I have been practicing law for over thirty years, beginning my career as an associate in a small energy law firm in Washington DC. From there, I went to work for the District of Columbia, representing ratepayers before the Public Utility Commission, which ultimately led to a position at the Federal Communications Commission, where I helped enforce telephone regulations on behalf of consumers. During my tenure at the Commission, I had the opportunity to mediate several disputes involving issues related to the Telecommunications Act of 1996. When I moved to Ithaca with my family, I spent two years working in private practice before deciding to return to mediation. I chose divorce mediation because I have had the sobering experience of watching family members and friends suffer through long, stressful divorces that seemed to always end poorly, creating years of continued animosity between ex-spouses and pain for the children who had to witness their parents’ constant battles. Divorce does not have to be a terrible experience. Nor does it have to be expensive. Mediation and collaborative law provide an alternative to traditional litigation that helps couples reach a resolution that does not produce extra stress, but rather works toward moving past the pain, toward an amicable settlement.

Education

• JD, George Washington University Law School, Cum Laude, 1992
• BA, English, Barnard College, Columbia University, 1988
• Licensed to practice law in the State of New York.

Additional Training

• Basic Collaborative Law Training
• 40 Hour Family and Divorce Mediation Training, The Mediation Center, Inc.

Professional Groups

• Ithaca Area Collaborative Law Professionals (Current President)
• International Academy of Collaborative Practice
• NYS Council on Divorce Mediation
• New York State Bar Association