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MICHONE J. RIEWER, founder and attorney at Lake Bluff-based Strategic Divorce, built her firm with a vision to help clients divorce smart with less acrimony. “I earned my law degree from Georgia State University and cut my teeth litigating high-conflict cases in Lake and Cook County,” says Riewer, who has practiced law for more than 25 years. “Today, I lead a team focused on strategic solutions. We protect complex assets, secure parenting rights, and work to reach a fair and peaceful resolution.” She has been featured in Sheridan Road, taught CLEs, and mentored rising attorneys in the field. “We help people through the hardest time of their lives,” adds Riewer. “Above all, I’m proud to run a firm that leads clients with clarity, empathy, and strategy.”
What excites you most about the future of your industry? Divorce is becoming less about destruction and more about design. Clients want clarity, strategy, and peace of mind.
What conversations are you passionate about bringing to the table? I want to talk about how divorce can be strategic. How smart planning, not drama, leads to better outcomes.
How do you give back to your community or industry? I serve on the board of NICASA Behavioral Health Services, an organization that provides critical support for individuals, veterans, and families facing addiction, mental health challenges, and trauma. As a divorce attorney, I see how addiction and mental health issues can unravel families. NICASA steps in early, meets people where they are with compassion, and helps them rebuild with dignity by providing tools for real change and long-term support.
How do you define confidence—and how have you built it? Confidence is the quiet knowing that you belong in every room you walk into. I built mine by surviving hard moments, learning from losses, and remembering that the most powerful thing I can be is myself.
What’s one piece of advice you wish you’d received earlier in your career? You don’t have to shrink to make others comfortable. Own your ambition. Take up space. Be smart, be prepared, and don’t apologize for leading.
What legacy do you hope to leave behind? I want to be remembered as someone who practiced law with heart and opened doors wider for those coming behind me. I want my kids (and my clients) to know that fierce and kind can exist in the same sentence—and often it wears high heels.
For more information, visit strategicdivorce.com. You may also follow her on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram at @strategicdivorce.
