Gloucestershire Collaborative Pod
Family lawyers in Cheltenham are helping to develop a pioneering service for divorcing or separating couples to resolve their issues without going to court.
The process - Collaborative Family Law - is a new and innovative way for couples to work together as a team and with trained professionals to deal with family and child disputes respectfully. As couples agree not to go to court, the process is more open and less adversarial than the traditional court-led approach.
Now specially trained family lawyers from three local solicitors’ practices in the town are working together to offer the service to people in the county as part of the Gloucestershire Collaborative Pod (www.resolution.org.uk/gloucestershire/). Carolyn Green & Helen Cankett (Rickerbys), Laura Srodon (Davis Gregory) and David Glass (Willans) are working with family lawyers from four other solicitors’ practices in Gloucestershire.
“All sorts of issues arise out of the breakdown of a relationship and the traditional approach has been to go to court to try to resolve them,’ said solicitor John Sherahilo, liaison officer for the Gloucestershire Collaborative Pod.
“The collaborative process is a major “C” change! It gives divorcing or separating couples or civil partners a way to resolve disputes respectfully and equitably without having to go to court. In helping them to focus on their most important goals, especially their children, it provides a civilised and non-confrontational way to separate as painlessly as possible. That results in a more efficient, targeted and productive way to resolve disputes as couples are attacking the problem, not each other.”
The process involves each couple instructing a trained collaborative lawyer in discussions to resolve their dispute. This takes place over a series of four-way ‘face to face’ meetings involving the two lawyers and their clients. All four participants sign up to an agreement which commits them to try to resolve the dispute without going to court. If the process breaks down, the lawyers are disqualified from then acting for the couple in the court process.
It’s also possible for other professionals to be brought into the ‘four-way’ meetings to help couples make decisions. They can be financial advisors, accountants, mediators and therapists (also called family consultants). Any professional involved in the collaborative process must be accredited by Resolution (formerly the Solicitors Family Law Association) so that consistently high standards can be maintained. Trained collaborative lawyers must be a member of a ‘Pod’ or group.
Collaborative Law began as concept in America. Hollywood actor Robin Williams is engaging in the process in his current divorce. Its supporters point out that this is in contrast to the recent McCartney/Mills divorce which proceeded under the traditional ‘court lead’ process. It was acrimonious and attracted huge publicity.
Since then, the service has been adopted in several parts of England & Wales and is now available in Gloucestershire. Other members of the Gloucestershire Pod are Stone King Sewell and Alison Fielden & Co in Cirencester, Davey Frankin Jones in Cirencester & Gloucester and Thomson & Bancks in Tewkesbury. They aim to show that Collaborative Law is a positive and viable alternative to the traditional court process and are clear about its many benefits.
“It promotes respect, keeps clients in control of the process and addresses each couple’s unique concerns, as opposed to litigation, which is driven by the general rule of law meant to apply to all,” said John Sherahilo.
“The interests of the children are very much at the forefront of the process but it also enhances communication between couples and lays the foundation for a healthier relationship after the divorce or separation.
“The ‘C’ change is taking place throughout the country and the process has now begun in Gloucestershire.”
The Gloucestershire Collaborative Pod has eight lawyers, a financial advisor and three family consultants. It is keen to widen the services it offers by bringing more accredited professionals on board.
It plans to have a launch and invitation-only awareness event for interested professionals on Thursday 11th September in Cheltenham. To coincide with the event, it is also offering a voucher to give people a free initial half hour consultation.
To download a Pod voucher, please click here  .
Contact details for Cheltenham lawyers involved in the Gloucestershire Pod are:
Carolyn Green, Rickerbys, Ellenborough House, Wellington Street, Cheltenham
Email Carolyn.green@rickerbys.com Tel: 01242 246457 Web www.rickerbys.com
Helen Cankett, Rickerbys , Ellenborough House, Wellington Street, Cheltenham
E mail Helen.cankett@rickerbys.com Tel: 01242 246408 Web www.rickerbys.com
David Glass, Willans 28 Imperial Square, Cheltenham
e mail david.glass@willans.co.uk Tel 01242 514707 Web www.willans.co.uk
Laura Srodon, Davis Gregory 25 Rodney Road Cheltenham
E mail is@davisg.co.uk Tel: 01242 235202 Web www.cheltenhamsolicitors.co.uk
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