I am a Toronto family lawyer with over 30 years of experience. My passion and life work is to help my clients to resolve their separation and divorce wisely and with dignity, and to support an evolution in the legal profession from adversarial advocacy to conflict resolution advocacy. Over 15 years ago, I confined my practice to out-of-court settlement work using Collaborative Law/Collaborative Practice and mediation. I have successfully resolved hundreds of mediations and collaborative cases. I provide workshops to collaborative professionals across North America and internationally to critical acclaim.

I am an empathic and solution-oriented lawyer and mediator, with a recognized capacity to negotiate creative settlements that meet my client’s needs and goals. I believe in educating, coaching and empowering my clients through a separation process that successfully prepares them for the future. My goal is to help my clients receive their best possible outcome with the least possible emotional and financial turmoil.

With extensive experience dealing with complex property and high income support cases, I have the ability to understand and absorb complex information and distill it to focus on what is essential. And I know the importance of the human side as well. I listen carefully to understand my clients’ goals, which may include protecting their children, preserving their business, achieving long-term financial security and maintaining a constructive relationship with their former partner, extended family and friends.

Navigating divorce successfully involves experiencing strong emotions and, at the same time, making important long-term financial and legal decisions. I provide a safe, supported environment for intelligent problem solving, even when the numbers are complicated and emotions run high. I have developed integrated working relationships with accountants, financial planners, valuators, social workers and child specialists who are the best in their field.

In addition to training lawyers and other professionals in the collaborative process, settlement advocacy, negotiation and communication skills, I am a regular presenter at international conferences and appear often in the media. I am co-author of Collaborative Family Law, Another Way to Resolve Family Disputes, and numerous articles on Collaborative Practice. I was an Adjunct Professor of Collaborative Lawyering at Osgoode Hall Law School. I am a former member of the Board of Collaborative Practice Toronto and a former member of the Board of Directors of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals.

My clients say that I am empathic, highly skilled and positive, and that my wise, pragmatic approach helped them achieve a lasting settlement that protects the finances and the people that matter most.