About Monica Linkner
Monica Farris Linkner received her B.A., Magna cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, in 1972 and her J.D. in 1977 from Wayne State University. She has earned graduate credits in Adoption Studies from Southern Connecticut State University. She specializes in adoption law and assisted reproductive technology cases, practicing in West Bloomfield and Ann Arbor, Michigan. She is rated by her peers as “AV Preeminent” (Martindale-Hubbell rating process), the highest level of ethical standards and professional ability.
Ms. Linkner is a Fellow of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. She served on the Academy’s Board of Trustees (1995-99), as Secretary of the Academy (1998-1999) and as Chair of its Board of Grievances and Discipline from 2002-07. She has been a member of its Amicus Curiae Committee, Media Relations Committee, Adoption Fraud Task Force, Assisted Reproductive Technology Committee, and Non-Discrimination Task Force.
Ms. Linkner is a Fellow of the newly-formed American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys. She is also a member of the State Bar of Michigan Family Law Section’s Adoption Committee, and a professional member of Resolve, the national infertility association.
An adoptive parent, Ms. Linkner was closely involved in the process of adoption law reform in Michigan in the early 1990’s. She was also an observer/advisor to the Uniform Adoption Act Drafting Committee of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws from 1991-1994. She is the past president of The Family Tree, an adoption support and advocacy group. Ms. Linkner authored the chapter on adoption for the 1997 treatise Michigan Family Law & Practice (West Publishing), and assisted in updating the adoption section of the Michigan Family Law Benchbook. She was a presenter at the first-ever national conference on Ethics and Adoption, sponsored by the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute in 1999. Her adoption advocacy has included testimony before the Michigan legislature and submission of amicus curiae briefs to the courts.
Ms. Linkner has written numerous articles and spoken widely on adoption issues to lawyers, judges, hospital personnel, mental health professionals and community groups. Ms. Linkner’s achievements have been recognized in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Law, Who’s Who in American Women and Who’s Who in the Midwest.
In September of 2006, Ms. Linkner was nominated by Sen. Carl Levin and received the Angels in Adoption Award from the national Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, which is given to commend individuals who have enriched the lives of children through their advocacy of adoption and foster care issues.
Ms. Linkner’s expertise in family-building was recently recognized by Crain’s dBusiness magazine, which designated her as a Metro Detroit Top Lawyer for 2010.
