My entire professional practice in Northern Virginia has been devoted to making the legal process of divorce more responsive and humane, and less expensive, stressful and time-consuming. These were my goals even in my adversarial practice as a family law attorney. I was one of the pioneers in the family mediation movement in Virginia, commencing in 1980. Since that time, I have handled thousands of divorce settlements as a mediator. I was delighted when the collaborative practice movement began to gain adherents. I took the proper training and was certified for collaborative practice in 2009. Even though I have substantial experience as a mediator and in negotiating settlements in the traditional attorney model, I was surprised at how much collaborative practice has added new dimensions to the options for effective out-of-court agreements. I have founded a public interest website to promote out-of-court agreements in divorce cases. It is www.CreativeDivorce.net. Please feel free to visit this website.
Before starting a Collaborative process, please satisfy yourself that the skills and experience of the practitioners are a good fit for you and ask if they follow and meet the IACP Ethical and Practitioner Standards. IACP does not verify the information provided by the practitioners listed.
CURRENT:
In addition to my professional website, www.lg-mediation.com, I have a public interest website designed to provide useful information to divorce professionals and members of the public going through the divorce process, www.CreativeDivorce.net.
PRIOR:
As an attorney, I am rated as
Year | Course Title | Instructor | Hours |
---|---|---|---|
Basic/ Introductory Collaborative Law or Interdisciplinary Collaborative Team Training. | |||
2009 | Interdisciplinary Collaborative Practice Training | Susan Gamache | 24 |
30-Hr Interest-Based Negotiation & Mediation Skills | |||
2009 | George Mason University Alternative Disputes Resolution | I was instructor | 30 |
Additional 15 hours Intermediate/ Advanced interest-based negotiation, communication skills, collaborative, or basic professional coach training | |||
2011 | Virginia Mediation Network Fall Seminar | VMN | 10 |
2008 | Collaborative Practice | Frank Morrison, others | 6 |
Annual 4 hours collaborative continuing education (basic, intermediate, or advanced) | |||
2018 | What? So What? Now What? The Role of Self Reflection in a Mediator | VMN: Jeanette Twomey | 1.5 |
2018 | The New Tax Act - 2019 | CPNV: Mary Szpanka | 2 |
2018 | The Art of Mediation with Couples who Do - or Don't Negotiate Effectively with Each Other | VMN: I was the presenter | 1.5 |
2018 | Staying Out of Trouble: Seeking Practical Solutions to Sticky Ethical Situations | VMN: John Settle and Karen Richards | 2 |
2018 | Spiritual Journeys in a Material World: Thoughts about Spirituality for Divorce Professionals | I was the presenter | 2 |
2018 | Public Policy Mediation- A Supplement to the Legislative Process | VMN: Mark Rubin | 1.5 |
2018 | Gain the Edge - Negotiation Strategies for Lawyers | VA CLE | 6 |
2018 | Child Focused, Empirically Based Parenting Plans | Lisa Herrick, PhD | 1.5 |
2017 | Unlocking the Secrets of Effective Divorce Mediation | I was the instructor. | 3 |
2017 | Underlying Themes Driving Divorce Settlements | Michael Scott | 1 |
2017 | Seeking Excellence: The Case for Mindful Practice | Michael Land | 1 |
2017 | Post-Marital Agreements | John Fiske & Ken Neumann | 1 |
2017 | Moral Foundations Theory as a Diagnostic Tool | Bonnie Blume Goldsamt | 1.5 |
2017 | Differentiation of Self in Bowen Family Systems Theory | Peter Maida | 1 |
2017 | Cross-Cultural Leadership | Afsaneh Nahavandi | 1 |
2017 | Creating the Conditions for Growth As We Help Our Clients Navigate Separation and Divorce | Lisa Herrick and Kate Scharff | 6 |
2016 | What to Share with Collaborative Clients | Karen Keyes | 1 |
2016 | The Power of Empathy in Conflict Resolution | Charles Rowan | 1 |
2016 | Substance Abuse and Addiction Issues in Collaborative Practice | Al Bonin | 1 |
2016 | Motivational Interviewing and Collaborative Divorce | Natalie Goldberg | 1 |
2016 | Marketing Collaborative | Grant Moher | 1 |
2016 | Is One Client Controlling the Team | Michael McHugh | 1 |
2016 | Gray Divorce | Elizabeth Pendzich | 1 |
2016 | Discernment Counseling | Rona Hitlin-Mason | 1 |
2015 | Working with Families of Special Needs Children | Lou Nuzzo | 1 |
2015 | Understanding and Promoting Forgiveness and Reconciliation | Everett Worthington | 1.5 |
2015 | The Danger of Closed Minds, and How to Avoid Them | Greg Mitchell | 1.5 |
2015 | Spirituality and Religion in Divorce Settlements | I was the instructor. | 1.5 |
2015 | Managing Cases Where a Parent Has An Affair | Deb Nackman | 1 |
2015 | Employee Benefits | Keith Lindahl, CPA | 1 |
2015 | Delving into the Heart of Conflict | Burr, Herrick, Smollar | 1.5 |
2015 | Creativity and Integrity in Family Mediation (APFM Conference) | I was the instructor. | 1.5 |
2015 | Collaborative Divorce as a Developmental Experience (IACP Annual Forum) | Barbara Burr, Lisa Herrick | 4 |
2015 | Collaborative Divorce as a Developmental Exp | I was the instructor. | 3 |
2015 | Affirmation of Core Collaborative Principles | Lynn Fletcher | 1 |
2014 | Virginia Mediation Network Fall Conference | Various | 5 |
2014 | Transformative Mediation | Sandra Wang, Jeffrey Blum | 1.5 |
2014 | Thomas-Kilmann Model | Smollar, Burr, Herrick | 1.5 |
2014 | The Seven Structural Elements of Successful Marriages | I was the instructor. | 1.5 |
2014 | Plenary Session at Academy of Professional Family Mediators Fall Conference | Forrest Mosten | 1.5 |
2014 | Mediation and Our Spiritual Journeys in a Material World (APFM Fall Conference) | I was the instructor | 1.5 |
2014 | Mediating Prenups & Postnups | Kate Bar-Tur, Deborah Wayne | 1.5 |
2014 | Family Law Reform Conference | Various | 9 |
2014 | Creative Mediation inside and Outside of the Legal Framework (APFM Conference) | I was the instructor | 3 |
2014 | Creative Divorce Settlements (VMN Fall Conference) | I was the instructor | 1.5 |
2014 | Brainstorming - What Succeeds and What Fails | Carl Mitlehner, Robin Taub | 1.5 |
2013 | ”Gray” Divorces | D\'Ari, Pendzich, Szpanka | 1 |
2013 | Working With Substance Abusing Clients | Jan Beauregard | 1.5 |
2013 | Virginia Mediation Network Fall Conference | Various | 5 |
2013 | Tracing Separate Property | McHugh & Moher | 1 |
2013 | Family Law Seminar | Fairfax Bar Association | 3 |
2013 | Everything You Wanted to Know About Divorce and Tax | - | 1 |
2013 | Ethics in Collaborative Practice & Mediation | Fairfax Bar Association | 2 |
2013 | Divorce Research About Children | Lisa Herrick | 1 |
2013 | Collaborative Conversations About Support | Smollar & D\'Ari | 1 |
2013 | Client Self-Determination and Standards of Practice | I was the instructor. | 2 |
2013 | Breaking Down Barriers Between Family Mediators of Different Professions | I was the instructor | 1.5 |
2013 | Academy of Professional Family Mediators Annual Conference | Various APFM Mediators | 8.5 |
2012 | Mixed Orientation Couples in Collaborative Divorce | McHugh & Brooks | 1 |
2011 | VMN Fall Seminar Workshop on Mediation Practice | I was instructor | 1.5 |
2011 | Ethics of Negotiating in Mediation | Spahn & McCammon | 2 |
2010 | Family Law Seminar | VTLA | 6 |
1989 | George Mason University Alternative Disputes Resolution | I was instructor | 30 |
1987 | George Mason Law School Alternative Disputes Resolution | I was instructor | 30 |
1982 | Academy of Family Mediators Training | I was instructor | 120 |
1981 | Family Mediation Association Training | I was instructor | 120 |
1980 | Basic Mediation Training | O.J. Coogler | 40 |