Equity Partner · Beermann LLP · Chicago
Family law representation, built for the cases that matter most.
For over 20 years, Katy Mickelson has represented business owners, executives, professional athletes, and the families navigating prenups, divorce, and what comes after. The cases are complex. The approach is concierge.
Equity Partner · Beermann LLP · Chicago
Recognized by
Colleague at the family law bar
I. How Katy works
Family law is never just a case.
The people in the hardest moments of their lives deserve to understand exactly what is happening and to stay in control of it. Katy's job is to untangle the legal, financial, and emotional knots, put them in plain language, and stand beside the client from the first conversation to the last signature. Education, advocacy, and a steady hand. It is a different way through family law.
Start a conversation →Strategy first, filings second.
Every case starts with the long view: what the client is protecting, what the realistic outcomes are, and what trade-offs sit between them.
Plain English, not legal jargon.
Clients should understand the choices in front of them. Katy translates so decisions are made by the person whose life is at stake.
Concierge, not assembly line.
Katy oversees the strategy on every matter she takes. The team behind her handles depth and volume. The relationship is direct.
II. About Katy
The only woman at Beermann to rise from clerk to equity partner.
Katy Mickelson is a seasoned litigator and certified mediator who has spent over two decades representing the people whose circumstances make family law complicated: business owners, executives, professional athletes, and high-net-worth families with companies, trusts, and estates to protect. The matters range from prenuptial agreements to contested divorce. The throughline is judgment.
She takes a whole-case view. Representation is not paperwork. It is the personal, financial, and emotional stakes underneath every decision, handled by the partner who is actually overseeing the strategy.
A Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Family Lawyers, and a faculty member of the National Family Law Trial Institute, Katy is also the attorney her peers turn to when they want to understand how it is done.
Katy has a way of bringing the temperature down, even in the most high-stakes situations. She makes people feel confident and heard, in a way that empowers. Many of my colleagues have presence or skill. Katy has both.
Colleague at the family law bar
III. Questions People AskQuestions
Before you reach out.
Can I hire Katy to represent me?
Yes. Katy actively represents clients in high-stakes family law matters, including divorce both pre- and post-decree, parentage matters, prenuptial and post-nuptial agreements, international family law disputes, and domestic violence cases, always with a focus on strategy and long-term stability. She also handles less common matters that demand skilled representation, such as relocation of a child, non-parent visitation, and assisted reproduction technology. If you need representation, email Katy.
What makes Katy's approach to family law unique?
With experience in both litigation and mediation, Katy takes a strategic yet pragmatic approach. She focuses on solutions that protect her clients' long-term financial and personal interests while minimizing unnecessary conflict. She stays calm in the most chaotic matters, knowing clients do not need to feel their attorney's angst when they already have their own.
What kinds of clients does Katy typically represent?
Katy represents business owners, executives, professional athletes, industry rainmakers, and high-profile individuals, along with the families navigating the financial and personal complexity that comes with those circumstances. Her work suits clients who want a strategic partner directly involved in their case rather than a high-volume practice.
Does Katy handle mediation as well as litigation?
Yes. Katy is a seasoned litigator and a certified mediator, and she helps clients weigh the trade-offs between the two. The right path depends on what a client is protecting and the realistic outcomes in front of them, and Katy lays those out plainly so the decision stays with the client.
How do I start a conversation with Katy?
The best first step is to email Katy or call the Chicago office. Share a brief overview of your situation and what you are looking to protect, and Katy will follow up to discuss whether and how she can help.
IV. The profession
The attorney other attorneys learn from.
Katy teaches trial skills as a faculty member of the National Family Law Trial Institute. She was selected by the presiding judge of Cook County's Domestic Relations Division to demonstrate trial technique for its CLE seminar, and has presented mock-trial work with the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. The clarity she brings to a client's case is the same thing she teaches a room full of lawyers.
A note from Katy
When I set out to be a lawyer, I wanted to do work that mattered.
Over the years, I've come to appreciate how much of my work is about connecting with people.
Whether I'm in the courtroom, negotiating behind closed doors, or speaking to a room full of attorneys, I always come back to the same thing: we want to feel understood. We want clarity in our most chaotic moments. We want to know that someone is standing beside us, not just leading the charge but helping us find our own footing.
That's what I strive to do, not just as a lawyer, but as an advocate for the next generation in this profession.
Sincerely,
Katy Mickelson
P.S. If there is anything I can help you with, please email me. I read and respond to every message.
V. Get in touch
Let's talk about your case.
Whether you need direct representation in a high-stakes matter or you're planning an event and looking for an experienced legal voice, reach out today.
Chicago Office161 N Clark St, Suite 3000
Chicago, IL 60601
Tel. (312) 621-4382
Email: khmickelson@beermannlaw.com
