Collaborate

In the collaborative process, each party is represented by their own lawyer through a series of structured meetings throughout the process. The lawyers work with the clients to help them establish effective and constructive communication skills to assist with the negotiation towards reaching a resolution. A separating couple in the collaborative law process assumes responsibility to exhaust all avenues to solve the problems confronting them and also take responsibility for solving those problems. In order for the Collaborative Law process to work the following conditions must exist:

• Both parties must be represented by a lawyer or law firm who are accredited, willing and able to participate in the Collaborative Law process;
• Both lawyers and each client must sign a binding legal contract at the start of the process which provides that all four parties to the contract will not go to Court or use threats of Court to solve the dispute;
• If the Collaborative Law process fails, both lawyers and their firms must withdraw from acting for their respective clients and the clients must start again with new litigation lawyers

Stephen Doorey is an accredited collaborative professional with Collaborative Professionals NSW Inc. and is able to represent clients through the collaborative process, to assist parties reach agreement.