Program Synopsis

Overview

Hull & Hull LLP presents an upcoming two-day training event, Collaborative Practice Training for Estate Practitioners and Professionals: Core Skills. This program is specifically designed for estate lawyers and professionals aspiring to become skilled collaborative practitioners. This introductory and interdisciplinary training will delve into the fundamental principles of collaborative law, emphasizing a paradigm shift from traditional litigation practices to a more cooperative and client-centered approach. This workshop will balance theory and practice, group discussions and demos, as well as hands on learning opportunities through role plays.

Training Objectives

By the end of the training, participants will be equipped with the necessary skills to adapt their advocacy, communication, and teamwork abilities to be effective within (and outside of) the collaborative practice framework.

Key Components

1. Fundamental principles of collaborative practice

• Understanding the collaborative practice framework
• Emphasizing a shift from adversarial litigation to cooperative, client centred problem solving and negotiation

2. The choreography of an interdisciplinary collaborative case

• The initial client interview - explaining team process, overcoming resistance, understanding advocacy needs
• The importance of screening and triage client intake procedures
• process design - when do you need a Financial Professional? a Family Professional?
• team preparation
• the debrief - with the clients and with the team

3. High performance teams

• The evolution to settlement advocacy
• The importance of neutrality
• How the team can manage common case challenges
• Running effective meetings

4. Critical skills

• Interest-based negotiation
• Key communication skills
• Effective emotional regulation skills

5. The role of the law in an interest-based process

• Understanding power
• Understanding fairness
• The interplay of law, interests and fairness

Continuing Development

After completing the two day training, participants will be encouraged to pursue ongoing training and networking opportunities through the Ontario Association of Collaborative Professionals (OACP) and the Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario (FDRIO). These resources will support continued professional growth and the development of collaborative practice skills and assist in honing necessary soft skills.

Conclusion

This training is an invaluable opportunity for estate lawyers and professionals to transform their practice by embracing collaborative practice principles. By participating, attendees will not only enhance their professional skills which will be transferrable to all areas of their practice, they will be increasing the breadth of services available to their client base by adding an innovative form of alternative dispute resolution to their tool-belts.

Program Leaders

Deborah Graham, BA Hons, LLB, Acc.FM (OAFM)

Deborah is an accredited Family Mediator and Collaborative Lawyer. She has a settlement focused practice working in mediation, collaborative practice, and negotiation and has been practicing family law for over 30 years.

Deborah has taught Negotiation Theory and Practice at Lincoln Alexander Law School and Collaborative Lawyering at Osgoode Hall Law School. She is a regular presenter at the Osgoode LLM program as well as their Certificate in Family Law Skills and Practice program. She is a co-founder (along with Christine Kim) of the Mediation Training Centre, where she and Christine teach mediation, negotiation and collaborative skills.

She has spoken or led workshops about Negotiation, Settlement Advocacy, Collaborative Practice and Mediation at the Ontario Bar Association’s Family Law Institute, the Law Society of Ontario Family Law Summit as well as the annual conferences of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, the Ontario Association of Collaborative Professionals and the Ontario Association of Family Mediators. She is a contributor to Settling Family Law Cases: Practical Techniques for Advocates and Neutrals by Lorne Wolfson as well as Family Law Contracts by Robert Halpern. She is the co-author of A Guide to a Sensible Divorce and host of Once Upon a Conversation, a podcast about the most important conversations of our lives.

Laurie Stein, LLB, MSW, RSW

As a mediator and collaborative family professional, Laurie helps families find a more peaceful way through their separation. She works closely with parents to create new and effective ways of communicating to ensure that the children's needs are met as a first priority. Laurie has trained throughout Canada and the U.S. as faculty on the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and is currently a trainer with the Toronto Collaborative Training Team.

Laurie has over 30 years’ experience working with families, couples, children and teens in treatment and mental health settings. In addition to her therapy practice, past experience includes working with children and youth as a children’s lawyer. Laurie holds a Bachelor of Laws and Master of Social Work, is registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and is trained as a Collaborative Family Professional.

Alison Anderson, CFP, CDFS, ACP

Alison is a Certified Financial Planner, Advanced Collaborative Professional, Chartered Financial Divorce Specialist, trained family mediator and current Treasurer on the Board of the Ontario Association of Collaborative Professionals (OACP). Since 2010, her practice has been entirely focused on working with clients within a Family Law context and is limited to settlement focused processes.

Alison is jointly retained by both clients within the collaborative process and her role is to work with clients and their lawyers to provide the financial information they require to enable them to make the decisions that are right for their family.

Over the past 10 years, Alison has worked on 3 training teams providing Interdisciplinary Collaborative Practice Training to lawyers, family professionals and financial professionals.

Schedule

Location: The National Club, 303 Bay St. Toronto, ON M5H 4G4

Day 1: November 13, 2025

• 9:00-4:30 pm – Training
• 4:30-7:00 pm – Networking Event

Day 2: November 14, 2025

• 9:00-4:30 pm – Training

Registration Information

Full Program Cost: $1,000 + HST

• Includes: 2 day training, food for both days + networking event on November 13th.

Networking Event Only Cost: $25 + HST

To register for the full program or just the networking event, please submit your information by completing the registration form via the link below:

A representative from our office will contact registrants to complete payment after we receive your information.

The full training program is limited to 40 participants and registration is on a first come first served basis. The networking event has additional capacity (up to 75 attendees). Additional training programs may become available in the future.

If you have any questions or need assistance in registering, please contact Jennifer Sousa at Hull & Hull: jsousa@hullandhull.com (416) 369-1740

Resources

The following publications are excellent resources for the use of Colloborative Law in Estate Litigation: