Oct 19, 2026 · by Angela Heart
In 2023, I was honored to receive the Stu Webb Award from the Collaborative Law Institute of Minnesota. The award recognizes professionals who help families through collaborative divorce outside the court room. I never wrote about it at the time. It felt a little uncomfortable to talk about myself. But this award means a lot to me, and to explain why, I need to share my story.
About the Award
The award is named for Stu Webb, the Minneapolis family law attorney who created collaborative law in 1990. Burned out on the adversarial system, he invited colleagues to try a settlement only approach. What started with a small group of Minneapolis lawyers grew into a worldwide movement. To be recognized in his name, by the community he helped build, is something I will never take lightly.
My Story
I didn’t start out in family law. My early career was in the business world, and while I learned a lot there, I knew I wanted my work to help people more directly.
Then my own divorce happened. It turned my world upside down. It was not something I had ever imagined for my life. I was highly emotional, and the process only added to the stress. It took about a year, several mediators, and eventually a trial. No one ever mentioned collaborative divorce as an option.
One memory from that time still makes me laugh. My attorney gave me an award for collecting more paperwork than any client she had ever had. I had to borrow a dolly to haul the boxes out of her office, and it took more than one trip. At the time, I remember thinking, is this really what people go through?
When I opened my own practice, I discovered collaborative law. Getting there was a lot of trial and error. I joined CLI, started going to meetings here and there, and slowly found my place in a community of professionals who help families through divorce.
Even when a case does not follow the full collaborative model, its core principles guide my work: respect, honesty, and helping families move forward. That is what I was looking for all along. Work that helps people.
Why Collaborative Makes a Difference
Professionally, collaborative practice lets me be a problem solver focused on negotiations. It rests on three simple commitments. We agree not to go to court. Both spouses share information honestly. And we look for solutions that honor what matters most to each of them.
When families choose this path, I see real change:
• They stay in control. The decisions about their children, home, and finances are made by them, not a judge who has only met them for a few hours.
• Children are protected. Kids are kept out of the middle, and their voices are still heard.
• Privacy and dignity are preserved. Their story stays at the table, not in a public court file.
• They have support. A team of professionals, including financial neutrals, coaches, and child specialists, helps them make informed decisions.
• They can move forward. Parents who learn to problem solve together during divorce are better prepared to co-parent long after it is over.
That last point is the one I care about most. The agreement we write is important. But the way two people learn to talk to each other during the process is what lasts.
Thank You
I am grateful to be the recipient of this past award. Most of all, I am grateful to the families who trusted me during one of the hardest times of their lives.
I will keep giving back because I believe in supporting the institutions that matter to me. My vision is simple. I would like to see collaborative practice as an option offered by every attorney.
If you are facing a divorce and want a process built on cooperation and problem solving, I would be glad to talk with you about whether collaborative divorce is right for you.