Collaborative Law

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Harrison Drury offers clients access to a collaboratively trained lawyer. Collaborative Law is an alternative to the traditional negotiation processes via letters, emails, or court proceedings.

The main driving principle of Collaborative Law is that the parties aim to resolve all matters through a series of four-way meetings, which are attended by the clients and their respective collaboratively-trained lawyers.

Critical to the process is the Participation Agreement whereby both clients and lawyers sign this agreement, binding them to the process and honouring its principles. The most important point of the agreement is that all parties involved agree to resolve their matter outside of court, committing to resolve the matter in meetings.

The process is founded on the idea of a level playing field for all parties involved. Whether a solicitor or a client, everyone has an equal chance to express their views during the meeting. First names are used, and the parties can choose when and where the four-way meetings take place.

Complete flexibility allows cases to be settled much faster than if they were dealt with in the local family court. Sometimes, four-way meetings can extend to become five-way, or even six-way meetings, with the inclusion of accountants, financial advisers or other experts to help resolve the case.

At the forefront of the process is prioritising children involved to ensure that their needs are met and that any welfare issues are addressed.

The Solution

In each case, the solution is achieved with the help from their Collaborative lawyers and other experts. The focus is on what the clients want and how they can agree it without going to court.

Collaborative Law can save thousands of pounds compared to attending court and having a judge make a decision on your case.

If you have a family law issue and believe that you could engage with the other party in the same room, then Collaborative Law maybe a suitable approach for you.

John Osborne, Head of our Divorce and Family Law team, has extensive experience dealing with family cases through the Collaborative process and is a respected public speaker on the subject. His reputation extends both locally and nationally for settling cases collaboratively and maintaining positive relationships amongst those involved.

To speak to our divorce and family law specialists please call us on 01772 258321 or make an enquiry below to see how we can assist you and your business.