Partner and Head of our Family & Matrimonial team Bethan Thomas and Senior Associate, Lindsay Davies have qualified as Collaborative Practitioners following Collaborative Law training.
Bethan and Lindsay are thrilled to be able to offer this service to clients and are looking forward to working as Collaborative Practitioners with their Collaborative Practitioner colleague Madeleine Young as well as those from other firms.
The great advantage of the Collaborative Family Law process over mediation for many people is that both parties have their lawyer with them in the room whilst they are negotiating. The process is very much led by the two separating parties, but with the support and guidance of their two lawyers. Each party can rely on their lawyer’s legal advice as the negotiations emerge. The couple and their lawyers are encouraged to act as a team, and all discussions are held in meetings known as “four-way meetings”. Gone is the risk of inflammatory correspondence from solicitor to solicitor upsetting already fragile family relationships. Experienced collaborative practitioners will ensure that the meetings are constructive, and outcome focused.
Some of the benefits to separating families of the collaborative process are:
- Cost – cheaper and more effective than traditional processes
- Speed – avoid delays waiting for the Court and/or other solicitors to respond to letters and emails
- Bespoke – Flexible solutions not offered by Court
- Team benefits – seamless involvement of neutrals such as Family Therapists, Coaches, Financial Advisors and Accountants, addressing all aspects of separation
- Client control – clients agree and control processes including agenda, timings, pace, process and venue etc
- Child and family focused – promotes co-parenting and communication in a safe space to enhance decision making
- Efficient advice – on hand professional advice with everyone working as a team for the benefit of the family
- Dignified – most respectful process with boundary setting and Participation Agreement
If you would like any further information or advice relating to separation, divorce or family matters, our Family & Matrimonial team would be delighted to assist.
