About
Child-Centred Dispute Resolution
Practice Areas
My practice areas are mediation, arbitration, parenting plans, and parent coordination by court appointment and/or by consent of the parents. I enjoy the day-to-day work about child-centred parenting dispute resolution. I have a private practice on Vancouver Island and in Greater Vancouver, BC. I help families obtain not-litigious, practical resolutions in ways that will promote effective communication and support children.
Experience and Accreditation
I was called to the Bar of British Columbia in 1988 and had more than 15 years of family law experience working with separated families as a lawyer, mediator, arbitrator, and parenting coordinator. My practice is devoted exclusively to helping families move forward after the parents’ separation.
I maintain high professional standards:
Specialist in Family Law
I am a fully accredited practicing member of the BC Parenting Coordinators Roster Society (BC PCRS), the Law Society of British Columbia, and a member of the Canadian Bar Association and a member of the Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario (FDRIO) and a member of the ADR Institute of BC and ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC).
“The price of doing the same old thing is far
higher than the price of change.”
— Bill Clinton
I have pursued extensive training in the area of high-conflict, child resistance to post-separation contact, mediation, arbitration, and parenting coordination.
1980’s
1990’s – Early 2000’s
2005 - 2020
As a former family law litigator, I have a solid grounding of knowledge and experience in everyday family law issues and specialized high conflict parenting in particular. I have much experience working across cultures and with diverse families. I use web-based video conference and teleconference options, as well as email, when appropriate to minimize cost and maximize efficiency.
I have been on boards, committees, and radio shows as a presenter on family law, parenting coordination, high conflict parenting, and out-of-court case resolution topics.
I think it is important to disclose that my relevant background as a parenting coordinator includes more personal experience too. I am a parent of children with special needs. I have been through separation and divorce and dealt with the parenting plan aspects of that separation with my children as “tweens” and teens. All are now independent adults with whom I have a good relationship. I consider my children to be among my blessings and successes in life.
I have: