About Kristi Paulson

Kristi Paulson is a full time, professional alternative dispute resolution neutral serving as a mediator, arbitrator and special master.   She handles cases in both the civil law and the family law arenas.   Kristi is a Minnesota Rule 114 Qualified Neutral and a North Dakota Rule 8.9 Neutral in the areas of civil mediation, family and divorce mediation and arbitration.  She brings her experiences, her civility and her professionalism to each and every client she meets.   She customizes her approaches and works to meet individual needs.    

Kristi is an experienced trial lawyer with over 30 years of experience in the courtroom prior to her shift to dispute resolution.   Kristi has successfully litigated high-profile and has had millions of dollars in recovery for her clients over her the years in the areas of personal injury, medical negligence, product liability, employment, probate, criminal, family, commercial and construction, and general civil and business litigation.   In 2017, she was inducted into membership of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).   Kristi is also a past President and member of the Douglas K. Amdahl Inn of Court.   She is the Director for the Academy of Certified Trial Lawyers of Minnesota.   In 2023 she was appointed as a Minnesota State Chair for the American Bar Association Fellows for which she is a long term life fellow.  Kristi serves as a Minnesota representative for the ABA House of Delegates.

She prides herself on not only her legal expertise, but her ability to draw on her life experiences and translate those to the situation at hand.  Kristi is creative and committed, always seeking out the best result possible.  She tries to never give less than 100% and has high expectations of herself and those around her.  Kristi is nationally recognized for her expertise in online mediation.   She conducts both in person and online mediations and arbitration, depending on party preference.  

In addition to serving as a mediator and arbitrator, Kristi is the founder and President of PowerHouse Mediation.   In addition offering alternative dispute resolution services to lawyers, companies and individuals,  Kristi trains and teaches mediation and advocacy skills to ADR professionals, participants, lawyers and others.   Her communication and interpersonal skills are well suited to the online environment, given her years of addressing the unique challenges the online medium presents.  

In 2020, the Minnesota Supreme Court appointed Kristi to serve on both the Minnesota Lawyers Board of Professional Responsibility and the ADR Ethics Board.  She was re-appointed to both in 2023.

Kristi lives in Minneapolis with her husband, two children and her two dogs.  In her free time, she enjoys reading, public speaking, boating, beading, painting and taking long walks.