Karen Rose Krehbiel
Berger Schatz
Family law

Karen Krehbiel has become one of the city’s go-to lawyers in high-profile divorce cases involving notable clients in the Chicago business and civic communities. Why? It’s because Krehbiel has the ability to lead her clients toward the best resolutions possible.

This knack for protecting her clients has helped Krehbiel fashion one of the busiest and most impressive family law practices in Chicago. This attorney with Chicago’s Berger Schatz has at a relatively young age become one of the most sought-after family law attorneys in the city.

Those who work with Krehbiel are not surprised. They say that few attorneys are as thorough, skilled, knowledgeable and dedicated to their clients.

“Karen is a results-oriented and practical lawyer who keenly understands and accomplishes the goals of her clients,” said Caroline Reckler with Chicago’s Latham & Watkins. “She is known for building very close and personal relationships with her clients and shepherding them through the divorce process as quickly as possible and with minimal disruption.”

Krehbiel has successfully mediated and litigated a long list of complex matrimonial disputes during her career. This includes complicated custody matters, the division of marital assets, protection of non-marital assets, and child-support awards.

At the same time, Krehbiel studies her clients’ business needs. This often requires long hours of research and the ability to understand and become conversant in complicated business valuation issues.This extra level of service -- taking the time to comprehend and meet her clients’ business as well as familial goals -- is what sets Krehbiel apart from other family law specialists.

Krehbiel pursued a career in family law thanks in part to her experience representing neglected and abused children, both as a law school student and also as a volunteer at Lawyers for Children, a non-profit legal organization based in NewYork City.

Krehbiel has not hesitated to share her knowledge of family law with others. She has written on family law topics, including a well-received article analyzing the collaborative-law approach to divorce. She has also worked as a contributing editor for chapters on parenting plans and enforcement of parenting time for a book for judges published by the National Interdisciplinary Colloquium on Child Custody Law.

Outside of the courtroom, Krehbiel is not shy about donating her time and serving her community. She is a member of the board of trustees of Chicago’s High Jump, a two-year tuition- free academic enrichment program for Chicago seventh- and eighth-grade students and has also supported the Lincoln Park Zoo. In addition, Karen has volunteered for the Cook County Court Facilitator Program, which provides free legal services to pro se litigants.