By Lynne Campbell & Darcie Shinberger MACOMB, IL -- Women- owned businesses make up approximately 39 percent of all U.S. firms, and employ millions of workers, with recent data indicating around 10 to 12 million jobs are supported by women-owned businesses. October marks National Women in Small Business Month, and the Community News Brief is proud to feature numerous women who own and/or lead small businesses within the region.
To commemorate 2025’s National Women in Small Business Month, the Brief contacted nearly 20 business owners, operators and/or leaders. Those who responded will be shared in upcoming issues.
Sutton Law & Mediation, P.C.: Emily Sutton, owner/attorney How long have you owned your business?
Nearly five years. I began taking clients here in December 2020.
What is your business’ specialty/focus?
I am a lawyer in general practice and a family mediator. Much of my practice is devoted to family mediation.
In Illinois, when parents or guardians of minor children have a legal dispute regarding child-related matters, they must first attend mediation to attempt to resolve their issues. I work with those parents and guardians. If they reach a resolution in mediation, they do not have to go through the time, stress, and expense of court proceedings. It allows the parents to find solutions that work best for their families, and it frees up time in the court system.
Another large part of my practice is work as guardian ad litem for children and disabled adults. I serve as an independent investigator for the court to determine and advocate for the best interests of the child or adult involved in a custody or guardianship case.
I have recently taken on parenting coordination as a practice area. It is a somewhat newer concept, especially downstate. It is another out-of-court process for coparents to resolve disputes, when parents have repeatedly been unable to cooperate to make parenting decisions or communicate effectively about child-related issues. My role is both to coach the parents to problem solve and to make decisions for them on minor issues when they can’t or won’t make them together.
In addition, I am often court appointed to represent parents in juvenile court proceedings at the trial and appellate levels, and I am court appointed to represent clients in certain criminal matters where the public defender has a conflict.
I also handle estate planning, probate case and some real estate matters. Finally, one of my favorite roles is as counsel for the Macomb Park District.
Why did you open your own business?
I was appointed as a circuit court judge in 2019.
That appointment ended in early December 2020, so I needed a job. I had some offers to join other firms, but ultimately decided to try working for myself. I wanted to tailor my practice to do the type of work that best aligned with my interests, abilities, experience, and values.
What did you do before you opened your business?
Before attending law school, I was an administrative assistant for a vice president of a human resources consulting firm.
My boss there was very encouraging when I told her I was considering law school. After I graduated, I worked for four years as a law clerk for appellate court Justice Robert Cook. When he retired, I joined Scholz, Loos, Palmer & Duesterhaus in Quincy. I moved to Macomb in 2015, where I joined Jim Lucie, Lisa Scalf, and Justin Bougher’s practice, eventually becoming a partner in 2017.
How did you learn this trade/business?
I attended Saint Louis University School of Law. To become a mediator, I completed a week-long course at Northwestern University, and to become guardian ad litem, I attended a course offered by the Illinois State Bar Association. For parenting coordination, I attended a four-day training by the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.
What’s your favorite thing about owning your own business, and why? Biggest challenges(s)?
The best thing about owning my own business is being available for my family when they need me. That has been especially important these past two years as two of my children have had significant health issues.
There have been lots of doctors’ appointments, hospital stays, emergency room visits, and medical tests, but I do not have to worry about taking leave or losing my job. I can just be there for my kids when they need their mom.
My favorite thing about owning my own business is that I can bring my two dogs with me to the office. Atlas is my four-year-old standard goldendoodle, and Arlo is my year and a half old mini goldendoodle. They love greeting clients, and my clients get a kick out of seeing them, too.
My biggest challenge is time. There is always more to do than there is time to do it in. I have had to learn to be very mindful of the separation between work and home. It is tempting to work all the time, but I would be completely burned out if I did that. I only work on a Sunday if I absolutely have to. Otherwise, that is my day to recharge and reset for the week.
How do you set yourself apart from others who might be doing the same thing?
I think I have a reputation for having integrity and for being empathetic.
It is important for me to treat people fairly and with respect and understanding.
I also take special care to keep growing my skills and knowledge through doing much more continuing legal education than what is required, and by reading, listening to podcasts, and networking. I focus on areas that are important for my work as a mediator, guardian ad litem, and parenting coordinator such as intimate partner violence, child development, substance abuse, mental health, parent-child contact problems, diversity and inclusion, and family law.
Did you feel as if you were treated differently as a female seeking to own a business?
Unfortunately, most women attorneys have at least one story – if not many more – about being treated differently than our male counterparts. That often happens with the clients or potential clients, like getting pushback for charging a certain rate for services when a client might have paid a male attorney that rate without thinking twice. But it also happens within the profession. In many instances, I do not believe that the person actively intends to discriminate. The impact of that bias is still real, though.
Goals for the business?
Becoming more efficient and keeping up with technology are ongoing projects.
I have a fantastic assistant, Katie Howell, who I have dubbed my chief operating officer, and she keeps things on track. We’ve been working on maximizing what our practice software can do, because we’re not using it to its fullest potential. She has taken a lot of initiative to do what needs doing and to find ways to improve how we get things done. I cannot overstate how much I value her hard work.
Advice to women who want to start their own business?
Do your research by not only looking things up online or reading books about your area or how to run a business, but also by talking to people who have already succeeded. So many people are willing to share their expertise if you simply ask for a little bit of their time.
Advanced purchases recommended. Email [email protected]
