ABOUT

Helping families restructure with compassion and amicable resolutions

Patrick Kalscheur // Founder

A divorce and family law attorney, mediator, and collaborative practitioner, Patrick founded Kalscheur Conscious Family Law in 2017. After working for many years in large and mid-sized law firms, Patrick saw a deep need for families undergoing divorce to feel more supported, to help them restore peace, and to guide them toward amicable outcomes they can feel good about in the years ahead. 

Patrick’s holistic, facilitative approach makes it possible for individuals and families to navigate some of the most challenging conversations they will ever have. His extensive experience guides individuals to reframe difficult situations as opportunities for values-driven resolution. In both mediation and collaborative divorce, Patrick partners with aligned professionals to ensure each person has the information they need to make fully informed decisions about their future.

  • Patrick is also attuned to supporting families with children. In these scenarios, Patrick works closely with his clients to ensure their children’s needs and interests are both acknowledged and considered. He connects families with mental health co-parenting professionals and other resources to help build a smooth transition. 

    Patrick has been a leader in the Collaborative Law community for many years and has trained with some of the best mediators, collaborative professionals, and attorneys in the world through the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP), the Mosten Guthrie Academy, the IFS Institute, and Collaborative Divorce Illinois (CDI). Patrick is a certified “Self-Led Lawyer and Mediator” from the IFS Institute, and he weaves Internal Family Systems into his work with clients to effectively break impasse and help clients achieve their goals. He has led presentations with IACP, CDI, the Mosten Guthrie Academy, and the Chicago Bar Association. Locally, Patrick served on the board of directors for CDI from 2015 to 2018, and he currently leads the CDI Chicago Loop practice group. He is also actively involved in IACP, where he served on the Membership Committee and Practice Group Development Committee. 

    Patrick received his Juris Doctor degree from DePaul University College of Law, where he received many distinctions, including graduating Order of the Coif and Summa Cum Laude. Patrick has been recognized repeatedly by Illinois Super Lawyers in family law, a peer-selected honor reserved for only the top 5% of attorneys in the state.

    When Patrick created Kalscheur Conscious Family Law, he created a law firm dedicated to making the world a better, more peaceful place, one family at a time. Now Patrick enjoys overseeing and guiding a peacemaking practice filled with similarly minded peacemakers. This includes finding balance in all phases of the practice of law and of life. He enjoys helping other divorce professionals create similar practices for themselves.

    Outside of work, Patrick is the father of two boys and enjoys bike riding and taking trips to beautiful places with his family. His wife, Anviksha, is a marriage and family therapist and founder of Introspective Family Wellness. Together, they enjoy collaborating and helping families in a holistic and conscious manner.

Sarah Whitt // Mediator

Sarah Whitt worked for decades as a paralegal in small to large law firms before connecting with her purpose as a peacemaker in 2022. In mediation, Sarah saw an opportunity to help people transform pain and move forward peacefully — with durable agreements and a sense of hope, having faced the hard conversations and emerged upright.

Sarah brings a holistic, facilitative approach to the mediation process. She uses her extensive experience to help people self-regulate, communicate from their core values, and create durable agreements they feel good about. Sarah works with aligned professionals to ensure each person has the information they need to make fully informed decisions.

  • As a co-parent herself, Sarah knows firsthand how family restructuring can de-stabilize people of all ages — and how mediation offers an opportunity for clients to lead with resilience. When children are living at home, Sarah helps parents make plans that create security and stability in both homes. She often encourages parents to work with mental health and other professionals to assist them with the emotional toll of divorce and with effective co-parenting communication.

    Sarah has trained with experts across the continent, including Forrest “Woody” Mosten, Collaborative Divorce Illinois (“CDI”), theAcademy of Professional Family Mediators (“APFM”), Insight Mediation Training with The Curious Mediator, Divorce and Marital Mediation Training and Supervised Practicum with theCenter for Mediation & Training, Elder Care Mediation Training withElder Decisions, and Small Claims, Special Education, and Restorative Justice Training with the New York Peace Institute.

    Sarah continues to regularly mediate disputes of all types for the New York Peace Institute as well as court-ordered high-conflict co-parenting cases for theFamilies in Transition Program of the Children’s LAW Center. She also works with children and families in the local DCFS system, participating in court processes in her role as a CASA of Cook County. 

    Sarah earned her Bachelors of Art from Bryn Mawr College, where she studied art and social justice, graduating with the distinction of Magna Cum Laude. When Sarah began her peacemaking career, she saw an exciting application of her liberal arts degree in a professional world. Like writers, poets, and artists, peacemakers are dreamers — with curious work that has a practical end: to greet the horrible and emerge with hope.

    The mother of a first grader, I enjoy occasional playdates, camping, the lake, and traveling across the country to visit family and friends. My daughter and I also like to make forts, art, and have discussions about who is actually the boss (of her). 

Shaped by more than three decades of high-level legal, regulatory, and public policy expertise, David brings a distinct and powerful perspective to family law. After a career in these arenas, David pivoted his practice toward a mission close to his heart: helping people navigate one of life’s most challenging transitions with dignity.

David Fein // Of Counsel

  • As a certified third-party neutral, David uses an empowering and empathetic framework designed to minimize both the financial and emotional costs of divorce. Driven by a desire to foster constructive dialogue, he views the legal process as a tool for healing and restructuring rather than destruction. David works primarily with spouses and families seeking to avoid the adversarial nature of traditional litigation. He is particularly skilled at helping his clients cut through the noise and reach sustainable agreements that prioritize the long-term well-being of the family unit. 

    When he isn’t guiding clients toward peaceful resolutions, David cherishes quality time with family — including retreats to his family’s summer home in Eagle River, Wisconsin, where he enjoys being on the water, resting and recharging. David is an avid supporter of Chicago sports, a passionate gardener, and a golf enthusiast.

Stacy Freeman // Of Counsel

Stacy is a trusted family law mediator and peacemaker with more than 20 years of experience empowering individuals to reach amicable, durable agreements that prioritize the well-being of their families. She encourages clients to view mediation not only as a dispute-resolution tool, but as a pathway to preserving relationships and reducing conflict.

  • After graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater, Stacy toured nationally as a professional actress before returning to Chicago to earn her Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law as a Family Law Fellow. Since then, she has practiced exclusively in family law throughout the Chicagoland area, building a reputation for resolving even the most challenging disputes with clarity, compassion, and balance. Her experience includes high-net-worth divorces, parenting matters, asset division, orders of protection, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, paternity, and adoption. 

    Stacy holds a Divorce Mediation Certificate from Northwestern University and has been recognized as an Emerging Lawyer by Leading Lawyers and a Rising Star by Super Lawyers. She is a board member and legal coach for HiveStrong, a nonprofit supporting survivors of domestic violence and previously served on the Schiller DuCanto & Fleck DePaul University Family Law Advisory Board. Stacy lives in Oak Park and enjoys spending time with her husband and son. Her love of performance remains a meaningful part of her life, enriching both her work and her connection to the legal community. 

Tyler Loftin-Weeks // Director of Client Services

As Director of Client Services at Kalscheur Conscious Family Law, Tyler brings extensive experience in executive support, business operations, and client relations. Throughout her career, she has been drawn to roles centered on communication, service, and helping others navigate situations with both confidence and care.

  • At Kalscheur Conscious Family Law, Tyler leverages her experience building seamless systems, strengthening client experiences, and managing day-to-day operations with compassion and professionalism. Drawn to the firm’s commitment to conscious peacemaking, she believes individuals and families deserve guidance that is both practical and deeply human. 

     A graduate of Western Illinois University, Tyler enjoys spending quality time with her husband and daughters, traveling, and creating meaningful memories with family and friends.