Dr. Barbara Landau, Ph.D., LL.M., C.Med

THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT separation and divorce an be traumatic life events. But Toronto-based mediator Barbara Landau, Ph.D., LL.M., C.Med., believes that a crisis can offer individuals a tremendous opportunity. It's one aspect that Dr. Landau, a pioneer in the field of mediation, finds so rewarding about her work. "When people are separating, they can either behave in ways that do harm to themselves, the other person, and their children; or they can use that situation and their energies to create a better outcome." A psychologist, lawyer and mediator, Dr. Landau has the empathy, training, and experience to guide you to that positive resolution.

Dr. Landau's company — "Cooperative Solutions" — offers family, elder care and workplace mediation; individual and couple counseling; and mediation-arbitration.

Dr. Landau uses a non-adversarial process that she developed that she calls "Collaborative Mediation," in which couples are encouraged to find peaceful solutions that work for everyone — especially the children. Dr. Landau, as mediator, now refers her clients for independent legal advice primarily to lawyers who have been trained in Collaborative Law. "The key is that the lawyers, clients, and I agree that we will not use the Court to resolve family disputes." She also assists the clients to find impartial financial experts if valuations are required for a pension or family business. Dr. Landau works cooperatively with other professionals, such as lawyers, teachers, doctors, therapists, and financial experts, to achieve a comprehensive and lasting result. "I start by discussing the family's unique situation. Then we tailor the general framework of family law so it works fairly for each couple and their children. We minimize legal expenses and eliminate the possibility of a court battle."

For clients who want finality and an efficient resolution, but are concerned that they may not be able to agree, Dr. Landau offers mediation-arbitration. Everyone makes their best effort to resolve as many issues as possible in mediation. If an impasse is reached on one or more issues, Dr. Landau will arbitrate those issues and make a binding award.

Dr. Landau was recognized in 2002 by the Ontario Bar Association, who honoured her with the Award of Excellence in Alternative Dispute Resolution; in 2003, she received the Distinguished Mediator Award from the Association for Conflict Resolution, an international mediation organization; and in 2004, she received the Award for Long Term Achievement from Family Mediation Canada and their Certified Comprehensive Family Mediator designation.

Dr. Landau also offers courses in Mediation, Family Arbitration, and Collaborative Law which are described in detail on her website. Dr. Landau's husband, Sy Landau, B.Sc., P. Eng., MBA, and her son, Daryl Landau, M.A., Conflict Resolution, M.Sc., co-authored a book on workplace dispute resolution, From Conflict to Creativity (Jossey-Bass, 2001). Dr. Landau is also the co-author (with Lorne Wolfson, and her daughter Niki Landau) of The Family Mediation & Collaborative Practice Handbook, 4th Edition (LexisNexis, 2005). She has written numerous articles on Mediation and Collaborative Law and has lectured across North America, Europe, South Africa, and Israel. She also co-facilitates Jewish-Palestinian and Jewish-Muslim dialogues.

Of her impressive work history, she says: "I'm trying to build bridges between different disciplines that help families in crisis and between different cultural and religious groups. We should all be working together to make this a kinder, fairer, and more inclusive world."

For more information on Dr. Landau's services, please contact:

76 Truman Road
Toronto, Ontario M2L 2L6
Phone: (416) 391-3110
Fax: (416) 391-2347
Website: www.coop-solutions.ca
e-mail: info@coop-solutions.ca

Dr. Landau has written the following articles:

FAQs:

• "Should we involve our children as we work out a parenting plan? What type of contribution do children typically make?"
• "Should we stay together for the sake of the kids?"
• "Is it true that women do worse in mediation than men?"
• "I'm starting to dread my stepchildren's visits. What should I do?"
• "When will my child-support payments end?"
• "I want this divorce process to end, but it's dragging on because my spouse and I just can't agree on anything. What can I do?"

• Mediation Barriers: "Litigation will give me everything I want"

Professional Forum:

• What Role, If Any, Should Children Have in Collaborative Law?
• Collaborative Law and Mediation: Expanding the Non-Adversarial Menu
• Collaborative Family Law: An Oxymoron or a Stroke of Genius?