Working concurrently as a divorce attorney and mediator, Laurie realized that most family issues can be managed more effectively through mediation. Laurie now focuses her efforts completely as a mediator, parenting coordinator, and Guardian ad Litem. Laurie has mediated over 700 cases. Approximately 85 – 90% of the families she works with are able to resolve their issues through mediation. Laurie has provided assistance to families dealing with divorce, dissolution, custody, child and spousal support, and stepfamily issues.
Laurie has had special training and experience to deal with high conflict families as a parenting coordinator/coach. As a parenting coordinator/coach, Laurie mediates the most challenging and persistent cases of parental conflict that have been unresolved through litigation. While Laurie ultimately has decision-making and/or arbitration authority on many issues, she first utilizes her mediation capabilities to guide parents to their own decisions and to enhance their parenting, communication, and conflict management skills. As a parenting coordinator/coach, Laurie’s ideal goal is to empower parents with the knowledge and skills to resolve future conflicts independently.
Laurie also serves as a Guardian ad Litem in Domestic Relations Court. A Guardian has the responsibility to represent a child’s best interests in court. As a guardian, Laurie speaks with the parents, children, and mental health professionals involved with the family. This experience has provided her with insights as to the ramifications of divorce on the whole family, including the children.
Laurie graduated from Cleveland State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in June 1985 with a major in marketing. She worked as a sales representative for Fortune 500 companies before earning her law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1996.
Laurie has served on the Mediation Task Force of Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations court, the Parenting Coordinator Task Force of Summit county Domestic Relations Court, and a task force of the Supreme Court of Ohio on parenting coordination. In addition, Laurie is a board member and chair of programming for the Lawyer’s Guild of the Catholic Diocese. Laurie is a member of the Mediation Association of Northeast Ohio and the Akron Bar Association. Laurie is also a frequent lecturer on the topics of mediation and parenting coordination for bar associations and various groups.
Laurie has also learned from her experience that many people do not understand how to avoid conflict, so she now holds seminars on effective communication. Laurie has presented these seminars privately in her office, and to various groups, businesses and colleges.
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