Lisa L. Derr
ABOUT US
Meet Our Lawyers
Serving Beaver Dam, Oshkosh, West Bend & Wisconsin
We want you to move forward to a positive future. Our mediation fees include unlimited emails and calls before, during and after mediation.
Lisa L. Derr
“I am passionate about helping divorcing couples find real solutions in mediation.”
Lisa Derr is an experienced Divorce and Family Mediator with three offices in east central Wisconsin. She started the family mediation practice in 1995. Lisa earned her BA in psychology from the University of Wisconsin in 1984 in four years despite a serious car accident that involved a 2-month hospital stay. She began practicing law in 1987. For the first 8 years of her career, Lisa litigated personal injury and divorce cases. But she was frustrated with the tremendous financial and emotional cost of divorce trials. Contested hearings inhibited reconciliation and healing for thewhole family. She started the Beaver Dam divorce mediation practice in 1995 and with her partner, Cassel Villarreal, expanded to Oshkosh and West Bend ten years later.
In mediation, Lisa is a neutral party who helps couples determine their own future with empathy, insight and problem solving. When people review not just the issues, but also their facts and feelings related to the issues, they determine their own future together. Lisa’s clients are satisfied with this process which empowers people even years later.
In the fall of 2017, she celebrated 30 years of marriage to her husband, Michael. They have three sons, Nicholas, age 27, Alex age 24, and Paul age 20.
Lisa has given extensive training in mediation for both private companies as well as governmental agencies as described below.
Classes and Seminars Presented
- Managing Conflict – Dealing with the Frustrated Customer, Wisconsin State Credit Conference
- Applying Domestic Violence Research to Placement and Custody Factors of §767.24, Wisconsin Supreme Court of Judicial Education
- Resolving Conflict in the Workplace, Dane County Society of Human Resource Managers
- Mediating with Domestic Abuse, Wisconsin Association of Mediators
- Resolving Conflict in the Workplace for Companies, Janesville WI Plant
- Domestic Violence Training to Staff of Friends of Abused Families, West Bend
- Building a Frank Lloyd Wright House with the Same Old Bricks: The Building Blocks of Meditation, Emerging Issues in Mediation Conference
- Legislative Update, State Bar of Wisconsin Legislative Update, Annual Family Law Workshop Preparing Your Clients for Mediation, State Bar Convention
- Grief and Loss of Divorce, Cardinal Stritch University
- Managing Conflict at Work, Horizon Home Care and Hospice
- Dealing with Domestic Violence in the Workplace, Madison Public Service Commissioner’s Affirmative Action Advisory Council Dealing with Domestic Violence in the Workplace, Society of Human Resource Managers
- Dealing with Difficult People: Difficult Clients (Yours and Theirs), and Difficult Attorneys, Wisconsin State Solo and Small Firm Conference Mediating Financial Issues with Domestic Violence, Mediation Center of Greater Green Bay and Winnebago Conflict Resolution Center (Oshkosh)
- Dealing with Impasse Parts I and II with Perri Mayes, Wisconsin Association of Mediators Emerging Issues Conference
Areas Of Practice
95% Divorce Mediation
5% Divorce Litigation
Bar Admissions
Wisconsin, 1987
Illinois, 1987
Education
- University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin J.D. – 1987
- University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin B.A. (Cum Laude) – 1984
- Major: Psychology
Published Works
- “Legislative Update” on upcoming legislation in the Family Law , Journal of Family Law, Spring , 2003
- “Legislative Update” on upcoming legislation in the Family Law , Journal of Family Law, Fall, 2003
- “Legislative Update” on upcoming legislation in the Family Law area with Dan Rossmiller, Journal of Family Law, Spring , 2004
- New Child Support Laws on the Horizon, Wisconsin Association of Mediation Journal , Fall, 2003
- “Certification of Mediators – What Does it Mean for Me?”, Wisconsin Assoc. Mediation Journal, Spring, 2005
- Discussing Money Without a Fight, Inspire Magazine, August, 2004
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Office of Lawyer Regulation, District 13, Committee Member & Secretary, 1999 – 2005
- Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Member, 1997 – Present
- Wisconsin State Bar Gender Equity Committee., Past Chair
- Wisconsin Association of Mediators, President, 2011 – 2012
- Wisconsin State Bar Family Law Section, Director, Family Law Section Past Employment Positions Family Law Section Board, Past Director Office of Lawyer Regulation, District 13 Committee, 1999 – 2004
- Chapman and Cutler, Associate Attorney, 1989 – 1991
Pro Bono Activities
- Guardian for elderly at Clearview Nursing Home, Juneau Wisconsin
- Volunteer for the Dodge County Pro Bono Clinic
Languages
- English
Lisa Derr
Lisa Derr is an experienced Divorce and Family Mediator with three offices in east central Wisconsin. She started the family mediation practice in 1995. Lisa earned her BA in psychology from the University of Wisconsin in 1984 in four years despite a serious car accident that involved a 2-month hospital stay. She began practicing law in 1987. For the first 8 years of her career, Lisa litigated personal injury and divorce cases. But she was frustrated with the tremendous financial and emotional cost of divorce trials. Contested hearings inhibited reconciliation and healing for thewhole family. She started the Beaver Dam divorce mediation practice in 1995 and with her partner, Cassel Villarreal, expanded to Oshkosh and West Bend ten years later.