Adrienne’s experience growing up in the south in the 1960s and 1970s undoubtedly influenced not only her personal choices, but also her career in employment law and civil rights law. Her first encounter with the social issues of the ‘60s was in elementary school when another child warned her to never drink from the same water fountain as the black children. Adrienne went home that day and asked her parents about what she had been told. Her parents were unnerved, and they provided Adrienne with her first lesson on racism — a lesson she has never forgotten.
Mandatory busing began in public schools by the time Adrienne reached high school, and social issues were at the forefront of daily life. During this time, Adrienne’s family became a target of hatred when her father rented a home to a black family in an all-white neighborhood. Her family was threatened and harassed, and her father was derogatorily referred to as a “block buster.” Adrienne also came face to face with religious bigotry when she learned that her family was not eligible for country club membership simply based on their Jewish faith. It was both a confusing and distressing time for a young girl, but it was also a time that clarified for Adrienne that racism, bigotry and all forms of hatred have no place in this world. Throughout high school Adrienne spoke out against unfairness by protesting, starting petitions, and filing complaints with the school board, city council and county commission. As a teenager, she didn’t hesitate to contact reporters or submit to interviews by local news stations regarding issues of equity and fairness.
She married and had her first child by the time she was 21 years old. Adrienne started law school 3 years later, and because child care was unaffordable for a full-time student, she often went to classes with her young daughter in tow. While starting law school with a toddler is challenging, it apparently wasn’t challenging enough, because Adrienne soon became pregnant with her second child. Unfortunately, this was a high-risk pregnancy, and Adrienne’s doctor ordered full-time bed rest. Instead of taking a year off, she received permission to have her law school friends tape record her classes and Adrienne listened to those cassette tapes from home. (This was 1985 and technology was limited.) Her law school study group came to her house weekly to hold sessions around her bed, and the law school permitted Adrienne to take her exams from home. Baby number 2 was born before Adrienne’s third year of law school, so of course he accompanied her when she returned to in-person classes. In fact, Adrienne not only took her newborn to classes in her final year, but she took him to her on-campus law firm interviews. Her first job as a lawyer was with a large national law firm whose partners didn’t mind that she had interviewed with smelly baby spittle running down the lapel of her interview suit.
Early in her career, Adrienne took a break from practice to attend Columbia University School of Law, where she earned her LL.M., focusing her studies on labor and employment law and civil rights. Thereafter, she began practicing employment law at a small boutique firm, representing management. Later, Adrienne started her own law firm, primarily representing employees, but also continuing with the representation of a number of corporate employers. It was during this time – in the early 1990s – that mediation was born, and Adrienne began mediating cases for other employment lawyers, even as she continued in her own trial practice. Adrienne experienced deep satisfaction from helping others reach voluntary resolutions of their claims, and ultimately she decided to focus exclusively on providing services as a neutral by mediating and arbitrating employment and civil rights claims. Adrienne’s transition to serving solely as a neutral mediator, arbitrator and third-party investigator was more than 25 years (and 3,000 cases) ago.
Adrienne has finally allowed herself to exhale, and is taking time to travel and enjoy more creative endeavors like painting, gardening, DIY home renovations and interior design. She also loves to hike, ride her E-bike, kayak and swim in the beautiful Colorado reservoirs of Loveland and Fort Collins, and, most important, spend time with her three dogs.
Parties in a mediation typically feel more comfortable with the process if they have some insight into the person who will be assisting them in settling their disputes. Even Adrienne’s attorney clients often comment on how knowing Adrienne ona more personal level can increase the chances of settlement. So we invite you to get to know Adrienne better.
Parties in a mediation typically feel more comfortable with the process if they have some insight into the person who will be assisting them in settling their disputes. Even Adrienne’s attorney clients often comment on how knowing Adrienne ona more personal level can increase the chances of settlement. So we invite you to get to know Adrienne better.
Adrienne’s experience growing up in the south in the 1960s and 1970s undoubtedly influenced not only her personal choices, but also her career in employment and civil rights law. Her first encounter with the social issues of the ‘60s was in elementary school when another child warned her to never drink from the same water fountain as the black children. Adrienne went home that day and asked her parents about what she had been told. Her parents were unnerved, and they provided Adrienne with a lesson on racism — one she has never forgotten.
Mandatory busing began in public schools by the time Adrienne reached high school, and social issues were at the forefront of daily life. During this time, Adrienne’s family became a target of hatred when her father rented a home to a black family in an all-white neighborhood. Her family was threatened and harassed, and her father was derogatorily referred to as a “block buster.” Adrienne also came face to face with religious bigotry when she learned that her family was not eligible for country club membership simply based on their Jewish faith. It was both a confusing and distressing time for a young girl, but it was also a time that clarified for Adrienne that racism, bigotry and all forms of hatred have no place in this world. Throughout high school Adrienne spoke out against unfairness by protesting, starting petitions, and filing complaints with the school board, city council and county commission. As a teenager, she didn’t hesitate to contact reporters or submit to interviews by local news stations regarding issues of equity and fairness.
Adrienne married during college, and she had her first child by the time she was 21 years old. She started law school 3 years later, and because child care was unaffordable for a full-time student, she often went to classes with her young daughter in tow. While starting law school with a toddler is challenging, it apparently wasn’t challenging enough, because Adrienne soon became pregnant with her second child. Unfortunately, this was a high-risk pregnancy, and Adrienne’s doctor ordered full-time bed rest. Instead of taking a year off, she received permission to have her law school friends tape record her classes and Adrienne listened to those cassette tapes from home. (This was 1985 and technology was limited.) Her law school study group came to her house weekly to hold sessions around her bed, and the law school permitted Adrienne to take her exams from home. Baby number 2 was born before Adrienne’s third year of law school, so of course he accompanied her when she returned to in-person classes. In fact, Adrienne not only took her newborn to classes in her final year, but she took him to her on-campus law firm interviews. Her first job as a lawyer was with a large national law firm whose partners didn’t mind that she had interviewed with smelly baby spittle running down the lapel of her interview suit.
Early in her legal career, Adrienne took a break from practice to attend Columbia University School of Law, where she earned her LL.M., focusing her studies on labor and employment law and civil rights. Thereafter, she began practicing employment law at a small boutique firm, representing management. Later, Adrienne started her own law firm, primarily representing employees, but also continuing with the representation of a number of corporate employers. It was during this time – in the early 1990s – that mediation was born, and Adrienne began mediating cases for other employment lawyers, even as she continued in her own trial practice. Adrienne experienced deep satisfaction from helping others reach voluntary resolutions of their claims, and ultimately she decided to focus exclusively on providing services as a neutral by mediating and arbitrating employment and civil rights claims. Adrienne’s transition to serving solely as a neutral mediator, arbitrator and third-party investigator was more than 25 years (and 3,000 cases) ago.
With her children now grown, Adrienne has finally allowed herself to exhale, and is taking time to travel and enjoy more creative endeavors like painting, gardening, DIY home renovations and interior design. She also loves to hike, ride her E-bike, kayak and swim in the beautiful Colorado reservoirs of Loveland and Fort Collins and, most important of all, spend time with her three dogs.