Anne Freed holds a BA (Honours Sociology), JD (Juris Doctor, Law Degree), Master of Laws Degree (LL.M.) in Alternative Dispute Resolution, Advanced Training in Mediation, Arbitration and Collaborative Practice, Certification in Collaborative Practice
Welcome
to Spring! We’ve been blessed with sunny weather and, with the COVID vaccines
now a reality, are finally beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
However
the COVID pandemic – now over a year long – has exacted a huge toll on
marriages and relationships. For many it has resulted in people deciding to
separate, and to seek resolution of their issues via a Separation Agreement.
Many of you have read my November 2020 blog, which was about the fact that parties can negotiate a marriage contract in the middle of a marriage (or cohabitation agreement in the middle of a common-law relationship). For those who have done so, hopefully this may have resolved issues for the parties to continue their relationship.
My point in today’s article is that, in the quest of getting it over with by doing a “quick and dirty” Separation Agreement, that will most likely not resolve the issues and may well come back to haunt the spouse later. I recently had a client – Mrs. X – who came to me several months after she had signed a Separation Agreement with another lawyer. Mrs. X deeply regretted the Agreement that she had made and felt that she had settled for far less than she should have. She told me that she had separated in the fall and had signed a Separation Agreement also in the fall. Further questioning revealed that, in the interests of getting her Separation Agreement finalized quickly, she had requested that her lawyer take several shortcuts. These shortcuts included not obtaining a value of the matrimonial home, not requesting a valuation of the spouse’s pension, one of the spouses not providing the required full and detailed financial disclosure, and so on. It was clear that Mrs. X had not provided all of the detailed documents necessary so that her lawyer could do the necessary analysis to calculate Mrs. X’s legal entitlements. It was also clear that Mrs. X had been very worried about legal fees, and hence had limited her previous lawyer’s time/work.
Now,
6 months later, what was Mrs. X to do? I told her that the good news is that, in
family matters, a spouse can apply to the Court to set aside a Separation
Agreement. However, this is an uphill battle, and the onus will be on Mrs. X to
prove the necessary circumstances/elements that the law requires in order to
win such an application to the Court.
The
difficult part is that – in addition to the fact that in Court there are no
guarantees – the work that her new lawyer will have to do will greatly add to her
legal fees, as the work will be much more complicated than had Mrs. X allowed
her previous lawyer to do the necessary work in the first place.
So, today’s teaching piece is that, if you’ve decided to separate, beware of doing a “quick and dirty” Agreement. You may well succeed in your goal of saving time and legal fees. However, in doing so, you will have most likely limited your lawyer’s time and work to do her/his due diligence necessary to meet the long-term results you want, i.e. a Separation Agreement that is fair to you.
I wish you all a Happy Passover and Happy Easter.
Until next time, Stay safe.
Anne
Anne Freed holds a BA (Honours Sociology), JD (Juris Doctor, Law Degree), Master of Laws Degree (LL.M.) in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Advanced Training in Mediation, Arbitration and Collaborative Practice, and Certification in Collaborative Practice, as well as 39 years’ experience in the practice of family law.
Firstly, I want to wish you all a Happy and Healthy 2021.
Today’s topic is: How to retain a lawyer for one’s separation/divorce without incurring huge legal fees, or, to use the colloquial:
How to hire a divorce lawyer without breaking the bank!
In this time of COVID, the effects are not just to our health but also include the emotional and financial fallout. The effects of living under one roof for this long and – and so far, unending – period of time, test even the best relationships and marriages.
For
marriages that were “on the rocks” before the pandemic and its closures, the
pandemic has accelerated the parties’ problems to the point where many people –
including Sally – have decided that they want to take steps immediately to
separate and divorce.
However,
there is a huge roadblock facing Sally. She wants to hire a lawyer – as she’s heard
nightmare stories from people who have represented themselves – however she
knows that will necessitate large funds.
So, Sally
feels stuck. She wants to leave the marriage now but can’t afford to
hire a lawyer to help her in this.
There is an
alternative for Sally called “unbundled legal services.” What this means
is that Sally can use a lawyer as and when needed during her case. The lawyer will
help her in parts of her legal matter and from time to time rather than for the
whole thing.
In between,
Sally will do the work herself she feels is within her capability. For example,
Sally will have a first meeting with a lawyer, and with her lawyer they will
look into what parts of her case she wants the lawyer to do and what parts she
will do herself.
The “WIN/WIN” for Sally in choosing this process, is that
Sally will save a great deal of money on legal fees, and at the same time she
will be able to proceed with her divorce with the help of the lawyer, without
the financial worry of the fees she’d have to pay a lawyer who is working on
her case full time. She will get the benefit of expert legal advice from her
lawyer, but without the fear of huge legal fees. In this process, the lawyer and
Sally will work out what the lawyer will need for each part of the process that
Sally wants the lawyer to help her on. Therefore, fees for these discrete parts
can be estimated in advance and will be much lower, than if Sally retains a
lawyer on a full retainer basis.
This process
can provide a solution for Sally and many others who have made the decision to separate
but can’t afford the legal fees to do it right. “Right” means that Sally
can have help from the lawyer when she wants and needs it – be it concerning
custody, access, support, and/or equitable division of property and protection
of her rights.
Using the
services of a lawyer on an ad hoc as needed basis provides a much less
expensive financial alternative to Sally, such that she can get her divorce
started right away and begin the process of removing herself from a situation
that has become intolerable, now rather than later.
This is a valuable
option for people to consider in these difficult times.
As a family
law lawyer and mediator, I offer this service as one of a basket of process
options.
For further information,
please feel free to contact me at (416) 368-0700 or at anne@annefreed.com.
For more information on unbundled legal services see my website at www.annefreed.com, and www.familylawlss.ca, which has further information and a list of lawyers who also offer this process.
In the
meantime, Please Keep Safe! Until next time!
Anne
Anne Freed holds a BA (Honours Sociology), JD (Juris
Doctor, Law Degree), Master of Laws Degree (LL.M.) in Alternative Dispute
Resolution (ADR), Advanced Training in Mediation, Arbitration and Collaborative Practice, and Certification in Collaborative Practice,
as well as 39 years’ of experience in the practice of family law.
In this time of Covid, many people are considering divorce. One positive
suggestion is for the couple to see a family lawyer /mediator together
for the first meeting. I call this process: ‘Early Neutral Evaluation.’ When I
see a couple on this basis, I explain to them their respective rights and
obligations should they decide to separate and provide them with detailed
information to assist them in making their decisions moving forward. This can
avoid the nightmare that happened in the movie “Marriage Story”
where each retained their own lawyer immediately – one of whom was the
proverbial “shark lawyer” – and the whole thing escalated to a point far beyond
what the spouses each wanted. Read my recent blog below, to see if my above
suggestion could have changed the outcome in “Marriage Story.”
REFLECTIONS ON THE MOVIE “MARRIAGE STORY” BY A FAMILY LAW LAWYER; AND INTRODUCING A HEALTHIER OPTION (blog published March 22, 2020)
Dear Readers,
Welcome to my – early spring! – Newsletter. My topic for today is on the
movie “Marriage Story,” and, is there a better way? Many of you have seen the
movie on Netflix. If not, I highly recommend it. This is a poignant drama about
two people – the husband played by Adam Driver and the wife played by Scarlett
Johansson – whose relationship has broken down and they have decided to
separate. They find themselves drawn into a system where their lawyers pit one
against the other in an adversarial process which, by its very nature, begins
to destroy the fragile bonds that the couple still share, the most important
one being their love for their young son and wanting to do what’s best for him.
In the movie, the husband (“Adam”) retains a “reasonable” lawyer at
first – played wonderfully by Alan Alda. However, Adam is forced to fire him
and retain a “pit-bull lawyer,” so as to have an equal adversary to the scare
tactics employed by the wife’s lawyer – played by Laura Dern, who won an Oscar
for her brilliant portrayal of a pit-bull, charming, manipulative, adversarial
lawyer who used all the tricks in her toolbox to bring Adam down to level zero.
After watching the movie, I reflected that, had the parties gone
together to a first meeting with one lawyer, the damage that ensued may well
have been prevented.
I call this process: ‘Early Neutral Evaluation – A Healthier Option.’
For this process to be viable, the parties are at the early stages of their
divorce and are able to sit in the same room and have a certain modicum of
respect for each other. This process requires a certain type of lawyer, who is
skilled in negotiation and mediation, as well as being an expert in family law.
The Laura Dern lawyer would not fit that profile!
In early neutral evaluation, I meet with the parties together. We have
one meeting or several, depending on what the parties want. I listen to each of
their stories, sometimes in separate rooms, and then together. It’s quite
common that, when a couple breaks up, each party has a different view of the
‘facts!’
I ask the parties what their objectives are and what outcomes are most
important to them. When hearing their stories and objectives, I look for
commonalities between them. As a family law lawyer who’s practised for over 30
years, and who is now focusing on mediation and collaborative practice, I’ve
seen how parties often demonstrate in the joint meetings the connections that
were the good parts of their relationship! I utilize those good communications
to keep the lines of communication open and help them find common ground. From
that, I explain to them the various processes they have available to them when
they separate. These options include ‘kitchen-table’ negotiation, mediation,
med/arb, collaborative law, arbitration and finally Court as a last resort.
I’ve set out these various options and a brief explanation of each, on my web
site www.annefreed.com at www.annefreed.com/six-process-options.
After explaining the various process options available to the parties,
we turn to a discussion of the law. I discuss with the parties the requirements
necessary to have a legally enforceable Separation Agreement and provide them
information about the legal issues.
At the end of our meeting, the parties will have the information they
need to be able to go forward in their separation in a positive and
collaborative manner. They will not have spent huge sums – that they cannot
afford! – as the parties in “Marriage Story” did. They will not have undergone
the terrible emotional scarring that Adam and Scarlett suffered.
In “Marriage Story’s” conclusion, the couple manages, against all the
odds caused by bitter war their lawyers have engaged in on their behalves, to
come together on their most important common ground – their love for their
young son. As the end of the film shows, it is from that common ground and not
from the lengthy litigation war that almost closed the door for them, that the
parties begin to work together in their decisions going forward.
I suggest that people consider using early neutral evaluation, where
appropriate, as a healthier alternative. By this, the parties will not emerge
afraid of the next steps and emotionally depleted and scarred, but rather ready
to engage, in a much healthier way, in the hard legal and emotional work of
separating in a manner that’s best for them, and most importantly for their
children.
Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in exploring this
healthier alternative.
Until next time!
Anne
Anne Freed holds a BA (Honours Sociology), JD
(Juris Doctor, Law Degree), Master of Laws Degree (LL.M.) in Alternative
Dispute Resolution (ADR), Advanced Training in Mediation, Arbitration and
Collaborative Practice, and Certification in Collaborative Practice, as well as
38 years’ experience in the practice of family law.
Reflections by a family law mediator on COVID’S effects on marriages and
common law relationships, and how mediating a marriage contract can provide a
solution.
How has COVID affected
people’s marriages and relationships, and if so, is there a viable solution?
The COVID crisis has forced
us to live our lives inside our homes almost 24/7. The normal routine where
spouses spend the workday in separate places has been shattered. Children do
their schooling at home. Thus, the ability to ‘get away’ from one’s spouse and
children has been sorely reduced if not eliminated. Today’s question is: Can
marriages and relationships survive all this forced togetherness, and if so,
how?
1. In ‘normal life,’ there
are long marriages, good marriages, okay marriages, bad marriages and terrible
marriages. By marriages, I am including common law relationships. For today I
define a “good marriage” as one where the spouses are able to enjoy each
other’s company, find space from each other even in the confines of the home,
and most importantly they are able to face and handle conflict. By that I mean
that the spouses are able to face conflicts when they arise, as is inevitable
in relationships, and have the difficult conversations necessary to sustain a
healthy relationship. Even these good marriages are being tested in this
challenging time of COVID, and each party must put – in my view – extra energy
and work into their relationship for it to continue to thrive.
2. Then there are the ‘okay’
marriages where, before COVID, the spouses were apart much more than they were
together, with work, activities, get-togethers with friends and colleagues and
so on, separating them through the week. Before COVID, this marriage worked
because they could physically be away from each other most of the time. In
these marriages, spouses often cannot deal with conflict and one or both sweep
conflicts under the rug such that they become an insurmountable pit over time.
These spouses stay together because of convenience, habit, common friends,
because they like their way of life, etc. In this relationship, it’s probable
that, because the spouses are now forced to be in close quarters with each
other almost 24/7, their relationship is sorely tested. This is a relationship
where, as COVID progresses and the shutdowns continue without a known end, the
tension between the parties becomes thicker and thicker, with no resolution.
3. Number 3 is the bad
marriage. This is a marriage where there was, prior to COVID, almost no
connection between the parties, where they were like ships passing in the night
(also previous). In this relationship, there is mental abuse and also, likely
physical abuse. This situation is explosive and dangerous. It is a situation
which is untenable and unsafe to remain in. There are many resources in the
community for the spouse who is being abused. It is not in the realm of this
article to discuss this extremely important topic.
There are remedies for
spouses who are in situations 1 or 2 above. One remedy is that the parties can
negotiate a marriage contract. They know that there are problems in the
marriage/relationship but are not ready to leave. In fact, at this time they
often can’t leave because of COVID. However, the parties (or one of them) want
to have certain terms agreed upon going forward, including regarding the
children and property and financial issues. These issues can also include who
will get the home if the parties separate. Even such issues as division of
labour in the home can be put in a marriage contract.
The law is clear that parties
can negotiate a marriage contract or cohabitation agreement in the middle of a
marriage. Most people think that a “Pre-nup” (an American term) can be
negotiated only before marriage. However, this is not the case. In Ontario we
call these “marriage contracts,” or “cohabitation agreements” and they can be
made at any time during the marriage or cohabitation. A marriage contract can
provide a great comfort and security to the parties in this time of COVID. They
can be negotiated in many different ways. One positive way – if viable for the
parties – is through Mediation.
For more information on this,
see my blog on my website: www.annefreed.com:
Can People Negotiate a Prenup After they are Married, or is it Too Late;
and:, Using Mediation to Negotiate their Agreement.” (January 2020). For
information on the Mediation Process, see www.annefreed.com/six-process-options.
If you wish to explore the
possibility of negotiating a marriage contract during COVID, I can be reached
at (416) 368-0700, or anne@annefreed.com.
This concludes my blog. To
you all: Keep Safe!
Anne
Anne
Freed holds a BA (Honours Sociology), JD (Juris Doctor, Law Degree), Master of
Laws Degree (LL.M.) in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Advanced Training
in Mediation, Arbitration and Collaborative Practice, and
Certification in Collaborative Practice, as well as 38 years’ experience in the
practice of family law.
How has COVID affected people’s marriages and relationships, and if so, is there a viable solution?
The COVID crisis has forced us to live our lives inside our homes almost 24/7. The normal routine where spouses spend the workday in separate places has been shattered. Children do their schooling at home. Thus, the ability to ‘get away’ from one’s spouse and children has been sorely reduced if not eliminated. Today’s question is: Can marriages and relationships survive all this forced togetherness, and if so, how?
1. In ‘normal life,’ there are long marriages, good marriages, okay marriages, bad marriages and terrible marriages. By marriages, I am including common law relationships. For today I define a “good marriage” as one where the spouses are able to enjoy each other’s company, find space from each other even in the confines of the home, and most importantly they are able to face and handle conflict. By that I mean that the spouses are able to face conflicts when they arise, as is inevitable in relationships, and have the difficult conversations necessary to sustain a healthy relationship. Even these good marriages are being tested in this challenging time of COVID, and each party must put – in my view – extra energy and work into their relationship for it to continue to thrive.
2. Then there are the ‘okay’ marriages where, before COVID, the spouses were apart much more than they were together, with work, activities, get-togethers with friends and colleagues and so on, separating them through the week. Before COVID, this marriage worked because they could physically be away from each other most of the time. In these marriages, spouses often cannot deal with conflict and one or both sweep conflicts under the rug such that they become an insurmountable pit over time. These spouses stay together because of convenience, habit, common friends, because they like their way of life, etc. In this relationship, it’s probable that, because the spouses are now forced to be in close quarters with each other almost 24/7, their relationship is sorely tested. This is a relationship where, as COVID progresses and the shutdowns continue without a known end, the tension between the parties becomes thicker and thicker, with no resolution.
3. Number 3 is the bad marriage. This is a marriage where there was, prior to COVID, almost no connection between the parties, where they were like ships passing in the night (also previous). In this relationship, there is mental abuse and also, likely physical abuse by one party to the other. This situation is explosive and dangerous. It is a situation which is untenable and unsafe to remain in. There are many resources in the community for the spouse who is being abused. It is not in the realm of this article to discuss this extremely important topic.
There are remedies for spouses who are in situations 1 or 2 above. One remedy is that the parties can negotiate a marriage contract. They know that there are problems in the marriage/relationship but are not ready to leave. In fact, at this time they often can’t leave because of COVID. However, the parties (or one of them) want to have certain terms agreed upon going forward, including regarding the children and property and financial issues. These issues can also include who will get the home if the parties separate. Even such issues as division of labour in the home can be put in a marriage contract.
The law is clear that parties can negotiate a marriage contract or cohabitation agreement in the middle of a marriage. Most people think that a “Pre-nup” (an American term) can be negotiated only before marriage. However, this is not the case. In Ontario we call these “marriage contracts,” or “cohabitation agreements” and they can be made at any time during the marriage or cohabitation. A marriage contract can provide a measure of comfort and security to the parties in this time of COVID. They can be negotiated in many different ways. One positive way – if viable for the parties – is through Mediation. For more information on this, see my blog: ”Can People Negotiate a Prenup After they are Married, or is it Too Late; and, Using Mediation to Negotiate their Agreement.” (January, 2020). For information on the Mediation Process, see www.annefreed.com/six-process-options.
If you wish to explore the possibility of
negotiating a marriage contract during COVID, I can be reached at (416)
368-0700, or anne@annefreed.com.
This concludes my blog. To you all: Keep
Safe!
Anne
Anne Freed holds a BA (Honours Sociology), JD (Juris Doctor, Law Degree), Master of Laws Degree (LL.M.) in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Advanced Training in Mediation, Arbitration and Collaborative Practice, and Certification in Collaborative Practice, as well as 39 years experience in the practice of family law and mediation.
Welcome
to my – early spring! – Newsletter. My topic for today is on the movie “Marriage
Story,” and, is there a better way? Many of you have seen the movie on
Netflix. If not, I highly recommend it. This is a poignant drama about two
people – the husband played by Adam Driver and the wife played by Scarlett
Johansson – whose relationship has broken down and they have decided to separate.
They find themselves drawn into a system where their lawyers pit one against
the other in an adversarial process which, by its very nature, begins to
destroy the fragile bonds that the couple still share, the most important one
being their love for their young son and wanting to do what’s best for him.
In
the movie, the husband (“Adam”) retains a “reasonable” lawyer at first – played
wonderfully by Alan Alda. However, Adam is forced to fire him and retain a
“pit-bull lawyer,” so as to have an equal adversary to the scare tactics employed
by the wife’s lawyer – played by Laura Dern, who won an Oscar for her brilliant
portrayal of a pit-bull, charming, manipulative, adversarial lawyer who used
all the tricks in her toolbox to bring Adam down to level zero.
After
watching the movie, I reflected that, had the parties gone together to a first meeting
with one lawyer, the damage that ensued may well have been prevented.
I call
this process: ‘Early Neutral Evaluation – A Healthier Option.’ For this
process to be viable, the parties are at the early stages of their divorce and are
able to sit in the same room and have a certain modicum of respect for each
other. This process requires a certain type of lawyer , who is skilled in
negotiation and mediation, as well as being an expert in family law. The Laura
Dern lawyer would not fit that profile!
In early
neutral evaluation, I meet with the parties together. We have one meeting or several,
depending on what the parties want. I listen to each of their stories,
sometimes in separate rooms, and then together. It’s quite common that, when a
couple breaks up, each party has a different view of the ‘facts!’
I
ask the parties what their objectives are and what outcomes are most important
to them. When hearing their stories and objectives, I look for commonalities between
them. As a family law lawyer who’s practised for over 30 years, and who is now
focusing on mediation and collaborative practice, I’ve seen how parties often
demonstrate in the joint meetings the connections that were the good parts
of their relationship! I utilize those good communications to keep the lines of
communication open and help them find common ground. From that, I explain to
them the various processes they have available to them when they separate. These
options include ‘kitchen-table’ negotiation, mediation, med/arb, collaborative
law, arbitration and finally Court as a last resort. I’ve set out these various
options and a brief explanation of each, on my web site www.annefreed.com at www.annefreed.com/six-process-options.
After
explaining the various process options available to the parties, we turn to a
discussion of the law. I discuss with the parties the requirements necessary to
have a legally enforceable Separation Agreement and provide them information
about the legal issues.
At
the end of our meeting, the parties will have the information they need to be
able to go forward in their separation in a positive and collaborative manner.
They will not have spent huge sums – that they can’t afford! – as the parties
in “Marriage Story” did. They will not have undergone the terrible
emotional scarring that Adam and Scarlett suffered.
In “Marriage
Story’s” conclusion, the couple manages, against all the odds caused by bitter
war their lawyers have engaged in on their behalves, to come together on their most
important common ground – their love for their young son. As the end of the
film shows, it is from that common ground and not from the lengthy litigation war
that almost closed the door for them, that the parties begin to work together
in their decisions going forward.
I suggest
that people consider using early neutral evaluation, where appropriate, as a
healthier alternative. By this, the parties will not emerge afraid of the next
steps and emotionally depleted and scarred, but rather ready to engage, in a
much healthier way, in the hard legal and emotional work of separating in a
manner that’s best for them, and most importantly for their children.
Please
feel free to contact me if you are interested in exploring this healthier
alternative.
Until
next time!
Anne
Anne Freed holds a BA (Honours Sociology),
JD (Juris Doctor, Law Degree), Master of Laws Degree (LL.M.) in Alternative
Dispute Resolution (ADR), Advanced Training in Mediation, Arbitration and
Collaborative Practice, and Certification in Collaborative Practice, as well as
38 years experience in the practice of family law.
Firstly, Happy New Year! Today’s topic is: Can people negotiate a “pre-nup“ (in Canada it’s called a “Marriage Contract”) or a cohabitation agreement after they’re married or living together, or does it have to be done prior to their marriage date or cohabitation date? The answer is Yes! It will surprise many of you that indeed this can be done post-marriage! To illustrate, I had a case where the party came to see me a few weeks before her marriage, requiring a Marriage Contract to be completed before the wedding date. Everyone “pushed the pedal to the metal” to get this done prior to the marriage. Needless to say, due to the very short time frame, it was extremely stressful for all – including me! The parties ultimately agreed to my recommendation that they postpone the finalizing of the marriage contract until after the wedding. That way they were able to focus on preparing for and enjoying their special day, without the added stress of negotiating a Marriage Contract before their wedding.
As I told my client, a possible downside was that, once parties are married, the incentive to negotiate a marriage contract is lessened. Often it is one party – for example Joe (real names not used here) – who has the income, assets, and perhaps children of a previous relationship – who wants the Marriage Contract more than the other party – Sally. Once the parties are married, Joe can no longer say to Sally: “We can’t marry unless you sign this marriage contract!”
My client insisted to me that she and her fiancé had complete trust in each other and that therefore this would not be an issue for them.
Indeed, there can be benefits to doing a Marriage Contract after the wedding date. In the above example, Joe saying to Sally: “I will only marry you if you sign this marriage contract” – could be construed (at a later date) as getting Sally to sign under pressure. This could be a factor in Sally, at a later date, potentially setting aside the Marriage Contract, which is what Joe doesn’t want!
I had a client who came to see me 14 years after the parties had married, as his wife wanted an Agreement and he was fine with doing it. It was important that I handled his case with great sensitivity and diplomacy, due to the sensitive nature of the circumstances and so as to not interrupt a perfectly fine long-term marriage!
So what’s a good way to negotiate a marriage contract? Mediation can be an excellent process for parties to negotiate their Marriage Contract, whether before or after the marriage. The same applies to negotiating Cohabitation Agreements. When I mediate these Agreements, I am sensitive to the often delicate situation, and employ the mediation skills of reframing, active listening, and empathy, while also dealing with the hard legal issues.
Mediation provides a positive forum which can fulfill both these aspects. This process allows the parties to negotiate a solid and binding Agreement and continue their happy married lives together, with the knowledge that, just in case – given the realities of life today – they each have a protection should things not go as planned.
As always, please feel free to pass my article on to friends or colleagues who are considering taking the big step of marriage or cohabitation, or to those already married and interested in negotiating a Marriage Contract. I’m happy to discuss my mediation services with them.
Until next time!
Anne
Anne Freed holds a BA (Honours Sociology), JD (Juris Doctor, Law Degree), Master of Laws Degree (LL.M.) in Alternative Dispute Resolution, Advanced Training in Mediation, Arbitration and Collaborative Practice, Certification in Collaborative Practice
I, as many of you, have been caught up in the recent excitement of the Toronto Raptors’ finals and ultimate winning of the NBA championship! For one week all of Canada was united in our pride and joy of our Raptors’ win. Of all online discussions of our team’s route to this fabulous win, a simple event – a text from Kawhi to Kyle – resonated with me. Doug Smith of the Toronto Star wrote a wonderful essay on this on Saturday, June 15th (press the link – headline – below), with the headline:
“I texted Kyle probably a day later – or the day that I got traded – and told him. I said: Let’s go out and do something special. I know your best friend left, I know you’re mad, but let’s make this thing work out.”
Kawhi’s simple text, along with both players’ common objective of “striving for excellence,” paved the way for a strong friendship between the two men, and as well in my view, for the ultimate win by the Raptors. By Kawhi’s text to Lowry he demonstrated – par excellence – the very best traits of an excellent mediator! These include:
Kawhi showed huge empathy to Kyle for Kyle’s natural upset over the trade of his best friend and fantastic player DeMar DeRozan.
He showed understanding of Kyle’s wants, needs and interests in this.
Kawhi “framed” his text in considerate and tactful wording.
He included in his text both men’s common objective to pursue excellence: “Let’s go out and do something special.”
Kawhi showed respect to Lowry by his decision to send the text.
Kawhi’s timing of his text, right at day 1 of the trade, was right on and key to the successes that followed.
Kyle Lowry, on his part, affirmed the positive effects on him of Mr. Leonard’s action:
“When he texted me it was a quick text, and just showed the type of person he is… Willing to reach out, understanding that this situation was a little bit sensitive. But he knew that he felt something could be done special with our group.”
In my view, Kawhi’s action and timing in sending this simple text, was nothing short of brilliant. It paved the way for a strong and positive connection between the two men, which in turn paved the way for a close-knit team, which in turn paved the way for the Raptors’ magnificent win on Thursday, June 13th, 2019. This, in turn, paved the way for the unification of our entire country! The phenomenal outcomes are a potent illustration of what can be accomplished in the hands of a skilled mediator.
I recommend that Kawhi’s text be used as an excellent teaching tool in Mediation courses. Also, I will use this in my Family Law Mediations as a starting point for the parties, as it demonstrates to the parties how a mediation process works and its potential – when done properly – for win-win results by both. Where the parties have children, I stress to them their common objective – their children’s best interests. I utilize this to remind the parties of why they are here and what they want to accomplish at the end of the mediation.
Kawhi Leonard showed skills that the parties themselves should also employ in the mediation. When both parties and the mediator utilize these skills, this makes for a very positive and respectful process and maximizes the chances for success.
In a recent mediation of mine, each party was considerate and respectful of the other. Each was empathetic, and put themselves in the other’s shoes. Each framed their words in considerate and tactful wording. The parties defined at the outset their common objective of reaching a result that would be fair to both and which would preserve the respect and friendship the two had. They hoped that the process would enable them to have an ongoing friendship. In the result, they reached agreement they both were satisfied with and remained continuing friends to this day.
When I act as a Mediator I employ all of the above skills. Having accomplished my Master’s of Law in Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR), I had the golden opportunity to reflect on and fine tune the skills necessary for a successful mediator. Kawhi Leonard’s action and its results have provided a shining example of the potential of mediation – when properly used – for optimal results.
If you or your friends are going through a martial breakdown, divorce or separation, I urge you to call me to discuss Mediation as a possible – and positive! – process for you to resolve your matter.
A FINAL NOTE: Kawhi Leonard showed quietness and reserve throughout the games. In his accomplishment here he has shown himself to be a man of few words, but the RIGHT WORDS!
Until next time!
Anne
Anne Freed holds a BA (Honours Sociology), JD (Juris Doctor, Law Degree), Master of Laws Degree (LL.M.) in Alternative Dispute Resolution, Advanced Training in Mediation, Arbitration and Collaborative Practice, Certification in Collaborative Practice
Happy Spring Time! I’ve written today’s article from the perspective of having represented a party in a recent Court battle regarding the custody and access of a young child. My client was the father and we won three consecutive Court Orders granting him the custody of his child. A victory to be sure! However, I want to address here some of the downsides of spouses battling in Court.
It’s been a while since I decided to take on a Court matter, and I was astounded at the number of deadlines, rules and forms that today’s Courts require for the stated purpose of “making Court easier for the ‘unrepresented litigant!’” In fact, it’s just the opposite!
Having focused my law practice for many years on mediation, collaborative law and peaceful negotiation, the contrast with the Court process was starkly evident. In mediation, there are no court orders in mediation. The parties, with the help of their mediator, work to reach an agreement they both can live with. The only deadlines are those the parties themselves agree upon. The only rules are those of civility and respect: “Try not to interrupt the other person when he/she is speaking.”
The research shows that Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) processes have a much better effect on the children than Court. Many will remember the Toronto Life article: “The Divorce from Hell” where, after a many-years custody battle, the children refused to talk to either parent. This is not unusual when parties litigate their Divorces in Court.
When I act as a mediator, I continue to use my lawyer expertise in the mediation, providing a wealth of legal information to both parties that each party would be receiving from their separate lawyers. While stopping short of giving legal advice (not allowed by Law Society Rules), I go very far in providing detailed information to the parties. Also, I work with them to help them prepare the financial disclosure necessary in family law cases. The result is a considerable cost savings to them. Coupled with keeping the communications on track, I provide the parties the tools they need to negotiate the issues involved – both legal and non-legal – when people separate.
In contrast, the Court process is often ‘user unfriendly!’ Legal fees escalate to the point of being ultimately unaffordable for the not-wealthy client.
It’s well-known that ‘95% of cases settle at the Courtroom Door,’just before the trial starts. A major reason is that, by the trial date, each party has spent many thousands – even hundreds of thousands – of dollars in legal fees. This creates a big incentive for them to settle their matter now as, looking ahead, there will be a lengthy trial of a week or more, which will add more legal fees. In addition, there’s a risk of the winning party being awarded costs by the trial Judge. This adds an additional cost burden on the losing party to pay his/her spouse, in addition to their own legal fees.
By the end of the litigation, people are depleted both financially and emotionally; and their children often become alienated from both.
So, I say that, instead of spending all that money ( and time; sometimes years) to get to trial and then settling, why not replace that with a much more cost effective process such as mediation, where the parties can settle much earlier.
Despite having won three consecutive Orders in my client’s favour in my case, I noted that my client still wasn’t happy. This reminded me of my previous court days (in the ‘vineyards of Family Law!’)spent at 145 Queen Street (now the beautiful Opera House!). A major reason why 20 years ago I decided to change my practice focus to Mediation, was that it was clear that, even when my clients won, Court was a no-win for them. This was due to the costs – bothfinancial and emotional – of the Court process.
At a collaborative law dinner I attended, the speakers – two Judges – said that they wanted more collaborative lawyers to do Court cases, as ‘it would be good to have these kinds of lawyers in the Courts.’ This was also in my mind when I embarked on my recent Court case. I note that, on the third Court date, we had a Judge who was very supportive of using alternative dispute resolution (ADR). When we finally got into the Courtroom, there was a discussion of the parties’ substantive issues e.g. custody, resolving access terms, etc. However, the costs, barriers, rules, papers and deadlines required before we were able to get before the Judge, were beyond belief. In the Courts today, it seems that ‘Process trumps Substance.’ By the time the parties get to the Courtroom door, they are drained due to the never-ending process requirements. It’s only once they get into the Courtroom that their substantive issues are finally addressed.
Of course, in some cases Court is the only option. In my recent case, the father – on my recommendation – initiated the Court Action as it was his only option under the circumstances.
Also, it’s important to note that Mediation is not for everyone. In some cases Mediation is not a viable process for parties. (More about this in a future article).
The decision as to whether to use mediation in one’s divorce should be made with the help of an initial consultation with a lawyer, whose legal duty it is to advise clients about the various ADR processes available to parties as an alternative to Court.
In conclusion, if spring finds you or someone you know entering the gates of divorce (hopefully not to be confused with other gates!), I suggest that you consider using the mediation process as a positive, more civilized, more child friendly and much less expensive way to divorce!
Until next time!
Anne Freed holds a BA (Honours Sociology), JD (Juris Doctor, Law Degree), Master of Laws Degree (LL.M.) in Alternative Dispute Resolution, Advanced Training in Mediation, Arbitration and Collaborative Practice, Certification in Collaborative Practice
