Collaborative Services
Frank West Morrison has been heavily involved in teaching and attending mediation and other CLE ADR courses since he was originally trained as a mediator in 1982. He has been certified to receive court-referred mediation cases by the Virginia Supreme Court since 1993 and currently holds an Advanced Family Mediation Certificate from the Virginia Supreme Court. He received his initial basic collaborative law training in Charlottesville on June 13-14, 2004, led by Janice Pritchard and David Carter and also attended and helped facilitate the basic collaborative law training with the Lynchburg Family Law Section in Lynchburg, Virginia, on November 1-2, 2004, led by David Carter and Brad Hunter. He was a planner and co-lecturer of a Virginia CLE-approved Collaborative Family Law Ethics course given by the Lynchburg Family Law Section on April 15, 2005, and was a co-lecturer on a 3-hour course, Collaborative Family Law: Practice and Ethics, sponsored by the Virginia CLE and the Virginia Bar Association Domestic Relations Section held on August 18, 2005, in Northern Virginia. He also attended a 14-hour CLE course on Negotiation led by David G. Gold in New York, New York on December 9-10, 2004, and a 6.5 hour negotiation CLE video in Charlottesville, Virginia, at the Virginia CLE office led by Charles Craver. Frank was a moderator for a 1.5 hour program held at the VBA Winter Meeting in January, 2005, and the VBA Annual Summer Meeting held in June, 2005, entitled 'A New ADR Model for the 21st Century: Introduction to the Collaborative Family Law Process.' He also recently completed two courses, 'Introductory Three-Day Interdisciplinary Team Training' and 'Training the Trainers,' offered by Collaborative Divorce Team Trainings in Phoenix, Arizona and assisted in Basic Interdisciplinary Training in Gaithersburg, Maryland. These courses all complied with International Academy of Collaborative Professionals standards for trainers and trainings. Amongst other instructor activities in 2010, Frank recently was an instructor for a several 30-hour courses on Mediation and Interest Based Negotiation Skills for Collaborative Professionals as well as 20 hour courses on Basic Interdisciplinary Training. Frank West Morrison has been a partner in the law firm of Phillips, Morrison, Johnson, & Ferrell since 1991 and has been named a Virginia Super Lawyer by the publishers of Richmond Magazine and as one of the Virginia Legal Elite by the publishers of Virginia Business Magazine. He is also recipient of the 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Virginia State Bar family law section, 2005 recipient of the Gardner G. Demallie, Jr., Continuing Legal Education award and has been recognized by the VSB-VBA Joint Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution in 2004 as a 'founder of ADR.' He also teaches a basic negotiation and mediation course and an advanced course in negotiation, mediation and collaborative practice at Washington & Lee University Law School in Lexington, Virginia and is certified by the Supreme Court of Virginia as a trainer of basic and circuit court family mediation training.
Professional Activities
CURRENT:
Adjunct Professor, Washington and Lee University, School of Law, Negotiation, Mediation, and Collaboration, Basic and Advanced courses, August 2004 to present
Named 2007 to present Virginia Super Lawyer by publishers of Richmond magazine and is one of the 2007 to present Virginia Legal Elite by publishers of Virginia Business magazine
PRIOR:
Partner, Phillips, Morrison, & Ferrell, Lynchburg, concentrating on family law, mediation, and collaborative divorce
Commissioner in Chancery, Arbitrator and Judge pro tempore, 24th and 23rd Judicial Districts
Family and Circuit Court Mediator since 1982, certified by the Supreme Court of Virginia since 1993 with a current Advanced Family Certificate
Former Substitute Judge in Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts, 1982-2003
Former Chair of Virginia State Bar/Virginia Bar Association on Alternative Dispute Resolution
Member of Board of Virginia Collaborative Professionals (VACP), Vice Chair Program Committee, Chair of Continuing Education Sub-Committee
Member and Former Chair of the CLE Subcommittee for the Virginia ADR Joint Committee Council
Member of Special Committee on the Resolution of Fee Disputes, Virginia State Bar
Former Member, Dispute Resolution Services Advisory Council, Supreme Court of Virginia
Former President and current member of Lynchburg Bar Association
Former Chair, on two occasions, of the Family Law Section, Lynchburg Bar Association
Former 24th Circuit Representative, Virginia State Bar Council for 13 years
Former Chair, Board of Governors, Family Law Section, Virginia State Bar
Member and Chair of CLE Committee, Domestic Relations Council, Virginia Bar Association
Member and Former Chair, VBA Domestic Relations Section Council
Former member of Board of Governors of the Virginia Bar Association, 2001-03
Frequent lecturer and author on family law, mediation, and collaborative practice topics for Virginia CLE, Supreme Court of Virginia, Virginia Mediation Network, Virginia Bar Association, Virginia State Bar, VSB/VBA Joint Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution, The Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, the Lynchburg Bar Association, and the National Business Institute
Teacher, Domestic Relations, Evidence and Introduction to Law classes at Central VA Community College, Lynchburg, VA, 1981-1991
Recipient of a Founder of ADR in Virginia award, June 2004
Recipient of Gardener G. DeMallie, Jr. Continuing Legal Education Award, June 2005
Recipient of Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Virginia State Bar's Family Law Section, June 2006
Basic collaborative law training, June 13-14, 2004, and November 1-2, 2004
3-Day Interdisciplinary team training and training the trainers by the Collaborative Divorce Team Trainings in December, 2007, in Phoenix, Arizona, and 3-day Interdisciplinary team training and assisting training by the Collaborative Divorce Team Trainings in Gaithersburg, Maryland, in May, 2008, and in Roanoke, Virginia, in September, 2008
Co-lead trainer, 30 hour Interest-Based Negotiation and Mediation Skill Training for Collaborative Professionals in Northern Virginia - December 2008, and in Lynchburg, Virginia, in February, 2009 and November, 2009 and Winchester, Virginia in February 2010 and in Washington, D.C. in September/October 2010
Co-lead trainer of 2-day team trainings in Bridgewater, Virginia, in October, 2008, and in Charlottesville, Virginia, in March of 2009, and a trainer and facilitator of 3-day interdisciplinary team training in Norfolk, Virginia, in May of 2009, conducted by CPTI.
Trainer of 3-day Interdisciplinary Team Training in Roanoke, VA in November 2010 and co-lead trainer of 3-day Interdisciplinary Team Training in March of 2011
A founding and current member of the Collaborative Practice Training Institute
Collaborative Practice Training
| Year | Course Title | Instructor | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic/ Introductory Collaborative Law or Interdisciplinary Collaborative Team Training. | |||
| 2004 | Basic Collaborative Law Training | Pritchard, Carter | 13 |
| 30-Hr Interest-Based Negotiation & Mediation Skills | |||
| 1982 | Mediation Training | Gaughan, Stafford | 50 |
| Additional 15 hours Intermediate/ Advanced interest-based negotiation, communication skills, collaborative, or basic professional coach training | |||
| 2014 | Understanding Attachment Styles and its Application in Collaborative Divorce | Yuval Berger & Lisa Alexander | 6 |
| 2012 | IACP Workshop - Annual Meeting | I was instructor | 3 |
| 2012 | IACP Pre-form Training at Annual Meeting | I was instructor | 5 |
| 2011 | IACP Annual Meeting - Apology Workshop | I was instructor | 1.5 |
| Annual 4 hours collaborative continuing education (basic, intermediate, or advanced) | |||
| 2023 | Trauma-Responsive Collaborative Practice (16th VaCP) 11-13-23 | Dana Baerger, J.D., Ph.D. | 4.75 |
| 2023 | Trauma Responsive - Collaborative Practice | dana Baerger, JD, PhD | 5.5 |
| 2022 | Protecting Children From the Impacts of Divorce: What Does the Research Say? | Lisa Herrick, PhD | 4 |
| 2021 | The Psychological and Ethical Dimensions of Collaborative Practice | David A. Hoffman, Collaborative Attorney & Mediator | 4.75 |
| 2020 | Honesty in Settlement Negotiations | NBI, Inc. | 1 |
| 2020 | Ethical Advocacy in Mediation | Virginia CLE | 2 |
| 2020 | COVID 19's Impact on Collaborative Divorce | Paul Legrand. | 1 |
| 2019 | Essentials of Equitable Distribution in Mediation and Divorce Cases | Hon. Winship C. Tower | 2 |
| 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 | Interfacing Between Mental Health Professionals and Lawyers | I was instructor with Lisa Schenkel, Susan Muhoro, Angela Marshall, Phil Baker and LAvinia Garbee | 3 |
| 2017 | Creating the Conditions for Growth As We Help Our Clients Navigate Separation and Divorce | Lisa Herrick and Kate Scharff | 6 |
| 2016 | Client Science for Collaborative Professionals: Client Interviewing and Decision-Making Through Bad News & Other Legal Realities | Marjorie C. Aaron | 6 |
| 2015 | Creativity and Mediation - Virginia Mediation Network 2015 Annual Fall Training | VaMN | 13.5 |
| 2014 | Ethical Questions in Negotiations, Joint ADR, September 30, 2014 | co-presenter | 1 |
| 2013 | Advanced Training in Interest Based Negotiations - Richmond, VA | I was instructor | 6.5 |
| 2013 | Advanced Training - Columbus, OH | CPTI-I was instructor and co-lead. | 12 |
| 2012 | Basic Interdisciplinary Training - Birmingham, AL | CPTI - I was one of the instructors | 20 |
| 2012 | Basic Interdisciplinary Training - Annapolis, MD | CPTI - I was one of the instructors | 20 |
| 2012 | Adavanced Training - Birmingham, AL | CPTI - I was one of the instructors | 6.5 |
| 2011 | Mediaiton and Interest Based Negotiation Skills for Collaborative Professionals - Natural Bridge, VA | CPTI - I was instructor and co-lead. | 30 |
| 2011 | Basic Interdisciplinary Training | CPTI - I was one of the instructors | 20 |
| 2010 | Mediation and Interest Based Negotiation Skills for Collaborative Professionals | CPTI - I was one of the instructors | 30 |
| 2010 | Basic Interdisciplinary Training | CPTI - I was one of the instructors | 20 |
| 2009 | Mediation and Interest Based Negotiation Skills for Collaborative Professionals | I was instructor | 30 |
| 2009 | Basic Interdisciplinary Training in Collaborative Process and Practice | I was instructor | 12 |
| 2009 | Basic Interdisciplinary Training | I was instructor | 20 |
| 2008 | Mediation and Interest Based Negotiation Skills for Collaborative Professionals | I was instructor | 30 |
| 2008 | Basic Interdisciplinary Training in Collaborative Process and Practice | Morrison was Instructor with D. Stickley | 12 |
| 2008 | Basic Interdisciplinary Training | Richardson, Rounds, Miller, Hoffman (FWM assisted in training) | 20 |
| 2008 | Basic Interdisciplinary Training | Miller, Rounds, Hill, Pritchard (FWM assisted) | 20 |
| 2007 | Intermediate Interdisciplinary Training | Richardson, Hill, Ross, Miller, Rounds | 12 |
| 2007 | Basic Interdisciplinary Training | Richardson, Hill, Ross, Miller, Rounds | 20 |
| 2004 | Basic Collaborative Law Training | Carter, Hunter | 13 |
| 1999 | Mediation Training | Bagnell, Echols | 2.5 |
| 1994 | Mediation Training | I was instructor | 20 |
| 1993 | Mediation Training | I was instructor | 20 |