Ron Ousky
Ron is an international leader in developing innovative ways to help family law clients. Ron has practiced exclusively in family law since 1983 and has achieved local and international recognition for his achievements. He is co-owner of the Collaborative Alliance Executive Suites and is on the board of the International Association of Collaborative Professionals. He has been interviewed and quoted in numerous newspaper, radio and television stories on Collaborative Law, including a feature on the CBS Evening news. He is regularly named as a Super Lawyer by Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine and Minnesota Law and Politics and he has received the highest possible rating by Martindale Hubbell.

Recently, Ron was asked to co-author a book on the Collaborative method, entitled, The Collaborative Way to Divorce, with Stu Webb, the founder of Collaborative Law. The book has been published by Hudson Street Press, a division of Penguin USA, the second largest bookseller in the world.

Ron lives in Edina with his wife Marlys and his three children, Maria, Dano and Katie.

Philosophy: Ron believes that the choices people make during their divorce can have an impact on their lives, and the lives of their children, for many years. He is dedicated to helping them make choices that will allow them to achieve their highest goals.

Education:
University of Minnesota Law School, J.D. cum Laude 1982
University of St. Thomas, B.A., cum Laude 1979

Relevant Experience and Distinctions:

• Has practiced almost exclusively in the area of Family Law since 1983
• Collaborative Attorney since 1996
• Mediator since 1996
• Board Member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals

Professional Activities

• Cofounder and member of Family Matters (see www.family-matters.com)
• Recent President of Collaborative Law Institute of Minnesota (2002 and 2003
• Volunteer through Volunteer Lawyer’s Network, Chrysalis, and various school, community and church groups
• Founder, DivorceChoice.com
• Frequent speaker on Collaborative Law and alternate ways to resolve conflict.
• Has appeared on CBS television and on WCCO radio promoting collaborative methods and multi-disciplinary ways of resolving family conflict
• Recognized as a Top Lawyer in Minnesota in a survey of attorneys conducted by Mpls/St. Paul Magazine, Law & Politics Magazine and Twin Cities Business Monthly
• Given an AV rating by Martindale Hubbell Legal services, the highest rating available to attorneys.

Kellie Gundermanr is our Client Support Specialist who is available to help clients through every phase of the process the process, from the first phone call for assistance to our final closing meetings. Kellie works with clients to educate them on the process and to help them prepare for each step. She helps manage the process so that the needs of each individual client are clearly heard and addressed.

Clients who face divorce need support in a wide variety of areas. Kellie helps clients control their fees by addressing many critical needs that do not require direct attorney involvement. Kellie makes herself available to clients to assure that all of their questions are answered and to make sure their journey through this process goes as smoothly as possible.

Marlys Ousky is also a Client Support Assistant and is the firm's part-time bookkeeper who makes sure that clear, detailed statements are sent to clients on a timely basis each month. Marlys is available to answer all client concerns, including questions about the cost of our services and our billing procedures. Marlys also happens to be my beloved wife of 26 years and the mother of our three wonderful children.

Marlys' primary employment is with the Edina School District as an elementary Title I teacher, but is able to find time to handle our bookkeeping duties. While we are proud of the fact that we have become an internationally recognized firm, having Marlys run the books reflects our true desire to continue to be a small family firm that tries to treat every client who walks in the door like our neighbor or best friend.

Linda Niemeyer is our legal assistant who provides the full range of traditional support services, including preparation and typing of documents, filing, recording documents, making and receiving phone calls and providing critical assistance to make sure each case is processed as promptly as possible. The essential services that Linda provides are the backbone of the firm and are, for the most part, provided without charge to clients. Linda Niemeyer has been a paralegal and legal secretary since 1980 and has worked with Ron Ousky for more than 10 years. She has a wealth of experience in many areas of law, including family law. Linda is married and has three children. She enjoys reading, stitching, going on nature hikes with her family, and watching her boys play their sports. Linda and her family enjoy fishing, camping and spending time at the family cabin near Ely, Minnesota.