David M. Louis

David M. Louis, MPA, CDFA®

Divorce Mediator | Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® | Collaborative Divorce Professional | Parenting Plan & Family Conflict Mediator

Chicago & Northbrook, Illinois | Serving Families Throughout Illinois and Providing Virtual Mediation Services in New York
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Overview

David M. Louis is an experienced divorce mediator, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®), Collaborative Divorce Professional, and family conflict resolution specialist who helps couples navigate divorce and family transitions through informed decision-making rather than courtroom litigation.

With more than 45 years of financial and public administration experience and nearly two decades devoted to mediation and collaborative dispute resolution, David combines financial expertise with practical conflict resolution skills to help couples negotiate fair, durable agreements that protect their children, preserve financial security, and reduce the emotional and financial costs of divorce.

Unlike many divorce mediators whose backgrounds are exclusively legal or therapeutic, David brings decades of executive financial leadership and budgeting experience to every mediation. His ability to help couples understand the long-term financial consequences of settlement decisions often leads to more informed negotiations and sustainable agreements.
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Divorce & Family Mediation

David believes families are better served when they retain control over the decisions that will shape their future instead of leaving those decisions to the court system.

His mediation process provides a confidential, neutral environment where couples work together to resolve issues respectfully while developing customized agreements that reflect their family's unique circumstances.

He regularly assists clients with:
• Divorce mediation
• Marital settlement agreements
• Parenting plans
• Parenting schedules
• Child custody and parenting issues
• Child support
• Spousal maintenance
• Division of marital assets
• Allocation of debts
• Retirement and pension division
• Collaborative divorce matters
• Post-divorce conflict resolution

David's goal is to help families move through divorce with clarity, dignity, and practical solutions that minimize future conflict.
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Divorce Financial Analysis

As a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®), David provides an additional level of financial guidance that distinguishes his mediation practice.

His extensive financial background allows couples to evaluate settlement options before agreements become final, helping them understand both the immediate and long-term financial impact of their decisions.

He assists clients in analyzing:
• Property division
• Retirement assets
• Tax considerations
• Cash flow projections
• Long-term financial planning
• Budgeting for two households
• Financial sustainability following divorce

By creating a common understanding of each family's financial picture, David helps parties negotiate from facts rather than assumptions.
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Collaborative Divorce

David is an experienced Collaborative Divorce Professional who works alongside attorneys, financial professionals, and mental health specialists to help families resolve disputes outside traditional litigation.

His collaborative approach emphasizes transparency, respectful communication, and problem-solving, allowing families to preserve relationships whenever possible while avoiding unnecessary court intervention.
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Professional Background

Before entering private mediation practice, David spent approximately three decades in senior public finance and governmental administration.

His career included serving as Director of Finance and Budget Director for the New York State Assembly and later as the elected Town Supervisor for New Baltimore, New York, where he served as the community's chief financial and administrative officer.

This extensive leadership experience provides a practical understanding of budgeting, financial planning, negotiation, and public decision-making that continues to benefit clients facing complex financial issues during divorce.

After completing formal mediation training in 2006, David founded his divorce mediation practice in 2010 and later became a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® and Collaborative Divorce Professional. Since then, he has devoted his practice to helping families resolve conflict through mediation rather than litigation.
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Additional Mediation Services

In addition to divorce and family mediation, David provides mediation and conflict resolution services involving:
• Workplace disputes
• Elder care decision-making
• Adult family conflicts
• Community and neighborhood disputes
• Relationship mediation
• Conflict coaching
• Family communication issues

For couples seeking to strengthen rather than end their relationship, David also offers relationship mediation focused on improving communication, resolving financial disagreements, and developing healthier parenting and family decision-making strategies.
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Professional Leadership & Memberships

David has remained actively involved in advancing the mediation profession through leadership, education, and volunteer service.

His professional affiliations include:
• Fellow, Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois
• Chair, Modest Means Program Committee, Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois
• International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
• Association for Conflict Resolution (National & Chicago Chapter)
• Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts
• New York State Council on Divorce Mediation
• Former Board Member and Treasurer, New York State Council on Divorce Mediation
• Former Board Member, New York State Dispute Resolution Association
• Former Board Member, Collaborative Divorce Association of the Capital District
• Volunteer Mediator, Center for Conflict Resolution (Chicago)
Former Volunteer Mediator, Mediation Matters (New York)
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