Thomas Walk, (Associate Retired)
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'Never cut what you can untie.' That sentiment by the French writer Joseph Joubert expresses my philosophy toward inter-personal relationships. I view myself as a problem-solver. The Collaborative Process is the best tool I have discovered for that goal. It recognizes that, in a divorce, it is your family and your future that is involved and that you and your spouse are in the best position to make sound, mutually beneficial choices.
Collaborative Services
I first took training in Collaborative Law in 2001 when the benefits of the process to the client and myself became obvious. I joined the Collaborative Professionals of Roanoke in 2007. My passion is to bring this wonderful concept to my part of the world (termed 'back of beyond' by an award-winning local author) before too many more families are unnecessarily destroyed by a needlessly acrimonious parting of ways.
Licenses
Virginia State Bar
U.S. District Court, W.D. of Virginia
Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ,J.D.
Professional Activities
CURRENT:
Certified as Family Financial Specialist mediator by North Carolina Dispiute Resolution Commission
Member, North Carolina Association of Professional Family Mediatos
PRIOR:
Member of Board of Directors of disAbility Law Center of Virginia
Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Family Law Section: Virginia Collaborative Professionals: former hearing officer for Special Education Due Process hearings; former Special Justice for civil commitment hearings
Former member of Governing Board of Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy (prior to merger into dLCV)
Substitute Judge in Virginia District Courts (2002-2022)
Collaborative Practice Training
| Year | Course Title | Instructor | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic/ Introductory Collaborative Law or Interdisciplinary Collaborative Team Training. | |||
| 2001 | Collaborative Law Training | Jerry Lawson, et al | 16.5 |
| 30-Hr Interest-Based Negotiation & Mediation Skills | |||
| 2002 | Basic Mediation Skills Training | Jerryanne Bier | 30 |
| Additional 15 hours Intermediate/ Advanced interest-based negotiation, communication skills, collaborative, or basic professional coach training | |||
| 2011 | Preventing Real Property Pitfalls in Divorce | Kelly Elise Murray | 2 |
| 2011 | Navigating Emotional Currents | Lisa Herrick and Kate Scharff | 3 |
| 2011 | Insuring Informed Consent in Collaboration | Paula Young | 2 |
| 2010 | Public Education Seminars (Abingdon & Roanoke) | I was the instructor. | 6 |
| 2010 | Overview of Collaborative Divorce (presented to classes at Appalachian School of Law | I was the instructor. | 2 |
| Annual 4 hours collaborative continuing education (basic, intermediate, or advanced) | |||
| 2023 | Tax Considerations for Collaborative Divorce Settlements | VaCP Clubhouse: Sallie Mullins Thompson, CPA | 1 |
| 2023 | Busting Open Toolboes: Next Level Preparation for You and Your Clients For Success in Collaborative Divorce (or Meidation, Negotiation or Litigation) | CDPR Retreat: Jen Uschold | 4.5 |
| 2021 | DC Metro Protocols: Roles and Duties of Each Professional on the Team | CDPR: Tom Walk, JD, Cathleen Rae, PhD, David Cawley, CPA, CDFA & Heather Clifft, LPC | 1 |
| 2021 | DC Metro Protocols: How to Start the Collaborative Process | CDPR: Cheryl Watson Smith, JD, Heather Clifft, LPC & Robin Hill, JD, CFP®, CDFA | 1 |
| 2021 | DC Metro Protocols: Financial Issues: Gathering Information, Option Development, Evaluation, and Resolution | CDPR: Robyn E. Hill, JD, CFP®, CDFA® and Christina Todd, CFP®, CDFA® | 1 |
| 2021 | DC Metro Protocols: Collaborative Process Structure | CDPR: Lori Thompson, JD | 1 |
| 2020 | Overcoming Resistance to Collaborative Practice | CDPR: Cheryl Watson Smith, JD | 1 |
| 2020 | Family Financial Mediation (NC) | Andrew Little | 40 |
| 2019 | Promoting Your Collaborative Practice | CDPR: Joryn Jenkins, JD | 1 |
| 2019 | Modest Means: Developing a Winning Program | IACP Webinar | 1 |
| 2019 | Exploring Our Own Invisible Suitcases by Digging Deeper Through Art Therapy | CDPR: Heather Clifft, LPC & Susan Witt, LCSW | 1 |
| 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 | Parenting Plans: More Than Dates on a Calendar | Sanford Cassel, Hon. Frank W. Rogers, III, Kristen Konrad Johnstone, Cheryl Watson Smith & Thomas P. Walk | 3.5 |
| 2018 | Family Law Mediation | Klein, Masterman, and Hottel-Day | 3.0 |
| 2017 | Sharing Information | C. W. Smith, et al | 0.75 |
| 2017 | Shadow Advisors | C.W. Smith and myself | 0.75 |
| 2017 | Difficult Conversations | I was the instructor | 0.75 |
| 2017 | Creating Conditions for Growth | Scharff & Herrick | 5.50 |
| 2017 | Collaborative Myths | I was the instructor | 0.75 |
| 2017 | Client Preparation | S. Witt, K. Bagby | 0.75 |
| 2016 | Minute Mentoring | I was the instructor. | 1 |
| 2016 | Introductory Team Collaborative Practice Training | CPTI | 15 |
| 2016 | Integrity - Using Purpose and Values | Kim Wright, JD | 3.5 |
| 2016 | Implicit Bias | Jeannie Berger | 1 |
| 2016 | From Me to We: The Paradigm Shift | S. Witt and T. Walk | 1 |
| 2016 | Explaining the Collaborative Process | Vicki Wiese | 1 |
| 2016 | Counseling Clients Through Bad News | Marjorie Aaron | 6 |
| 2016 | Collaboration 6-3-5; Is Brainwriting the Write Way for Introverts | I was the instructor. | 1 |
| 2015 | VaCP Annual Conference | Fancher, Macturk, Nelson, Simek | 6 |
| 2015 | Using Visual Aids in Collaboration | I was the instructor. | 1 |
| 2015 | Negotiation Problem Solving - Getting To Yes | Hon. Kenneth O. Simon | 1 |
| 2015 | Mortage Refinancing in a Divorce Context | Margie Hofberg | 1 |
| 2015 | Explaining Process Options | D. Nixon | 1 |
| 2015 | Attitudes and Aptitudes | Fauss | 3 |
| 2014 | The Impact of Culture on Negotiation | J. Docherty & M. Yoder | 1 |
| 2014 | Rapport Building | Susan Witt, LCSW | 1 |
| 2014 | Personailty Disorders and Their Impact on the Collaboarative Process | K. Bagby | 1 |
| 2014 | Growing Our Practice By Figuring Out What We Want | I was the instructor. | 1 |
| 2014 | Collaborative Practice Development Workshop | S. Witt | 3 |
| 2014 | Breaking Down Barriers to Support | D. Nixon | 1 |
| 2014 | Adult Attachment Styles in Divorce | Y. Berger & L. Alexander | 7 |
| 2013 | Thinking Aside The Box Collaboratively - Section 72 Distributions | Pamela Williams | .75 |
| 2013 | Overcoming Emotional Barriers to Settlement | Nina Meierding | 7.5 |
| 2013 | Organizing Effective Collaborative Teams | Cheryl Smith, JD | .75 |
| 2013 | Navigating Emotional Currents in a Collaborative Divorce | Dr. Maurice Fisher and Susan Witt | 3 |
| 2013 | Jumpstarting Your Collaborative Practice | Cheryl Smith, JD | .75 |
| 2013 | Federal Firearms Trusts | Keith Finch, Esq. | .75 |
| 2013 | Dealing With Digital Communications (and Communicators) in a Collaborative Divorce | I was the instructor. | .75 |
| 2013 | Business Valuations, Principles and Practices | Kevin Humphries, CPA | .75 |
| 2012 | Talking About Collaborative Practice | I was the instructor. | .75 |
| 2012 | Maximizing the Value of Mental Health Professionals in Collaborative Cases | Witt, Smith, and Walk | .75 |
| 2012 | Maximizing the Benefits of the Financial Neutral | Adam Morgan & Pamela Williams | .75 |
| 2012 | Mars & Venus in Collaboration: Gender Based Communication Styles | Maurice Fisher & Angie Stroop | .75 |
| 2012 | Jumpstarting Your Collaborative Practice | Fauss, Jones and Smith | 4.5 |
| 2012 | Impact of Team Dynamics on the Collaborative Case | Fisher & Witt | .75 |
| 2012 | Exploring & Explaining the Disadvantages of the Collaborative Process | I was the instructor. | .75 |
| 2012 | A Client's Perspective of Collaboration (presented to classes at Appalachian School of Law) | Smith, Witt, Nixon, Morgan, and Walk | 2.5 |
| 2011 | The Healing Power of Collaboration | Susan Witt & Maurice Fisher | .75 |
| 2011 | Nonverbal Language of Conflict | Chris Seaton | 2 |
| 2011 | Having Productive Difficult Conversations | VaCLE | 2.5 |
| 2011 | Financial Neutral Client Interview | Terry Witt | .5 |
| 2011 | A Grab Bag of Collaborative Readings | I was the instructor | .75 |
| 2008 | Interdisciplinary Core Team Training | Janis M. Pritchard, Mark Hill, Vicki Carpel-Miller, Tamara Rounds | 20 |
| 2004 | Circuit Court Mediation | Valley Mediation Center | 20 |
| 2001 | Basic Collaborative Law Training | Robert Rack, Deborah Pearce, Michael Cioffi | 14 |