Meighan Harmon’s passion for family law became evident early in law school. Now 25 years into the practice and being internationally recognized for her achievements, Harmon prides herself on encouraging clients to look towards brighter horizons and helping them build a future that is both financially and emotionally secure.

One of the most rewarding aspects of Harmon’s career is “helping clients navigate a very difficult and challenging part in their lives.”

Harmon’s philosophy, which she imparts to clients, is simple: focus on the future as quickly and early as possible.

“When clients focus on the past, they tend to get stuck there and not achieve their best results,” says Harmon.

Throughout her career as a high-profile attorney, Harmon has noticed a repeating pattern – when clients focus on their future, they achieve positive results. However, when clients attempt to correct mistakes from the past or allow emotions to cloud otherwise sound judgment, it only leads to disappointment. Harmon advises her clients to focus on positive outcomes and narrow in on what can be accomplished during the divorce process instead of permitting negativity to get in the way.

“There are few opportunities we have as adults to reinvent ourselves and get a fresh start. Divorce provides that opportunity, should you choose to take it,” says Harmon.

In addition to her proactive approach to divorce, Harmon is an incredibly versatile attorney, with the ability to provide clients with several options to resolve their disputes. While it is common for attorneys to specialize in either mediation or litigation, Harmon is exceptionally skilled in both, with a stellar track record for success.

“You can’t take a cookie-cutter approach to client issues,” says Harmon. “You have to be able to do both and to do both well.”

Well-known as a fierce litigator, Harmon has significant trial experience and regularly tries divorce cases. However, she is equally successful in mediation, where she implements an attorney-assisted mediation approach. Harmon stresses the importance of working with her clients as a team during the process. While she is always ready to take contentious cases to trial, Harmon advises clients to consider mediation as an initial approach, particularly for those who value privacy and wish to keep their settlement out of the public eye. Harmon focuses her sophisticated practice on complex family law cases involving multi-generational wealth, business valuation, and complex trusts and estates.

For those contemplating or in the midst of divorce proceedings, Harmon cannot stress enough the importance of putting one’s future self first and working with counsel to lay a solid foundation to ensure the goals of the case are achieved. Harmon also advises clients to clearly vocalize their objectives in a case and to be heavily involved throughout the process. By considering the new opportunities presented by the dissolution of marriage, divorce can be a huge positive in a client’s life – a chance at a do-over to live the life they truly envision for themselves.

The Schiller DuCanto & Fleck, LLP Chicago office is located at 321 N. Clark St., Suite 1200. For more information, call 312-641-5560 or visit sdflaw.com.