My practice is limited to family related matters: separation, pre-nuptial and cohabitation agreements, child sharing and support matters; voice of the child reports and wills. Resolution of family matters may be through mediation, collaborative practice or through family court processes. Clients sometimes find that emotional and financial concerns are overwhelming during this difficult period. I believe that it is critical to avoid inflaming strong emotions and to focus on restructuring the family. As your lawyer, I am a strong advocate, without being adversarial, in helping you to come to an optimum agreement in your matter. Life changing decisions should be made with all of the relevant information available; with solid legal advice and in a private, respectful environment. The resolution should mirror your personal goals and values and result in durable agreements that allow you to move forward with confidence.
As a Mediator, I work with both parties as a neutral to allow the parties to bridge their differences, hear each other and arrive at an agreement that works for both them and their children. As a cost effective measure, I offer mediation of all issues on either a flat fee or an hourly basis. I also work with represented parties, with or without the lawyers present, as determined on a case by case basis.
As a trained collaborative professional since 2000, I have significant experience in acting as part of your team to assist you in setting and achieving realistic goals. The collaborative process revolves around the client - rather than allowing the Court to impose a resolution. I believe that by resolving matters respectfully, parents may significantly reduce the impact of separation on their children and on themselves. I find it gratifying to work with clients who know that they are taking responsibility for the emotional and financial future of their family members and who are willing to work more effectively to co-parent their children.
Mediation and Collaborative Practice cases both begin by examining the long and short term goals of each of the parties to determine what their restructured situation will look like. We then work as a team to determine whether the goals are realistic and achievable and whether compromises need to be made. The manner in which the ongoing financial security of each of the parties is achieved through mediation results in a distribution of assets that both parties can agree upon. Mediation is a process where children and their best interests are key. In this private forum, respect and dignity are preserved.
There are times when litigation may be necessary - if there are safety issues, a lack of trust, a lack of mental or legal capacity or if either party is unwilling to provide full disclosure. My legal background includes significant successful trial experience in custody and financial matters.
