Nanette A. McCarthy

Even at the start of her family law career in 1995 as a fierce litigator at a well-known matrimonial firm in Chicago, deep down Nanette knew she would be most effective at helping families if she led her own firm. Realizing that goal eight years later, she founded what today is GMR Family Law LLP – a highly respected boutique divorce practice in Chicago.

Since then, Nanette has been appointed by the Cook County Court to act as a child’s representative and guardian ad litem in custody and visitation proceedings and engages in continuous training to maintain this qualification. She has extensive experience working on cases with complex custody issues, including cases with special needs children, mental health issues, and international removal. While Nanette works with clients in alternative dispute resolution settings such as collaborative divorce and mediation, she is a skilled and experienced litigator. Nanette can masterfully guide clients through traditional litigation if the alternatives do not prove fruitful.

Prior to practicing law, Nanette obtained her B.S.B.A. from Lawrence Technological University and her Juris Doctor from DePaul University School of Law in Chicago. Her undergraduate studies focused on accounting and finances, providing strong financial acumen that is critical in the handling of high net-worth divorces. She also received training in negotiation at the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation, which has framed her entire approach to the practice of law.

Nanette is viewed as a leading voice among matrimonial lawyers and has been invited to speak at numerous engagements on the topic. She has also written many briefs for the Appellate Court of Illinois and authored multiple articles on family law topics including one that was published in the ISBA Family Law Newsletter regarding non-customary parentage law cases.

In addition to the accomplishments above, Nanette has also received the following accolades

• Selected as an Illinois Super Lawyer in the area of Family Law every year since 2009.

• A fellow of the prestigious American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers

• A fellow of the Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois

Nanette has also served the field of Matrimonial law in the following ways

• Board Chair of The Lilac Tree, a not-for-profit providing resources to divorcing and separation couples

• Faculty at the Houston Family Law Trial Institute at the South Texas College of Law between 2010-2019

• President of the Illinois chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) from 2013-2014

• Member of the Chicago Bar Association Committee for Matrimonial Law and Adoption Law

Education

• Lawrence Technological University, B.S.B.A. (1992)

• DePaul University School of Law in Chicago, J.D. (1995)

Admissions

• Illinois (1995)