Mark D. Fiddler

At the helm of Fiddler Law LLC in Minneapolis, Minnesota, president Mark D. Fiddler has built a distinguished legal career centered on safeguarding the well-being of children and families. His practice spans a comprehensive range of adoption and child welfare matters, including agency adoption, direct placement adoption, interstate adoption under the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC), contested adoption, foster care adoption, the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), second parent adoption and stepparent adoption.

Mr. Fiddler's professional journey reflects a deep and enduring commitment to this field. In private practice, he has guided countless adoptive families through complex legal processes with compassion and skill. He also serves as an attorney for guardians ad litem, lending his knowledge to protect the interests of vulnerable children navigating the legal system. Perhaps most notably, he founded and directed the Indian Child Welfare Law Center, an achievement that speaks to his lifelong dedication to Native American families and children.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Fiddler has argued adoption and ICWA cases before courts nationwide, including a landmark appearance before the United States Supreme Court, a testament to his standing as a leading authority in this niche area of law. An accomplished legal scholar, he earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1988 and was licensed to practice law in Minnesota the following year.

A proud member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, Mr. Fiddler’s accomplishments have earned him recognition as a Kellogg International Leadership fellow and as Minnesota's Attorney of the Year in 2013. He is also co-author of a respected American Bar Association publication on ICWA and adoption law, further cementing his role as a thought leader in the field.