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The Collaborative Approach

A respectful, cooperative path through disputes — where your voice, dignity and priorities matter.

The Collaborative Approach

A respectful, cooperative path through disputes — where your voice, dignity and priorities matter.

The Collaborative Practice Approach

A respectful, cooperative path through disputes — where your voice, dignity and priorities matter.

Collaborative practice brings together specially trained legal, financial and other professionals to assist people to create solutions without court. This method emphasises honesty, open communication and shared decision making.

Our Commitment: Four Guiding Principles

At the start of the collaborative process, all participants agree to four fundamental principles that shape how you move forward:

A pledge not to go to court or use threats of court as leverage

Honest exchange of information

Commitment to finding a solution respecting the priorities of all parties

Understanding that lawyers will withdraw if the matter ultimately must go to court

How the Collaborative Process Works

Once the guiding principles are accepted, you, the other party/ies, and your legal teams begin structured, respectful negotiation through multi-person meetings to reach a settlement.

Participation Agreement & Commitment

All parties, along with your lawyers, sign a Participation Agreement committing to open, principled negotiation without threat of court.

Interdisciplinary Expertise

Where needed, collaboratively trained professionals may join — such as child specialists, financial advisors, counsellors — to provide neutral support and insight.

Interdisciplinary Expertise

Instead of unilateral or adversarial exchanges, negotiations occur in four-way meetings where everyone contributes, discussion is transparent, and action points are agreed.

No Court in Sight (Unless Process Fails)

An essential feature: participants pledge not to go to court. If settlement cannot be reached, the collaborative lawyers agree to disqualify themselves from further proceedings.

Cooperative Negotiation Meetings

Instead of unilateral or adversarial exchanges, negotiations occur in four-way meetings where everyone contributes, discussion is transparent, and action points are agreed.

No Court in Sight (Unless Process Fails)

An essential feature: participants pledge not to go to court. If settlement cannot be reached, the collaborative lawyers agree to disqualify themselves from further proceedings.

How the Collaborative Process Works

Once the guiding principles are accepted, you, the other party/ies, and your legal teams begin structured, respectful negotiation through multi-person meetings to reach a settlement.

Participation Agreement & Commitment

All parties, along with your lawyers, sign a Participation Agreement committing to open, principled negotiation without threat of court.

Interdisciplinary Expertise

Where needed, collaboratively trained professionals may join — such as child specialists, financial advisors, counsellors — to provide neutral support and insight.

Interdisciplinary Expertise

Instead of unilateral or adversarial exchanges, negotiations occur in four-way meetings where everyone contributes, discussion is transparent, and action points are agreed.

No Court in Sight (Unless Process Fails)

An essential feature: participants pledge not to go to court. If settlement cannot be reached, the collaborative lawyers agree to disqualify themselves from further proceedings.

Cooperative Negotiation Meetings

Instead of unilateral or adversarial exchanges, negotiations occur in four-way meetings where everyone contributes, discussion is transparent, and action points are agreed.

No Court in Sight (Unless Process Fails)

An essential feature: participants pledge not to go to court. If settlement cannot be reached, the collaborative lawyers agree to disqualify themselves from further proceedings.

How the Collaborative Process Works

Once the guiding principles are accepted, you, the other party/ies, and your legal teams begin structured, respectful negotiation through multi-person meetings to reach a settlement.

Participation Agreement & Commitment

All parties, along with your lawyers, sign a Participation Agreement committing to open, principled negotiation without threat of court.

Interdisciplinary Expertise

Where needed, collaboratively trained professionals may join — such as child specialists, financial advisors, counsellors — to provide neutral support and insight.

Interdisciplinary Expertise

Instead of unilateral or adversarial exchanges, negotiations occur in four-way meetings where everyone contributes, discussion is transparent, and action points are agreed.

No Court in Sight (Unless Process Fails)

An essential feature: participants pledge not to go to court. If settlement cannot be reached, the collaborative lawyers agree to disqualify themselves from further proceedings.

Cooperative Negotiation Meetings

Instead of unilateral or adversarial exchanges, negotiations occur in four-way meetings where everyone contributes, discussion is transparent, and action points are agreed.

No Court in Sight (Unless Process Fails)

An essential feature: participants pledge not to go to court. If settlement cannot be reached, the collaborative lawyers agree to disqualify themselves from further proceedings.

When Collaborative Practice Is the Right Choice

Collaborative practice can be used by people involved in all types of disputes, but it is especially suited where the parties know each other personally and want to maintain a civil relationship into the future.

Collaborative practice is therefore an excellent choice for family disputes, including for people who are going through a separation, beneficiaries under a will, or for succession disputes in family offices.

Collaborative practice is also well suited to partnership and joint venture disputes, especially where the parties may wish to have an ongoing business relationship.

Why Choose Collaborative Practice?

The parties remain in control — collaborative law encourages creative solutions rather than rigid legal discourse.

It is more direct, efficient and transparent — no waiting on court dates, and full disclosure between parties.

Support from a team of experts — accessing financial, child and counselling specialists as needed.

Encourages mutual problem solving, fostering longer-term compliance and improved post-settlement relationships.

Support from a team of experts — accessing financial, child and counselling specialists as needed.

Encourages mutual problem solving, fostering longer-term compliance and improved post-settlement relationships.

Support from a team of experts — accessing financial, child and counselling specialists as needed.

Encourages mutual problem solving, fostering longer-term compliance and improved post-settlement relationships.

Ready to Proceed?

If you decide to proceed with collaborative practice, you’ll begin by appointing collaboratively trained lawyers, discussing your objectives, and signing the Participation Agreement. From there, structured dialogue begins in a series of meetings designed to uncover fair, workable resolutions.