Meet Me

GET YOUR PERSONAL & BUSINESS AFFAIRS IN ORDER

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

I attended St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City, Kansas, graduating with a dual B.A. in history and psychology. I later attended Washburn University Law School in Topeka, Kansas, receiving my Juris Doctor and earning acceptance to the Kansas and United States bar. Immediately following law school, I clerked with Fisher, Patterson, Saylor, & Smith, a broad civil law firm in Topeka, Kansas, for a short while. I went on to open my own practice, which I have maintained, with the exception of three years when I served as General Counsel for a technology start-up company.



MY PRACTICE TODAY

My attorney rating listing can be found in Martindale-Hubbell, the national attorney locator corporation which ranks attorneys by areas of practice and skill levels. My ranking is BV, “an indication of an exemplary reputation and well-established practice. A typical lawyer is in mid-career, with a significant client base and high professional standing” (a quote from Martindale-Hubbell).


For many years, I represented individuals and local companies and provided service to them in the areas of corporate formation, commercial real estate transactions, equipment leasing, construction contract drafting and review, negotiations, and other governance and operational functions.


In recent years, I have focused on estate planning and probate, as well as trust formation and administration. I continue to support business formation and contract review or development, as well as helping personal clients plan for end of life and business clients plan for business succession, utilizing my long-standing knowledge of business needs and real estate and personal property requirements to coordinate with estate planning considerations. I also undertake non-complex civil litigation, whether plaintiff or defense, on behalf of clients for a variety of probate and business needs. I am a well-versed negotiator whose effective communication skills often result in the settlement of disputes without the need for trial and the associated expenses. After many years of practice, I have developed an ability to achieve compromise between diverse and adversarial parties. 

OTHER PASSIONS & INTERESTS

I am a regular speaker on various estate planning, probate and business formation topics with National Business Institute (NBI).  This gives me the chance for updating current knowledge of statutes and case law as well as connecting with others in these fields.


I have extensive experience in special education law and a strong commitment to serving Kansas families to ensure their children receive the highest level of education and their special needs are met by programs offered by the various school districts and private not-for-profit organizations in Kansas. At this time I am very selective about taking on special education matters, but I frequently consult with parents and advocates to recommend options for working with school districts to achieve these outcomes. I also enjoy helping families draft special needs trusts that maximize use of their resources for the lifetime of their special needs family member.


I love to read and appreciate music, home design, gardening, and art.  I also have a large immediate and extended family which keeps me enjoyably busy.  Those relationships also create many opportunities for travel, attending various sports, arts and educational activities and continued personal and spiritual development.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & ASSOCIATIONS

CURRENT

Kansas Bar Association Bench and Bar Committee Member

Topeka Bar Association Probate Committee Member

Supreme Court of Kansas Board for Discipline of Attorneys At Large Member

Kansas Justice Institute Board Member

PAST

Board Member and Past Chair of Community Resources Council (CRC)

Board Member and Vice Chair of Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence (KCSDV)

Board Member and Treasurer of Housing and Credit Counselling Inc.

Board Member and Secretary Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce Small Business Council

Board Member, Vice Chair and Chairman of Marian Clinic

Board Member, GO Topeka

Member and Chair of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce

Member and Chair of the Minority and Women Business Development Advisory Council to the GO Topeka Board of Directors