption Procedure and Juvenile Protection Procedure” – Minnesota CLE Family Law Series, November 11, 2014
Facilitator, “Law and Literature: Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias” – Hennepin County Bar Association, October 3, 2014
Presenter, “Issues at the Start of Life: Parentage, Adoption, and Surrogacy – Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going” International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Annual Meeting, September 11, 2014
Co-Presenter, “Assisted Reproduction: Parentage Determinations Across the 49th Parallel” – Federation of Law Societies of Canada, 2014 National Family Law Program, July 16, 2014
Facilitator, “Law and Literature: Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias” – Hennepin County Bar Association, June 19, 2014
Presenter, “Planning in Light of Minnesota’s New Marriage Laws” – Financial Planning Association of Minnesota, June 17, 2014
Co-Presenter, “Modern Family: Grandparent and Other Third Party Disputes in the United States and Canada” – 51st Annual Conference of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, May 29, 2014
Presenter, “Adoption Law (and ARTS)” – The Complete Lawyer: Answers to 101 Questions Asked by Your Clients, Family, and Friends, Minnesota CLE, May 15, 2014
Presenter, “Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl: Implications for Adoption Practice and the Future of the Indian Child Welfare Act” – 2014 American Academy of Adoption Attorneys Annual Conference, May 8, 2014
Co-Presenter, “Custody and Parentage for Same-Sex Couples: Legal Issues, Litigation Strategies, and the New Gender Neutral Marriage Law” – 35th Annual Family Law Institute, Minnesota CLE, March 24, 2014
Moderator, “The Affordable Care Act and Its Impact on Minnesota Family Law” – 35th Annual Family Law Institute, Minnesota CLE, March 24, 2014
Co-Presenter, “The Legal Status of LGBTQ Parents in an Era of Assisted Reproductive Technology” – University of Minnesota Law School and Law Students for Reproductive Justice, March 13, 2014
Presenter, “Representing Children in Juvenile, Probate, and Family Court” – Advising the Disadvantaged 2014, Minnesota CLE, January 29, 2014
Co-Presenter, “Estate Planning for Unmarried Couples – Special Planning Opportunities and Potential Pitfalls” – 2013 Probate & Estate Planning Flex Series, December 18, 2013
Presenter, “Divorce, Separation, Custody and Parentage for Same-Sex Couples: Legal Issues, Litigation Strategies, and the New Gender Neutral Marriage Law” – University of Minnesota Law School, November 18, 2013; Minnesota Guardian Ad Litem Training Institute, December 4, 2013
Course Chair and Moderator, “Advanced Family Law 2013” – Minnesota CLE, November 21, 2013
Co-Presenter, “Family Law Series: Child Custody Deskbook – The Indian Child Welfare Act and Tribal Courts in Minnesota” – Minnesota CLE, November 19, 2013
Presenter, “ARTS and Divorce: General Concepts and Considerations for ARTS Practitioners” – 2013 American Academy of Assisted Reproduction Technology Attorneys Mid-Year Conference, November 12, 2013
Co-Presenter, “Managing Client Expectations” – American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Minnesota Chapter, September 27, 2013
Presenter, “Domestic Adoption 101” – 2013 Family Building Conference, RESOLVE Midwest Region, September 21, 2013
Presenter, “The Impact of Minnesota’s New Gender Neutral Marriage Law: Family and Juvenile Court Proceedings” – Twin Cities Estate Planning Counsel, September 17, 2013; Minnesota Philanthropy Partners, September 19, 2013
Co-Presenter, “Custody and Parentage for Same Sex Couples: Legal Issues, Litigation Strategies, and the New General Neutral Marriage Law (Minnesota)” – AFCC-MN, September 4, 2013
Facilitator, “Law and Literature: Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias” – Hennepin County Bar Association, June 14, 2013
Presenter, “Legal Issues Surrounding Per Capita Payments and other Distributions of Tribal Revenues: Taxation, Bankruptcy, and Divorce” – 2013 Indian Law Conference, June 7, 2013
Panel Moderator, “ICWA at the U.S. Supreme Court: Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl, Birth Father, and the Cherokee Nation” – 2013 Indian Law Conference, June 7, 2013
Presenter, “Family Law 50: Third-Party Custody Cases and Adoption/ARTS Cases” – 34th Annual Family Law Institute, March 20, 2013
Facilitator, “Law and Literature: Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias” – Hennepin County Bar Association, March 15, 2013
Presenter, “Third Party Custody in Minnesota” – Dakota County Bar Association, March 12, 2013
Presenter and Panel Moderator, “Hot Topics in Family Law Appeals” – 7th Annual Appellate Practice Institute, March 8, 2013
Presenter, “The History of Adoption and Adoption Law Today” – Polish Genealogical Society of Minnesota, March 2, 2013
Co-Presenter, “Principles of Federal Indian Law Applicable to Family Law Issues in State Courts” – International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, US/Canada Chapter, Annual Meeting, February 14, 2013
Co-Presenter, “Paternity, Maternity, and Reproductive Technology: International Perspectives on the Changing Faces of Parenthood” – International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, US/Canada Chapter, Annual Meeting, February 14, 2013
Presenter, “Representing Children in Juvenile, Probate, and Family Court” – Advising the Disadvantaged I: A Toolkit for Pro Bono and Public Interest Attorneys, Minnesota CLE, February 5, 2013
Facilitator, “Law and Literature: Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias” – Hennepin County Bar Association, January 18, 2013
Course Chair & Presenter, “The Family Law 50: The 50 Cases Every Family Lawyer Must Know Inside and Out” – November 29, 2012
Presenter, “Family Law Series: Child Custody Deskbook – Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Technology Law – Creating Families by Traditional and Non-Traditional Means” – Webcast, November 29, 2012
Presenter, “Interstate and International Family Law Matters: What you Need to Know to Tell Your Clients” – North Star Alliance Annual Meeting, October 11, 2012
Facilitator, “Literature & the Law – Ethics and Professionalism through the Lens of Literature” – 47th Annual Criminal Justice Institute, August 27, 2012
Presenter, “Adoption Law” – The Complete Lawyer: Answers to 101 Questions Asked by Your Clients, Family, and Friends, August 23, 2012
Facilitator, “Law and Literature: Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias” – Hennepin County Bar Association, June 21, 2012
Co-Presenter, “Issues in Assisted Reproduction Law in the United States and Canada” – 49th Annual Conference of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, June 9, 2012
Presenter, “Legal Aspects of Adoption” – RESOLVE 2012 Family Building Conference, April 21, 2012
Moderator, “Basic Appellate Practice for Family Law Attorneys” and “Advanced Appellate Practice for Family Law Attorneys” – 33rd Annual Family Law Institute, Minnesota CLE, March 26, 2012
Panelist, “Adoption Panel” – University of Minnesota Law School Diversity Week 2012, University of Minnesota Law School, March 8, 2012
Facilitator, “Law and Literature: Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias” – Hennepin County Bar Association, February 17, 2012
Presenter, “Family Law Series: Adoption, Assisted Reproduction and Third Party Custody Arrangements: Building Families in the 21st Century” – Hennepin County Bar Association, 6-part webcast, November 10, 2011, December 8, 2011, February 9, 2012, March 8, 2012, April 12, 2012, and May 10, 2012
Facilitator, “Law and Literature: Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias” – Hennepin County Bar Association, December 16, 2011
Co-presenter, “Family Law Series: Adoption and Assisted Reproductive Technology Law – Creating Families by Traditional and Non-Traditional Means” – November 22, 2011
Course Chairperson & Presenter, “Minnesota Child Custody Deskbook, 2nd Edition” – Minnesota CLE, October 26, 2011
Presenter, “Current Issues in Assisted Reproduction Technology” – Top 10 Current Challenges in Family Law, National Business Institute, October 12, 2011
Panelist, “Dealing with Difficult Lawyers, Clients, and Judges” – The New Lawyer Experience, Summer Session 2011, July 7, 2011
Co-Presenter, “Love and the Law: Drafting and Enforcing Premarital, Postmarital, and Cohabitation Agreements” – Hennepin County Bar Association, June 29, 2011
Co-Presenter “Alternative Dispute Resolution in Child Custody Cases” – Minnesota CLE webcast, May 10, 2011
Presenter, “Avoiding Contested Adoptions When Possible; Litigating Contested Adoptions When Necessary: Tips and Strategies for Adoption Attorneys Handling Contested State Ward Adoptions” – 22nd Annual Conference of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, May 6, 2011
Facilitator, “Law, Literature, Legal Ethics, and Elimination of Bias” – 32nd Annual Family Law Institute, March 29, 2011
Presenter, “Managing High-Conflict Family Law Disputes as Problem Solvers” – 32nd Annual Family Law Institute, Minnesota CLE, March 28, 2011
Lecturer, “When Parents Can’t Parent Their Children: Third Party Custody, CHIPS Proceedings, De Facto Custodians, Guardianship, and Adoption” – Hamline University Law School, March 17, 2011
Presenter, “Legal Aspects of Adoption” – Resolve Midwest Region, March 12, 2011
Presenter, “Managing Child Abuse Allegations in Custody Cases” – Volunteer Lawyers Network, February 25, 2011
Course Co-Chair & Presenter, “Strategies for Adoption Agencies and Attorneys: Loss Prevention, Management, and Litigation Covering Disrupted and Wrongful Adoptions” – American Academy of Adoption Attorneys Mid-Year Meeting, October 14-15, 2010
Facilitator, “Law, Literature, Legal Ethics, and Elimination of Bias” – Hennepin County Bar Association, June 18, 2010
Co-Presenter, “257C: Third Party Custody and Non-Traditional Families” – Family Law for the Minnesota Judiciary 2010, June 8, 2010
Co-Presenter, “Training and Re-Training Lawyers to Manage High Conflict Family Law Disputes as Problem Solvers” – 47th Annual Conference, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, June 5, 2010
Presenter, “Interstate and International Custody and Parenting Time Issues” – 31st Annual Family Law Institute, March 23-24, 2010
Presenter, “Domestic Adoption 101” – Resolve’s 2010 Family Building Conference, Midwest Region, March 13, 2010
Facilitator, “Law, Literature, Legal Ethics, and Elimination of Bias” – Hennepin County Bar Association, February 18, 2010
Presenter, “Representing Children in Juvenile, Probate, and Family Court” – Advising the Disadvantaged I: A Toolkit for Pro Bono and Public Interest Attorneys, Minnesota CLE, February 16, 2010
Panelist, “Immigration Law and Family Law: Marriage, Divorce, Adoption and the Rights of Children” – Minnesota CLE, December 10, 2009
Course Chairperson and Presenter, “Solving the Most Difficult Problems in Divorce Cases: An Advanced Level Seminar” – Minnesota CLE, November 17, 2009
Presenter and Course Chairperson, “Interstate Custody Disputes: Understanding and Applying the UCCJEA” – International and Interstate Family Law Conflict: Custody, Parenting Time, and Child Support Issues, Hennepin County Bar Association, September 24, 2009
Presenter, “Legal Questions about Assisted Reproductive Technology: Drafting Agreements and Establishing Parentage” – Hennepin County Bar Association, June 17, 2009
Facilitator, “Law, Literature, Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias” – Hennepin County Bar Association, June 11, 2009
Presenter, “Tribal Court Practice in Child Protection and Custody Matters” – 46th Annual Conference, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, May 28, 2009
Presenter, “Negotiating and Litigating Step-Parent Adoptions, Disrupted Adoptions, and Contested Adoptions” – 30th Annual Family Law Institute, Minnesota CLE, March 30, 2009

Professional & Community

Admissions

Minnesota
Wisconsin
U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux (Dakota) Tribal Court
Prairie Island Mdewakanton Dakota Tribal Court
Lower Sioux Community Tribal Court
Upper Sioux Community Tribal Court

Certifications

Adoption Mediator, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys
Mediator, Minnesota Court of Appeals Family Law Mediation Project
Qualified Neutral under Rule 114, Family & Civil Mediator, Minnesota Supreme Court

Associations

American Bar Association, Family Law, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Sections, Member
Minnesota State Bar Association, Children and the Law, Family Law, Elder Law, Probate and Trust Law Sections, Member
Hennepin County Bar Association, Family Law, Probate and Estate Law Sections and Juvenile Law Committee, Member
Minnesota American Indian Bar Association, Special Member
Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, Contested Adoption Committee Chair, Amicus Committee, Mediation Committee, International Practice Committee, Ethics Rules Committee, Fellow
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Board of Editors Member, Fellow
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Minnesota Chapter, Board of Managers, Legislation Committee, Amicus Committee, Member
Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Editorial Board, Member
Collaborative Law Institute of Minnesota, Member
International Academy of Family Lawyers, Assisted Reproduction Services Committee, Fellow
Minnesota State Court Administrator’s Advisory Committee on Child-Focused Parenting Time, Appointed Member
Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society, Preservation Committee Chairman, Board of Directors
Uniform Parentage Act (UPA) Stakeholder and Drafting Committee, Appointed Member

Community Involvement

Children’s Law Center of Minnesota, Volunteer Attorney
Lafayette Club, Member
Masterworks Chorale of Augsburg College, Member
Saint Olaf College Liberal Arts and Law Committee, Member
Wayzata Community Church (Congregational), Member

Honors & Distinctions

Fellow, International Academy of Family Lawyers, 2013-Present
Fellow and Charter Member, American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys, 2009-Present
Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Chicago, 1998-Present
Fellow, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, 1996-Present
Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® For Ethical Standards and Legal Ability
Family Law Lawyer of the Year in Minneapolis, Best Lawyers®, 2019
Top 100 Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law & Politics and Minnesota Super Lawyers®, 2005-2018
Top 40 Minnesota Family Law and Appellate Attorney, Minnesota Super Lawyers®, 2003-2018
Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law & Politics and Minnesota Super Lawyers®, 1998-2018
Family Law Lawyer of the Year in Minneapolis, Best Lawyers®, 2011
Lawyer of the Year, Minnesota Lawyer, 2010
Professional Award Recipient, Hennepin County Bar Association Family Law Section, 2010
Top 10 Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law & Politics, 2009
Top 10 Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law & Politics, 2007
Century III Leadership Award, Cloquet Senior High School
Honors Graduate, Cloquet Senior High School, 1980
Representative, Presidential Classroom for Young Americans, Washington, D.C.
Junior Rotarian & Scholarship Recipient, Cloquet, Minnesota

The International Academy of Family Lawyers is a worldwide association of practicing lawyers who are recognized by their peers as the most experienced and skilled family law specialists in their respective countries.

The Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys is a credentialed, professional organization dedicated to the advancement of best legal practices in the area of assisted reproduction and to the protection of the interests of all parties, including the children, involved in assisted reproductive technology matters.

The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers’ mission is to provide leadership that promotes the highest degree of professionalism and excellence in the practice of family law.

Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent®, the gold standard in attorney ratings, recognizes lawyers for their strong legal ability and high ethical standards.

Super Lawyers® recognizes outstanding lawyers, who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement, from more than 70 practice areas.

Best Lawyers® recognizes lawyers in 145 practice areas, and has earned the respect as a reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals.