“The Mediation Office of John Spiegel is the place our practice refers couples who need help navigating the conflicts and details of a separation in ways that leave everyone respected, heard and able to move forward in the healthiest way. Experienced mediators, they listen like therapists and asks questions that direct conversations towards substance, encouraging reflection and effective decisions. Ethical and fair, their work helps families adapt and change through the divorce process, not shatter.”

“John Spiegel and Donna Duquette are mediators of exceptional skill, applying decades of experience in helping couples to find solutions that address the concerns of both parties and meet anticipated needs moving forward. Donna and John’s deep knowledge of the law, patience, insight, and skill in dealing with even the strongest of personalities in stressful circumstances, enable them to help clients articulate underlying interests and reach creative, mutually-agreeable settlement agreements.”

“[John Spiegel and Donna Duquette] are two people I know who make peace every day. They help separating and divorcing couples talk to each other. Out of the talk, understanding emerges. And out of the understanding, lives heal. … Progress happens when clients are thinking for themselves well. Thinking is not the first word that comes to mind when you consider conflict. Thinking usually, in fact, makes a quick exit when the battles begin. Anger stays in the room. Resentment stays. Old pain and mistrust take the big chairs. But the thinking is long gone. And it is thinking that is needed most. But mediators don’t always know how to produce it. In that way, John and Donna are pioneers in this field.”

“I was looking for a mediator who would exhibit neutral respect and fairness. My husband and I chose your [John’s] services because of a referral from [a] psychotherapist and my telephone conversation with Carolyn who was warm … when I was in a deep, dark, and cold time in my life. … Speaking to you helped me to develop my own voice and gave me ample opportunities to think and make decisions that were suitable for me and the children. … It is through your service that both my ex-husband and I have put aside our differences and chosen to do what is best for our children. … I am most proud of my ability to become an empowered single parent who has regained my voice. … I sincerely thank both you and Carolyn for helping us to work through our decisions and come to a quick resolution.”

“We were looking for someone who would handle our personal situation in a non-contentious, fair, and professional way. We also wanted to limit our expenses associated with the divorce. … We got much more with John. He understood the law well and was able to discuss legal matters with my then-husband, who was a lawyer. But he also made sure I understood the issues. He is an excellent communicator and this is an important quality when you are going through a divorce. … John approaches his work with professionalism and kindness, a combination that is not easy to find in divorce circles. I have been divorced over 8 years and I still look back at mediation with John as one of the best decisions we made during that process.”

“When I first chose John, it was because he came highly recommended. I used him for my divorce and I was so happy with the results, that when I later remarried, I used him again for the prenuptial agreement. I found John to be calm, focused, and diligent in keeping us on course. … Mediation helped my ex-husband and me to maintain calm and communicate throughout a difficult time our lives. Because we learned some healthy communication tools in mediation, a new way of communicating with one another if you will, we were able to carry those skills into co-parenting with our two children. … For the pre-nup, mediation was so helpful in getting my fiancé and me to talk about very important issues in a structured environment. If we hadn’t discussed some of these more difficult topics, I do not believe we would have set the groundwork that we needed to embark upon a healthy marriage.”

“I was not expecting my spouse to end our marriage, and I had not begun to overcome the initial shock by the time [my spouse] already had an adversarial settlement proposed prepared. … It was clear from my phone consultation with Carolyn Finney that his office offered something completely different. If a conventional attorney’s goal is to shift power and entitlement as far as possible to their own client, a mediator’s goal is to balance it as equitably as possible between both clients. In my mediation, my family was the client; not myself alone. … The most valuable outcome of my mediation with Carolyn and John is the certainty that my ex and I have to be able to co-parent our child without resentment or animosity towards each other. … In my mediation, my ex and I were able to work with John and Carolyn together. They brought a combination of legal expertise, sensitivity to the needs of a family, and focus on our long term happiness that must be extremely rare. Thank you, John and Carolyn, for steering my family in the right direction.”

“John Spiegel made a difficult and painful experience easier. His counsel was part therapy session and part concrete financial and legal resolutions. …The emotional journey was as important as the legal divorce documents. I don’t think we would have achieved a successful result without John’s expertise and guidance. I really can’t say enough about him. Thank you John.”

“Divorce is painful. John and his team made it bearable. Instead of a scorched-earth fight, John focused on finding common ground and equitable solutions. I wouldn’t want to relive our divorce, but if I did, I’d ask John Spiegel to help guide the way. John always placed a photo of our child front and center at every mediation, reminding us that despite being divorced, we’d always be connected. That helped diffuse a lot of anger and frustration and find a solution that avoided a litigious court.”

“At a time when I didn’t want to make any more decisions, the choice of John Spiegel as our mediator was an easy one. It quickly became apparent why he had been so highly recommended by a friend. John took his time in explaining the process, answering our questions, and set an amicable tone for the duration of our mediation process. Through his guidance we were able to lessen both the cost and the stress of our divorce. John’s genuine care for us as individuals, his concern for the well-being of our children, and his attention to detail put us at ease throughout the process.”

“I called several offices looking for a mediator. I talked with Carolyn and she was great! She listened, gave great guidance, and I could hear her empathy and caring over the phone. We met with Donna as our mediator. Donna was great in handling the hard stuff…. This of course was painful, but my ex and I handled it amicably and Donna’s team helped guide us on this journey. Thanks Donna and Carolyn!”

Germantown, MD client