My work combines two paths – Attorney and Mediator. I mediate through DRC and practice estate law as a Director (partner) at Schaffer Herring PLLC. Here’s how both practices work “hand in glove”:
As a mediator, I resolve family/divorce, estates, trusts, business, and eldercare disputes. As a lawyer, I have four decades of experience in planning, administering, taxation, litigation, and consulting on estates and trusts. My career paths complement each other. For example, as an attorney who consults on high stakes divorces, I am uniquely qualified to resolve mediations not only financially, but also with tax and trust plans. On the other hand, seeing the problems of divorcing couples during mediations keeps me continually on the lookout for solutions to prevent their long-term emotional and financial distress.
My law practice is focused on personal and business estate issues. My mediation practice also stays within the realm of resolving family and business disputes.
As a lawyer I do estate and business succession planning, trust/estate administration, estate-related taxes, probate, and resolution of related disputes whether by negotiation, advocacy, mediation or litigation. My favorite part of the practice has always been successfully resolving truly messed up estates and trusts regardless of how the mess was created. As a mediator, I get to help people directly solve their truly messed up estate, trust, elder care, divorce or business problems.
My formal education includes a BA, JD, LLM in Taxation, my Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®) designation, and my certificates in mediating litigated cases, elder care, and family/divorce law.
I blog in my subject areas and present seminars for attorneys, CPAs, financial planners, business groups, and the general public on behalf of charity and professional groups.
