About

Kurt Bickes and Katherine “Kitty” McCarthy started McCarthy-Bickes Mediation Center as a means to help people solve disagreements and disputes that would otherwise become costly and time-consuming, if drawn through the courts or otherwise. With extensive experience in handling even the most contested disputes, Kurt and Kitty are confident that any disagreement can be resolved in a manner that is affordable and agreeable to both parties.


 

kurt-portraitKurt Bickes and his wife of 25 years, Wendy, reside in Decatur, Illinois. Kurt and his wife have two grown sons and one daughter-in-law, and they enjoy two energetic grandchildren.


EDUCATION AND TRAINING

1982 – Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

1985 – Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD), Southern Illinois School of Law, Carbondale, Illinois

1996 – Forty (40) hour Performance Based Mediation Skills Training, CDR Associates, Boulder, Colorado

2005 – Forty (40) hour Civil Court Mediation Training, Mediation Resources, Charleston, South Carolina

1985- Present –  Extensive legal and mediation continuing education.

 

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Member, Decatur Bar Association

Member, Illinois State Bar Association (Alternative Dispute Resolution Section)

Member, Academy of Professional Family Mediators

Member, Association for Conflict Resolution

 

PROFESSIONAL

In 1985, Kurt Bickes joined the Decatur, Illinois law firm of Rosenberg, Rosenberg, Bickes, Johnson & Richardson as an Associate. Over the past 30 years, Kurt has built a thriving civil practice, concentrating in civil litigation, family law, construction litigation, real estate, estate planning and mediation. Kurt Bickes is presently a partner in the “AV-rated” Decatur, Illinois law firm of Bickes, Wilson & Moss.

 

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Member, Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Decatur, Illinois

Commission member, United Lutheran Mission Association

Board of Trustees, Walther Theological Seminary

Board of Directors, Staley Credit Union, Decatur, Illinois


kitty-portrait Katherine “Kitty” McCarthy is a retired circuit judge who has handled every type of civil, family, and probate dispute during her 16 years on the bench.

She has turned her focus to mediation since her retirement in December of 2014 and has already handled a variety of disputes in mediation, both private and court ordered.