MEDIATION

Family Law Mediation

If your relationship has broken down and you want to move forward without animosity, my family mediation services offer a smoother, more cooperative alternative than going to court.

I am a legally qualified family mediator who can help you and your ex-partner reach a practical, workable and cost-effective settlement – one that lets you put things behind you and get on with living your life.

My background as a highly regarded family lawyer means I have seen mediation and litigation from every angle. I have also worked with hundreds of couples to resolve their differences.

My experience as a mediator and lawyer has also shown me that the end of a relationship is painful and confronting, and that this is usually made worse when children are involved.

That’s why I focus on creating a healthy and respectful dialogue that looks for positive, mutually agreeable solutions outside of the traditional adversarial court system. In doing so, I attempt to minimise the anxiety, uncertainty and cost of a divorce or separation, helping you both move on to the next chapter in your lives.

Evaluative family law mediation

I am one of Sydney’s few qualified evaluative family law mediators. And, with your consent I offer that service to you and your family.

Unlike traditional mediation, in evaluative mediation, as mediator I take an active role, using my experience and judgement to analyse where both you and your ex-partner stand.

This lets me gain a clear understanding of both positions, so I can help you make better decisions about moving forward.

Evaluative mediation aims to save time and money and emotional stress by helping you make early and informed decisions. Rather than replacing legal advice or court proceedings, it offers an evaluative assessment of each parties’ strengths and weaknesses. Then it uses these to provide a non-binding settlement that both parties can agree to.

As an evaluative mediator, I make my own recommendations about potential solutions based on my knowledge of family law. This might include offering observations on areas of common ground or compromise, a suggested settlement arrangement, or even getting legal advice.

Evaluative mediation has proved to be particularly effective in complex disputes where there are multiple legal issues or interests, such as a combination of children, finances and other circumstances. It is also invaluable in overcoming roadblocks and dealing with impasses.