About Collaborative Practice

Collaborative Practice allows you to divorce with dignity, respect, and cooperation. Each spouse retains a lawyer, and both attorneys conduct settlement negotiations to combine your ownership of the process with the assurance of legal protection. The process includes other Collaborative Practice professionals, such as financial planners and therapists. You, your spouse, and your Collaborative Practice team agree to be cooperative, forthcoming, and willing to work together to achieve a resolution. If you can't reach an agreement, both lawyers (and their respective law firms) as well as the other collaborative professionals must withdraw from the case.

By choosing Collaborative Practice to settle your divorce, you'll enjoy these advantages:

• Lower costs
• Less stress
• Create win-win solutions
• Learn creative problem-solving techniques
• Retain control over your future
• Avoid court
• Protect your rights, assets, and your family
• Less bitterness, anger, and conflict

Sandra Rosenbloom believes in providing effective advocacy with dignity and compassion for her clients by concentrating in Collaborative Practice and mediation. She is a Fellow and Director of the Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois, an editor of Collaborative Review, member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, and Adjunct Professor of Law at Loyola University of Chicago Law School.

Dr. Gail Petrich, M.A., JD, Psy.D. is an attorney, psychologist, and mediator. She is especially equipped to promote emotional safety and to support families in making decisions for their future. She acts as an attorney, divorce coach, child/parenting specialist, parent coordinator, or communication specialist. Dr. Petrich is trained in child-custody evaluations, high-conflict personalities, and crisis management. She has worked in family law for 12 years and in family therapy for over 12 years, with offices in Cook and DuPage Counties.

Nancy Murphy, JD, attorney/mediator is a Fellow of the Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois and Member of International Association of Collaborative Practice. For over 20 years, Nancy has supported and guided transitioning families in a positive, worthy, and respectful manner during extreme emotional times to make decisions about life changes that include: custody, finances, prenuptials, property, same-sex contracts, and support. She has received extensive training in Collaborative Practice and helped create Cook County's "Focus on Children" program.

Sandra Crawford, JD, attorney/mediator is a leader in the Collaborative Practice community in Illinois and a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. She is also a member of the Illinois State Bar and frequently writes and speaks on issues regarding dispute resolution, children, and family. Sandra is committed to being "part of the solution, not part of the problem".

Lyn C. Conniff, JD. A practicing attorney for 20 years, Lyn's concentration is family law. Lyn is also trained in family law mediation and Collaborative Divorce. Lyn is committed to the collaborative process and to reaching an amicable resolution outside the legal process. The cornerstone of a successful Collaborative Divorce is a focus on the family's (especially the children's) needs and interests. A divorce with dignity must focus on each family member's needs and interests and not on winning and losing.

Visit www.divorcemag.com/articles/Collaborative_Law to find out the benefits of collaborative divorce.