Welcome to Riverdale Family Mediation, Arbitration and Parenting Coordination!

Since 2001, Riverdale Mediation has helped couples going through separation and divorce resolve their family law issues together, out of court.

Our experienced team of professionals can help resolve the toughest cases. We work closely with our clients and their counsel, and also with unrepresented parties.

20+ years of experience speaks for itself: we can help.

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Our Team

When choosing a professional to guide you through this challenging time,  competence and experience count.

Hilary Linton is the founder of Riverdale Mediation. A former family and civil litigator, she has 20+ years of experience working as a mediator, arbitrator and parenting coordinator. A leading teacher of family dispute resolution, she is a tenacious professional known for her skill and dedication.

The Honourable Clifford Nelson, retired from his role as a family court judge in the Superior Court of Justice, brings many decades of experience in settlement approaches to his role as a family mediator and arbitrator.

Avagene Skervin is a family law lawyer who offers mediation and mediation-arbitration services. She brings a no-nonsense, respectful and practical approach to her work. Avagene offers French language services in some cases.

Borzou Tabrizi, a family lawyer, mediator, arbitrator and parenting coordinator, has years of experience working with high-conflict disputes. Clients and counsel alike appreciate Borzou’s calm and thoughtful approach. Borzou offers services in English and Farsi.

Lindsay Kertland, parenting coordinator, has extensive experience in family dispute resolution. She is in demand for her focused, effective and empathetic work with high conflict families. A lawyer by training, Lindsay is fluently bilingual in French and English.

 

Family Mediation:
A safe place to have difficult conversations

Family mediation is a confidential negotiation process that lets people reach agreements about the things that are important to them. Research shows it leads to durable agreements, is more empowering and less expensive than most other options. Mediation:

  • Gives you control over the process
  • Is more affordable than most other options
  • Can be done without lawyers present (though legal advice is important)
  • Allows each party to be heard
  • Offers a way for children to have their voices heard
  • Can be done online, saving time and costs
  • Enables both parties to obtain all necessary disclosure
  • Helps reduce conflict

Achieves acceptable closure.

 

Parenting Coordination:
Effective resolution of post-parenting plan disagreements

Parenting coordinators (PCs) help parents resolve disagreements about their parenting plan in a quick, effective and fair way that minimizes conflict.

Parents sign a two year contract that gives their PC authority to mediate or arbitrate disputes as the need arises. The PC will also interview the child in most cases and speak with other important people in the child’s life.

PCs focus on the needs of each child, and work closely with both parents to help them develop improved communication and conflict resolution skills.

 

Arbitration and Mediation-Arbitration:
Private adjudication

Sometimes separating couples have tried other ways of resolving their dispute and they just want a decision made for them. But going to court can be very expensive and time-consuming, with long wait times.

Arbitration and mediation-arbitration allow parties to choose their own adjudicator . Where both parties trust and respect their arbitrator, and have a say in how the process is designed, they are more likely to accept the outcome and move on with their lives.

Parties seeking arbitration must sign a Family Arbitration Agreement with independent legal advice before starting the process.

Testimonials

Many thanks for your very professional help in our very difficult matter. It looks like we are going toward an agreement and could put an end to the destruction of our families.

____________

I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for your help and guidance. You were a very calming presence in the room, in a situation that could have been even more heated than it was at times.

From the Blog

August 30, 2024

A Step-by-Step Guide to the Mediation Process:
(from intake/screening to Mediation Summary report)

The Mediation Process: Intake Form and Agreement to Mediate Intake Form: Each client is required to complete and submit an Intake Form: This form requires…

Articles

October 8, 2024

Best Practices for Screening for Family Violence and Power Imbalances in Family Mediation-Arbitration

By Hilary Linton What are some of the best practices for screening for family violence and power imbalances in family mediation-arbitration? 1. Screening is a…

News & Announcements

Borzou speaking on PC at FDRIA Webinar

Borzou Tabrizi is scheduled to speak about Parenting Coordination during the upcoming FDRIA webinar on Friday, October 4th.Borzou will bring his many years of experience as a parenting coordinator, providing the The FDR Institute Atlantic (FDRIA) community with information about how PC can benefit families and family law professionals. Learn more here.Register at [email protected]

IPMO's "In Conversation With" Series

Hilary was interviewed by Dr. Roisin O’Shea, Chair of the Irish Professional Mediators’ Organisation (IPMO), on family mediation: past, present and future. Watch it here!

Mediation Training & Alternative Dispute Resolution Consultating

We also provide in-demand Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) training that leads to professional certifications as well as improved negotiation and problem-solving skills.