Kathryn (Katy) GravesAttorney, Shareholder

The law can seem cold and impersonal, but in every family law case, hearts are involved.

I form trusted relationships with my clients—spouses, parents, and grandparents—to ensure you feel important and respected. I actively listen to achieve your goals and help you through this difficult time. As a purposeful advocate, I can assure that you will have a voice during negotiations or in court.

There is no substitute for experience, and as a seasoned family law attorney, I bring over 30 years with a focus on:

• alternative dispute resolution (ADR)
• child support
• custody
• domestic abuse and harassment proceedings
• post-decree disputes
• property division and complex valuation
• spousal maintenance
• third-party custody

I advocate using Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), which is used in most family law cases. Clients typically prefer to use ADR to resolve disputes rather than having a judge decide their lives. I employ mediation in most cases, especially divorce. Additionally, I have vast experience with child custody and parenting time issues, helping clients amicably figure out a schedule that works best for their family.

It’s rewarding making a meaningful difference in people’s lives. My fundamental principle is summed up in this lyric from The Beatles: “And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.”

ASSISTANT

Jake Lee

(612) 252-2804

jlee@hensonefron.com

• J.D., cum laude, University of Minnesota Law School, 1984
• B.S., Political Science, University of Minnesota, 1980

• Minnesota
• Supreme Court of Minnesota
• United States District Court for the District of Minnesota

• Qualified Neutral under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice

• 2022 Notable Women in Law Honoree, Twin Cities Business
• Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2015–2023: Family Law, Family Law Mediation
• Selected for inclusion in Minnesota Super Lawyers®, 2002–2022
• Selected for inclusion in Top 50: Women Minnesota Super Lawyers®, 2017-2018
• Selected for inclusion in Top 100: Women Minnesota Super Lawyers®, 2005-2006
• Featured in Minnesota Monthly Magazine as a Top Lawyer in Minnesota 2022: Family Law
• Featured in Minnesota Monthly Magazine as The Best Lawyers in America® 2019
• North Star Lawyer, Minnesota State Bar Association, commitment to pro bono service, 2013–2021
• Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Member of Managers, 2009–Present
• Public Member, Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy, appointed by Governor Mark Dayton, June 2014
• Member, Legal Assistance to the Disadvantaged Committee of the Minnesota State Bar Association, 1994–1997

• Minnesota State Bar Association, Family Law Section
• Hennepin County Bar Association, Family Law Section
• Financial Early Neutral Evaluator for Hennepin, Ramsey, and Dakota Counties
• Moderated Settlement Conferences in Hennepin, Ramsey, Anoka, Carver and Washington Counties (on the roster)
• Adult Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) for Hennepin and Ramsey County

• Public Board Member, Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy, 2014–Present; Vice Chair, 2018-2020; Complaint Panel Member, 2018-Present; Chair, 2020
• Mentor, University of St. Thomas School of Law Mentor Externship Program, 2014–Present
• Volunteer Lawyer, Hennepin County, “Limited Scope” attorney program, 2009–Present
• Volunteer Lawyer, Volunteer Lawyer’s Network, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1993–Present
• Volunteer Lawyer, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1985–Present

• Featured in "Minnesota families struggle with shared custody in the pandemic,” Star Tribune, April 2020 
• Author, "Managing Co-Parenting Time Schedules During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Clarification of What’s Allowed Under the Just Released Minnesota Executive Order 20-20," Henson Efron Thought Leadership, March 2020
• Author, “Divide and Conquer,” Best Lawyer “Women in Law” Business Edition magazine, spring 2019
• Author, “Family Matters,” Best Lawyer Business Edition magazine, summer 2016
• Featured in “Where Intellect and Civility are Key,” Attorney at Law Magazine–Women in Law Special Issue, November 2014
• Co-Author, “Intricacies of Drafting Qualified Domestic Relations Orders,” Minnesota Lawyer, November 2014
• Co-Author, “Revocation of Beneficiary Designations Upon Divorce,” Minnesota Lawyer, February 2014

• “Four-Way Settlement Conferences,” Minnesota Chapter AAML Divorce Camp, September 27, 2013
• “Will I Be Okay?,” Minnesota Chapter AAML Divorce Day Camp, May 10, 2013 (presented with Carin Thomas, CIMC, FVP)
• “Family Law From A-Z,” National Business Institute, February 1, 2012 and February 13, 2013
• “Zealous Advocacy and The Ethics of Family Law,” Olmstead County Family Law Section, October 18, 2012
• “What Family Court Judges Want You to Know,” National Business Institute, April 20, 2012
• “Child Support and the Psychology of Support,” AAML Divorce Camp, September 2012 (presented with Kirsten Lysne, Ph.D, L.P.)
• “Child Evaluation in Custody and Support Litigation,” National Business Institute, March 2011
• “Preventing Critical Financial Mistakes During Divorces,” National Business Institute, December 5, 2008
• “A Roadmap Through Divorce Proceedings,” National Business Institute, June 10, 2008
• “Successful Financial Settlements for Your Divorce Client,” National Business Institute, June 15, 2007
• “Crucial Discovery Techniques in Minnesota Dissolution Cases,” National Business Institute, January 2005
• “Equitable Distributions in Divorce Settlements in Minnesota, Valuation, Tax and Other Issues,” National Business Institute, June 2005
• “The Impact of Bankruptcy on Dissolution of Marriage in Minnesota,” National Business Institute, March 2003 and April 2004
• “Handling Minnesota Divorce Cases from Start to Finish,” National Business Institute, December 2003