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Mack & Santana Law Offices, P.C. - Firm Profile

Family Law & Related Civil Actions

Mack & Santana Law Offices, P.C. was founded by Laurie Mack-Wagner, Esq. and Lymari J. Santana, Esq., in January 2004. The firm became "of counsel" to the law firm of Mansfield, Tanick & Cohen, P.A. ("MTC") in October 2005.

The firm represents clients in all family law related issues and offers guidance in dissolutions (divorce), custody, child support, spousal maintenance (alimony), nonmarital and marital property litigation, paternity, domestic abuse proceedings, harassment restraining order proceedings, post-divorce related litigation (modification of child support, spousal maintenance, custody and parenting time), and civil actions related to family law issues (fraud, invasion of privacy, etc.)

Our team focuses on providing our clients compassion, strength and planning in times of personal crisis. We are committed to meeting our clients' needs, whether they are involved in litigation regarding a family law matter or seeking legal representation in the mediation process. We firmly believe that an important part of our work is to provide our clients with a plan for the future that will help them move forward with their lives and help diffuse the fear and uncertainty of an unknown future after dissolution or other life-changing family law related event. Our goal is to provide diligent, efficient, and creative legal services to our clients as they undergo huge changes in their lives, and to work toward the best interests of any children involved. Becoming "of counsel" to MTC, a full-service law firm (except for family law), has enhanced the firm's practice due to the ready availability of MTC to provide specific expertise in family law cases on issues such as real estate, bankruptcy, wills and estates, trusts, insurance benefits, employee benefits, defamation, etc., and other issues that may arise within the context of a family law case. The firm also receives the benefit of being able to work with other firms and attorneys that are "of counsel" to MTC.

Our Team

Laurie Mack-Wagner

Laurie Mack-Wagner has been practicing since 1994 in complex litigation primarily in family law and related causes of action. With her practice based primarily in the Twin Cities area, Laurie has taught at several continuing legal education seminars in Minnesota, authored published articles nationally and statewide, and most recently co-authored the child support chapter in the Family Law Financial Deskbook, first edition, 2008, new from Minnesota CLE. Laurie is currently a Qualified Mediator under Rule 114. Since 2005 and every year thereafter, Laurie has also been featured in Minnesota Law & Politics, Who's Who in Family Law. Laurie is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association, the Hennepin County Bar Association, the Eighth District Bar Association (Scott, Carver, McLeod, Le Sueur, and Sibley Counties), and the Prior Lake Rotary Club.

After graduating with Highest Honors in the top 5% of her class from Florida State University's College of Law in 1994, Laurie began her career as an attorney with Carlton Fields in Tampa, a leading Florida law firm, in the business litigation arena, focusing primarily on complex corporate litigation, employment law and appellate practice. Laurie then headed to the Miami-based firm of Barranco, Kircher, & Vogelsang, P.A., a boutique litigation firm litigating massive family law cases with marital estates averaging several million dollars, while also supplementing her family law work by handling other civil litigation matters in both state and federal court. In 2000, Laurie left Florida and traveled to Minnesota where she has since been practicing exclusively in family law and related civil litigation. Laurie has been able to bring her knowledge of managing complex family law matters in Florida to Minnesota to enhance her litigation and settlement of cases with a variety of complexity. While Laurie's emphasis has been complex family law litigation, Laurie's goal is service and excellence regardless of the size of case.

Lymari J. Santana

Lymari J. Santana has been practicing since 1994, serving in the United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps from 1995-2000, and practicing primarily in family law in Minnesota since 2000. Lymari is currently a Qualified Mediator under Rule 114, and she is serving as a Settlement Referee for Hennepin County Family Court. Lymari speaks Spanish as well as English, and she will preside as a settlement referee on a calendar of default and settlement hearings, which will include parties in need of Spanish interpreter services. Lymari will ensure that a record is created in English, with the assistance of a court-certified interpreter to translate for the parties. However, Lymari will conduct off the record dialogue with the parties in Spanish to facilitate completion of the cases, and assist the parties with the court process.

Lymari co-authored the child support chapter in the Family Law Financial Desk book, first edition, 2008 for Minnesota CLE, and she has co-lectured on basic support issues in family law at the Annual Family Law Institute from 2007 through 2009 for Minnesota CLE. Lymari has been named as Minnesota Super Lawyer for 2007 and 2008 by Minnesota Law & Politics. Lymari was previously selected as a Minnesota Rising Star for 2005-2007 by Minnesota Law and Politics and has also been named Who's Who in Minnesota Family Law from 2005 through 2008. Lymari is a member of the Minnesota Bar Association, the Michigan State Bar Association, the Hennepin County Bar Association, the Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association and the National Hispanic Bar Association.

Michael Mack

Michael started as a paralegal with Mack & Santana during its inception in January 2004, and rejoined the firm in April 2008 after working at Meagher & Geer, PLLP, 3M and Cargill. As a former print journalism major at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, he brings solid interviewing, research and writing skills to his paralegal role with Mack & Santana. Michael obtained his four-year Bachelor of Arts in 2003, and his paralegal certification from the Minnesota Paralegal Institute in October of 2003.

Malorie A. Scharpe

Malorie Scharpe started with the firm in June of 2007. She graduated in May of 2007 from Winona State University, Winona, MN with a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Paralegal Studies. Throughout college Malorie was actively involved in many organizations and campus activities. Currently, Malorie is a member of the Minnesota Paralegal Association, has served as the co-chair of the Family Law Sectional, and has volunteered for various planning committees within the association.

Mack & Santana Law Offices, P.C., practices primarily in the Twin Cities Metropolitan area of Minnesota. (Anoka County, Carver County, Dakota County, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Scott County, Washington County). However, our attorneys have also appeared in cases in Martin County, Sherburne County, Otter Tail County, Wright County, Isanti County, Itasca County, Meeker County, Stearns County, and Olmsted County, and we are licensed to practice throughout the state.

Please visit our website at: http://www.macksantanalaw.com/ for more information on our firm.

Firm News

February 2009: Lymari and Laurie became qualified neutrals under Rule 114, after taking the required training at Hamline University.

March 30, 2009: Lymari and Laurie lectured on the "Basics of Child Support and Spousal Maintenance at the Family Law Institute presented by MN CLE.

April 20, 2009: Lymari started working as a Settlement Referee for Hennepin County Family Court.

June 11, 2009: Lymari will be participating on an expert panel for Linea Legal Latina, Volunteer Lawyer's Network that will be held at the Hennepin County Family Justice Center. The presentation will focus on Representing Latino Clients in Family Law Proceedings.

June 19, 2009: Lymari and Laurie will be lecturing on the Differences between Orders for Protection and Harassment Restraining Orders at the Annual MN Paralegal's Convention.