LAURIE ISRAEL began her practice of law in 1987 as a tax lawyer in the Boston firm Foley, Hoag and Eliot (now Foley Hoag). In January, 1991, she commenced her independent practice in Coolidge Corner, and has been in the same building since that time. During the years, her practice has grown, and now consists of four attorneys and support staff. Israel, Van Kooy & Days, LLC specializes in divorce law, mediation and collaborative law, as well as estate planning, residential real estate, and probate of estates.
LAURIE is one of the pioneers in Mediation to Stay Married (also known as marital mediation and marriage mediation). The work came as a natural corollary to her divorce work. Laurie asked herself, “What could I have done as a lawyer-mediator if I could have worked with the divorcing couple a year or two before the couples decided on divorce and met with divorce attorneys …” People who wish to stay in their marriages but were having significant problems started to talk with her, both as couples, and individually. These people are working to try to get their marriages back on track. Clients respond strongly and positively to working on their marital conflicts with a neutral mediator using standard mediation conflict resolution techniques. Read what Laurie has to say about Mediation to Stay Married on the Articles page and on her law website She has also founded a registry site for marital mediators and people looking for marital mediators.
She is an original member of Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council and is a former member of its Board of Directors. She is a member and a former board member currently of the Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation.
LAURIE graduated from Barnard College in 1967 cum laude, and from The Dickinson School of Law (now part of Pennsylvania State University) magna cum laude in 1987. She was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1946.
Karen Van Kooy joined the Law Offices of Laurie Israel in 2007 and together, they founded Israel, Van Kooy & Days, LLC in 2010. In her family law work, Karen is an experienced and compassionate attorney, representing clients in all aspects of family creation and reformation: from prenuptial planning through divorce and post-divorce modifications.
Karen uses Collaborative Law, Mediation and a court-based approach, depending on the needs and preferences of her client. Karen is also available for Limited Assistance Representation (LAR).
Karen graduated from Suffolk University Law School, Boston, MA Magna Cum Laude in 1999. She is a member of the Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council, International Association of Collaborative Professionals, American Bar Association, Family Law Section, Association of Family Conciliation of Courts, The Divorce Center, Massachusetts Council of Family Mediators, and the Women’s Bar Association.
Karen serves as a mentor and trainer for the Women’s Bar Foundation Family Law Project. Karen is also on the Board of Directors for The Divorce Center.