Working With Me

Acting as a Mediator (Neutral)

Mediation is a process where a neutral person, the mediator, will facilitate a conversation between two or more people to help them to resolve a dispute.

Mediation is an effective and affordable way of resolving most family law issues. It enables couples to craft unique solutions that are tailored to their family’s circumstances without the conflict or cost associated with adversarial processes such as court.

I am accredited by the Law Society of BC as a Family Law Mediator. I am also a member of the Mediate BC Roster of Family Mediators.

In my role as a neutral mediator, I help separated couples to reach agreements on financial and parenting issues arising from their separation. I do this by listening to everyone’s concerns, facilitating dialogue, problem-solving with you and your spouse, supporting you to come up with solutions to the challenges you are facing, and problem-solving with you when you get stuck.

If you are able to reach an agreement in mediation, I can prepare a written separation agreement that outlines what you have agreed upon. You can then take the separation agreement to a lawyer to review it before you sign it.

If I am acting as a neutral mediator, I can provide both spouses with basic legal information, but I cannot provide legal advice to either of you. I encourage all mediation participants to get legal advice from a lawyer during the mediation process.

I am available to mediate for:

• clients who want to attend mediation without lawyers, and

• clients who want to attend mediation with their lawyer present to resolve disputes that have become entrenched, that are taking too long to resolve, or that would otherwise benefit from a neutral mediator

I accept referrals to act as a mediator at the Legal Aid tariff rate.

Acting as your Collaborative Lawyer

If you hire me as your Collaborative Lawyer, my job is to represent you in your separation and/or divorce. I will provide you with legal advice about your rights and obligations and how to protect your interests. I will advocate on your behalf within the Collaborative Divorce process, ensuring that any agreements you reach are fair to you and in your best interests.

The Collaborative Divorce process is an alternative to the traditional adversarial approach to separation and divorce. In the Collaborative Divorce process, both spouses sign a contract at the beginning of the process in which they commit that they won’t go to court or threaten to go to court. Instead, both spouses and their lawyers work together, with the help of mental health and financial professionals if appropriate, to reach agreements that are fair to everyone and that put the needs of children first. To learn more about the Collaborative Divorce process, click here.

I completed my training in Collaborative Divorce in 2015. I am a member of the BC Collaborative Roster Society, Collaborative Divorce Vancouver and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals.

Note: I am not currently accepting clients who are looking to hire a lawyer outside of the Collaborative Divorce process. If you are looking for a lawyer to represent you in court, I would be happy to provide referrals to other family lawyers who may be able to help you.