McNamee Mediations

Colleen really came through for us. She was the beacon of light that guided us throughout the process and I couldn't be happier. She provided clarity, assurance, and some examples of various scenarios that helped us reach the finish line. Really happy we didn't go through litigation and the astronomical costs for two attorneys.

Out of all the divorces I've been through, this was the smoothest by far!

p.s. This was my only one :)

Colleen was excellent in this process. She has a perfect background and great at communicating every part of the process with both parties. I would highly recommended her, this could not have been easier!!

Colleen was a patient and very informative partner for us through our divorce process. I appreciated how she dealt with both of our communication styles to ensure we could move forward to a successful conclusion. I highly recommend her services for any couple looking to avoid painful and costly litigation.

After scouring the internet for a mediator (by law, your attorney can't recommend one for you so I was on my own), I narrowed down my choices to two mediators with very reputable reviews and scores, and Colleen was one of them. I used each of the two business websites to submit an inquiry and request an initial consultation. Colleen was the very first to reply, and it came just the morning following my inquiry the night before.

The things that impressed me about Colleen even before meeting with her was that she is both a certified mediator and a licensed attorney, who has dedicated 20+ years to doing nothing but divorce mediation. She has also posted tons of really informative content and videos on her website that I thought were incredibly thoughtful, thorough, and helpful for people who when faced with the mammoth task of navigating divorce are probably desperately looking for the right answers just like I was. In my search, I didn't come across a mediation website that came even close to offering the richness of content that Colleen makes available for free to the public.

However, I have to admit that I engaged with the other mediator first because she offered a fixed price deal that was going to be less expensive than what Collen was offering. As soon as I started engaging with her, I regretted my decision. She couldn't seem to answer basic questions, and would take a long time to respond to us. We went back and forth multiple times on a particular question about how to ensure the division of the equity on our house, only to have her say that it sounded like we needed legal advice and that legal advice would not be part of the fixed price mediation package and that we'd have to litigate instead? I was completely put off by this, especially since she had not explained that even simple process-related questions would be deemed as "legal advice" not covered under her mediation services. In other words, the fixed cost would only cover them filling out paperwork without us being able to ask any questions. By the way, you can hire a paralegal to do that and don't need an attorney.

I immediately disengaged with the first mediator and proceeded with Colleen. From our first consultation to the last, Colleen was unbelievably quick in her responses, and even went above and beyond to anticipate our next questions, the next steps, any risks we needed to consider. She was transparent in her process, the court's process, and her cost structure. Throughout the mediation, we had many questions for her as neither of us had ever been through a divorce before, and she had thorough and detailed answers ready for us as soon as we asked the questions. She has her process down to the most minute details from gathering the inputs she needs to actually filling out the paperwork. It is not in exaggeration when I say that not only is the volume of paperwork daunting, but the level of detail required to get it all done correctly the very first time is close to impossible without the help of a hired professional. She not only did it all right the first time, but did it perfectly since the approval from the court came only a couple of weeks after the final signing.

As far as cost, she charges a fair price and is worth every penny. The very first meeting you have with her will include a detailed run through of the cost structure and she is very transparent. At no point in the process did I feel like she was trying to sell me more business or to increase consultation times. She proactively identified any areas where we could consolidate efforts to reduce any chargeable time. By the way, I researched two other divorce attorneys of good reputation, one in Orange County and another in LA County. Colleen's rates are competitive and were in fact, less expensive than the two I spoke to. She will tell you that she has chosen not to raise her rates for many years in consideration of her clients.

Above all else, mediation is a delicate art of trying to execute on the transaction of divorce with two people that don't get along. In addition to knowing the law and how to navigate the divorce system, it requires very specific soft skills and a balancing between keeping both parties in line while helping both feel like they got what was best for everyone in the end, including what is best for your children.

All I can say is, Colleen has it all and she is so good at what she does, sometimes you don't even realize until it's happened already that she literally helped you and your spouse to agree to something within minutes which on your own, may have taken months to agree on, if you could have agreed at all.

I couldn't have asked for a better mediation experience, and would highly recommend Colleen to those who want to do it right the first time and get all their questions answered quickly and accurately. She has great empathy for her clients and their families. Divorce is one of the hardest things you will ever do, but with an amazing med

The conclusion was, we both walked away from the mediation knowing it was the right choice to have Colleen guide us through it all. I'd like to comment on a few things which I feel might help others in making their decision whether to litigate or mediate.

We have a child with unique circumstances, and we knew we needed and wanted more control over how the divorce would have played out. I don't even want to imagine how things could have concluded in any other way, but OUR way. Entering a battlefield in a courtroom was not the way for us.

With Colleen, somehow, she was definitely able to remain neutral throughout the entire process. Yes, it was indeed possible. BUT when needed, I've seen her help me through some of my husband's requests and vice versa and come up with solutions that would ultimately both address and satisfy our individual concerns. She did actually advocate for us both simultaneously. It's something you'll have to see to understand.

She's so professional and kind. You feel like you're in great hands and she will take care of you. Divorce is one of the hardest things any of us can go through; but Colleen made it so her process was respectful to all parties and she was very supportive whenever possible. I never felt rushed during our appointments, she was thorough, and always made sure we both understood the terms and never left feeling bad or confused about our discussions.

I feel like that was key for me. Whatever your situation is with your significant other; no matter how bad, complicated, awkward, messy, and horrible you or it may feel, there is someone out there who will remind you that, hey, it's actually not as IMPOSSIBLE as you may have thought to see through it to the end. Colleen will help you get there and close this chapter. I wish for all of you a peaceful resolution and the hope for a better tomorrow. Good luck!

I found Colleen online and she had such compelling reviews that I decided to reach out to her. I explained what all was going to be involved in our case and Colleen said that so long as we were both willing to be transparent and come to the table with a willingness to negotiate, we would stand a strong likelihood of being able to be successful in mediation. Therefore, she was willing to take on our case. My wife was a bit reluctant because I am the breadwinner and she had not worked almost our entire marriage. She was worried she would need her own legal advocate in order to be protected. I encouraged my wife to call and speak with Colleen directly, and after she did, she agreed to give mediation a try.

 

I can honestly say that I don't think we would have been successful in mediating our case if we had used anyone but Colleen. She truly has a gift for this. I honestly don't know how she does this day in and day out. My wife and I have different personalities and approaches to things, and Colleen skillfully balanced both of our needs throughout the process. She always remained neutral but made both of us also feel heard at the same time. Colleen is very knowledgeable about the law, has a firm grasp on the financial intracasies involved in divorce, and can think outside of the box when creativity is called for. My wife and I both felt completely comfortable throughout the process, and we were able to reach a final agreement that we both felt good about. We will forever be grateful to Colleen, and so thankful that we were able to avoid the litigation route!

Very fair to each party and gets everything done in a timely matter. She is super professional but also understands the emotions involved. Highly recommend Colleen!

Colleen McNamee was an instrumental part in streamlining the process of separation for us. She handled all the paperwork, court filing, and overall made it an easy mediation process for us both. The byproduct of mediation is that it was a fraction of the cost of what litigation would have been. I highly recommend Colleen for her thoughtfulness and professionalism on top of being able to work with both parties in a caring way.

Obviously it is a very hard time in your life when you need a service like the one Colleen so expertly offers. I was having such a hard time emotionally and I don't know how I would have gotten through it with out her care, wisdom, and guidance. She really was an angel that was sent to me by the prayers of my family and I will always be thankful for how she helped me navigate through this hardship. Sincerely, thank you so much for everything Colleen. I can't recommend her enough.

If you're reading this review you can stop looking for a mediator. Colleen did an amazing job for us. She explained everything very well and sometimes she had to explain it two or three times but she was always very patient with both of us. It's never and easy time and having the right person guide you through the process is so important. We talked to a few mediators at the beginning but then we met Colleen she was the only one we both agreed on. She was fair and impartial through the entire process. I don't ever want to have to do this again but if I ever had to Colleen would be the mediator without hesitation. Best thing about the whole thing is my ex and I are still on good terms. I think that has a lot to do with Colleen.