AALM: Mara, what experiences or interests first drew you to a legal career?
ML: The TV show L.A. Law had just premiered, and, like a lot of people at the time, I was captivated. Everyone wanted to be Grace Van Owen or Victor Sifuentes. At the same time, I’ve always loved solving complex problems, which drew me to the intellectual challenge of regulatory law.
I enjoyed the nuance and strategy of the law, and the way a well-crafted agreement could shape outcomes without ever stepping into a courtroom. In corporate practice, I consistently gravitated toward solutions over standoffs; finding satisfaction in creating order out of complexity and helping clients avoid unnecessary battles.
AALM: You later pursued a master’s in counseling. What inspired that shift?
ML: Corporate regulatory law sharpened my analytical skills, but it didn’t fulfill the part of me captivated by human nature. My undergraduate degree was in psychology, and I found myself craving a deeper understanding of people, not just laws. So, I returned to school for my counseling degree. That blend of legal structure, behavioral understanding, and relational insight became the core of my mediation work.
AALM: How did you find your way to mediation, and how do your prior careers influence your approach?
ML: Mediation felt like the natural convergence of my work in both law and counseling. My legal background ensures accuracy and structure; my counseling background lets me offer calm, clarity, and grounded support during an emotional time. Together, they create a process clients describe as grounded; and often surprisingly relieving.
AALM: What inspired you to launch Modern Mediation?
ML: I wanted to reinvent how families experience divorce. Litigation felt like an outdated model for couples who value privacy, financial stability, and continued family connection. Modern Mediation began as a boutique practice intentionally designed to feel different: discreet, streamlined, human. It has evolved into a concierge-style, client-centered process designed for affluent couples with complex assets and business interests, where privacy and long-term family stability are woven throughout.
AALM: What were some early lessons that shaped the business?
ML: Early in my practice, I learned how critical it is for each person to feel truly heard. I was involved in a case where one party was literally hushed and the process quickly became adversarial. That moment stayed with me. It reinforced my belief that mediation works best when it centers on the people involved, not competing legal strategies. That principle continues to guide my client-centered approach; designed so each person is fully heard and retains meaningful control over the decisions that shape their future. Advisors are engaged to clarify, not control, the path forward.
AALM: Your Team Mediation model is unique. How does it change the divorce landscape?
ML: Divorce isn’t just a legal event; it’s a human process with financial, emotional, and legacy-shaping implications. My client-centered team mediation model is built around bringing humanity back to divorce; ensuring the people involved retain full voice and control, while also prioritizing smart financial planning around assets, retirement, and generational wealth. Specialized professionals support the process without dominating it, allowing families to make thoughtful, informed decisions that hold up long after the divorce is final.
Recently, a couple held me in a long embrace after they reached their final divorce agreements in our mediation session. Moments like that are a reminder that when the process is designed to honor people as well as outcomes, the experience can look very different from what most associate with traditional divorce.
AALM: Have any client experiences shaped your philosophy?
ML: Absolutely. Early in my mediation work, I saw outcomes that fundamentally shaped how I practice. One couple made a profound impression on me. They held hands throughout every mediation session. They weren’t reconciling; they were honoring the bond they still shared as they thoughtfully redefined their future. Watching them move through divorce with that level of respect and calm revealed what is possible when the process is handled intentionally.
Experiences like these shaped my philosophy that mediation should protect not only financial assets, but also the relationships and family structures that matter long after the legal process ends. How a family divorces matters just as much as the legal outcome, especially for children. That belief is central to how I work today.
AALM: You’re involved with The Foster Alliance. What draws you to their mission?
ML: Family is at the core of my work. I created my family through adoption, which has given me a deep appreciation for the role stability and support play in a child’s life. The Foster Alliance’s mission reflects those values, making my involvement feel both personal and aligned with my broader commitment to strengthening families.
AALM: What milestone are you focused on next?
ML: I’m expanding Modern Mediation’s concierge-level services for clients who want a discreet, highly coordinated, powerful alternative to litigation. Many of my clients are executives, high-profile figures, business owners, physicians, and individuals with multigenerational wealth. My focus is on elevating every part of the experience, so mediation feels intentional, private, and deeply supported from start to finish. That includes meeting clients in private settings of their choosing, offering flexible and discreet scheduling, coordinating private wealth, tax, and estate professionals behind the scenes, and having one professional coordinate and manage the entire process.
AALM: Anything else you’d like to add?
ML: How a divorce begins often determines how it ends. I’ve seen, time and again, how starting with mediation can change everything.
For more information, visit modernmediationaz.com.
