My Services

Mediation

I can provide comprehensive family mediation for couples regarding all aspects of separation and divorce including:

  • parenting and children’s issues
  • child and spousal support
  • financial and property division

Drawing from extensive and well-rounded family law experience, I educate couples on the benefits of mediation and I facilitate the process on their behalf. Acting as a neutral third party, I work with them together, encouraging both parties to openly and respectfully address the issues arising from their separation.

The mediation process typically includes the following steps:
  • initial sessions in which I meet with each party separately
  • identification of individual and common interests
  • joint meetings in which the parties work through an agenda set by them
  • appropriate experts, if necessary, to assist with child- or property-related issues
  • drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

The parties take the MOU to their respective lawyers for review and finalization. The result is a legally binding agreement that has been created in a non-adversarial environment and is in the interests of both parties and their children.

Co-Mediation

At times, couples who have highly conflicted relationships, can benefit from a mediation process that provides additional professional assistance to help them resolve their disputes. Communication difficulties, in addition to other barriers to resolution, can often be dealt with effectively with in a co-mediation process that draws from the expertise of both legal and social work professionals.

I co-mediate with Barbara Anderson, who has over 20 years of experience working with families and children, and is a highly skilled family counselling professional with extensive mediation experience. We have developed a team approach to assist couples who find themselves with more challenging parenting or financial disputes. This co-mediation service is available in both Hamilton and Mississauga.

Negotiation

Negotiation also takes place outside court, but unlike mediation, in which I work with both parties, negotiation involves advocating for and acting on behalf of only one party. For that party, I negotiate with the goal of entering into a separation agreement dealing with all aspects of family breakdown. I can also negotiate marriage and cohabitation agreements.

With many years of experience and a track record of considerable success, I work toward resolution outside the courtroom, remaining focused on a philosophy that centres around non-adversarial dispute resolution and promotes the benefits of negotiation over litigation.  

Collaborative Family Law (CFL)

Collaborative family law is a process whereby the parties and their lawyers all meet together and freely exchange any information necessary for reaching a separation agreement. Similar to mediation and negotiation, the goal of collaborative family law is to reach a settlement out of court; however, the parties agree in advance with their lawyers that if negotiations break down and litigation becomes necessary, the parties will retain other lawyers who will represent them in court. 

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