Susan F. Fillan

Senior Divorce Mediator

Susan F. Filan is a certified mediator, former prosecutor, family and criminal law attorney, and former MSNBC Senior Legal Analyst with more than 30 years of legal experience guiding individuals and families through complex legal and personal transitions. Throughout her career, she has worked on matters involving significant emotional, financial, and legal stakes, bringing clarity, seasoned judgment, and a steady presence to situations where thoughtful resolution is essential.

Drawing on decades of courtroom, negotiation, and mediation experience, Susan helps parties resolve disputes with dignity, respect, and practical, forward-looking solutions that support long-term stability. She believes mediation provides individuals and families the opportunity to make well-informed decisions, reduce unnecessary conflict, and move forward without the emotional and financial toll of prolonged litigation.

Susan is known for her calm approach, thoughtful listening, and ability to guide difficult conversations with fairness and focus. She understands that families entering mediation are often navigating one of the most challenging transitions of their lives, and she works to help them find a path forward that honors their unique circumstances and values. She approaches mediation without judgment, creating a balanced and constructive environment where parties feel heard, understood, and empowered to work toward durable agreements.

Susan graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. with Distinction in Anthropology (1981) and an M.A. in Anthropology (1986). Her anthropological training provides a distinctive lens for understanding family systems, cultural dynamics, and the human dimensions of conflict. She received her J.D. from Quinnipiac University School of Law (1991) and an LL.M. in Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law (2021), where she served as a Professor of Practice. She is currently completing her Doctorate of Juridical Science (S.J.D.).

Susan is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, the State of Connecticut, the State of New York, and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Court.

Practice Areas

Divorce and Family Mediation, Custody and Parenting Matters, Conflict Resolution, and Complex Family Disputes.