About Us
At Anoka Conflict Solutions, we've built our practice around a simple belief: the most effective dispute resolution goes beyond legal expertise alone.
Our team brings together extensive legal knowledge with specialized training in communication, change management, and conflict resolution. This comprehensive approach means we don't just help parties reach agreements — we help them understand the underlying dynamics that created the conflict and develop skills to prevent future disputes.
Whether you're navigating a family transition, resolving a business disagreement, or seeking efficient resolution for your clients, our focus remains the same: creating durable solutions that address both the immediate dispute and the relationship dynamics that matter most to you.
We've seen how the right process, guided by experienced neutrals, can transform seemingly impossible conflicts into opportunities for better understanding and stronger foundations moving forward.
Meet the Team
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Marissa brings a unique perspective to mediation, combining deep expertise in organizational change with specialized training in conflict resolution. Her approach focuses on empowering parties to discover creative, sustainable solutions while developing communication skills that serve them well beyond the mediation session.
Known for her curiosity and compassion, Marissa excels at creating the psychological safety essential for productive dialogue. She guides clients through complex, emotional situations with sensitivity and clarity, helping them move from conflict to collaboration with confidence.
Marissa's extensive corporate background includes senior leadership roles in change management and communications strategy for global organizations. She has successfully facilitated conflict resolution between diverse stakeholders, led major IT transformations, and developed high-performing teams. This experience translates directly to her mediation practice, where she helps parties identify core interests, navigate organizational dynamics, and create practical implementation plans.
Her commitment to service extends beyond her practice — Marissa has led pro bono initiatives and managed partnership programs with local nonprofits to support emerging professionals.
Education & Credentials:
Bethel University, B.A. Communications (summa cum laude)
UNC Greensboro, M.A. Transformative Peace and Conflict Studies
Certified Change Management Practitioner, Certified Scrum Master, Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt
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Brendan brings 25 years of civil litigation experience to mediation, having spent his career at the center of complex disputes across insurance coverage, commercial litigation, personal injury, products liability, employment, and construction law. This deep courtroom experience gives him unique insight into what makes cases succeed or fail — and why most parties are better served by resolution than by rolling the dice at trial.
As a veteran strategist and appellate lawyer, Brendan understands the true costs of litigation: the financial expense, emotional toll, and relationship damage that often leave even "winning" parties wondering if the victory was worth it. He now applies that strategic perspective to help parties find fair, mutually beneficial solutions that preserve resources and relationships.
Having participated in the successful resolution of hundreds of cases through alternative dispute resolution, Brendan is known for quickly grasping the core issues in complex legal disputes while maintaining strict impartiality and fostering respectful dialogue between parties.
Brendan remains active in the legal community, regularly presenting papers and seminars on advanced civil practice, construction, and insurance litigation. His commitment to access to justice extends beyond mediation — he founded a pro bono legal clinic serving families in special education matters and continues providing advocacy for those who need it most.
Education & Credentials:
Gonzaga University, B.A. (summa cum laude)
University of Washington School of Law, J.D. (honors graduate)
