Kathleen M. Smith - Vernon Hills, IL

I would not recommend hiring Michael Gauthier or Kathleen Smith for high-conflict divorce cases. Based on my experience, they did not meet the standards of advocacy I expected, particularly in a case involving challenging dynamics such as alleged criminal perjury, violations of court orders, and manipulation. Despite providing documentation that demonstrated clear evidence of criminal misconduct and intent by the opposing party, Kathleen Smith and Michael Gauthier failed to take meaningful steps to protect me or my children from these actions. One recommendation I found problematic was agreeing to a parenting plan provision that I had flagged as potentially open to abuse. Unfortunately, my concerns proved valid, as the provision later caused significant challenges that, in my view, could have been avoided with different legal guidance. When I raised concerns about receiving what I perceived as harassing messages from my ex-spouse, Kathleen Smith appeared dismissive, stating she did not see an issue and did not represent my interest. This response did not adequately address my situation. After expressing my concerns and asking for a more assertive approach, Michael Gauthier informed me that the firm would withdraw representation, causing prejudice in the my case and further allowing the opposing side to conceal and leverage their criminal actions. Additionally, despite Kathleen initially recommending depositions, the firm did not follow through on conducting them, even after I explicitly directed them to proceed. This decision undermined my position. After they withdrew, Michael intentionally delayed turnover of my case file—over six months after multiple requests—further complicated matters, as I was unable to make full use of the file during pivotal moments in the case. Throughout the process, they demonstrated a lack of professional resilience, effective advocacy and failed to address serious issues involving my ex-spouse's criminal behavior. For those navigating high-conflict divorces, I would encourage seeking a firm with a demonstrated ability to manage complex cases and a commitment to proactive advocacy. Please feel free to reach out to me directly if you would like to discuss their services in more detail.