Catherine Conner
View Catherine Conner's Profile on SuperLawyers.com.
Catherine Conner is a founding partner of Conner, Lawrence & Rodney. She focuses on helping divorcing couples to resolve conflict through mediation, collaborative practice, and private judging, offering clients options for resolving disputes respectfully without going to court.
Catherine's goal is that each client is satisfied that the best possible outcome was reached, using the most appropriate process for their circumstances. She believes that understanding and compassion can create a path for resolution.
"I listen to my clients to hear their concerns and help them determine their long term objectives. I assist them in gathering and understanding the information needed for a well-informed decision. I then work with them to find a resolution tailored to their individual circumstances."
Catherine's professional activities reflect her commitment to conflict resolution and sharing information. Catherine is committed to increasing the availability and expertise of professionals in alternative dispute resolution. She a Past President of the Collaborative Council of the Redwood Empire and is currently on the Board of Directors of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and serves as Treasurer. She is a mediation and collaborative practice trainer with the Center for Understanding in Conflict and Collaborative Practice Trainers. She co-authored Collaborative Practice Materials, a practice manual for collaborative practitioners.
The quality of her contributions to Sonoma County family law was recognized when she was honored as the 2003 recipient of the Rex Sater Award for Excellence in Family Law. Catherine is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell. She has also been chosen as a Northern California Super Lawyer and one of the Best Lawyers of America.
She lives in Sebastopol with her husband and two daughters. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, reading, birding and camping.
Testimonials
I never thought or imagined that divorce could hurt so much. I truly appreciate your constant perspective of collaboration and "doing right". I see now how that approach let's me feel good about myself and decisions and actions that I took, with your guidance - and now I sleep with a clear conscience. You helped me through many emotional roller coasters and helped me feel empowered and in some control during times when that seemed impossible.
Linda K. I wish to personally thank Catherine Conner for all of her sincere kindness and attention.
I marvel at her ability to get through each day with the continual negative energy surrounding her
clients. Catherine was a touch of sunshine during this dark time in my life."
"Thank you so much for your expertise, counsel and all that you did for me. I had never worked
with an attorney and was obviously apprehensive, but you made me feel relaxed and protected at
a time when I felt most vulnerable and insecure. You asked difficult questions, shared your
thoughts honestly, guided and pushed me gently when necessary.
Your high ethical standards and fairness, thoughtful and calm communication style, accurate memory
and skilled financial record keeping (I dream about columns!) set you apart from others along with
your knowledge of the law, incredible patience, attention to details, timely responses and sense of
humor.
I am so happy to have had the privilege of working with you. Thank you wholeheartedly for making
the transition with me."
"The need for a Family Law attorney is usually accompanied by a host of associated intense anxieties.
Retaining an "adequate" attorney will likely leave you frustrated, having spent more towards an acceptable
outcome than if you had hired someone "outstanding" in their focused area of practice. Catherine Conner came
highly recommended to me as a local attorney, well qualified to handle the complexities of my unusual case.
I could not be more satisfied with Catherine's exceptional advice and service. Consistently her strategies and
preparations proved to be well thought out and efficiently executed. Perhaps the most vivid examples of her
excellent reputation were highlighted in the courtroom when my case and petitions received unusual levels of
credibility, simply because she was my attorney. It became increasingly evident that her reputation for knowledge
of the law, thoroughness, and fairness had preceded my case, and I thereby greatly benefited from it.
Exceptional legal representation is never inexpensive, rendering a firm's efficiency in managing your case the single
greatest cost-saving potential. I am still amazed at how quickly Catherine and her staff were able to process the
required paperwork, and I remain confident I received great value for my expenditures."
Education
1978 U.C.L.A. B.A., History & Sociology
1982 U.C. Berkeley Boalt Hall, Juris Doctorate
Licensing/Certification
1982 Licensed, State Bar of California, #104324
1992 Certified Family Law Specialist, State Bar of California
Awards
2006 to present - Best Lawyers in America
2005 to present - Northern California Super Lawyer
2003 - Rex Sater Award for Excellence in Family Law
Employment and Professional Activities
1983-present Founding Partner, Conner, Lawrence & Rodney
1992-present Judge Pro Tem and Settlement Conference Panelist, Sonoma County Superior Court
2008-present Board of Directors, International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (Treasurer and Chair, Professional Development Committee)
2004-present Collaborative Council of the Redwood Empire (President, 2004-2006)
1994-present Member, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, Sonoma County Bar Association (Steering Committee, 2001 to 2004)
1987-89, 1999-01 Member, Family Law Committee of Sonoma County (2001 Chair)
1984-2004 Member, Sonoma County Women in Law (Board member, 1984-1988)
Presentations and Trainings Conducted
April 2011, October 2010, April 2010, September 2009, September 2008, April 2008, Center for Understanding in Conflict, 40 hour basic mediation training
October 2010 to present, Monthly Support and Development group, Center for Understanding in Conflict
January 2011, Collaborative Practice San Mateo, 1 day annual member retreat
October 2010, International Academy of Collaborative Professionals conference, 1 day Pre-Conference Institute for practice group leaders
July 2010, Collaborative Divorce Solutions, Difficult Conversations, 1 day retreat
June 2010, Collaborative Practice San Francisco, 1 day annual retreat facilitation
June 2010, Challenging Conflict, European Collaborative conference, workshop on Interdisciplinary Team Dynamics, Germany
June 2010, 2 day Basic Collaborative Training, Bad Aibling, Germany
April 2010, Collaborative Practice California conference, 1 day pre-conference institute on Self Reflection for Conflict Professionals
April 2010, Collaborative Practice California conference, Bridge Over Troubled Teams workshop
February 2010, Collaborative Practice Hong Kong, 2 day Basic Collaborative Training and 1 day Collaborative Practice Group formation
November 2009, Collaborative Council of the Redwood Empire, Power Imbalance and Gender in Collaborative Cases, 2 day training
November 2009, Collaborative Family Law Professionals of Marin and Collaborative Practice San Francisco, The End Game, 2 day training
October 2009, International Academy of Collaborative Professionals conference, 1 day Pre-Conference Institute for practice group leaders
October 2009, International Academy of Collaborative Professionals conference, 1 day Pre-Conference Institute on the Role of the Law in Collaborative Cases
August 2009, Collaborative Practice California Board of Directors, 1 day retreat facilitation
April 2009, Sacramento Collaborative Practice Group, The End Game, 1 day training
April 2009, Cincinnati Academy of Collaborative Professionals, The End Game, 2 day training
January 2009, February 2008, August 2007, The Eidos Projekt, 3 day trainings, Fischachau, Germany
January 2009, Collaborative Practice San Mateo, 1 day annual member retreat
January 2009, Collaborative Practice Michigan, 1 day annual member retreat
January 2008 through October 2008, Collaborative Practice Trainers, Mastery of Collaborative Practice, 8 class series
October 2008, International Academy of Collaborative Practitioners conference, Pre-Conference Institute for Collaborative Practice trainers
October 2008, International Academy of Collaborative Practitioners conference, Thriving Collaborative Practice Groups workshop
October 2008, International Academy of Collaborative Practitioners conference, The Collaborative Endgame workshop
August 2008, Collaborative Practice California Board of Directors, 1 day retreat facilitation
April 2008, Collaborative Practice California conference, Well Functioning Collaborative Practice Groups, plenary presentation
March 2008, Collaborative Practice Napa, Introduction to Collaborative Practice, 1 day training
March 2008, Collaborative Family Law Professionals of Marin, The Role of the Law, 2 day training
November 2007, Collaborative Council of the Redwood Empire, Difficult Conversations, 1 day training
September 2007, Collaborative Family Law Professionals of Marin, Creating the Collaborative Team
June 2007, Sonoma County Bar Association, Family Law Section, Tracing from A to Z
March 2007 - December 2007, 10 class series, Mastery of Collaborative Practice, Collaborative Practice Trainers
May 2007, Collaborative Practice California, Annual Conference, Plenary session regarding Client-Centered Communication
Nov 2006, Collaborative Council of the Redwood Empire, 2 day training on reaching an agreement
March 2006, Collaborative Practice California conference, Role of the Law in Collaborative Cases, Building Successful Collaborative Groups
Nov 2005, Sonoma County Legal Aid, Alternative Approaches to Co-Parenting Disagreements
Nov 2005, Collaborative Council of the Redwood Empire, 2 day training on the Role of the Law
Oct 2005, International Academy of Collaborative Professionals Forum, Atlanta Georgia, Development and Care of Multi-Disciplinary Practice Groups
Sept 2005, Collaborative Practice Group of Contra Costa , 2 day training on Mediation Skills for Collaborative Practitioners
Sept 2005, Sonoma County Bench-Bar Retreat, Collaborative Practice
Nov 2004, Collaborative Council of the Redwood Empire, 3 day training on Mediation Skills for Collaborative Practitioners
Oct 2004 International Academy of Collaborative Professionals Forum, Boston MA, Building an Effective Collaborative Team
Oct 2004, Collaborative Council of the Redwood Empire, Growing Your Collaborative Practice
June 2004, Collaborative Council of the Redwood Empire, Role of Professionals in Collaborative Practice
Oct 2003 International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, Better Practices
Sept 2003 Business Valuation Seminar, Legal Aspects
May 2003 Steven C. Neustadter Collaborative Law Symposium
Oct 2002 State Bar of California Convention, Collaborative Law
Sept 2002 Timber Harvest Workshop, Conflict Resolution Skills
June 2002 Family Law Case Management Conference Program Training
2/99, 2/00, 2/02 Legal Aid Family Law Training
April 2001 Family Law Evidence Seminar
June 1999 Child Custody Evaluator Training
Oct 1998 The Expert Witness
1990-1994 CEB Recent Developments in Family Law
Publications
2002 Collaborative Family Law Practice Materials, with Steven C. Neustadter revised 2004 with Margaret Anderson
2000 The Use of Experts in Child Custody Litigation, FairShare newsletter, with Jacqueline Singer, Ph.D.