Kimberly Ripp

Attorney

Kim has practiced family law for over 24 years, with an emphasis on mediation and collaborative divorce. She practices from the firm’s Madison office and also frequently consults with clients in Sun Prairie. Kim firmly believes that an effective family law practice requires not only comprehensive knowledge of legal issues and the ability to make an argument to a court, but it also requires compassion and a commitment to civility and cooperation. 

A conflict resolution specialist, Kim is passionate about alternative dispute resolution options that avoid the emotional and financial costs of litigation. Litigation escalates conflict and destroys relationships, while cooperation preserves them and helps create new ones.

Kim is on the cutting edge of interdisciplinary family law mediation, a cost-effective process that utilizes a team of neutral professionals; including the attorney, who ensures that no legal issues remain unresolved; a financial expert, whose role is to create equitable options for division of assets, debt and income within a range of a reasonable outcomes; and a mental health professional whose role is to create a custody and placement plan unique to each family and which meets the best interests of their children, and to navigate the emotional aspects of divorce such as fear, guilt and anger, which can interfere with effectively and equitably resolving legal issues. The team recognizes that although the structure of the family changes after divorce, they are still a family, and maintaining a functional co-parenting relationship is critical to children’s adjustment.

Kim excels at communicating with her clients regarding their expectations both during the divorce process and in the years following. Her long tenure in the field and seasoned understanding of relationships, have made her exceptionally skilled at demonstrating that a time her clients often view as one of the worst in their lives, need not be filled with conflict, discord, and animosity but rather should be approached in a manner which leads to creative and amicable solutions that meet all parties’ interests.

By focusing on the human side of divorce and the effects on the family, especially those with children, Kim is able to achieve positive results in a cost-efficient, timely and reasonable manner, and in a way that leaves her clients satisfied both with the process and the outcome.

She is greatly respected throughout the legal community and recognized for her work in family law. Kim’s practice areas include divorce mediation, collaborative and traditional divorce, legal separation, paternity, child custody and placement, child support, alimony/maintenance, post-divorce motions, stepparent adoptions and prenuptial and post nuptial agreements.

Speeches & Presentations

Over 100 presentations to a variety of audiences including lawyers, judges, physicians, social workers, teachers, students, community based organizations, government agencies and the general public. Topics have included high net worth divorces, complex child custody disputes, psychological profiles of parents in child custody evaluations, child support for the self-employed or business owner, the enforceability of marital property agreements, alimony/maintenance with high net income parties; the unique legal issues in same-sex divorces, grandparent visitation rights, and resolving high conflict divorces. A few recent seminars in which Christopher has presented include:

  • Understanding the New Relocation Statute, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Madison, October 18, 2019
  • Family Law Update:  Relocation Statute, State Bar Webcast, Madison, April 15, 2019
  • Grandparent and Third-Party Visitation Rights, Wisconsin Judicial Education Seminar, Neenah, March 14, 2019
  • The New Relocation Statute:  When a Parent Wishes to Move Away, Milwaukee Bar Association, Milwaukee, February 25, 2019
  • Staying Current on New Laws Regarding Child Support and Relocation of a Child, Wisconsin Judicial Education Seminar, Lake Geneva, November 1, 2018
  • Gathering and Analyzing Financial Information in Divorce, National Business Institute, April 10, 2018
  • Today’s Diversity and Inclusion Programs: Successes, Ethical Issues and Challenges, State Bar of Wisconsin, December 11, 2017
  • Divorce Law: Handling Relocation Issues, National Business Institute National Teleconference, July 5, 2016
  • “Divorce” for Unmarried Partners, State Bar of Wisconsin Webcast, May 2016
  • Grandparent Visitation Rights, State Bar of Wisconsin Webcast, May 2016
  • Case Law Update: Family Law, State Bar of Wisconsin Webcast, May 2016
  • Wisconsin Child Support & Enforcement Conference, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, October 23, 2015
  • Divorce 101: The Basics, Morgan Stanley, Inc., Middleton, Wisconsin, October 13, 2015

Publications

Honors

  • Since 2014 Best Lawyers in America in the area of Family Law
  • 2017 & 2018 Lawyers of Distinction
  • 2015 Leader in the Law by the Wisconsin Law Journal
  • 2015 Top 10 Attorneys for Client Satisfaction by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys
  • 2006, 2007 & 2010 Rising Star designation with Law and Politics magazine
  • 2005, 2007 & 2009 Volunteer Attorney of the Year from AIDS Network
  • 2007 Executive Director’s Volunteer of Year Award from AIDS Network
  • 2006 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year, Dane County Bar Association
  • Admission into the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
  • Fellow – Fellows of Wisconsin Law Foundation
  • Member of the Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin

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