Nancy Zalusky Berg

Email MeNancy Zalusky Berg

Shareholder and Attorney
Location:
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Phone:
612-326-3453
888-340-9311 (Toll Free)
Fax:
612-340-1154
Email:
Email Me
Legal Assistant:
Jennifer A. Heinen

Nancy Zalusky Berg is a founding partner of Berg, Debele, DeSmidt & Rabuse, P.A. Since 1985, Ms. Berg has limited her practice to all aspects of family law and dispute resolution, with an emphasis on international matters. She is presently the President-Elect of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (www.iaml.org), past President of the IAML – USA Chapter, a member of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, (www.aaml.org), a member of the International Bar Association, and a past member of the Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board.  She has been recognized as one of Minnesota’s “Super Lawyers” by Law & Politics, Minnesota Monthly and Mpls-St. Paul magazines since 1993 as well as listed in the “Best Lawyers in America” by US News. She has been selected as among the top 100 lawyers and top 50 women lawyers in Minnesota for several years and one of the top 40 lawyers in the Family Law practice area by Law & Politics. She is a qualified neutral under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice.  Ms. Berg has also served on a variety of community non-profit boards and is an active glass and mosaic artist. 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL SKILLS:

Parenting Coordination – trained by Joan B. Kelly, Ph.D. 2006

Developed WBDLAW.com website High Conflict page; a resource to professionals and the community for services providers.

ASSOCIATED RESPONSIBILITIES

Fourth Judicial District Court Arbitrator - Appointed July, 1985

Hennepin County Family Court - Volunteer Referee 1984

Year Joined Firm

  • 1991

Areas of Practice

  • Marital Dissolution
  • Custody
  • Domestic Abuse & Harassment
  • Paternity
  • Licensing Boards
  • Appellate Practice
  • Matrimonial and Juvenile Law

Certified Legal Specialties

  • 40-Hour Family Mediation Training

Bar Admissions

  • Minnesota, 1980
  • U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1980
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1980
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 2004

Education

  • William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota
    • J.D. - January, 1980
  • Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio
    • B.A. - June, 1976
    • Major: Law and Justice

Published Works

  • "The Smart Divorce" by Deborah Moskovitch (Extensively Quoted), Chicago Review Press, Inc., August, 2006
  • "Management of a High Conflict Custody Matter", Minnesota Child Support and Child Custody Deskbook, June, 2006
  • "Dealing with Difficult Clients, Difficult Lawyers and Difficult Judges", Rhode Island Bar Association Annual Meeting, June, 2001
  • "Dealing with Difficult Clients, Difficult Lawyers and Difficult Judges", The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1998
  • Visitation Issues When There is a Move Out of State (Co-Author with Brockman Schumacher, Jr.), Family Law Forum, Volume 10, Number 2, August, 1998
  • "Post Decree Custody Modification: Moving Out of State and Changes to the Parenting Relationship" (Co-Author with Gary A. Debele), American Journal of Family Law, Volume 4, Number 4, January, 1996
  • Child Custody and Visitation in Minnesota, National Business Institute, Inc., 1992
  • Global Implications at the End of the Road, 2010
  • Drinking the Kool-Aid, 2009
  • Management of a High Conflict Custody Matter published for the Minnesota Child Support and Child Custody Deskbook, 2006
  • Family Law Forum Visitation Issues When There is a Move Out of State, Volume 10, Number 2 (co-authored with Brockman Schumacher, Jr.), 1998

Representative Cases

Classes/Seminars

  • Presenter, Two Can Play That Game, Minnesota Legal Ethics Summit II, June 18, 2012
  • Presenter, International Relocation: U.S. Constitutional Challenges to Hearing the Voice of a Child, American Bar Association International Section, May 25, 2012
  • Presenter, International Relocation, Minnesota State Bar Association ? Family Law Institute, March 26, 2012
  • Presenter, Intersection of Law and Mental Health, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, March 14, 2012
  • Presenter, Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, and the Child?s Objection: The U.S. Experience with The Hague Convention Article 13 and 13(b) Exceptions, Osaka, Japan, Invitation of the Asia-Pacific Human Rights Information Center and Japan Federation of Bar Associations: Symposium on the Hague Convention on Child Abduction, August 5, 2011
  • Presenter, Be Careful What You Pray For, Divorcing Divas, August 5, 2010
  • Presenter, 35th Annual Convention: Dispute Resolution, Hispanic National Bar Association, September 9, 2010
  • Presenter, Ethics of Difficult Family Law Representations, Hennepin County Bar Association, June 8, 2010
  • Presenter, Cooperative Practice in Family Law Proceedings, Ramsey County Bar Association, April 28, 2010
  • Presenter, Global Implications at the End of the Road: Anticipating, Recognizing, and Dealing with International Legal Issues in Family Law Matters, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers ? Oregon Chapter, April 16, 2010
  • Presenter, Drinking the Kool-Aid, International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers ? USA Chapter, 2009
  • Presenter, CLE: Parenting Consultants, Hennepin County Bar Association, 2006
  • Presenter, Licensure Issues as a Result of Sexual Harassment, Inappropriate Sexual Behavior, Physical Abuse and Mental Injury, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education Professionals at Risk, June 11, 2003
  • Presenter, Dealing with Clients with Mental Health Issues, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Mental Illness, May 9, 2003
  • Presenter, Seminar: "Best Interests of the Child in Court: Today and Tomorrow", Minnesota State Bar Association, 2002
  • Presenter, Family Law Faux Pas, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Ethics & Bias, June 26, 2002
  • Presenter, Zealous Advocacy, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Law Firm Organization: Style, Size and Soul, May 31, 2002
  • Presenter, Ethics of Zealous Advocacy for Your Divorce Client, All District Legal Education CLE Proactive Family Law, April 18, 2002
  • Presenter, "The State of the Law with Regard to Parenting Schedules for Very Young Children", Hennepin County Bar Association, CLE: Parenting Plans for Infants and Young Children, February 27, 2002
  • Presenter, Co-Chair, Professionalism and Ethics In Family Law: Is There A Conflict Between The Code of Professional Responsibility And ?Collaborative? Practice?, 17th Annual Family Law Seminar , December 12, 2001
  • Presenter, All District Legal Education CLE, Ethics and Eliminating Bias: Practical Realities, November 29, 2001
  • Presenter, Ethics and Elimination of Bias ? Ethics In and Out of the Courtroom, Hennepin County Bar Association, May 17, 2001
  • Presenter, Divorce, Parenting & Maintenance ? Income Determinations, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, February 27, 2001
  • Presenter, Ethics and Elimination of Bias ? Investigations at the District Ethics Committee: Recurring Issues in a Litigation Practice, Minnesota Association of Trial Lawyers, May 12, 2000
  • Presenter, Institute for Training New Lawyers, American Association of Matrimonial Lawyers, Ft. Worth, Texas, June 12, 1999
  • Presenter, Emerging Discovery Issues in Family Law Practice, Law & Politics CLE, June 8, 1999
  • Presenter, ADR and Family Law - Replacing Litigation with Communication, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, December 3, 1998
  • Presenter, Dealing With Difficult Clients, Lawyers and Judges, Minnesota State Bar Association, General Practice Solo and Small Firm Section CLE, June 26, 1998
  • Presenter, Marketing for Lawyers: Trends, Tips and Techniques, All District Legal Education CLE, May 13, 1998
  • Presenter, Representation of Difficult Clients, Minnesota State Bar Association, Family Law Section CLE, February 14, 1998
  • Presenter, Visitation Access By Any Other Name, Minnesota Institute Legal Education, December 18, 1997
  • Presenter, Institute for Training New Lawyers, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Loyola University of Chicago School of Law, Chicago, Illinois, 1997
  • Presenter, State Bar of South Dakota Domestic Relations CLE, April 25, 1997
  • Presenter, Minnesota Women Lawyers: Life/work balance, 1996
  • Presenter, "Divorce Camp VII - Removal: The Ties that Bind", Minnesota Chapter, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1996
  • Presenter, Post-Decree Custody Modification: Moving Out of State and Changes to the Parenting Relationship (co-authored with Gary A. Debele), Law Education Institute and BNA, Inc, 1996
  • Presenter, The Cutting Edge of Gender Warfare, Spousal Maintenance, 1995
  • Presenter, Minnesota State Bar Association Convention: Alternative Dispute Resolution, 1995
  • Objections at Trial and How to Deal With the Difficult Lawyer, National Practice Institute, 1995
  • Presenter, 16th Annual Family Law Institute: Effective Marital Dissolution Practice, 1995
  • "Divorce Trek V - The Next Generation", Minnesota Chapter, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1994
  • Presenter, CLE: Child Custody & Placement, Minnesota State Bar Association, 1994
  • Presenter, Protecting Your Clients Yourself; Recognizing Client Repair Possibilities In Family Law Cases, Minnesota Lawyers Mutual: Avoiding the Dragon, 1994
  • Presenter, Landmines for Small Law Firms, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, 1994
  • Presenter, Strategies & Techniques for Women Negotiators, 1994
  • Presenter, Its Not Just Divorce Anymore; Paternity, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, 1994
  • Presenter, Professionals At Risk, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, 1993
  • Presenter, "What's Love Got to Do With It", Minnesota Chapter, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1993
  • Presenter, Malpractice Issues in Family Law, Minnesota Lawyers Mutual, 1993
  • Presenter, Midwest Custody Project: Custody Evaluations and the Courtroom, Minnesota Psychological Association and the Minnesota State Bar Association, 1993
  • Presenter, National Business Institute, Inc: Child Custody and Visitation in Minnesota, 1992
  • Presenter, Piercing The Public Shield, 1992
  • Presenter, Ethical Complaints about Governmental Lawyers, 1992
  • Presenter, Dealing with Multi-Jurisdictional Custody Disputes, Twelfth Annual Family Law Institute, 1992
  • Presenter, Family Law: Spousal Maintenance, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, 1991
  • Presenter, The Hidden Dynamics of Marriage Dissolution, Minnesota Chapter, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1991
  • Presenter, A Custody and Visitation Paradigm, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, 1991
  • Presenter, How to Try the Spousal Maintenance Case, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, 1991
  • Presenter, When Professionals Divorce, Advanced Legal Education, 1991
  • Presenter, Child Custody and Visitation in Minnesota, National Business Institute, 1991
  • Presenter, How to Respond to Allegations of Sex Abuse, Tenth Annual Family Law Institute, 1989
  • Presenter, Difficult Child Custody Cases, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Caribbean Conference, 1989
  • Presenter, Sexual Abuse of Children, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, 1988
  • Presenter, Bicentennial Constitution and the Family, Minneapolis Public Library, 1987

Honors and Awards

  • Named in The Best Lawyers in America, Steven Naifeh, 2006
  • Award of Excellence Program - Education Conference and National Forum in Minneapolis, 1998
  • Recipient of Distinguished Service Award from the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1997
  • Recipient of Distinguished Alumna/us Award for 1996 from William Mitchell College of Law, 1996
  • Named in The Best Lawyers in America, Naifeh and Smith, 1993 - Present
  • Featured in Law and Leading Attorneys, a Minnesota Consumer Guidebook, 1994 - Present
  • Named in Minnesota Law and Politics, "Top 100 Lawyers", 1999 - 2015
  • Named to "Super Lawyers", 1999 - 2015
  • Named in Minnesota Law and Politics, One of the "Super Lawyers", 1993 - 2012
  • Judge for the National Association of Legal Secretaries 1998 Award of Excellence Program ? Education Conference and National Forum in Minneapolis, 1998

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, U.S. Chapter, President, 2010 - 2012
  • International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, U.S. Chapter, President-Elect, 2008 - 2010
  • International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, U.S. Chapter, Parliamentarian, 2006 - 2008
  • International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, IAML Journal, Editorial Board
  • American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Minnesota Chapter, President, 1995 - 1996
  • American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Minnesota Chapter, Board of Managers, 2012
  • American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Board of Governors, 1996 - 2004
  • American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, AAML Foundation, Board Member, 2012
  • International Bar Associations, Member
  • American Bar Associations, Member
  • Minnesota Bar Associations, Member
  • Hennepin County Bar Associations, Member
  • Fourth District Bar Association Ethics, Vice Chair and Chair, Ethics Committee, 1985 - 2003
  • Hennepin County Bar Association, Family Law Section, Elder Law Section, Plebiscite Committee
  • Hennepin County Bar Association, Professionalism and Professional Conduct Committee
  • Hennepin County Bar Association, Juvenile Law Committee, Diversity Committee
  • Minnesota State Bar Association, Child Abuse Committee
  • Minnesota State Bar Association, Committee on Economic Consequences of Child Abuse
  • Cooperative Practice Network of Minnesota
  • Cooperative Practice Network (National)
  • Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board, 2009 - Present
  • Leading American Attorneys, Minnesota Advisory Board
  • Minnesota Interdisciplinary Committee on Divorce
  • Minnesota Women Lawyers Association
  • Midwest Custody Project: Collaboration of Legal and Mental Health Professionals
  • National Board of Trial Advocacy, Board of Examiners
  • Responses Of Children, INC, Vice President, Board of Directors, 1983 - 1986
  • Minnesota Institute Of Black Chemical Abuse, Member, Board of Directors, 1982 - 1985

Past Employment Positions

  • Mahoney, Walling & Kelley, A Professional Association, 1987 - 1990
  • Private Practice, Sole Practitioner, 1981 - 1987
  • Minneapolis City Attorney Office, Assistant City Attorney, 1980 - 1981

Pro Bono Activities

  • Volunteer Referee, Hennepin County Family Court, 1984
  • Volunteer, Hennepin County Settlement Program
  • Volunteer Lawyers Network
  • Hennepin County Medical Society, Child Abuse Project, 1983
  • "Reasonable Efforts", Committee - State of Minnesota, Department of Human Services Legislative Mandate to Examine Unnecessary Placement of Children
  • Minneapolis Downtown Council - Pornography and Art: A Symposium, 1990
  • Board of Directors, Women Venture, 1992 - 2000
  • Secretary, Board of Directors, Women Venture, 1992 - 2000
  • Board of Directors, Turning Point, Inc., 1993 - Present
  • Vice Chairperson, Turning Point, Inc., 1994
  • Volunteer, Lawyers Network