Karl L. Kliminski is the owner of the Fitchburg law firm of Kliminski Law and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business and his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School. As an experienced attorney guardian ad litem, Karl's practice focuses on children and families. He’s presented on a series of topics ranging from representing children's interests to ethics and has served as the court appointed guardian ad litem, as well as child's counsel, since beginning practice. These appointments encompass cases involving children in divorces (custody and placement issues), termination of parental rights and adoptions, Children in Need of Protection or Services (CHIPS), guardianships, delinquencies, and children with special needs. Representing intended parents beginning or adding to their family, as well as surrogates wishing to assist in such a journey, has been a part of Karl's practice since 2008. In this special part of Karl's practice, he has represented clients throughout the surrogacy journey, from the drafting, negotiation, and execution of agreements through the establishment of parentage within the legal system. Karl has worked with many agencies, both within and outside the State of Wisconsin, and regularly receives referrals from other attorneys in the assisted reproductive technology community. Karl has had the privilege of representing clients throughout the United States and the world.
Alyssa Mahaffay is a graduate of UW Law School where she was actively involved with the Public Interest Law Foundation and the Neighborhood Law Project. She began her legal career as a Deputy Public Defender for Minnehaha County South Dakota. While practicing as a public defender, Alyssa gained experience in criminal defense, mental commitment defense, termination of parental rights defense, and juvenile defense. She was also involved in the Women in Law section of the South Dakota State Bar. She began practicing at Community Justice Incorporated in 2006 and eventually expanded her practice to include family law and guardian ad litem work. She was elected to the Public Interest Law Section of the Wisconsin State Bar in 2007, where she served a three-year term. In 2010, Alyssa was appointed as a Supplemental Court Commissioner by the Honorable Judge O’Brien. She is currently a Supplemental Court Commissioner for the Honorable Julie Genovese. Alyssa served for three years as a board member for the Madison Dental Initiative (now, More Smiles Wisconsin), a dental clinic staffed by volunteer dentists, hygienists and medical students who work in collaboration with the Salvation Army to provide free dental treatment to Madison's homeless population. In 2015, Alyssa founded Mahaffay Law Office where she practices exclusively as a guardian ad litem representing the best interests of children involved with the child welfare system, children in family law matters, and children or adults who are the proposed wards in guardianship cases.
Eve Dennison Pollock is a 1999 graduate of the University of the Wisconsin Law School and holds a B.A. from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. She has been in private practice with W.R. Stewart & Associates, S.C. in Madison since 2000. Since 2005, Ms. Dennison Pollock has served on the Dane County contract for guardians ad litem taking cases in minor and adult guardianships, juvenile court matters, and paternity actions. She currently serves as the GAL contract liaison, managing relations between the contract guardians ad litem and the judges and court system. She maintains a private practice focusing on guardian ad litem work in family and probate courts. Ms. Dennison Pollock served on the Board of the Children and the Law Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin from 2012 until 2015 and is currently a member of its sections on Family Law and Children & the Law. She has presented on guardian ad litem work in Wisconsin at several conferences, State Bar of Wisconsin seminars, and various trainings. In her spare time, she watches her children play sports in high school and college.
Sara M. Vanden Brook is a partner and shareholder at The Law Center, S.C. Sara graduated with distinction from UW-Madison with a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies & Psychology. She earned her law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2008. Before attending law school, she was a caseworker for the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare. Sara is a member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin, the Dane County Bar Association, and the Legal Association for Women. Her practice areas include divorce, paternity, third-party visitation, and foster parent rights. She frequently serves as Guardian ad Litem for children in family cases.