I started my own law practice in March, 1989 as a generalist, practicing law in several areas.
In about 1998, I made a decision to restrict my practice to family law, which includes divorce, custody and access, child and spousal support, property disputes, domestic contracts (such as separation agreements), and variation applications. Essentially, I wanted to narrow the focus of my practice to better serve clients who had specific issues to be addressed. Quite simply, the issues in family law, like other areas of law, have become complex. I feel that the only way of keeping current and up to date on each and every aspect of family law, is to restrict my practice to this one area.
I had also, around that time, joined the panel of the then Office of the Official Guardian (now the Children’s Lawyer’s Office), to represent children in both family law and child protection (Children’s Aid Society) matters. This was a very fulfilling and rewarding part of my practice, and it reinforced to me the importance of resolving family law matters by thinking of your children first. The very first issue that I inquire about, when I first meet clients, is whether the issues relating to the children have been addressed and agreed upon.
I had also, around that time, taken various mediation and conflict-resolution courses and, relatively early on in my practice, I started a mediation practice.
21 years later, I remain a ‘one man operation’ (with the vital help of an excellent assistant, Lisa Goyette (nee Clark), and a very able University of Ottawa student. I continue to practice exclusively in the area of family law. Although I have a settlement approach to resolving cases, I have extensive court experience and have represented clients at motions, trials and appeals, on all issues. I have done many trials on both parenting and financial issues. That being said, my initial approach to each and every file that comes into my office, is to strive to reach a fair and reasonable settlement of all issues, without the necessity of proceeding to court.
As in other areas of law, issues in the area of family law are constantly evolving, to reflect changes in societal values and as part of the judicial process of statutory interpretation of applicable legislation. I pride myself on remaining current with these changes.
In 2010, I re-opened the mediation practice that I had abandoned when I had moved to an office which made mediation sessions an impracticality. I missed conducting mediation. Achieving settlement between two people who have a genuine interest in resolving their disputes, is highly rewarding. So, in November, 2008, I moved to a new location, with new space, equipped with a large boardroom and “caucusing” rooms. I am a strong proponent of mediation and alternative dispute resolution, if the situation lends itself to out-of-court approaches to resolving conflict. In fact and with a view to having clients settle their issues in as cost-effective and amicable a manner as possible, I often suggest to clients that they immediately proceed to mediation, rather than retain me to initiate negotiations on their behalf!
Please feel free to contact either myself or Lisa me to learn more about our mediation practice, or to arrange for a legal consultation.