The collaborative process strives to build bridges, be constructive, and promote honesty and fair dealing. I have always prided myself on professionalism, civility, and finding solutions for clients in my law practice, so adapting to the collaborative model has been natural. I also pride myself on giving my clients a completely honest and candid assessment of their situation. I tell my clients what they need to hear -- which may or may not be what they want to hear. My mission is to guide my clients through the collaborative process, giving them as much information as possible in as constructive a manner as possible, to allow them to make fully informed decisions about their situations.
Traditional litigation often has the opposite effect -- tearing down relationships, rewarding the withholding of information, and encouraging parties to distrust one another. When attorneys and other professionals work together on a highly functioning collaborative team, the results for the parties are almost invariably and significantly better than when those individuals work against one another in litigation.
CURRENT:
Chair, Virginia Collaborative Professionals
PRIOR:
Past President, Collaborative Professionals of Northern Virginia
Member, Fairfax Bar Association, Family Law Section
Year | Course Title | Instructor | Hours |
---|---|---|---|
Basic/ Introductory Collaborative Law or Interdisciplinary Collaborative Team Training. | |||
2008 | Three Day Interdisciplinary Core Team Training | Janis M. Pritchard, B.A., LL.B | 20 |
30-Hr Interest-Based Negotiation & Mediation Skills | |||
2010 | Interest-Based Negotiation & Mediation Skills for Collaborative Professionals | CPTI | 30 |
Additional 15 hours Intermediate/ Advanced interest-based negotiation, communication skills, collaborative, or basic professional coach training | |||
2014 | Your Professional Profile Should Communicate your Committment to the Collaborative Process | Paul Smollar | 1 |
2014 | Brainstorming: What Succeeds and Fails in Brainstorming | Carl Mitlehner and Robin Taub | 1 |
2013 | CPNV Member meeting | Jan Beauregard, Grant Moher | 2 |
2012 | CPNV Member meeting | Stan Corey, Carl Mitlehner | 2 |
2011 | CPNV Member meeting | Paul Smollar | 1 |
2010 | CPNV Member meeting | David Tyson, Doug Lipp, Michael McHugh, various | 4 |
2009 | CPNV Member meeting | Lisa Herrick, Adele D'Ari, various | 4 |
Annual 4 hours collaborative continuing education (basic, intermediate, or advanced) | |||
2023 | Tax Considerations for Collaborative Divorce Settlements | VaCP Clubhouse: Sallie Mullins Thompson, CPA | 1 |
2022 | The Use of Child Specialists in the Collaborative Process | VaCP Clubhouse: Susan Buniva, MSW, LCSW, Barbara ter Haar LCSW, and Lynne Einhaus, Ph.D. | 1 |
2022 | If You See Something, Say Something – Navigating Complex Asset Matters During the Collaborative Process | CPNV: Jamie Blum, CPA & Jordan Egert, CDFA®, CFE, CPA | 1.5 |
2022 | Divorcing Your Spouse but Staying Married to Uncle Sam | Sarah Avila | 1.5 |
2021 | The Flexible Potential of the Child Specialist Role | Lisa Herrick and Natalie Goldberg | 1.5 |
2021 | Strategies for Streamlining Collaborative | Bradley, Fletcher, Goldberg, Rowny | 1.5 |
2021 | Should Virginia Create a Legal Presumption of Shared Custody? | D'Ari, Herrick, Bradley | 1.5 |
2020 | The Psychological and Ethical Dimensions of Collaborative Practice | David A. Hoffman, Collaborative Attorney & Mediator | 6 |
2020 | Prenups, the Collaborative Way | Michael McHugh and Lynn Fletcher | 1.5 |
2020 | Integrating Substance Abuse Recovery into a Parenting Plan | George Young and Natalie Goldberg | 1.5 |
2020 | Impacts During COVID-19 | CPNV: Lisa Herrick, Natalie Goldberg, Sue Soler, Jennifer Bradley & Grant Moher | 1.5 |
2020 | 10-2020 Cash, Covid, and Collaboration: Financial Considerations for assisting your clients | CPNV: Jordan Egert & Jane Oschman Rowny | 1.5 |
2019 | What's IACP Got To Do With It? | Chris Farish, JD | .5 |
2019 | Collaborative Boot Camp: An Experiential Day of Refining Skills and Deepening Team Cohesion (12th 11-11-19) | Barbara Burr, JD & Lisa Herrick, PhD | 5.5 |
2019 | ASD/Neuro-diversity in the Family | Jamell White, Ph.D., LCSW-C | 1.5 |
2018 | VA Legislative and Case Law Update (11th VaCP) 11-12-18 | Christopher Macturk, JD | 1 |
2018 | UCLA Panel: What’s In It For Me? (11th VaCP) 11-12-18 | Del. David Toscano; Robert Merlin, PA; Teresa Cole, JD; and Cathleen Rea, PhD | 1.25 |
2018 | Support Redux: Navigating the New Tax Laws and the Emotional Challenges They Create for Spouses (and Teams) (11th VaCP) 11-12-18 | Sanford Cassel, PhD; Frank Morrison, JD; Gigi Robson, CPA, CDFA; and Paul Smollar, JD | 3.25 |
2018 | Effect of Tax Act of 2017 | Mary Szpanka | 2 |
2017 | Where are we now in CP? | Bonin, Palombi, Smollar | 1 |
2017 | What does neutrality look like | Lisa Herrick and Natalie Goldberg | 1 |
2017 | Update on Divorce Options | Hitlin-Mason, Loy, Rowan | 1 |
2017 | Is one client controlling the team? | McHugh | 1 |
2016 | What to Share with Collaborative Clients: Experience and Connections Among Professionals | Karen Keyes Esq., Hayden Lee, Esq., and Jennifer Bradley, Esq. | 1 |
2016 | The Power of Empathy in Conflict Resolution | Charlie Rowan, Esq. | 1 |
2016 | The Challenges of Substance Abuse or Addiction Issues in Collaborative | Grant Moher | 1 |
2016 | Round Table Discussion: Marketing Collaborative | Grant Moher | 1 |
2016 | Is One Client Controlling the Team? | Michael McHugh, JD | 1 |
2016 | Gray Divorce | Elizabeth Pendzich, Esq., Mary Szpanka, CPA, and Adele D’Ari, PhD | 1 |
2016 | Discernment Counseling | Rona Hitlin-Mason, LPC | 1 |
2015 | Working with Families with Special Needs Children | Lou Nuzzo | 1 |
2015 | What are our Core Collaborative Principles? | Miller & Fletcher | 1 |
2015 | Employee Benefits | Keith Lindahl, Erika Schliefman | 1 |
2015 | Collaborative PreMarital Agreements | Michael McHugh | 1 |
2014 | Building Your Collaborative Practice | Grant Moher | 1 |
2011 | VBA Annual Meeting | Frank Morrison | 1 |