What is Collaborative Law

Instead of negotiating at arms length, our clients meet with their partner or estranged spouse and their respective solicitors and work through a carefully prepared agenda, dealing with as much and as little as each can manage.  What is not covered can be dealt with at a subsequent meeting.  The solicitors are trained to ensure that the meeting is conducted with respect for all concerned, allowing each to be unpressured.

Other experts can be instructed to advise all present at the meeting as to the best way, for example, to divide a particular asset for the benefit of all concerned.  On particularly difficult points of law a barrister can be asked to advise, again, the whole meeting.

The over-riding emphasis is on openness and trust and at the end, each party understands the result, has taken part in the decision making process and has reached an end point with which they are content.

Further reading
Collaborative Law article - Family Law Journal

Collaborative Family Law Group website

Collaborative Law article - Resolution alternative-news

SIFA - role of the Financial Neutral