Gary A. Debele Minneapolis, Minnesota
| President, since
2001 Shareholder, since 1996 | |
| phone | (612) 340-1150 (Firm) (800) 730-9101 (Toll Free) |
| fax | 612-340-1154 |
| gary.debele@wbdlaw.com | |
EMPLOYMENT
Walling, Berg & Debele, P.A. Minneapolis, Minnesota
President. January 2001- Present.
Shareholder. January 1996 - Present.
Associate Attorney. September 1991 - December 1995.
Practice devoted exclusively to all aspects of adoption, assisted reproductive technology services, family law and juvenile law in state, federal, and tribal courts; professional licensing board investigations; appeals in all of these areas of practice; and estate planning, including pre-nuptial, post-nuptial, and cohabitation agreements. Practice also includes mediation in all of these areas.
Family and Civil Mediator registered with the Minnesota Supreme Court and Qualified Neutral under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice.
Certified Adoption Mediator, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys.
Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America since 2001.
Repeatedly designated as a "Super Lawyer" in the Law & Politics survey of lawyers who are tops in their field. This designation has included being named a "Top 40" family law attorney and appellate attorney since 2003, a "Top 100 Minnesota Super Lawyer" since 2005, and a "Top 10 Minnesota Super Lawyer" in 2007 and 2009 (lists of the top 100 and 10 lawyers respectively in Minnesota from all areas of practice).
University of Minnesota Law School. Minneapolis, Minnesota
Adjunct Instructor. September 1993 - May 1995.
Instructor to first-year law students in legal research, legal writing, and appellate advocacy.
Mahoney, Walling & Kelley, P.A. Minneapolis, Minnesota
Associate Attorney. August 1989 - August 1991.
General practice of law consisting of civil and commercial litigation, family law, adoption, debtor-creditor and bankruptcy, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, appellate practice, probate and estate planning, and real estate.
Minnesota Court of Appeals. St. Paul, Minnesota
Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Edward J. Parker. August 1988 - July 1989.
Responsibilities included legal research, drafting of memoranda, citation checking, editorial work, and review of appellate record.
District Court of Minnesota, Third Judicial District. Rochester, Minnesota
Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable O. Russell Olson and the Honorable Lawrence E. Agerter, Aug 1987 - July 1988.
Responsibilities included attendance at motion hearings and trials, legal research, drafting of legal memoranda and orders, and chair of Olmsted County Law Library Committee.
MEDIA APPEARANCES
WCCO Radio. Presentation and question and answer program regarding interstate custody disputes. Minneapolis, Minnesota (1995).
Minnesota Public Radio. Interview regarding the Minnesota Birth Fathers Adoption Registry. St. Paul, Minnesota (1997).
Channel 6, (local cable television) Presentation on Minnesota Birth Fathers Adoption Registry, Minneapolis, Minnesota 1997).
Metro Cable Network. Participation in the "Meet Your Court" program on the topic of "Access to Justice," with a focus on dealing with unrepresented litigants and unbundled legal services. (December 21, 2005).
Cited in articles appearing in Minnesota Lawyer, Mpls./St.Paul Magazine, Minnesota Monthly, and The Star Tribune .
SELECTED UNPUBLISHED APPELLATE COURT DECISIONS
Velasco v. Velasco, 1990 WL 115179 (Minn. App. 1990)
Olson v. Olson, 1991 WL 34683 (Minn. App. 1991) (spousal maintenance)
Pew v. Hope Intern. Family Services, Inc., 1992 WL 25434 (Minn. App.1992) (wrongful adoption)
Wybrow v. Wybrow, 1992 WL 71992 (Minn. App. 1992) (spousal maintenance)
Matter of Welfare of Y.B., 1992 WL 89650 (Minn. App. 1992) (contested adoption and CHIPS)
Evans v. Getty, 1992 WL 160849 (Minn. App. 1992) (domestic abuse)
Aitkin County Family Service Agency on Behalf of Landmeyer v. Demenge, 1993 WL 99453 (Minn. App. 1993) (custody)
Huneke v. Huneke, 1994 WL 111094 (Minn. App. 1994) (spousal maintenance)
In re the Marriage of Long v. Long, 1995 WL 465610 (Minn. App. 1995) (child support)
In re G.J.S., n/k/a G.J.C., 1995 WL 673386 (Minn. App. 1995) (custody)
In re Marriage of Heffelfinger v. Heffelfinger, 1996 WL 453562 (Minn. App. 1996) (spousal maintenance)
In re the Marriage of Schumacher v. Schumacher, 1996 WL 469341 (Minn. App. 1996) (dissolution)
Lofstrom v. Lofstom, 1997 WL 118121 (Minn. App. 1997) (spousal maintenance)
Knapp v. Knapp, 1997 WL 118142 (Minn. App. 1997) (domestic abuse)
In re Termination of Parental Rights of Edward Landt to J.J. L., 1997 WL 207601(Minn. App. 1997) (termination of parental rights)
Wilkie v. Wilkie, 1998 WL 113949 (Minn. App. 1998) (marriage dissolution)
Schultz v. Minnesota Bd. Of Psychology, 1999 WL 1101219 (Minn. App. 1999) (denial of psychology license)
In re the Welfare of L.A.M., 1999 WL 1216461 (Minn. App. 1999 )( termination of parental rights)
Smith v. Carlson, 2000 WL 760437 (Minn. App. 2000) (custody)
Ramsey County v. Bulman, 2000 WL 1617763 (Minn. App. 2000) (child support)
Musty v. Musty, 2001 WL 826956 (Minn. App. 2001) (spousal maintenance)
In the Matter of the Custody of N.A.K., 2001 WL 1568752 (Minn. App. 2001) (third-party custody).
Ford v. Mostaghimi, 2002 WL 46996 (Minn. App. 2002) (child support in a paternity matter)
E.S.K. for Herself and on Behalf of the Minor Children, D.J.K., S.L.K, and A.S.K,. v. M.S.K., 2002 WL 979754 (Minn. App. 2002) (domestic abuse).
Lemtouni v. Lemtouni, 2003 WL 21321830 (Minn. App. 2003) (child support).
In re Adoption of D.Z.S., 2004 WL 2050095 (Minn. App. 2004), rev. denied (Minn. Dec. 14, 2004) (adoption).
Foster v. Foster, 2007 WL 1893238 (Minn. App. 2007) (spousal maintenance).
In re P.L., 2007 WL 4564169 (Minn. App. 2007)(adoption).
Boland v. Murtha, _____ WL _____ (Minn. App. 2008) (child support).
Hubbard County Health & Human Services v. Zacher , 2009 WL 3364256 (Minn. App. 2009)(child support).
PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Married and the parent of one child
1980 Honors graduate of Cloquet Senior High School, Cloquet, Minnesota.
Selected to represent Cloquet Senior High School in the Presidential Classroom for Young Americans, Washington, D.C.
Recipient of Century III Leadership Award, Cloquet Senior High School, Cloquet, Minnesota.
Junior Rotarian in Cloquet; Recipient of Junior Rotarian Scholarship
Research Assistant, Carlton County Historical Society, Cloquet, Minnesota
Member of Wayzata Community Church (Congregational), Wayzata, Minnesota
Member of Lafayette Club, Minnetonka Beach, Minnesota
Member of Saint Olaf College Liberal Arts and the Law Committee
Member of Masterworks Chorale of Augsburg College
Former Piano Student and Current Voice Student, MacPhail Center for the Arts
Participant in KARE 11 Bike Classic, Summer 1988 (150 mile bike-a-thon for the benefit of St. Paul Children's Hospital)
Volunteer attorney with "Partners for Students Program" at the St. Louis Park, Minnesota High School, Spring 1999, (a curriculum adjunct to teach family law and relationship skills)
Member, Board of Directors, Beacon Academy (charter school), Plymouth, Minnesota (2005 to 2006).
- Year Joined Organization:
- 1991
- Areas of Practice:
- Adoption
- Antenuptial & Cohabitation Agreements
- Appellate Practice
- Assisted Reproductive Technology
- Child in Need of Protection or Services
- Custody
- Domestic Abuse & Harassment
- Estate Planning
- Licensing Boards
- Marriage Dissolution
- Mediation
- Paternity
- Certification/Specialties:
- Qualified Neutral Under Rule 114, Family & Civil Mediator, Minnesota Supreme Court, 1997
- Bar Admissions:
- Minnesota, 1987
- Wisconsin, 2005
- U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1988
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1999
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1993
- Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux (Dakota) Tribal Court, 1997
- Prairie Island Indian Community Tribal Court, 1999
- Lower Sioux Tribal Court, 1999
- Upper Sioux Tribal Court, 1999
- Education:
- University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota,
May, 1987
Juris Doctorate
Honors: Recipient, Steven Block Prize for Civil Liberties
Honors: Dean's List
Honors: Honors in Legal Research and Writing
Honors: Student Attorney, Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoners (LAMP)
Law Review: Law and Inequality: A Journal of Theory and Practice, Managing Editor, 1986 - 1987 - University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota,
July, 1991
Master of Arts
Honors: Assistant Archivist, Social Welfare History Archives
Honors: Advisor, Professor Paul L. Murphy
Major: American Legal and Constitutional History - St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota,
May, 1984
Bachelor of Arts
Honors: Magna Cum Laude
Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
Honors: Dean's List
Honors: Phi Alpha Theta (History Honorary) - President of College Chapter
Honors: Assistant, College Archivist (1982 - 1984)
Honors: Departmental Distinction in History
Major: History
Minor: Literature and Political Science
- Published Works:
- The Due Process Revolution and the Juvenile Court: the Matter of Race in the Historical Evolution of a Doctrine, 5 Law & Inequality 513, 1988
- Editor, Legal Stuff, Hennepin County Bar Association, March, 1994
- Private CHIPS Petitions in Minnesota: the Historical and Contemporary Treatment of Children in Need of Protection or Services (Co-Author with Wright S. Walling), 20 William Mitchell L. Rev. 781, 1994
- Post-Decree Custody Modification: Moving Out of State, (Co-Author with Nancy Zalusky Berg), 10 Am.J. of Fam.L. 183, Winter, 1996
- Adoption Law and the Family: Facing the 21st Century, 54 Bench & Bar of Minnesota 37, December, 1997
- A Children's Rights Approach to Relocation: A Meaningful Best Interests Standard, 15 J. of the Am. Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 75, 1999
- "The Supreme Court and Juvenile Justice", (Kansas 1997), 42 Am. J. of Legal History 343, July, 1998
- "Family Matters: Secrecy and Disclosure in the History of Adoption", (Harvard 1998), 47 Am. J. of Legal History 110, January, 2005
- The Nuts and Bolts of Amicus Curiae Practice, 11 MSBA Family Law Forum 40, March, 2000
- The Current State of Third-Party Custody Law in Minnesota, 72 The Hennepin Lawyer 18, September/October, 2003
- Adoption Mediation (Chapter), Adoption Law: Practice and Procedure in the 21st Century, New York State Bar Association, 2004
- Book Review: A Century of Juvenile Justice (Chicago 2002), 44 Am. J. of Legal History 500, October, 2004
- Editor, Minnesota Custody and Child Support Deskbook, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2006
- Minnesota Custody and Child Support Deskbook (Chapter 1, "The History of Custody"), Minnesota Continuing Legal Education
- Minnesota Custody and Child Support Deskbook (Co-Author, Chapter 10, "Tribal Court Practice and the Indian Child Welfare Act in Minnesota"), Minnesota Continuing Legal Education
- Minnesota Custody and Child Support Deskbook (Chapter 12, "Third Party Custody"), Minnesota Continuing Legal Education
- Minnesota Custody and Child Support Deskbook (Co-Author, Chapter 22, "Child Abuse Allegations in Custody Cases"), Minnesota Continuing Legal Education
- Prenuptial Agreements in the United States, (Co-Author with Susan Rhode), International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Law Journal, Fall, 2007
- Custody and Parenting by Persons Other than Biological Parents: When Non-Traditional Family Law Collides with the Constitution, 83 N.D. L. Rev. 1227, 2008
- Editor/Revisor, Summary Guide to Minnesota Adoption Law and Procedure: Resources, Timing, and Deadlines, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2008
- Children's Issues and Tribal Courts, Family Law Forum, Minnesota State Bar Association Family Law Section, Vol. 17, No. 1, Fall, 2008
- Representative Cases:
- In Re the Welfare of D.L., 486 N.W.2d 375 (Minn. 1992)
- In Re the Welfare of D.L., 113 S. Ct. 603 (1992)
- Weiler v. Lutz, 512 N.W.2d 868 (Minn. 1994)
- In Re the Matter of S.T. and N.T., 512 N.W.2d 894 (Minn. 1994)
- In the Matter of the Custody of S.E.G., A.L.W., and V.M.G., 521 N.W.2d 357 (Minn. 1994)
- In the Matter of the Custody of S.E.G., A.L.W., and V.M.G., 115 S.Ct.935 (1995)
- Matter of the Paternity of J.A.V., 547 N.W.2d 374 (Minn. 1996)
- Silbaugh v. Silbaugh, 543 N.W.2d 639 (Minn. 1996)
- In Re the Adoption of C.H. and A.H., 554 N.W.2d 737 (Minn. 1996)
- In Re the Petition of Louis and Carole Santoro for Visitation Pursuant to Minn. Stat. $257.022, 594 N.W.2d 174 (Minn. 1999)
- Rolf Rodgers v. Lisa Rodgers, 622 N.W. 2d 813 (Minn. 2000)
- In the Matter of the Custody of N.A.K., 649 N.W.2d 166 (Minn. 2002)
- In Re the Matter of A.M.P., 507 N.W.2d 616 (Minn. App. 1993)
- In Re the Custody of A.S.R., 539 N.W.2d 607 (Minn. App. 1995)
- Van Meveren v. Van Meveren, 603 N.W.2d 671 (Minn. App. 1999)
- Hubbard County Health and Human Services v. Zacher, 742 N.W.2d 223 (Minn. App. 2007)
- Classes/Seminars Taught:
- Adjunct Instructor-Legal Writing, University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1993 - 1995
- Presenter, Life and Health Insurance Provisions in Marital Termination Agreements, Drafting Marital Termination Agreements, MCLE, 1993
- Presenter, Jurisdictional Issues: Types of Actions and Alternative Forums, Child Custody and Placement, MCLE, 1994
- Co-Chairman and Presenter, Child Custody and Visitation in Minnesota, National Business Institute, Inc., March 14, 1996
- Presenter, "Open Adoptions," Family Law Series: Adoption Law Update, Minnesota Law & Politics, December 9, 1996
- Presenter, Open Adoptions in Minnesota and Other Developments in Adoption Law, 18th Family Law Institute, MCLE, 1997
- Presenter, Adoption Law in Minnesota, Medical Educational Services, Inc., June 19, 1997
- Presenter, Certified Family Law Alternative Dispute Resolution Training, MCLE, May 12, 1997
- Presenter, Certified Family Law Alternative Dispute Resolution Training, MCLE, July 23, 1997
- Presenter, Certified Family Law Alternative Dispute Resolution Training, MCLE, December 30, 1997
- Presenter, Certified Family Law Alternative Dispute Resolution Training, MCLE, June 26, 1998
- Presenter, Adoption Law, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, May 21, 1998
- Presenter, Children and Mental Health in Minnesota, Medical Education Services, Inc., September 25, 1998
- Presenter, Adoptions: Can We Ensure They Are for Life?, National Association of Legal Secretaries National Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 11, 1998
- Presenter, Juvenile Court Issues, Third Party Issues, Grandparent Issues, and Other Unusual Family Law Matters, ADR and Family Law, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, December 3, 1998
- Co-Chairman and Presenter, Adoption Law in Minnesota, National Business Institute, December 8, 1998
- Presenter, An Update on the Putative Father's Adoption Registry, Hennepin County Juvenile Law Committee, January 21, 1998
- Presenter, Family Law and Teens, Legal Expo 99, Hennepin County and Ramsey County Bar Associations, March 3, 1999
- Presenter, Marketing Your Family Law Practice, 20th Family Law Institute, MCLE, April 6, 1999
- Presenter, Emerging Discovery Issues in Family Law, Minnesota Law & Politics, June 8, 1999
- Organizer, Tribal Courts and Family Law in Minnesota, MSBA Annual Convention, Duluth, MN, July 1, 1999
- Presenter, AAAA Mediation Committee Training Session, 1999 Mid-Year American Academy of Adoption Attorneys Meeting, Estes Park, Colorado, September 23, 1999
- Presenter, Disclosure Issues, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Minnesota Chapter, Divorce Camp X, October 3, 1999
- Presenter, Child Custody and Time Sharing in Minnesota, National Business Institute, December 14, 1999
- Moderator and Presenter, Family and Juvenile Issues in Tribal Court, 21st Family Law Institute, MCLE, March 29, 2000
- Presenter, Effective Marketing of Your Family Law Practice, 21st Family Law Institute, MCLE, March 30, 2000
- Presenter, Mediation and Other Forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution as Applied to Disputes Involving Adoption, 2000 Annual Meeting, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, Perdido Beach Resort, Alabama, April 28, 2000
- Presenter, The Status of Assisted Reproductive Technology Services in Minnesota, 2000 Annual Meeting, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, Perdido Beach Resort, Alabama, April 30, 2000
- Presenter, Mediating Third-Party and Grandparent Custody and Visitation Disputes, Family Support Project, Ramsey County Human Services, May 24, 2000
- Presenter, Adoption Mediation Training, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 18, 2001 - February 20, 2001
- Facilitator, Law and Literature: Elimination of Bias, 22nd Family Law Institute, MCLE, March 20, 2001
- Presenter, Mediation: What is it and Why use it in Adoption Disputes?, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, San Antonio, Texas, April 26, 2001
- Facilitator, Law and Literature: A Discussion of Personal and Professional Ethics and Bias, MSBA Law and Literature Committee, St. Paul, June 8, 2001
- Presenter, Adoption Mediation: Solving Problems and Developing Good Communication for Adoption, The First International Conference of the Association for Conflict Resolution, Toronto, Canada, October 13, 2001
- Presenter, Fair Hearings and Appeals, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys' Special Needs Adoption Advocacy Training, Savannah, Georgia, October 20, 2001
- Presenter, Child Protection Cases and Appellate Practice, MSBA Children and the Law Section, Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 18, 2002
- Presenter, Assisted Reproductive Technology: What Every Family Law Attorney Should Know, 23rd Family Law Institute, St. Paul, Minnesota, MCLE,, March 25, 2002
- Moderator, Marketing Your Adoption Practice, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, Chicago, Illinois, April 27, 2002
- Presenter, Assisted Reproductive Technology: What Every Estate Planning Attorney Should Know, 28th Annual Probate and Trust Law Section Conference, St. Paul, Minnesota, MCLE, June 11, 2002
- Facilitator, Law and Literature: Elimination of Bias, MSBA Annual Conference, Duluth, Minnesota, June 27, 2002
- Presenter, Third Party Custody in Minnesota after N.A.K. and the New Statute, Washington County Bar Association, October 31, 2002
- Presenter, Third Party Custody in Minnesota after N.A.K. and the New Statute, Hennepin County Department of Family Court Services, November 6, 2002
- Course Chair and Presenter, Best Interests of the Child in Court: Today and Tomorrow, MCLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 18, 2002
- Presenter, Dealing with Difficult Opposing Counsel, The New Lawyer Experience, Minneapolis, Minnesota, MCLE, January 6, 2003
- Presenter, Creating Families Through Assisted Reproductive Technology, Adoption, and Third Party Custody, 8th Annual Rainbow Families Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 22, 2003
- Presenter, Psychological Testing in Family Law: The Lawyer's Perspective, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 28, 2003
- Presenter, Lawyers, Contracts, and Courts: Creating A Legally Recognized Parent-Child Relationship Using Assisted Reproductive Technology, Tenth Annual Infertility-Hoping & Coping Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 15, 2003
- Presenter, Family and Juvenile Law Practice in Tribal Courts, 24th Family Law Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota, MCLE, April 1, 2003
- Presenter, Creating Families Through Assisted Reproductive Technology, Adoption, and Third-Party Custody, RESOLVE, Minnesota Chapter, Calvary Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 5, 2003
- Presenter, Permanency Mediation in Juvenile Court: Special Issues in Adoption and Child Protection Mediation, 2003 Annual Conference of the Family Law Section, Association for Conflict Resolution, Denver, Colorado, July 10, 2003
- Presenter, Legal Aspects of Adoption, RESOLVE'S Annual Infertility and Adoption Conference, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, September 20, 2003
- Presenter, Third Party Custody in Minnesota, Tenth Judicial District Guardian ad Litem Training, Anoka, Minnesota, September 23, 2003
- Presenter, Custody Outside the Box: New and Unusual Custody Situations, Family Law Mediation Skills, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, December 11, 2003
- Presenter, Creating Families Through Assisted Reproductive Technology, Ninth Annual Rainbow Families Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 28, 2004
- Presenter, When Parents Can't Parent Their Children: Third Party Custody, CHIPS Proceedings, De Facto Custodians, Guardianships, and Adoption, 25th Family Law Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota, MCLE, March 29, 2004
- Presenter, Legal Aspects of Adoption, RESOLVE Adoption Education Series, Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 10, 2004
- Presenter, Domestic Adoption - Legal Aspects, RESOLVE of Minnesota Family Building Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 2, 2004
- Presenter, What You Say is What You Get: Oral and Written Communication Skills for Family Law Practitioners, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Minnesota Chapter, Competence & Conscience and Family Law Conference, Breezy Point, Minnesota, October 8, 2004
- Presenter, Adoption Rules 101: What You Should Know about the New Minnesota Rules of Adoption Procedure, MSBA Children and the Law Section, Minneapolis, Minnesota, December 16, 2004
- Presenter, Advising the Disadvantaged: Representing Children in Juvenile, Probate, and Family Court, Minneapolis, Minnesota, MCLE, February 15, 2005
- Facilitator, Law, Literature, Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 18, 2005
- Presenter, New Adoption Procedural Rules and Amendments to the Guardian Ad Litem Rules: An Overview and Analysis, 26th Family Law Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota, MCLE,, March 30, 2005
- Presenter, Domestic Relations in the 21st Century, North Dakota Judicial Institute, University of North Dakota Law School, Grand Forks, North Dakota, May 24, 2005
- Facilitator, Law, Literature, Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 8, 2005 - June 24, 2005
- Presenter, When Parents Can't Parent Their Children: Third Party Custody, CHIPS Proceedings, De Facto Custodians, Guardianship and Adoption, Volunteer Lawyers Network Annual Family Law Seminar, Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 22, 2005
- Presenter, Family Law in Tribal Courts, The Minnesota American Indian Bar Association, Prior Lake, Minnesota, September 23, 2005
- Facilitator, Protecting Your Aspirations: Exploring and Sharpening the Skills to Attain a Balanced Family Law Practice, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Minnesota Chapter, Breezy Point, Minnesota, September 30, 2005
- Presenter, An Overview of Juvenile Court Practice for the Family Law Practitioner, Hennepin County Bar Association Family Law Section, Minneapolis, Minnesota, December 14, 2005
- Presenter, New Minnesota Rules of Adoption Procedure: An Overview and Analysis, Adoption Law and Practice, MCLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 20, 2006
- Presenter, Legal Aspects of Adoption, RESOLVE of Minnesota Family Building Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 25, 2006
- Presenter, Creative Options for Third-Party Custody, 27th Annual Family Law Institute, St. Paul, Minnesota, MCLE, March 29, 2006
- Facilitator, Law, Literature, Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 20, 2006
- Course Chair and Presenter, Minnesota Custody and Child Support, MCLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, September 18, 2006
- Facilitator, Familyopoly: the Game of Family Law Skills, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Minnesota Chapter, Brainerd, Minnesota, October 12, 2006 - October 15, 2006
- Lecturer, Assisted Reproduction Technology Services: an Overview, University of St. Thomas Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 27, 2007
- Presenter, Ph.D., Child Abuse Allegations in Custody Cases, (with Sandra K. Hewitt), MCLE, 28th Annual Family Law Institute, St. Paul, Minnesota,, March 29, 2007
- Facilitator, Law, Literature, Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 19, 2007 - June 27, 2007
- Presenter, Discussion of Proposed ARTS Legislation, Minnesota State Bar Association, Family Law Section Meeting, Minneapolis, Minnesota, September 8, 2007
- Presenter, Legal Questions about Assisted Reproductive Technology, (with Jody O. DeSmidt, Esq., and Randle Corfman, M.D.), Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 15, 2008
- Facilitator, Law, Literature, Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 20, 2008
- Lecturer, Drafting Contracts in Assisted Reproduction Cases, University of St. Thomas Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 26, 2008
- Presenter, Responding to Child Protection Investigations in Juvenile Court, Hennepin County Bar Association, Family Law Section, Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 9, 2008
- Presenter, Domestic Adoption 101, Resolve's 2008 Family Building Conference, Midwest Region, Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 17, 2008
- Presenter, Managing Child Abuse Allegations in Custody Cases, (with Sandra K. Hewitt, Ph.D.), 45th Annual Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Conference, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, May 31, 2008
- Presenter, Handling Contested and Disrupted Adoptions, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Minneapolis, Minnesota, September 11, 2008
- Facilitator, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Alternative Dispute Resolution, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Minnesota Chapter, Breezy Point, Minnesota, September 18, 2008 - September 21, 2008
- Presenter, Negotiating and Litigating Step-Parent Adoptions, Disrupted Adoptions, and Contested Adoptions, 30th Annual Family Law Institute, St. Paul , Minnesota, MCLE, March 30, 2009
- Presenter, Tribal Court Practice in Child Protection and Custody Matters, 46th Annual Conference, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, New Orleans, Louisiana, May 28, 2009
- Facilitator, Law, Literature, Legal Ethics and Elimination of Bias, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 11, 2009
- Presenter, Legal Questions about Assisted Reproductive Technology: Drafting Agreements and Establishing Parentage, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 17, 2009
- Presenter and Course Chairperson, Interstate Custody Disputes: Understanding and Applying the UCCJEA, as part of a larger seminar entitled "International and Interstate Family Law Conflict: Custody, Parenting Time, and Child Support Issues", Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 24, 2009
- Course Chairperson and Presenter, Solving the Most Difficult Problems in Divorce Cases: An Advanced Level Seminar, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 17, 2009
- Panel Participant, Immigration Law and Family Law: Marriage, Divorce, Adoption and the Rights of Children, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Minneapolis, Minnesota, December 10, 2009
- Honors and Awards:
- Top 10 Minnesota Super Lawyer, 2009
- Top 10 Minnesota Super Lawyer, 2007
- Top 100 Minnesota Super Lawyer, 2005 - Present
- The Best Lawyers in America, 2001
- Super Lawyers, Law & Politics, 1998 - Present
- Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Chicago, IL, 1998 - Present
- Fellow, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, Washington, D.C., 1996 - Present
- Recipient, Junior Rotarian Scholarship
- Top 40 Family Law and Appellate Attorney, 2003 - Present
- Recipient, Century III Leadership Award, Cloquet Senior High School, Cloquet, Minnesota
- Recipient, Junior Rotarian Scholarship
- Professional Associations and Memberships:
- American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, 1996 - Present
- Fellow
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- Member, Collaborative Law and Mediation Committees (National)
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Minnesota Chapter, 2002 - 2004
- Chair, Seminar Committee
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Minnesota Chapter, 2001 - 2003
- Member, Board of Managers
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Minnesota Chapter
- Member, Legislation and Amicus Committees
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Minnesota Chapter
- Co-Chair, Problem Solving Committee
- American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, 1996 - Present
- Member, Assisted Reproduction Technology Services Committee
- American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, 2006 - Present
- Member and Chair, Contested Adoption Committee
- American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, 2007
- Member, Nominating Committee
- American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, 2003 - 2005
- Member and Co-Chair, Mediation Committee
- Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, 2006 - Present
- Member
- Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Minnesota Chapter, 2009 - Present
- President
- Minnesota Supreme Court Task Force on Foster Care and Adoption, 1996 - 1997
- Member
- Minnesota Supreme Court Task Force on Foster Care and Adoption
- Chairman, Subcommittee on Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Minnesota Supreme Court Task Force on Foster Care and Adoption
- Member, Subcommittee on Putative Father's Adoption Registry
- Minnesota Supreme Court Juvenile Protection Rules Committee, 2001 - 2006
- Member
- Minnesota Supreme Court Juvenile Protection Rules Committee
- Member, Adoption Rules Subcommittee
- Minnesota Supreme Court Juvenile Protection Rules Committee, 1987 - Present
- Member, Indian Child Welfare Act and Tribal Courts Subcommittee
- Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee, 2008 - Present
- Member, Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure
- Minnesota Department of Health Father's Adoption Registry Advisory Group, 1997 - 1998
- Member
- Minnesota Department of Human Services Uniform Parentage Act Task Force, 2001 - 2002
- Member
- Minnesota Department of Human Services Uniform Parentage Act Task Force, 2001 - 2002
- Member, Assisted Reproductive Technology Subcommittee
- Minnesota Supreme Court ADR in Child Protection Cases Work Group, 2004 - 2006
- Member
- Adoption Policy Resource Center
- Member, Board of Directors
- American Bar Association, Family Law, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Sections, 1987 - Present
- Member
- Minnesota State Bar Association, Family Law, Elder Law, Probate and Trust Law Sections, 1987 - Present
- Member
- Minnesota State Bar Association, 1997 - 1998
- Chairman
- Minnesota State Bar Association, 1996 - 1997
- Vice-Chairman
- Minnesota State Bar Association, 1995 - 1996
- Treasurer
- Minnesota State Bar Association, Children and the Law Section
- Member
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Combined Jurisdiction Implementation Committee
- Minnesota State Bar Association, 1998 - 2004
- Member, Board of Governors
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Member, Pro Se Implementation Committee
- Minnesota State Bar Association, 2001 - 2003
- Co-Chair, Lawyers Subcommittee
- Minnesota State Bar Association, 2003 - 2006
- Co-Chairman, Pro Se Implementation Committee
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Member, Legislation Review Committee
- Hennepin County Bar Association, Family Law, Probate and Estate Law Sections
- Member
- Hennepin County Bar Association
- Juvenile Law Committee
- Hennepin County Bar Association, 1995 - 1997
- Co-Chairman, Juvenile Law Committee
- Hennepin County Bar Association, 1992 - 1997
- Member, Hennepin Lawyer Committee
- Hennepin County Bar Association, 1998 - 2004
- Member, Governing Council
- Hennepin County Bar Association, 2002 - 2004
- Member, Special Committee on Judicial Evaluations
- Hennepin County Bar Foundation, 2004 - 2007
- Member, Board of Directors
- Collaborative Law Institute of Minnesota, 2006 - Present
- Member
- Minnesota American Indian Bar Association
- Special Member
- Minnesota American Indian Bar Association
- Member, Tribal Courts Committee
- American Society for Legal History
- Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 1998 - Present
- Fellow
- American Academy of Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, 2009 - Present
- Charter Member
- Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure, 2008 - Present
- Member
- Minnesota Department of Health Father's Adoption Registry Advisory Group, 1997 - 1998
- Member
- Past Employment Positions:
- Walling, Berg & Debele, P.A. Minneapolis, Minnesota, Associate Attorney, 1991 - 1995
- Mahoney, Walling & Kelley, P.A., Minneapolis, Minnesota, Associate Attorney, 1989 - 1991
- Hon. Edward J. Parker, Minnesota Court of Appeals, St. Paul, Minnesota, Judicial Law Clerk, 1988 - 1989
- Hon. O. Russell Olson and Hon.Lawrence E. Agerter, District Court of Minnesota, Third Judicial District. Rochester, Minnesota, Judicial Law Clerk, 1987 - 1988
- Pro Bono Activities:
- Volunteer Attorney, Children's Law Center of Minnesota
- Volunteer Attorney , 1999
- Member, Board of Directors, Beacon Academy (Charter School), Plymouth, Minnesota, 2005 - 2006
- Languages:
- German
