Danya A. Grunyk believes that information is power – and it is more powerful to obtain information about the law and options available to you before you are engulfed with the challenges of divorce or other family issues. Ask questions and learn.

After practicing law for more than 30 years, and spending most of those years in the courtroom, Danya is now committed to alternative methods of resolving disputes for individuals and families going through divorce and other family transitions. “Traditional” divorces that we see on TV and in movies, do not reflect the stress and potential costs of divorce. Alternative methods of dispute resolution, frankly, work for most cases, and can be less stressful and more cost effective than taking the traditional litigation route. For example, the Collaborative Law Process or mediation can enable spouses to focus on a resolution that makes sense for their family, and not settling for something that makes no sense to you. The outcome you want is based on your own family’s issues and needs, considering what the law provides, while maintaining privacy, dignity, and control. Alternate dispute resolution is not for everyone. For people who prefer or need traditional litigation because they have issues that warrant litigation, Grunyk Family Law continues to provide litigation services.

Danya is the founder of Grunyk Family Law, P.C. After a 12-year business career in the corporate world, she decided to go to law school to understand what law school and the lawyers she worked with were talking about. Her legal career started in New Jersey in a corporate law department and eventually with a large corporate firm. One day she offered to help with a family law case and that changed the trajectory of her career. Danya relocated to Illinois in 2000 and began practicing law here. Her practice has focused exclusively on family law since the early 1990’s. She is licensed to practice law in New Jersey (1987), Illinois (2000) and Arizona (2014). Highlights of her background:

• 1. J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law (1987), M.B.A. University of Detroit (1981), B.A. University of Michigan (1977).

• 2. Professor teaching Family Law and related courses at John Marshall Law School and at UIC-Law (2002 – 2021).

• 3. Visiting Professor, Center for International Legal Studies, Salzburg, Austria (2009 to present); taught in several Eastern European countries.

• 4. Certified Collaborative Law Professional (2003- present), Certified Divorce Mediator (Rutgers University 1996), and an Approved Guardian ad Litem/Child Representative, Certified by New Jersey Supreme Court as a specialist in matrimonial law (1999-2006).

• 5. Selected as an Illinois Super Lawyer® each year from 2014 to 2021 and one of the top 50 Women Super Lawyers in Illinois in 2019 and 2020.

• 6. Member of various local Bar Associations and professional groups; written numerous articles, and taught seminars related to family law.

In addition to the practice of law, since 2014 Danya has been a Board Member of 360 Youth Services, an organization devoted to helping young people overcome obstacles in their lives. We support these brave young people by providing hope, opportunities, and tools so they can develop their own vision for their lives and work toward achieving it.

Personally, who am I? When not practicing law, I am is thrilled to have two young grandchildren living within a couple of miles of my home, so my husband and I get to run around with them and watch them grow up. My husband and I are avid cyclists and hikers, and we do both in the States and overseas. My passion? Traveling overseas and especially, studying foreign languages and having opportunities to use those languages in my travels. I am fortunate to have had a career that touches people’s lives and lets me use my experience, legal knowledge, empathy and common sense to help people get through tough times. My work makes a difference.