Why I do this work?  I enjoy helping couples understand and achieve their goals, especially so that parents can stay focused on the needs of their children.

My practice:  I practiced exclusively as a court-connected domestic relations mediator for parenting plans, including as an employee of Multnomah County Family Court Services and as a contractor for several counties, including Yamhill, Marion, Polk, Hood River and Tillamook Counties. For over a decade, my job was to listen to clients and ask questions.

Background:

  • Graduated Willamette University with a joint JD/MBA degree
  • CDFA (Certified Divorce Financial Analyst) designation

After Hours:  I am actively involved in his community as a supporter for many charitable organizations including Bradley Angle Women’s Shelter, Kenya Keys for Education, and Youth Outside. I am also involved with Teatro Milagro.  I am also a lover of tennis, backpacking, outdoor adventures, foreign films, international travel, new non-fiction, and old literature.  As a young adult, I lived in Chile and Ecuador where I developed fluency in Spanish.

Pete Johnson
JD, MBA, CDFA

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5655 Meadows Rd Ste 350
Lake Oswego, OR 97035

503-744-7261

Pete’s Website
Email Pete


Why I do this work? Divorce is an emotional as well as a legal process, involving both parenting and financial decisions. I specialize in helping families make parenting decisions around custody, parenting time and parent communication, through both coaching and mediation. My approach is warm, non-judgmental, and structured. I support parents in staying focused on the needs of their children.

My practice: I work with co-parents who:

  • Want to create clear parenting time and co-parent communication agreements;

  • Want help talking to their children about divorce and/or creating a family narrative;

  • Have children from toddlers to teenagers, including those with mental health issues or disabilities;

  • Have challenging or complex schedules or living arrangements;

  • Are in the initial phase of a separation or ready to finalize decisions;

  • Simply want to minimize conflict in the decision making process.

Background: I hold a masters degree in social work and have spent over 25 years serving families as a program director, clinical supervisor, trainer, and mediator. I taught at the university level and produced an award winning documentary about children and nature. I am a certified court connected mediator in both small claims and family court and a member of the Oregon Mediation Association, Oregon Association of Collaborative Professionals and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.

After Hours: When I’m not mediating and coaching families, I enjoy hiking, social justice advocacy, solving pangrams, and exploring the Northwest with my family, including our two mostly grown kids.

It is important that you choose the right mediator for yourself and your changing family. I offer free consultations to help you make that decision. I can connect you with financial experts, legal mediators, collaborative attorneys and other professionals to best meet your needs throughout the process. I also mediate temporary guardianship and adoption agreements, as well as other community and family agreements. Feel free to reach out if you have questions.

Meg Merrill, MSW
Mediator and Co-Parent Coach

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Meg Merrill, MSW
Mediator and Co-Parent Coach
503-567-5989

Meg’s Website
Email Meg


Why I do this work? Divorce can and should be a respectful and transformative process, not a civil war.

My practice: My primary goal is to help families in transition achieve the best possible results for the least amount of emotional and financial stress. I help families create agreements that are durable, and strive to leave them with the necessary tools to resolve future disputes without going to court. My practice includes Collaborative Divorce, Mediation, Independent Adoptions, and select contested litigation.

Background: I moved to Oregon from my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee to attend Lewis and Clark Law School. In my second year there, I clerked for the Honorable Robert E. Jones of the United States District Court, District of Oregon. I worked at firms with a wide range of practice areas from business advising and strategy to elder law and intellectual property law. My practice has been focused almost exclusively in family law since 2001.

After Hours: I enjoy spending time with friends and family, hosting gatherings at my home, and checking out Portland’s wonderful array of restaurants.

Joanna “Jo” Posey

Attorney at Law / Mediator

Posey Legal, PC
3115 NE Sandy Blvd., Ste 222
Portland, OR  97232

503-241-0818


Why I do this work? I have seen the toll litigation takes on couples and families so I know firsthand that no one “wins” in those situations. I would much rather focus my energy on helping people resolve their disputes in a respectful way that allows them to continue to be friends and co-parents later.

My practice:  I started my boutique law firm the end of 2008, with a focus on the clients. It is located in downtown Portland (with validated parking). We offer a variety of services such as mediation, Collaborative Law, and support for those who are self-represented.

Background: After working at various law firms, I worked at the Multnomah County Courthouse. At the courthouse, I first worked as “Family Law Facilitator”, helping people represent themselves. I then worked in the courtroom with several of the family law judges. From there, I started my practice, which has been growing ever since.

After Hours: My husband and I have a young family, with two wonderful kids, who keep us on our toes. We love to go hiking and out to the coast to get out of the city on weekends.

Myah Kehoe
Kehoe Moneyhun Law, LLC

Attorney & Mediator

1211 SW 5th Ave Ste 2250
Portland, OR 97204

2005 SE 192nd Ave Ste 200
Camas, WA 98607


Why I do this work? I am passionate about supporting children and their families as they navigate the grieving process of divorce and work to create peaceful homes.

My practice: I focus on helping children to express and explore their complex thoughts and feelings about loss and change and to develop strengths to cope with separations and transitions. I encourage parents to create intentional child-centered interactions. I offer parent consultations, brief assessments, and counseling therapy. I work with mediators and parenting coordinators to help clients create plans for their families.

Background: I taught fifth grade for twelve years prior to receiving my Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Lewis and Clark College in 2006. Currently, in addition to my counseling practice, I teach Group Counseling for Children classes at Lewis and Clark College and offer various parent trainings throughout the Portland area.

After Hours: Being in nature and spending time with my family help to rejuvenate and restore me.  I also enjoy traveling adventures, and long meals with my treasured friends.

Diane Gans, MA, LPC
Psychotherapist & Child Specialist

1609 Willamette Falls Dr West Linn OR 97068


Why I do this work?  The one constant in my work is that each family is different.

My practice:  As a retired attorney, I still help with Mediation and support my colleagues in Collaborative Divorce, on occasion! My primary goal has always been to help my clients get through a difficult time in their lives with the least amount of wasted time, emotional pain and unnecessary expense. I am a retired Oregon and Washington Attorney and no longer practice law.

Background: I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, graduating from Portland State University and Lewis and Clark – Northwestern School of Law. Rain doesn’t bother me (too much) and I still think the only “pro” sports team in town is the Trail Blazers! [congrats, Thorns: NWSL champions, 2022, 2017 and 2013]. I started my law practice in 1978 and was in solo practice until retiring in 2023.

After Hours: I am transitioning to life on the road with our Escape travel trailer. For several years, my leisure time was spent aboard my 80’s-era racing sailboat “around-the-buoys” on the mighty Columbia River. At this point, my three young granddaughters also demand their share of “Grandpa Randy’s” time. When my sons were young, I was a Scoutmaster for nearly 20 years (and a good ol’ Eagle, too!). I was also a soccer referee (US Soccer, adult, youth and high school [NFHS]), plus a USSF referee instructor for about as long.

Randall Poff, JD

Family Mediator

JD is an educational degree and the holder does not provide legal services.

Why do I do this work? I work as a mediator and Collaborative attorney to assist individuals and couples who are willing to work together to achieve peaceful, respectful solutions to their family issues.

My practice: I provide free consultations that including an overview of the typical issues involved in separation, and the ways couples can work together on win-win solutions. My clients determine how often they wish to meet, how fast they want to proceed and the specific solutions that will work best for their families.

Background: I’ve practiced law for 30 years and mediated for the last decade supported by 750+ hours training in Collaborative skills. As a peacefully divorced father of two, I know firsthand the benefits that we can provide our kids from handling our breakups well.

After hours: I enjoy time outdoors, and try to keep up with my teen age son’s track and other activities.

Jim O’Connor
Attorney at Law

Ste 309
3939 NE Hancock St
Portland, OR 97212


Why I do this work?  Being part of a collaborative or mediating team of professionals provides a significantly better way for couples to divorce.

My practice:  I work as a divorce and vocational coach providing support through the process of separation, as well as vocational coaching.  Many of my clients are poised to reenter the workplace or advance economically.  They move from overwhelm and fear to hope and excitement about the future, transforming expectations.

Background:  In practice for 30 years in Portland, offering a blend of personal and career counseling. I received a BS in Business Administration from Lewis & Clark and an MA in Counseling Psychology from Antioch.

After hours:  Away from work, I enjoy friends, family in New York, gardening, walking the neighborhood, the beach, music, reading and writing.

Gail Jean Nicholson, MA, LPC

Divorce Coach / Personal and Career Counselor

1020 SW Taylor St Ste 350
Portland, OR 97205

 


Why I do this work: Having counseled children and families in public schools for 30 years, I witnessed the devastation and heartache a family suffers going through an adversarial divorce. The adults often experience so much pain, there is very little emotional support left for the children. Both Mediation and Collaborative Divorce offer healthy, supportive alternatives to unproductive conflict and aspire to meet the needs of all family members.

My practice: Whether I work as a communication and parenting coach in the Collaborative Law process or work as a mediator, I am committed to creating a safe environment for couples navigating the often painful experience of divorce. I encourage individuals to understand and express their emotions and assist them to end their marriage in a respectful and honest manner. If they have children, I help couples work together in their new relationship as co-parents. It is my belief and goal that these processes enable individuals to move to a place of hope as they transition into their new lives.

Background: I worked as an elementary school counselor for many years. I have a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology from Lewis and Clark and am a trained mediator and mental health coach in the Collaborative process.

After Hours: I love to garden, to create art, to spend time with friends and family and hang out with my dog. I have a passion for travel. I have been fortunate enough to travel to many countries around the world which has taught me compassion is the key to healing.

Lee Hamilton, MA

Mediator & Collaborative Divorce Coach


Why I do this work?  I am passionate about families and peacemaking.

My practice is to create a professional /friendly, efficient/thoughtful, thorough/forward- looking process empowering couples to make the best decisions possible while saving time and money. I emphasize financial clarity with Family Law Software and constructive communication as a peacemaking practice trainer and certified coach in HeartMath resilience training.

Background:  I graduated from Vermont Law School in 1978 with two young children in tow. After 20 years of general practice in Vermont and 8 years in Arizona as a juvenile public defender, pro tem judge, family court mediator and special master, I followed my grandchildren to Oregon. I have since worked tirelessly to train in and promote this new type of legal advocacy.

After Hours:  I am a consummate reader and life-long learner. My joy is in being with my grandchildren and helping them cultivate their passions.

Dona Cullen
Attorney, Mediator & CDFA

Ste 150
5200 Meadows Rd
Lake Oswego, OR 97035


Why I do this work? I love helping families find hope and strength in difficult transitions such as separation and divorce and to show how this can be done peacefully out of court.

My practice: My approach is to provide compassionate, fair and affordable services to Oregon families looking to avoid the litigation process. I am pleased to provide Mediation, Co-Mediation, and Legal Services ranging from hourly “coaching,” or un-bundled legal services, to full representation in Collaborative method cases. I work closely with legal assistant, Cindy Armony, who has over 25 years’ experience in family law. We work together to provide cost savings and efficiency for my clients.

Background: I have been practicing family law for over 17 years in Oregon. Upon graduating law school, I quickly realized I wanted to help families in crisis. I have been through divorce personally, and was three years old when my parents first divorced. Having witnessed a custody/ relocation battle in my own family, and the harmful effect of litigation, I have a passion for helping others find peaceful alternatives to resolve conflict.

After Hours: I am a mother of two active young boys, ages 7 and 10, who are both in sports year-round now. I enjoy outdoor activities like surfing, kite boarding, mountain biking, Nordic and alpine skiing, scuba diving, kayaking, photography, and travel. You also may find me coaching kids’ baseball, soccer, volunteering at school, and mentoring college and law students.

Tonya Alexander
Collaborative Attorney & Mediator

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Tonya Alexander
Collaborative Attorney & Mediator
Alexander Law, PC
1925 NE Stucki Ave Ste 410
Hillsboro, OR 97006
503-531-9109

Tonya’s Website
Email Tonya