Oxfordshire law group holds event on collaborative practice

family child

 

The Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Collaborative Law Group is pleased to announce the launch of 'The Good Divorce? Collaborative Practice in Oxfordshire' event, which will take place at the Oxford Town Hall at 6.00 pm on Wednesday 21 November 2007.

 

One year on from its inaugural launch, where specialists in collaborative law from Thames Valley firms set up BOBPOD, a 'pod' of similarly trained lawyers that operate in Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, the Collaborative Law Group is running this event to provide an update on the progress of collaborative practice in the local area.  A local financial adviser and family consultant will also attend the event to explain their role in the process, which will be followed by a question and answer session and refreshments.

 

Collaborative practice is a way in which divorcing or separating couples are able to work together as a team with trained professionals to resolve disputes respectfully, without going to court.  The Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Collaborative Law Group are a group of over 25 family lawyers from firms in the three counties who use collaborative practice to work together to produce constructive, sensible and imaginative settlements to assist separating couples.

 

The collaborative law process starts with an initial meeting between the parties and their lawyers, when they agree how the meetings will continue, what information will be needed, when it will be exchanged and when the next meeting will be.  As the process continues, the couple and their lawyers decide what further steps they need to take, which can involve a joint instruction from the couple and their lawyers to independent experts who can help with valuations of property and advice about pensions and investments.  Consequently, the couple can be more certain that the solution they arrive at is both appropriate for them and workable.

 

Comments Christine Plews, head of family law at Blake Lapthorn: "This event will further help to address the key issue of collaborative law and provide attendees from the local area with an update on the processes involved."

 

For further information contact 01865 254213.