Hugh O’Donnell

Hugh O’Donnell has practiced law in the Kansas City area for over 40 years. During that time he has tried numerous cases in the area of family law, as well as civil and criminal jury cases. However, it was his experience in the courtroom in family law cases, though often successful, which led him to collaborative law and mediation. In the past 18 years, Hugh has developed a significant mediation practice and is a charter member of the Association of Missouri Mediators. Furthermore, in 2001, Hugh had Stu Webb, the founder of Collaborative Law, come to Kansas City to train him and a handful of other family law attorneys on collaborative law.

Hugh has handled countless family law cases involving a wide range of issues. Family law cases may involve issues of complex financial nature, such as the valuation of small business and, at the same time, deeply emotional issues involving the welfare of children.

Hugh has taken over 100 hours of basic and advanced mediation training and has mediated thousands of cases. He has also presented several advance mediation trainings including one in Dakar, Senegal. Additionally, Hugh has taken and presented numerous collaborative law trainings. Hugh has also acted as a coach for mediation trainings conducted by the Johnson County Community College and UMKC School of Law. He has spoken on both subjects on the local NPR station.

Hugh is an active member of the Missouri Bar and a member of the Family Law Committee. He is also the chairman of the Intervention Committee, and has received several awards from the Missouri Bar.

Hugh has always felt he should be making a positive contribution to society in his practice and believes that collaborative law and mediation is a great way of doing so. Collaborative law and mediation enables people to resolve their own problems in a non-adversarial atmosphere without intervention of court. With the assistance of able legal counsel (or mediator), couples can chart the outcome of their family’s future. Collaborative law and mediation makes ending a marriage a problem to be solved, rather than a fight to be won.