Kathryn H. Mickelson

Equity Partner

   

“In the tumult of issues affecting the family, the greatest service I can provide to my clients is advocacy tempered with sound advice and a dose of realism.”

About Kathryn H. Mickelson

Nominated by her peers as a Leading Lawyer since 2015, one of Best Lawyers’ “Women of Influence” in 2017 and one of Crain’s Media’s Most Notable Women Attorneys in 2018, Katy Mickelson represents her clients and their complex financial estates and sensitive family matters with the utmost discretion and confidentiality. From business owners and professional athletes to some of Chicago’s most influential rain makers, Ms. Mickelson’s clients come to her for her reputation among colleagues and judges as prepared, responsive, and attentive to the smallest of details, and for her no-nonsense approach to the practice of family law. A first chair trial attorney who is also a certified mediator, Ms. Mickelson treats every case as an opportunity to educate her clients and promote financial and emotional dignity.

The only partner in the firm who rose from law clerk to owner, Ms. Mickelson channels this drive and tenacity into each case she handles. Her ability to listen and “hear” her clients and then convert these goals into real results contributes to her prominence as one of Chicago’s most influential family law attorneys, a recognition exemplified early on when she was named one of the Law Bulletin Publishing Company’s 40 Under 40 Illinois Attorneys to Watch in 2012. Ms. Mickelson prides herself on her dedicated mentorship of newer attorneys and she strives to be an example through taking on leadership positions in several non-profit organizations and her frequent lecturing and authoring of articles for prominent legal publications such as the American Bar Association Journal. 

Known for her thoughtful and straightforward approach to family law, Kathryn Homburger Mickelson has distinguished herself among her peers by identifying her individual client’s goals and then drawing on her extensive courtroom and mediation experience to bring strategic and empowering representation to each case. By looking at family law issues pragmatically, Ms. Mickelson crafts strategies that result in resolutions that are efficient, expeditious and drama-free. Ms. Mickelson understands and appreciates that no client is the same and that long after family law matters are resolved, the individual and their family remain. It is this understanding that has driven Ms. Mickelson to ensure that her clients are treated with respect, their needs are met, and they emerge from family law conflict feeling empowered and whole.


Ms. Mickelson represents her clients and their complex financial estates and sensitive family matters with the utmost discretion and confidentiality. From business owners and professional athletes to some of Chicago’s most influential rain makers, Ms. Mickelson’s clients come to her for her reputation among colleagues and judges as prepared, responsive, and attentive to the smallest of details, and for her no-nonsense approach to the practice of family law. Ms. Mickelson treats every case as an opportunity to educate her clients and promote financial and emotional dignity.
While Ms. Mickelson finds her “home” in the courtroom, her appreciation for settlement and ways to achieve favorable outcomes for her client that meet their specific needs has led her to hone her skills in mediation as well. Ms. Mickelson’s experience in and appreciation for mediation began in law school, where she became a certified mediator through the Center for Conflict Resolution and participated in Chicago-Kent’s Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution program. Appreciative of the world beyond Chicago, Ms. Mickelson obtained a certificate in European Union, Comparative & International Law through Tulane University at the Siena Institute of European Legal Studies’ European Union, Comparative & International Law program in Siena, Italy and she lived abroad in Beijing, where she worked in the intellectual property department of a Chinese law firm.

Practicing law is Ms. Mickelson’s second career. Prior to law school, Ms. Mickelson worked as a public relations executive for seven years, managing the complex communications needs of many nationally recognized consumer products and services companies. In addition to her finetuned legal skills, it is this keen understanding and appreciation for effective “messaging” and presentation that differentiates her from other family law practitioners.

Ms. Mickelson is a member of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois and for eight years, she served as co-chair of the organization’s widely praised Domestic Relations Roundtable, an annual gathering of family law practitioners and family law jurists from Cook, Lake and DuPage Counties. Ms. Mickelson was former President of the Associate Board of CARPLS Legal Aid, a Chicago-based legal assistance foundation, and she previously dedicated a significant amount of her time to Make-A-Wish Illinois acting as the Philanthropy Chair of the organization’s fundraising arm, the Women’s Network. Ms. Mickelson is currently second term President of the American Writers Museum’s Chicago Council, a group of dedicated professionals who plan and host fundraising events and raise awareness for the Museum. Considered a “trusted resource” among her peers across all industries, Ms. Mickelson also leads a monthly group dedicated to business development for senior level advisors for the California-based organization, ProVisors, and she was named the Group Leader of the Year in 2019. She is also an active member of the prestigious Economic Club of Chicago. In addition to her professional and civic affiliations, Ms. Mickelson is dedicated to mentoring and educating others on family related matters, having participated as a panel speaker for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education and the Illinois State Bar Association. She also has authored articles for various non-legal and legal entities alike, including the American Bar Association.
In 2010 and from 2012 to 2015, Ms. Mickelson was named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine, a designation reserved for the top 2.5% of all Illinois attorneys under 40, and she has been named a Super Lawyer since 2021. Ms. Mickelson has been named as both a Leading Lawyer from 2015 to the present and a Best Lawyer from 2019 to the present.

Ms. Mickelson was nominated by her peers as one of Best Lawyers’ “Women of Influence” in 2017 and one of Crain’s Media’s Most Notable Women Attorneys in 2018. The only partner in the firm who rose from law clerk to owner, Ms. Mickelson channels this drive and tenacity into each case she handles. Her ability to listen and “hear” her clients and then convert these goals into real results contributes to her prominence as one of Chicago’s most influential family law attorneys, a recognition exemplified early on when she was named one of the Law Bulletin Publishing Company’s 40 Under 40 Illinois Attorneys to Watch in 2012. Most recently, Ms. Mickelson was recognized as one of Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s and Chicago Lawyer Magazine’s Salute! Top Women in Law 2022 honorees. The Salute! Women in Law awards celebrate fifty influential women in the legal community. Ms. Mickelson was evaluated and selected by the Law Bulletin Media selection committee for her work to mentor and promote other women in the profession, her success in the legal community, and being a shining example of leadership.

Ms. Mickelson is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Fellows of the AAML are considered to be some of the leading practitioners in the field of family law. Out of the thousands of family law attorneys practicing in the State of Illinois, less than 150 of those attorneys have the honor of being named AAML Fellows. Academy Fellows enjoy a reputation for professionalism, competence, and integrity. They are recognized by judges, other attorneys, and clients as the gold standard for family law.

  • J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law, 2005
  • A.B., with honors, University of Michigan, 1995
  • Illinois, 2005
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 2006
  • Salute! Top Women in Law, Law Bulletin Publishing Company, 2022

  • Super Lawyer, 2021 to present

  • Best Lawyer, 2019 to present

  • Most Notable Women Attorneys, Crain’s Media, 2018

  • Named one of Best Lawyers “Women of Influence,” 2017

  • Leading Lawyer, 2015 to present

  • 40 Under Forty Illinois Attorneys to Watch, Law Bulletin Publishing Company, 2012

  • Super
    Lawyers Rising Star, 2010, 2012-2015

  • Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Divorce Bootcamp

  • Illinois State Bar Association, Responsible Social Media Marketing 

“I was in year three of a grueling and testy divorce when a friend mentioned Kathryn Homburger Mickelson with BEERMANN LLP to me. She had represented my friend in an exceedingly difficult divorce and she highly recommended I contact her. At the time I had an attorney, so months went by before I contacted Katy. I cannot tell you how thankful I am that I did. My only regret is that I did not do it sooner. In hindsight, I realize the quality of your attorney is as vast as the quality of a finding a good doctor. Nothing is more important than having someone represent you who understands what is needed for you and your family. Needless to say, if you are going through something as important and serious as a divorce, especially when children are involved, I can unequivocally recommend Katy to represent you. While my reasons are many to highly recommend Katy, the most important of them is that she is smart, strong and sincerely empathetic to your situation and needs. In a matter of weeks it was as if she had known me for 10 years; I don’t know how she does it. Thank you sincerely Katy for all you have done for me and my children. I am forever grateful.”


“Katy offered clear and pragmatic counsel on what my rights were, even when it made me uncomfortable to discuss. She was a strong advocate for me and also had a warm and kind manner that I greatly appreciated during the most difficult time of my life. She is very hands on and stayed in touch every step of the way, although the associates she works with were also great.”


“Katy has represented me for several years, and she has provided me exceptional representation. She carefully thinks through the issues and possible courses of action, and is always extraordinarily thorough and well-prepared. I have also found Katy very collaborative she is not driven by ego and an “I know best” attitude, and is always open to questions and suggestions.”


“Katy helped me through what should have been an easy divorce, but what ultimately proved to be a difficult one. She was patient with me during those times when I was, no doubt, difficult to deal with, and she was always sympathetic to my situation. On the other hand, she was an assertive and adept advocate on my behalf. She was also always upfront with me regarding the case and how settlement negotiations work. This was especially comforting to me because I happened to move out of state almost immediately after hiring her. I suspected the move would complicate the proceedings, but Katy helped to make the transition smooth by keeping me up to date and responding to me quickly whenever I needed assistance. She was also very attuned to my financial circumstances; doing what she could to keep my costs as low as possible. I’m especially grateful for this. I highly recommend Katy, and, although I never want to find myself in the same position again, if I do, then I’d request she represent me again.”


“I was lucky to work with Katy on a case with a mutual client (I am in the financial services industry) and got a first hand look at her amazing work ethic and no nonsense approach. I was impressed with her so when the time came for me to go through this process, she was an easy pick. Katy filed for me in September and we were done in December. She was also able to recommend a “like minded” lawyer from another firm who my ex-husband hired. This helped to keep the process from escalating into a circus. I would highly recommend her and her firm.”


“Ms. Kathryn Mickelson and her team at Beermann Law in Chicago were truly outstanding! I would like to recommend her enthusiastically for anyone in need of a great lawyer. She exceeded all of our expectations as our retained legal attorney for a divorce case.
She was attentive, detail oriented and more importantly communicative at each step of the way in the process. She listened to our story in a very approachable manner on initial consultation and evaluated the case analyzing for us all the possible scenarios and outcome; she came up with a solid plan. The case was concluded swiftly and favorably as her team moved quickly with legal proceedings and engaged the other attorney most effectively for an optimal resolution. With all honesty we could not have hoped for a better outcome. Ms Mickelson’s legal fees were reasonable and worth every bit of it for the all the services provided. I would like to thank her wholeheartedly once again for all the legal assistance and will most certainly retain her services again otherwise will refer every possible client to her firm.”

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