An in-depth conversation on what draws people to mediation, the challenges and rewards of the process, and the essential skills behind successful conflict resolution. What inspired you to become a mediator? And did you assist clients who used mediation services before becoming a mediator yourself? As a family lawyer, I have advocated for clients in court for nearly two …
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Author Archives: Riverdale Mediation
Six Questions for Avagene: Insights from a Family Law Mediator and Coach
From Jennifer Lawrence to Aceh, Indonesia
The annual United Nations Commission on the Status of Women is an inspiring event that, in a perfect world, every single woman should attend. Attending as a Canadian mediator and trainer, I was struck by how much is happening in the rest of the world that is unfamiliar to me in my privileged “first” world life. It is an eye-opening, …
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Save the Date for Mediators Beyond Borders International’s Parallel Event at the 61st session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW61)
I am honoured to be joining several highly accomplished women mediators, negotiators and leaders in New York for this exciting panel “Peacebuilding Beyond 2017: Women as Agents of Change” on Tuesday, March 21st. Our dialogue will explore how we can foster gender equity and create lasting economic empowerment opportunities for women. The event, sponsored by Mediators Beyond Borders International, is …
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Best Practices for Screening in Family Mediation-Arbitration
Best practices for screening family mediation and arbitration cases for power imbalances and domestic violence.
What is mediation?: rantings from a family mediator
I was recently told by a client that her lawyer discouraged her from trying mediation, claiming it is too “touchy-feely”. This rant is for that lawyer.
Coach your Client to be a Better Negotiator: Tips for Negotiating Effectively
ADR professionals are, by definition, skilled negotiators. What attitudes, skills, and strategies do we already have to help coach our clients to achieve the best possible outcomes? 10 Coaching Tips for Clients 1. Our clients all come to us from a place of fear. They fear loss: of what they want or need, of a relationship, of control, or of …
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Family Arbitration: Exploring Your Options in Dispute Resolution
Family arbitration is a very different process from mediation, and yet they are often confused. Arbitration is a process whereby the parties present their version of the story before a privately-retained arbitrator, often a senior family lawyer, who hears the evidence, applies the law and makes a binding decision. Family arbitration is therefore, more like court than it is like …
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Exploring Your Options in Dispute Resolution: Mediation
Mediation is a voluntary process of negotiation that is led by a neutral expert in conflict resolution skills. Family mediators are often family lawyers or mental health professionals themselves. Mediators generally do not provide solutions, and unless lawyers attend, mediation does not result in a signed , binding agreement. Rather, parties attend mediation to freely discuss the problems they …
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