Biography
Mary Ellen Malas focuses her practice on Domestic Relations and Family Law matters. She is keenly aware that when her clients are dealing with matters of this type, they usually are experiencing intense anxiety, stress, and fear. Mary Ellen is able to work with her clients during these difficult times to develop creative solutions that meet their individual needs.
Mary Ellen is passionate in her representation of her clients. She believes that most clients are best served if they are able to resolve their conflicts outside of the courtroom, where they are able to control their own outcomes.
Mary Ellen is an original member of the Cincinnati Academy of Collaborative Professionals (“CACP”) founded in 1997. As a member of the CACP, Mary Ellen has acquired specialized training in negotiation skills and conflict resolution techniques. As a collaborative lawyer, Mary Ellen is committed to helping parties achieve an agreed resolution of their financial issues along with allocating parental rights and responsibilities, all while helping couples maintain their dignity, respect, and privacy. This is especially important for parents who will have an ongoing co-parenting relationship requiring communication and cooperation while raising their children.
Mary Ellen is also a trained and experienced mediator. As a mediator, she is able to use her skills and expertise to help families achieve resolution in an out of court setting. Both the collaborative and mediation approach allow clients to keep the negotiations surrounding the termination of their marriage private.
When alternative paths to resolution fail, Mary Ellen is prepared to litigate. Mary Ellen has extensive experience litigating complex cases that often involve privately held businesses, business valuations, high net worth assets, and difficult custody issues. As a result, Mary Ellen has long-standing relationships with highly respected experts in all related fields, including valuation experts, forensic accountants, and family relations experts, all of whom provide specialized support in cases resolved both outside of court and in litigation.
Mary Ellen frequently represents community leaders, business owners, educators, professional athletes, entertainers and their spouses in all aspects of family law including divorce, dissolution, spousal support actions, proceedings involving custody and support, legal separations, and prenuptial agreements.
As a Partner at Keating Muething & Klekamp, Mary Ellen has direct access to her talented and experienced partners and associates in the areas of Real Estate, Estate Planning, Business Law, Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation, and Tax Law.
