When it comes to the practice of family law, Karen Redmond believes there is a better way. After twenty years of courtroom litigation, where she witnessed families torn apart by the adversarial process, Karen’s desire to help and not harm has taken a place of precedence in her law practice. Her current focus is primarily on mediation, where she facilitates collaborative conversations crafted to meet the needs of each family, and the individuals involved. 

I never forget that it’s a human being who has walked into my office, sometimes with incredible pain, and I have to start with that. That’s my strength. I start with who are you.

Mediation starts with a neutral approach. When clients come to Karen, they are often overwhelmed with the chaos of an impending divorce, and what it means for their family. She listens, carefully, and helps them lay out the puzzle of their specific situation. Through empathetic conversation, Karen helps her clients fit the pieces together and find a reasonable facsimile of their former life with the least amount of disruption possible. 

My clients talk to me about the things that are most precious to them — their children, their broken hearts, their money — and they’re asking me to help. It’s a lot more rewarding than walking out of the courtroom with adrenaline pumping from a victory. I think of it as an incredible, incredible privilege when people choose me to help.

Karen has extensive experience with all issues in family law, including complex personal and corporate finances, division of property and debt, challenging income determination cases, spousal support claims for all genders, and guardianship of children. She gives her time generously, providing advice and support to those in her profession, or those in need of her services, through speaking engagements and support groups. As a mediator and lawyer, Karen spends many hours in extensive training annually. She is always at the forefront of understanding family law and the process of mediation to move her clients ahead on their journey back to whole.

Ending up in my own divorce, bankrupt with three little children 25 years ago, lead me to be a lawyer. The help of my Mum, Lyn, was the critical piece. Supportive, loving parents make better people, and a better world. Mum always said, “start with yes and we’ll figure it out from there.”

Karen received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario, a Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Laws from the University of British Columbia, and was called to the Bar of British Columbia in 2004. She is an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia, teaching family law and serves on numerous boards that support families transitioning through separation and divorce.

Most importantly, Karen is the mother of three amazing daughters who are all young adults and have provided her with more than sufficient material for her most recent paper, “Child Support for Adult Children in the Age of Delayed Adulthood.”

In her spare time Karen writes crime fiction novels and most recently has moved to a small farm where she expects she may be spinning more than short stories.

Olivia Milliken is an experienced litigator who practices in all areas of family law including child and spousal support, parenting time, property and debt division, and divorce. Olivia is an advocate for negotiation but recognizes that sometimes, litigation is the only answer. Olivia wants her clients to feel heard, supported, and empowered through this difficult process. 

Olivia graduated from Emory University with a Bachelor of Business Administration. During and after her undergraduate work, she worked in investment banking and management consulting in New York City. Olivia went on to study law at University of California Hastings College of the Law, where she attended on a merit-based fellowship. Before graduating from law school in 2002, she clerked for Justice Martin Jenkins, who is currently on the Supreme Court of California. After graduation, she began her legal career as a prosecutor, with a focus on white-collar crime.   

In addition to being an active member of the California Bar since 2005, Olivia has practiced law in the UK and Hong Kong. Olivia was called to the Bar in British Columbia in 2022 after completing her articles at a boutique law firm in Vancouver. Olivia speaks conversational Cantonese. 

Outside of the law, Olivia is a food and wine enthusiast and will frequently be found exploring Vancouver’s restaurant scene, when she isn’t on the sidelines at her children’s soccer matches.