I'm here for you at a time when you most need support. I will work with you to make your separation or divorce as easy, painless, and peaceful as possible. My goal is to help you move forward with your lives by focusing on a structured and meaningful dialogue that offers you both a voice in shaping your futures, and acknowledges your individual needs and the needs of your children. As a skilled, compassionate, and calm mediator, I'll ensure that your discussions remain civil, constructive, and balanced. The result: agreements that are reasonable and acceptable to both of you. Couples in transition face important financial decisions. I am a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst with decades of experience in accounting and finance. As your Mediator, I use these skills to assist you in analyzing your financial situation. I can also help you explore options so you can make financial decisions that work for both of you. If your separation or divorce involves children, I will help you build a durable parenting plan. This plan will help you remain partners in your role as parents, and reflect your shared goals regarding your children's wellbeing. My rate is $195 per hour. For families with lower incomes, I offer a sliding scale fee structure. I offer a free one hour consultation to explain the mediation process and answer any questions. Please contact me if you'd like to set up this meeting. We can meet in person, on the phone, or on a video conference. I'm David Louis, and my company Louis Mediation Services serves clients in the broader Chicagoland area.
I worked in accounting and finance in the public sector for over 30 years, where I specialized in consensus building and dispute resolution. Then I began extensive training and practice in family and divorce mediation. I now provide professional and affordable services to couples who have decided to end their marriage.
I've mediated hundreds of family cases, including separation and divorce. After starting my formal career in Mediation in 2006, I began my mediation practice in upstate New York. After many years my family wanted a change, so we relocated to Chicago. Reflecting my commitment to the field, I have served on the Board of Directors of several organizations devoted to mediation and dispute resolution. I am currently a member of the Association for Conflict Resolution - Chicago Chapter, and a Fellow with the Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois. I am recognized as an Advanced Practitioner by the Association for Conflict Resolution. In addition to my private mediation practice, I have provided volunteer mediation services to several non-profit community dispute resolution centers, and am currently a volunteer mediator with the Center for Conflict Resolution in Chicago. I believe in mediation and in giving back to support the mediation community.
My billing rate is $195 per hour; I offer a free one hour consultation and I also don't charge for the review of final documents (Memorandum of Understanding). I offer a discounted sliding scale fee structure for families with lower incomes to keep the mediation process affordable.
My work as a Mediator and Facilitator reflects my passion for working with couples and families as they face the significant challenges involved in separation and divorce. I strive to create a neutral process that empowers my clients to communicate with each other in mediation to make their own informed decisions as they move on with their lives.