David Simison is an active member and Treasurer of Anne Arundel Collaborative Professionals.  Collaborative Representation uses Lawyers for what they have been trained to do best ~ help solve complex problems and disputes.  Collaborative Representation differs from traditional legal representation because the attorneys involved in the Collaborative Representation are literally committed by agreement to work with their clients to resolve the dispute without resort to litigation.  

Collaborative Representation is ideally suited to Divorce.  Click here to learn more.

The whole point of Collaborative Law is to avoid litigation and focus on settlements.  One of the hallmarks of Collaborative Law is that the attorneys and parties agree that if the Collaborative Process does not result in resolution and litigation ensues, all attorneys must resign from representation.  Forced resignation is a crucial element of Collaborative Law and serves to temper the old school “scorched earth,” “win at any cost,” approaches to negotiation favored by “litigators.” 

It has been said that Collaborative Law was developed by mediator attorneys who were frustrated by the practice rule in mediation that the mediator should avoid offering solutions or legal advice to the parties.  To many attorney mediators, this practice rule failed to account for their experience and legal knowledge, especially in the field of family law.  Since an attorney cannot represent both sides in a dispute the attorney mediator was unable to offer legal advice to the parties in a mediation.  Collaborative Law involves attorneys on both sides who are trained in mediation and there is no conflict of interest and the attorneys can work toward genuine interest-based solutions for their clients.

Prior mediation training is therefore one of the more common requirements for Collaborative Law training.

Contact me:

das@daslaw.com or 410.268.7787