Mediator Resume

Experienced Family Law Mediator and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® with over 20 years of experience in divorce, custody and support cases. Includes experience handling complex asset division scenarios and unusual or complicated compensation packages. More than 15 years experience resolving family disputes through mediation and collaborative law.

Skylark Law & Mediation, PC - Partner

Mediator; Attorney

Partner, Skylark Law & Mediation, PC (formerly Kelsey & Trask, PC), 2008 - Present; Adjunct Professor, New England School of Law Boston, 2021 - Present; Owner, Gray Jay Endeavors, LLC, 2018 - Present; Manager, The Collaborative Outpost, 2007 - Present; Trainer/Manager, Divorce Mediation Training Associates, 2018 - Present; Associate/Of-Counsel, Lynch & Owens PC (formerly Stevenson & Lynch, PC) 2004 - 2016.

Extensive experience in divorce litigation, collaborative law representation and mediation. Currently specializing in mediation and collaborative representation in family disputes with a focus on complex financial cases and providing retirement division consulting and qualified domestic relations orders. Also have experience teaching mediation as an Adjunct Professor and in mediation trainings for numerous years. Recently obtained the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® designation.

Served as a mediator for over 15 years, primarily in divorce, asset division, support and custody matters. Trained Mediators for over 10 years.

Family law disputes including unmarried parents, divorce, post-divorce, custody, parenting plans, asset division, retirement division, child support and alimony. Also mediated family formation and planning such as pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements.

I was first trained as a divorce litigator starting in 2004. In seeking a better way to help families reach agreements, I took my first mediation training in 2010 and it confirmed for me how empowering facilitative mediation could be for families. For the last 15 years guiding families through a facilitated mediation process has been my primary practice and during that time I have added to my own personal life experience and my training. I have taken numerous trainings in child development, family dynamics, the psychology of divorce, and parenting communication. These experiences have given me greater perspective and allowed me to provide clients with resources, information and options on best practices for designing a parenting plan and effective communication through conflict. In 2025 I also obtained the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® designation, demonstrating my knowledge in the complex financial issues that can arise in divorce cases. However, the basic tenets of facilitative mediation are still the most powerful tools in assisting clients to develop a plan for their children and finances that will work for them long term, because it is ultimately their choice to participate and they retain full control over the outcome. While I have parenting plan and financial templates and numerous other resources that I use to make sure clients address the potential points of conflict in divorce, my approach always starts with asking clients what is important to them and what they are worried about. The tools and resources we have as mediators work best when we allow them to be molded to each unique family and the solutions that will work for them.

Proficient int he use of online platforms (i.e. Zoom, Google Meet etc.) to conduct mediation sessions virtually. Also regularly use Excel, Family Law Software and other tools to assist clients with creating and reviewing complex financial scenarios.

Boston University School of Law (J.D. - 2004); Worcester Polytechnic Institute (B.S., Mechanical Engineer, B.S., Humanities & Arts - 2001). Institute of Divorce Financial Analysis (CDFA®, 2025).

Admitted to the Bar: Massachusetts (2004); U.S. District Court: District of Massachusetts (2004); U.S. Court of Appeals: First Circuit (2005). Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers BBO (#661560-2004); Massachusetts Notary Public; Massachusetts Real Estate Broker (#150475).

Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council, Trainer, Past President; Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation, Treasurer, Past President, Certified Mediator; Massachusetts Bar Association, DR Section Council, Member, Past Chair; Boston Bar Association, Member; International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, Member; Academy of Professional Family Mediators, Certified Mediator, Verified Trainer.

PUBLICATIONS: The Most Common Complaints about Family Court and How Collaborative Law Solves Them & other Articles posted on The Skylark Blog; Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines Updates for 2021 – A Summary of Changes, Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation, The Family Mediation Blog, August 2021; Bloomberg Law Benefits Guide: Basics – Retirement and Pension Plan Administration, Qualified Domestic Relations Orders, February 2021. SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS: DIVORCE MEDIATION TRAINING, October 2018 – Present; Divorce Mediation Training Associates, (presented 17 times); FAMILY LAW MEDIATION WORKSHOP, July 2015 - Present, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc. Chair 2024 -2025 (presented 14 times); INTRODUCTION TO COLLABORATIVE LAW PRACTICE, September 2014 - Present, Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council, (presented 9 times); 1-DAY DIVORCE LAW BASIC TRAINING, March 2019 - Present, Divorce Mediation Training Associates, (presented 15 times); The Things We Carry: An informational and experiential workshop on learning to identify how we bring our WHOLE self to mediating, March 2025, Academy of Professional Family Mediators; Expanding Your Family Law Practice: Adding Collaborative Law & Mediation, October 2024, Massachusetts Bar Association; Taking Steps to Address Barriers to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Dispute Resolution, February 2024, MBA; Active Silence: The Art of Intervention in Collaborative Practice, October, 2022, IACP Forum (similar program presented in 2023 to Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation).

Hourly Rate: $500.00 Daily Rate: Not provided Study Rate: $500.00/hr Cancellation: Not provided Cancellation Period: 1 Days Comment: Doesn't typically charge for cancelled meetings and prefers to reschedule when everyone is prepared than penalize the need to reschedule.

English

United States of America

Southborough, Massachusetts