Embedded Files
Collaborative Practice
I am very proud to be part of the launch of Collaborative Practice Group for Estates & Trusts in Canada, to be part of an esteemed group of professional colleagues who participated in the specialised training and to support this important initiative.
The group of professionals at our inaugural training to support Collaborative Law for Estates, November 2025.
Collaborative Law
Is an out-of-court structured dispute resolution process where all parties and their lawyers commit to open, cooperative negotiation, not litigation. It is not mediation - lawyers are not neutral, although some of us supporting professionals in the process are (hence why we are referred to as "neutrals").
Collaborative law is a rooted in Family Law, where it has gained wide acceptance in Canada. Its success in that area is what inspires us to adapt it for estate disputes.
It Leads To
Preserving relationships between family members, minimising emotional and financial strain compared to contested court battles.
The process is more cost-effective for disputes than pursuing litigation and typically leads to much quicker resolution, especially given the current delays in our Canadian courts. All discussions and settlements are confidential and as they do not become part of public court records, family privacy is respected.
It Takes a Team
That includes a lawyer trained in Collaborative Law for each party, plus neutrals including financial professionals such as myself (“Financial Neutrals”) and family professionals to help navigate the emotional challenges faced by all parties involved in family disputes.
+ Ongoing Training
As a group, we meet regularly and participate in an array of training programs. For those of us based in Ontario, we are also part of FDRIO (Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario) to ensure remain current with trends and to learn with those practicing collaborative dispute resolution in Family Law.
THE ROLE OF A "FINANCIAL NEUTRAL" IN COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE FOR ESTATES
A Collaborative Law team includes a Financial Neutral. In Family Law, that is typically a financial planner or expert in personal finances. For Estates, this role extends to a broader expertise in accounting, taxation, corporate and personal finances. It's a person with financial acumen and relevant expertise for the matter and its stakeholders, to help everyone understand the numbers so they can make clear, confident decisions together.
This person does not work for one side or argue for a bigger share; rather, their role is to gather, explain, run 'what if' scenarios, and test the financial information in a fair, understandable way for all participants to be able to participate meaningfully.
This is what I do. Contact me to learn more and to engage my services to join a Collaborative Law process.
Collaborative Law Works!
Here's a sampling of results from Family Law
94% of surveyed Collaborative Law practitioners strongly agreed that their clients were satisfied with results achieved through the processes, & nearly 2/3rds agree the process is fast and efficient.
~90% overall settlement rates - as per a major empirical analysis of collaborative practice (largely U.S. and U.K. data).
Canadian research by York University found that collaborative settlement processes produced better outcomes at lower legal cost than court‑based approaches, especially in lower‑conflict cases. A related Manitoba cost–benefit study found that collaboration generated far more “value per dollar” than arbitration or litigation: for every dollar spent on collaborative settlement, about $2.06 of value were created, compared with $0.57 for arbitration and $0.39 for litigation.
To Learn More About Collaborative Law
Family Dispute Resolution Institute
(that I am proudly a member of - link)
Collaborative Professionals of Canada (CPC)
A good overview of Collaborative Practice in Canada and has links to local groups.
International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP)
A global hub for collaborative practice with useful information, FAQs & videos
Plus many more great resources.
Contact me for them and to learn more.
Canadian Law Firms Offering Collaborate Law for Estates
Hull & Hull
[Toronto, Ottawa]
Gale Law
[Toronto]
Perez Procope Leinveer
[Toronto]
Harrison Pensa
[London]
Plus more are joining us!
Contact me for a referral to a lawyer in your area, or if you are a law firm that wants to join our initiative or learn more about Collaborative Law for Estates training.
Report abuse