Practice Areas: Family law; view more
Licensed in Wisconsin since: 1993
Education: Washington University in St. Louis School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2007 - 2008, 2011 - 2015, 2022 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2006 Call today:
262-688-4064
Free Consultation First Look Family Law
15850 W Bluemound RoadSuite 304
Brookfield, WI 53005 Visit website
Details
Karyn Gimbel Youso is an experienced family law attorney located in Brookfield, WI, serving Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington and Ozaukee counties. After years of working for others, she established her own firm in 2018, First Look Family Law. She offers compassionate and effective low conflict family law services to help families lower their conflict and lower their costs, both financial and emotional.
In the Mediation process, Atty Youso helps families (usually unrepresented) communicate better, which leads to cooperation and direct problem-solving. This approach is cost-effective and time-saving, and deals with the heart of the issues causing conflict between parties. She has extensive experience handling complex issues involving child custody, property division, and substance abuse cases, and often enlists the assistance of other professionals to educate couples and help with those issues (financial neutrals, mental health experts, appraisers, etc.). If a couple wants to get divorced, but prefers privacy and the opportunity to be "heard" in a way that will lead to a mutually satisfying outcome (both financially and emotionally), then private mediation with an experienced mediator such as Atty Youso is an effective divorce process for that couple.
In Collaborative Divorce, Atty Youso advocates as counsel for her client as part of a larger Collaborative Team, keeping the good of the whole family in mind even as she addresses the concerns of her individual client. By committing to a no-litigation approach, the whole team can focus on solving problems instead of preparing for trial. The transparency of the process ensures that all concerns are addressed, all necessary information disclosed and exchanged, and the outcome of the case is based on actual interests, not knee-jerk positions/wants. Emotions are heard and addressed respectfully. Children are prioritized. Focus is on the long game.
A 1989 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Ms. Youso completed her Bachelor of Arts in French with a minor in Russian literature, and then went on to receive her Juris Doctor in 1992 from the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis. In law school she was a member of the Journal of Urban and Contemporary Law, and the recipient of the mock trial Golden Quill Award. She was first admitted to practice in Illinois and later in Wisconsin in 1993.
Ms. Youso lends her time and services to those in her community. She previously served on the Public Education Committee of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, and the Board of the Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin. She was involved in major fundraising at her children's school, and place of worship. She is currently serving her second term on the Wisconsin State Bar Family Law Section Board, as well as on the Advisory Board of the Redeem and Restore Center in Waukesha, Wisconsin, serving the needs of women who have been sexually assaulted or sex trafficked. She is a member of many business organizations in the community, including the Brookfield Chamber of Commerce, the Idea Collective, TEMPO Waukesha, Elmbrook Rotary Club, and the KNOW Women of Milwaukee.
For Atty Youso’s professionalism and outstanding client services, she is rated “Superb” through Avvo.
Practice areas
Family lawFocus areas
Dissolution, Divorce, Paternity, Prenuptial agreements, Marital property, Mediation & collaborative law, Same sex family law
- 100% Family law
First Admitted: 1992, Illinois
Professional Webpage: https://www.firstlookfamilylaw.com/WisconsinDivorceLawyers
- Employees of Ernst and Young, Milliman & Co, Direct Supply, GE Healthcare, Northwestern Mutual, Medical College of Wisconsin/Froedtert, Deloitte, Harley-Davidson, Aurora Healthcare.
- Family Law Section, Board of the State Bar of Wisconsin, (2010-12);(2020-22);(2022-2024)
- TEMPO Waukesha Women's Business Group
- Active Member of the Idea Collective Small Business Community, empowering small businesses to grow and flourish.
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1995
- Wisconsin State Bar, 1993-present
- Illinois State Bar (inactive)
- Pro Bono Liaison to Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin
- Collaborative Foundation of Wisconsin, Inc Pro Bono Activities, Former President of the Board
- Association of Women Lawyers, Member
- Wisconsin Governor’s Council on Domestic Abuse, Justice Committee Workgroup, Member
- Divorce Cooperation Institute
- International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
- Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin, Former Member of the Board of Directors/Chair of Marketing
- Waukesha County Bar Association
- KNOW Women of Milwaukee (2020, 2021)
- President-Collaborative Foundation of Wisconsin (2013) Member, Elmbrook Rotary Club
- Advisory Board Member of Resteem and Restore Center, providing services to women who have been sexually trafficked and assualted.
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, BA, Major: French Language & Literature , 1989
- Limiting Access to Marine Fisheries: Keeping the Focus on Conservation. A Guidebook to Managing Fisheries Through Limited Access., Ed. Center for Marine Conservation and World Wildlife Fund, 1994, Book Editor, Limiting Access to Marine Fisheries: Keeping the Focus on Conservation., World Wildlife Fund, General Public, Environmental NGOs And Non-profits, Governmental Agencies, 1994
- Co-presenter at annual meeting and training of statewide organization serving collaborative practitioners., Co-Presenter, "Unorthodox Creation of a Collaborative Case: Sparing the Family from High Conflict Litigation", Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin, Family Lawyers, Mental Health Professionals, Financial Professionals, 2013
- Invited to speak at Chamber Event about family law process options., Presenter, "Low Conflict Process Options in Divorce", Greater Brookfield Chamber of Commerce, General Public, 2022
- Invited to speak at annual meeting of SE Wisconsin's paralegal community on the issue of Mediation in family law., Presenter, "The Benefits of Divorce Mediation: Saving Time, Money, and Relationships", Wisconsin Association of Legal Professionals, Family Lawyers, Paralegals, General Public, 2023
- For providing in excess of 50 hours of pro bono services in the community, Pro Bono Honor Society, Waukesha County, 2018
- M Magazine Leading Lawyers 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 , Leading Lawyers, M Magazine, 2015
- Milwaukee Magazine SuperLawyer, SuperLawyer, Milwaukee Magazine, 2011
- Milwaukee Magazine SuperLawyer, SuperLawyer, Milwaukee Magazine, 2012
- Milwaukee Magazine SuperLawyer, SuperLawyer, Milwaukee Magazine, 2013
- Milwaukee Magazine SuperLawyer, SuperLawyer, Milwaukee Magazine, 2014
- Milwaukee Magazine SuperLawyer, SuperLawyer, Milwaukee Magazine, 2015
- Milwaukee Magazine SuperLawyer, SuperLawyer, Milwaukee Magazine, 2022
- For dedication and commitment to the collaborative process and the Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin., Dolphin Award (2005, 2007), Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin
- 2 episode podcast about grieving losses, generated during the start of the Pandemic, but applicable to all loss, such as divorce, Grieving Together Alone, General Public, Family Law, 2020
- Brookfield Chamber of Commerce
- Collaborative Family Law Council Of Wisconsin
- Collaborative Foundation Of Wisconsin
- Elmbrook Rotary Club
- Idea Collective
- International Academy Of Collaborative Professionals
- TEMPO Waukesha
These comments were made by fellow attorneys during the annual nomination process.
“Karyn is a very good lawyer and based upon my impressions she absolutely shines as a Collaborative lawyer. As I have seen first hand, Karyn goes out of her way to deal with difficult issues heads on, even though it would be easier to set the issue aside and deal with it down the road. Her approach is effective and admittedly brings difficult issues to light when emotions are high, but in a way that the issues can be dealt with constructively.”
Office location for Karyn Gimbel Youso
15850 W Bluemound Road
Suite 304
Brookfield, WI 53005
Phone: 262-688-4064
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2007 - 2008, 2011 - 2015, 2022
- Rising Stars: 2006
