Our practitioners...
DAVID E. LINN
David E. Linn is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 30 years of clinical experience. He founded and co-manages Kalamazoo Clinical Associates, P.C., a multidisciplinary group mental health practice. He focuses his therapeutic skills in helping families and individuals with relational conflicts, depression, anxiety, and chemical dependency problems.
In endorsing the support of family dignity during the divorce process Mr. Linn is currently a member of the Collaborative Law Institute of Michigan, and the International Academy of Collaborative Practitioners, as well as, the Collaborative Practitioners of Greater Kalamazoo.
In his role as Collaborative Coach and Child Specialist Mr. Linn brings to the process a sensitive understanding of relational and family dynamics and a belief that win-win solutions come from well supported family members.
JEFF MURPHY
Jeff Murphy is a Certified Collaborative Practice Mediator who helps each side of a collaborative divorce focus on the key issues and create options that will be workable for both parties. He has over 180 hours of mediation training and is a Court Appointed Mediator for Civil and Domestic disputes. Jeff has written and published numerous articles on the benefits of mediation over litigation. He received his education at Fordham University School of Law, Columbia University Graduate School of Business and Le Moyne College in New York.
ERIKA SALERNO
Erika L. Salerno received her B.A. from James Madison College at Michigan State University, and her Juris Doctorate from Drake University Law School. In 2000, Ms. Salerno was trained in Basic Collaborative Divorce while practicing in Appleton, Wisconsin. As an attorney in Northeast Wisconsin, Ms. Salerno was a Founding Member of the Northeast Wisconsin Collaborative Professionals. Having moved to Kalamazoo in 2006, Ms Salerno continued her involvement with Collaborative Practice and serves as a Board Member for the Collaborative Practice Institute of Michigan, and is a Founding Member of the Collaborative Practitioners of Greater Kalamazoo.
Ms. Salerno has served as a Collaborative Attorney on well over fifty cases involving multidisciplinary teams. In addition to her collaborative experience, Ms. Salerno is a trained mediator, and has been practicing family law for over 13 years. Ms. Salerno believes that collaborative practice outcomes often include value-added components that are nearly impossible to achieve with traditional litigation. These outcomes include creative plans for continuing involvement of both parents, unique formats for paying financial support, and enhanced communication between spouses who need to continue to share parenting responsibilities. You can view Ms. Salerno’s philosophy here.
GAIL M. TOWNE
Gail Towne graduated from Wayne State University Law School in 2002 and was admitted to practice in the State of Michigan in 2002. She began her career working with Abrams Yu and Associates, P.C. for five years before returning to her hometown of Kalamazoo to form Gail M. Towne PLC. Ms. Towne presently is an associate with Lennon, Miller, O’Connor & Bartosiewicz PLC. She also is of counsel with Amy Yu PC.
Ms. Towne has focused her practice in the areas of domestic relations law, specifically divorce, paternity, child custody, child support, and other family law matters. Committed to the belief that family law cases should be decided by and between the families, Ms. Towne is a member of the Collaborative Law Institute of Michigan and the International Academy of Collaborative Practitioners as well as a founding member of the Collaborative Practitioners of Greater Kalamazoo.
Additionally, Ms. Towne is a member of the State Bar of Michigan's Probate and Estate Planning Section and Family Law Section, where she serves on the Amicus Curiae Committee; the Kalamazoo County Bar Association; She writes frequently on family law matters, some articles of which may be accessed on her website: www.townefamilylaw.com
THOMAS BIRKHOLD
Thomas A. Birkhold graduated from Boston University School of Law in 1973 and has been engaged in the private practice of law, with a primary emphasis on family law, since 1974. He began his career with Birkhold, Newland & Hills. He is currently associated with Thomas A. Birkhold PC in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Mr. Birkhold has broad experience in criminal law and virtually all facets of civil practice and litigation, including a million-dollar personal injury settlement, workman’s compensations and probate practice in all of Southwestern Michigan. Committed to interest-based negotiations, which is at the heart of the collaborative approach to divorce, Mr. Birkhold is a founding member of the Collaborative Practitioners of Greater Kalamazoo. He is a member of the Collaborative Practice Institute of Michigan and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals.
Thomas Birkhold is also a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Kalamazoo County Trial Lawyers’ Association, the Kalamazoo County Family Law Bar Association and the Kalamazoo Bar Association. A lifelong resident of Kalamazoo, Mr. Birkhold is married to Cynthia Birkhold and is the father of three adult children. He is active in Kalamazoo’s First Congregational Church, the Kiwanis Club and as a speaker on collaborative law, a mentor and participant in the Kalamazoo Bar Association’s pro bono program.
SANDY DERBY
Sandy is president of Derby Financial & Associates, LLC and has been in the financial services industry since 1989. Sandy was recently named one of America's Top Financial Planners by Consumer Research Council of America 2009. Sandy has earned the Certified Financial Planner ™ designation, the Chartered Financial Consultant® designation, and the Life Underwriter Training Counsel Fellow and Chartered Advisor for Senior Living™ designations. She is a graduate of the Cannon Financial Institute’s Trust and Investment Services School. Sandy is a frequent seminar presenter and guest speaker for various community organizations, and concentrates her volunteer time on efforts involving educating the public about financial matters.
Memberships:
SW MI Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, the
Kalamazoo Network, Professional and Executive Assoc. of Kalamazoo,
Financial Planning Association, Buy Local of Kalamazoo, Women's
Education Coalition-Board Member, Financial Services Institute, and
Collaborative Divorce Practitioners
CATHERINE ELLIS, MA
Catherine Ellis is a psychotherapist who has been practicing in Kalamazoo since 1990, serving individuals, couples, and families. She is also trained as an EMDR therapist, Domestic Relations Mediator, Divorce Coach, and Child Specialist in the practice of Collaborative Divorce.
Catherine was drawn to Collaborative Practice as a result of her desire to work to preserve families throughout the process of divorce. She specializes in working with nontraditional families who have fewer legal protections in court.
She is a Nationally Certified Psychologist by the North American Association of Masters in Psychology. She is a member of the Michigan Psychological Association, the Masters Association of Professional Psychologists, the Collaborative Practice Institute of Michigan, and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals.
www.cellistherapy.com