The Tampa Bay Rays may not be able to get a new baseball stadium any time soon, but the use of Collaborative Law is growing in the Tampa, Florida area. Over 80 people – lawyers, financial planners and mental health professionals took part in an Introductory Collaborative Practice Training in Tampa, Florida on September 11 and 12, 2015. The training was hosted by three lawyers’ groups – the Florida and the Tampa Bay Collaborative Practice Groups and Next Generation Divorce – and presented by the Lone Star Trainers out of Dallas, Texas.
Michael Zeytoonian, lawyer, mediator and director of Dispute Resolution Counsel, LLC, in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts, was one of three panelists presenting a panel discussion on September 11 on the use of Collaborative Law (CL) in business, employment and probate disputes. Zeytoonian was joined by two long-time colleagues, attorney Marc Sheridan of Mt Kisco, New York and attorney Sherrie Abney of Dallas, Texas. Abney, Zeytoonian and Sheridan are nationally and internationally known for their leadership and experience in using Collaborative Law in disputes outside of Family Law. Kerry Raleigh Tipton of the Tampa area was the moderator of the panel discussion; Guilene Theodore of Collaborative Conflict Resolution, PLLC, also in the Tampa area, was the lead organizer of the panel and the training program.
The Panel focused on the kinds of civil disputes are best for CL and what to look for in identifying good cases for its use – ongoing relationships between the parties, the needs for creative options for resolution and confidentiality. In general, CL in business and employment matters is much faster, more efficient and flexible than litigation and less expensive. The panel also talked about other areas and cases where there has been use of CL. Abney spoke about CL’s use in medical error and malpractice disputes, Sheridan identified employment situations – discrimination and executive compensation matters in which CL worked well, and Zeytoonian offered examples from business partnership break-ups and disputes among adult family members over the use, upkeep and future plans for inherited vacation property.
Collaborative Law is practiced and has practice groups in over 20 countries today including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Israel and many European Union countries. The Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council (MCLC – www.massclc.org) has been in existence since 2000 and has trained over 500 lawyers and professionals in CL. Internationally, the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP – www.collaborative practice.com) has 21 member countries and over 5,000 members. The IACP’s 16th Annual Forum will be held this year on October 16-18 in Washington, D.C.
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