Jana is a nationally recognized family law practitioner who serves as a compassionate advocate for clients and their children. Knowledgeable and responsive, she is committed to understanding her clients’ needs and working with them to achieve positive outcomes. Jana strives to resolve matters outside the courtroom to minimize distress and disruption, but when the parties cannot reach a consensus, she is fully prepared to represent her clients’ interests at trial.
Jana believes that every client deserves dedicated, competent guidance throughout their family court proceeding, culminating in a conclusion that prepares her clients to confidently move forward.
Jana provides effective counsel in all areas of family law, including:
- Complex property valuation and division
- Child support and child support modification
- Spousal maintenance and modification
- Complex nonmarital tracing
- Asset and income management
- Parenting agreements and paternity
- Custody settlement and litigation
- Stepparent adoption
- Premarital, postmarital, and cohabitation agreements
- Settlements
- Post-decree matters
- Appeals, trial, and motion practice
- Mediation, arbitration, and evaluative processes representation
- Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) neutral
In addition, Jana is a Qualified Neutral under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice, available to offer families ADR services such as family law mediation and financial early neutral evaluations.
Jana also serves on Moss & Barnett’s board of directors and as chair of M&B Cares, the firm’s community outreach and philanthropic committee.
Representative Cases
- Moon v. Moon, A16-0173 (Minn. Ct. App. 2016)
- Nelson v. Nelson, No. A15-2024 (Minn. Ct. App. 2016)
- Lauderdale v. Lauderdale, No. A14-0864 (Minn. Ct. App. 2015)
- Hill v. Hill, No. A14-1752 (Minn. Ct. App. 2015)
- Brooks v. Brooks, No. A12-0553 (Minn. Ct. App. 2012)
- Ellingson v. Ellingson, No. A09-1709 (Minn. Ct. App. 2010)
- Melius v. Melius, 765 N.W.2d 411 (Minn. Ct. App. 2009)
- Ellingson v. Ellingson, No. A06-1522, No. A06-1221 (Minn. Ct. App. 2007)
Credentials
Education
University of North Dakota School of Law, J.D.; with distinction; symposium editor, University of North Dakota Law Review
University of North Dakota, B.A.; magna cum laude; Phi Alpha Theta
Classes / Seminars Taught
- Family Mediation Training, Trainer, Mediation Center Minnesota (2024-present)
- Family Mediation Training, Adjunct Professor, Mitchell Hamline School of Law (2023-present)
Certifications
- Family Law Mediation Certified Training – Mediation Center (2015)
- Qualified Neutral under Rule 114 of the Minnesota Rules of Practice
Admissions
- Minnesota
- U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
Honors & Recognitions
The Best Lawyers in America (2014-present)
Minnesota Super Lawyers (2010-present)
“Top 50 Women” and “Top 100,” Minnesota Super Lawyers (2018-present)
Minnesota Rising Stars (2005-2009)
Professionalism Award, Hennepin County Bar Association Family Law Section (2022)
News & Insights
News
Speaking Engagements
Publications
Multimedia
Unblurring the Lines: Clarifications and Changes to the Custody and Parenting Time Statutes in Minnesota ("Evolving Family Law")
Affiliations
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Hennepin County Bar Association – Family Law Section
- Association of Family and Conciliation Courts; Minnesota Chapter – President (2016-2018), Minnesota chapter president-elect (2015-2016)
- Minnesota Women Lawyers
- Douglas K. Amdahl Inn of Court
Board Memberships
- Board Member, Breaking Free
- Board Member, GIVING WoMN
Community Involvement
- Chairperson, Dignity and Empowerment Committee, Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights (2012)