Collaborative Law
Collaborative law is an exciting new way to resolve family cases. The parties and their solicitors agree that they will work together to sort things out away from the Court in a series of face to face meetings. Instead of conventional negotiations by letter and telephone you both agree to resolve issues round the table. You have your own lawyer with you all the time and thus benefit from legal advice throughout.
The main advantage of the process is that you are in control of the agenda, the pace and the outcome. You can discuss the things that worry you most and you have control of the key decisions about future of your family. Experience shows that in the collaborative process parties are often willing to explore a wider range of creative, tailor-made solutions than would arise in more conventional processes.
If it is necessary to involve other professionals such as accountants, pension specialists, financial advisers, valuers, and child experts, these people will be jointly instructed and will attend round table meetings if necessary.
Collaborative law can be particularly beneficial where there are children. Parents continue to be parents after relationship breakdown and it is useful to be able to establish a constructive dialogue for co-parenting. Also of course children benefit from knowing that their parents are working together to sort things out.
Collaborative law is not always appropriate, for example if there has been domestic abuse. Lynn Henderson is an experienced collaborative lawyer who will be able to advise you as to whether Collaborative law would be suitable in the circumstances of your case.
