Submitted by Section Chair, William Everett Larose
Summary of Meetings
Number of Meetings Held: 2
November 13, 2014
Guest Speaker: Michael Butterfield
Meeting Title/Topic: Mediating in the Context of Family Violence
Synopsis: In conjunction with Family Violence Awareness month Michael Butterfield presented on the techniques ADR professionals can use in their everyday practice when faced with abusive clients and/or concerns about relationship violence.
April 9, 2015
Guest Speakers: Robert Blank M.A. Registered Psychologist, Tanya Sterling C.A., Jane Taylor Lee M.A. CCC. and Marge Thompson J.D. (Victoria based Collaborative Law Team).
Meeting Title/Topic: Panel Presentation on the role Coaches, Financial Specialists, and Child Specialists can play in Mediation, Collaborative Law, and Litigation.
Synopsis: These professionals will provide us with an overview of the historical development of collaborative law in BC and suggest how their skill sets can be utilized, not only in collaborative files but also in mediated and litigated cases. Bob, Tanya and Jane are joined by Marge Thompson, an experienced collaborative lawyer, mediator and arbitrator who has worked extensively with this team and says there has to be a very good reason for her not to include coaches, and financial specialists on a file and that she insists on a child specialist whenever there is a parenting dispute.
Comments and Observations of the Chair
There has been an influx of new attendees both CBA members and non lawyer mediators. Demographically we are becoming a younger group. I have broached the topic of there being an affiliate fee for mediators commencing in 2015/2016 and this has generally been well received.